Study warns of global rise in autocratic leaders 'hijacking' laws for own ends

Poland the worst offender as global justice index identifies decline in checks on government power for second successive year

Kate Hodal
Thu 28 Feb 2019 13.33 GMT Last modified on Thu 28 Feb 2019 13.35 GMT

Autocratic rule is on the rise throughout the world, with a growing number of authoritarian leaders “hijacking” laws to consolidate their own power, a study of global justice has found.

Poland demonstrated the most significant turn towards authoritarianism over the past four years, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. In all, 64% of 126 countries surveyed made similar moves towards autocratic rule in the past year alone, according to an annual rule of law index published by the World Justice Project.

With more countries declining than improving in their overall performance on the rule of law, the global trend towards authoritarianism should be viewed with concern, said WJP’s executive director, Elizabeth Andersen.

“This slide in rule of law in general and checks on government powers in particular is deeply concerning,” said Andersen.

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