In the face of the global rise of authoritarianism, democracies appear disarmed. Not due to a lack of technical means, but because of their commitment to principles: freedom, transparency, proportionality. Yet, they must confront regimes that use every tool of hybrid warfare to weaken open societies from within. Why do so many citizens now doubt their own democratic systems, even to the point of rejecting them?

Objective Comparison: Where Do People Truly Live Better?

Indicator	Advanced Democracies (France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Japan)	Authoritarian or Illiberal Regimes (Russia, China, Hungary, Vietnam, El Salvador, RN, VOX, AfD, etc.)
Life Expectancy	80–84 years	72–78 years (Russia: 72, China: 78, El Salvador: 74, Hungary: 76)
Healthcare System	Universal coverage, high reimbursements	Unequal systems, limited or corrupt access
Education	Free, broad access to higher education	Indoctrination or inequality (Vietnam, Russia, El Salvador)
Freedom of Expression	Media pluralism, legal protections	Repression, intimidation, widespread censorship
Freedom of Movement	No restrictions	Severe or total limitations (North Korea, Russia, Iran)
Purchasing Power	High despite inflation	Inflation, precarity, inequality (Argentina, Venezuela)
Infrastructure	Modern and maintained	Decline except China; frequent shortages elsewhere
Access to Water / Electricity	Almost universal	Unequal, unstable (Venezuela, Myanmar, North Korea)
Equality of Opportunity	Present (notably in Nordic countries)	Clientelism, system lock-in
Fundamental Freedoms	Constitutionally protected	Regression, attacks on judiciary and press

The Trap of Resentment and Disinformation

The appeal of authoritarianism rests less on facts and more on amplified feelings: social decline, democratic fatigue, identity nostalgia. Illiberal regimes exploit these vulnerabilities to undermine democracy itself, spreading the notion that liberty breeds chaos.

Democracies uphold the law, free press, and opposition. In contrast, authoritarian regimes manipulate networks, censor dissent, and engage in undeclared hybrid wars. This strategic asymmetry allows autocracies to infiltrate public opinion, sometimes convincing citizens they live under tyranny—even as they enjoy the most advanced protections in the world.

How to Respond Without Betraying Our Values?

The challenge is immense: to protect our societies without closing them. Five approaches:

1. Reassert democratic values as non-negotiable.
2. Strengthen media literacy and critical thinking.
3. Use cyberspace strategically but legally for defense.
4. Build European digital sovereignty.
5. Impose accountability on digital platforms.

Conclusion

Democracies are not weak: they are open, self-critical, and accountable. This is their greatest strength—and also their vulnerability. They must learn to defend themselves without becoming what they fight. This is not a technical battle, but a cultural, educational, and moral one. It must be waged with the force of law, the power of reason, and confidence in liberty.

Case Studies: Authoritarian Drift in Practice

• Hungary (Orbán): Media and judiciary under control; foreign universities expelled; natalist, identity-driven policies; anti-immigrant discourse.
• El Salvador (Bukele): High popularity due to reduced violence, but at the cost of mass arrests, a permanent state of exception, and concentration of power.
• Argentina (Milei): Cult of personality, press attacks, rapid social deconstruction, and economic instability.
• Venezuela (Maduro): Hyperinflation, mass exodus, collapse of healthcare and education systems.
• Myanmar: Coup d’état, bloody repression, international isolation.
• North Korea: Famine, repression, total absence of liberty.
• Parties like RN (France), VOX (Spain), AfD (Germany): Rise fueled by identity-based fear, press rejection, authoritarian nostalgia, and attack on checks and balances.