Democratic Consolidation

Democratic consolidation is the process through which a country's democratic institutions, practices, and values become firmly established and widely accepted, making the democracy stable and resistant to setbacks or authoritarian attempts. It involves building a political culture of respect for democratic rules, ensuring free and fair elections, and strengthening institutions like courts and legislatures. When a democracy is consolidated, political competition is peaceful, citizens trust the system, and democratic governance becomes the natural way of managing power, reducing the risk of backsliding into nondemocratic rule.