COMMENT | When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, many believed democracy had finally triumphed. Countries in Eastern Europe embraced free elections, and there was hope that authoritarian strongholds in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East would soon follow.

But three decades on, the picture looks very different. Instead of expanding, democracy is in retreat. Authoritarianism has not only survived but resurged - and in some cases, in countries once seen as champions of liberal democracy.

The United States, long regarded as a beacon of democratic values, now struggles with polarisation, institutional mistrust, and democratic backsliding, especially under Donald Trump’s presidency.

By contrast, some authoritarian governments appear to offer stability and economic success. China, for instance, has...