In a stark assessment of the global political landscape, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has declared the world to be in a profound "democratic recession," with nearly three-quarters of the global population now living under autocratic rule. This alarming statistic represents a regression to levels not witnessed since the mid-1980s, signalling a critical juncture for international human rights and governance.
A System in Peril
Philippe Bolopion, the executive director of Human Rights Watch, has issued a grave warning that the entire system underpinning human rights is "in peril." He described the current surge in authoritarianism as "the challenge of a generation," with the United States under President Donald Trump playing a pivotal and detrimental role. Bolopion emphasised that 2025 has been a "tipping point" for rights and freedoms within the US, marking a dramatic shift from its historical role.
The American Assault on Democracy
The report details a broad and organised assault on the pillars of American democracy orchestrated by the Trump administration in just its first twelve months of a second term. This includes concerted efforts to undermine trust in electoral integrity, reduce governmental accountability, and attack judicial independence. The administration has been accused of defying court orders and wielding state power to intimidate political opponents, the media, universities, and civil society organisations.
"Every day you see confirmation of this trend," Bolopion stated, citing recent events such as Trump's calls to nationalise the US voting system and revelations of a $500 million investment from an Emirati royal into the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture. "When you step back, you see a relentless, determined assault on all the checks and balances designed to limit executive power and protect rights in US democracy."
Global Repercussions and a Call to Action
This domestic erosion, combined with longstanding campaigns by Russia and China to weaken international norms, has created enormous global repercussions. Bolopion argued that the rules-based international order, which the US helped establish, is now being "crushed" under this relentless pressure, threatening the very architecture human rights defenders rely upon.
In response, HRW is calling for democracies including the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada to form a strategic alliance. Such a coalition, Bolopion suggested, could become a powerful economic and voting bloc at institutions like the United Nations, offering incentives to counter policies that undermine multilateral governance and human rights.
The UK's Role in the Recession
The report also turns a critical eye towards the United Kingdom, finding that the British government "repeatedly undermined" rights in 2025. It highlights the Labour government's punitive immigration approach, which HRW says has played a "key role" in mainstreaming anti-migrant rhetoric and emboldening far-right sentiment. This trend is noted as a dangerous development not only for the UK but for other European nations like France and Germany.
Furthermore, the organisation criticises the UK's authoritarian crackdown on the right to protest and a failure to adequately address the worsening cost-of-living crisis, painting a picture of a nation contributing to the broader democratic backslide.
A Perfect Storm for Freedoms
HRW concludes that this "democratic recession," which began decades before Trump, has now created a "perfect storm" for human rights worldwide. With 72% of humanity under autocracy and the rules-based order under siege, the foreword to the report starkly notes: "Russia and China are less free today than 20 years ago. And so is the United States."
Despite the grim outlook, Bolopion finds hope in global civil society action, from anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis to currency protests in Iran that evolved into calls for political change, and youth-led demonstrations in Morocco over underfunded public services. "It is a challenging time," he affirmed, "but one for action, not for despair."
