Fragile democracies

Fragile democracies are political systems that have the formal structures of democracy—such as elections and elected officials—but lack the stability, institutions, or norms needed to function effectively over time. They are susceptible to backsliding, corruption, authoritarian tendencies, or collapse because of weak legal frameworks, limited trust, or insufficient checks and balances. Essentially, they operate on the surface but remain vulnerable to internal or external pressures that could undermine democratic principles and governance.