Most of us see democracy as the best way to run a country since it gives people the chance to have a say & enjoy freedom. However, history shows that it’s not always easy. There have been numerous moments when democracy went off the rails—leading to chaos, injustice or even dictatorships. Here are thirteen examples of when democracy failed badly. Of course, we’re not anti-democracy. But it’s certainly worthwhile knowing its limits and shortcomings so that we may work to avoid these from happening again in the future.
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The Collapse of the Weimar Republic
After World War I, Germany created the Weimar Republic in the hopes of building a stable democracy. But the country had huge economic problems like hyperinflation. Political extremists from both left & right caused chaos so by the early 1930s, the Republic struggled to cope. Its failure opened the way for Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to take control.
The Rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany
In 1933, Germany elected Adolf Hitler as Chancellor during a time of economic crisis & uncertainty. The Nazi Party played on people’s frustrations from the Great Depression and once Hitler was in power, he wasted no time dismantling democracy. For example, he pushed through the Enabling Act which allowed him to make laws without the Reichstag’s approval. He effectively silenced any opposition. As such, he could commit all kinds of atrocities.
The Athenian Democracy’s Execution of Socrates
In 399 BCE, Athens put the philosopher Socrates on trial—even though the city-state was meant to be an early form of democracy. He was accused of corrupting the youth & not believing in the city’s gods, with a jury of 500 citizens finding him guilty. Socrates accepted the verdict and drank poison hemlock. Clearly, even a democracy might make unjust decisions when fear & misunderstanding rules.
The Failure of Democracy in Nigeria’s First Republic
When Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, there were high hopes for the new democracy. Sadly, ethnic rivalries & allegations of corruption soon emerged. Political parties aligned with ethnic groups to create tension, leading to a 1966 military coup that overthrew the democratic government. Then, the country went through a series of military regimes. True democracy didn’t return for decades.
The Overthrow of Chilean President Salvador Allende
In 1970, Salvador Allende was democratically elected as Chile’s president & became the first Marxist leader elected in Latin America. However, his election upset conservative groups and worried the United States. It feared socialism would spread which eventually led to General Augusto Pinochet leading a military coup. He overthrew Allende’s government—and Chile entered a dictatorship with severe human rights abuses until 1990.
The Breakdown of Democracy in Venezuela
The people elected Hugo Chávez as President of Venezuela in 1998 after his promises to help the poor with his socialist policies. However, he changed the constitution to increase his own powers instead. After Chávez died in 2013, Nicolás Maduro took over & the economy collapsed under him. In fact, this also created the country’s widespread issues. To this day, these issues still exist & they’re the major reason so many people are fleeing the country.
The Military Coup in Egypt After Morsi’s Election
In 2012, Mohamed Morsi became Egypt’s first democratically elected president after the Arab Spring uprising. He promised change—yet was criticized for pushing an Islamist agenda & not addressing economic issues. Just a year later, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ousted Morsi from power & Egypt then returned to authoritarian rule.
The Fall of the Roman Republic
In the first century BCE, the Roman Republic was packed with internal conflict, with leaders like Julius Caesar & Pompey clashing with each other. Eventually, it created civil wars that weakened the republic. In 44 BCE, Caesar was declared dictator for life after defeating his rivals—but then a group of senators assassinated him. Instead of restoring the republic, his death led to more issues.
The Turmoil of Indonesia’s Guided Democracy
Indonesia gained independence in 1949—but it wasn’t easy changing to parliamentary democracy due to numerous conflicts between political parties & regional rebellions. In 1957, President Sukarno introduced “Guided Democracy” to unite the country. But it simply gave him more authority. In 1965, a failed coup led to widespread anti-communist purges and the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
The Rwandan Genocide After Democratic Reforms
You’d think that moving toward democracy would be a good thing and especially when this allows for multiple political parties. Not for Rwanda. Tensions between the Hutu majority & Tutsi minority worsened, leading to President Juvénal Habyarimana’s plane being shot down and his death. The event triggered a horrific genocide.
Zimbabwe Under Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe became the leader of Zimbabwe in 1980 after democratic elections ended white minority rule. At first, he was seen as a liberation hero. But over time, his government became increasingly authoritarian and in the early 2000s, he initiated land reforms. These involved taking farms from white landowners—without compensation. As you might expect, it led to a collapse in agricultural production that caused food shortages & hyperinflation.
The 1991 Algerian Election Crisis
After years of single-party rule by the National Liberation Front (FLN), Algeria held its first multi-party elections in 1991. The Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) was set to win. However, the military & secular groups feared an Islamist government so they canceled the election results and arrested FIS leaders. Sadly, this began a brutal civil war that lasted over a decade.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.