Ipsos survey reveals fake news, lack of accountability, extremism and corruption seen as biggest threats
Satisfaction with democracy is below 50% in eight out of nine western countries surveyed in a poll, and majorities in all but one fear for its future, with fake news, lack of political accountability, extremism and corruption seen as the biggest threats.
An Ipsos survey of almost 10,000 people in Croatia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US found satisfaction with democracy low in all except Sweden, with deep concerns about the future state of electoral politics.
Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, said: “Despite strong support for democratic ideals across many countries, the public are clearly disappointed with how democracy is working in practice and worried about its future.”
Skinner said the Ipsos State of Democracy survey showed that concern about democracy was growing fast in some countries, particularly the Netherlands and France, and that there was a strong desire for “radical change” in almost all.
