OPINION:
Americans recognize corruption as a problem. People on the right see the Democratic Party’s actions to control elections as corrupt. People on the left see Republican questioning of election results as quintessentially corrupt. Both claim to be champions of free and fair elections. Neither sees that for all America’s issues (regardless of where you sit), there is a wider and more serious problem of election corruption (and corruption in general) growing worldwide. Using terminology we are all too familiar, it has even been referred to as a pandemic. It must be addressed, not just in America but across the globe. Democracy’s effective survival requires that we all fight against corruption.
Amid the viral pandemic, corruption and other attacks on democracy are spreading. From petty dictators and greedy kleptocrats in small countries to huge criminal regimes in places like Russia and China, autocrats of all sorts have leveraged the public health crisis to strengthen their control over their populations. COVID-19 is a perfect “cover” for corruption and power grabs.
Clamping down on religious freedoms, labor laws and other basic human rights in the name of public health is rampant. Authoritarians are riding the horse of the pandemic to line their own pockets or to maintain themselves in power, in most cases both, the whole while virtue-signaling that they are just protecting their people. This is the antithesis of democracy, and because of it, many democracies are sliding backward.
Young regimes or weaker democracies have the most trouble. They already have fragile institutions and norms, and are now under attack by their own leaders. To get away from the obvious American intermural discussion, let’s look at the Democratic Republic of the Congo as an example.
Most observers believe that the current president, Felix Tshisekedi, came to power as part of a tainted election. Lawyers for the runner-up urged the Constitutional Court to order a recount of a poll that they said was rigged. A major new investigation confirms that the results have been falsified. The Financial Times and others have revealed data that points to immense electoral fraud. Analysis of voting results shows that 86% of the total votes cast point to Martin Fayulu as the clear winner. However, this directly contradicts the electoral commission’s claim that rival Mr. Tshisekedi won. For the DRC to regain social, political and economic stability, the country must have free, fair and transparent elections. This becomes more critical as Mr. Tshisekedi also holds the role of head of the African Union.
Additionally, in the DRC, the Catholic Church plays a vital, constitutionally mandated role in observing elections and ensuring that elections are free and fair. The church tried to play this role but is currently being pushed out by Mr. Tshisekedi’s corrupt regime. This clearly highlights the current issue of religious discrimination and ongoing corruption.
The only way people will ever trust their own leaders is if there is full transparency and complete honesty in the election process. Corruption creates doubt and mistrust. Lack of trust leads to lawlessness and chaos. Chaos produces more mistrust.
Democracy cannot exist in that cauldron of crime. When democracy “dies,” so do prosperity, justice and progress.
The international community must forcefully insist that the DRC and every country like it not just resist the temptation to act corruptly but must act to remove it from their systems. There will always be disagreements between political rivals. That said, a base level of transparency and anti-corruption in general, and in elections specifically, must be a prerequisite for any nation to be considered democratic and to be allowed to avail itself of the international benefits that being a democracy brings.
If leaders in any nation labeled a democracy are not held accountable through a legitimate electoral process for action seen as corruption, democracy has indeed lost its strength and relevance.
• Steve Bucci served for three decades as an Army Special Forces officer and top Pentagon official before becoming a visiting research fellow for Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism at The Heritage Foundation.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.