autoritaire golf dreigt democratieën weg te vagen
New York, woensdag, 4 februari 2026.
driekwart van de wereldbevolking leeft nu onder autoritaire regimes. mensenrechtenwatch meldt een nooit eerder geziene stijging van dictaturen in 2026. de vs onder trump ondermijnde kernwaarden van de democratie binnen één jaar. activisten spreken van een wereldorde in verval. deportaties naar el salvador leiden tot martelingen. federaal geweld doodde demonstranten in minneapolis. het rapport wijst op een mondiale erosie van rechtsstaten, met china en rusland als medespelers. democratieën staan voor een cruciale keuze: reageren of instorten.
global pushback on human rights norms accelerates under US leadership
The United States under President Donald Trump has contributed significantly to a worldwide erosion of democratic values in 2026. According to Human Rights Watch, the Trump administration dismantled key pillars of American democracy within one year [1]. This includes escalating federal force against protesters, such as the killing of two demonstrators in Minneapolis by federal agents [1]. Such actions signal a broader rejection of international legal standards and embolden other authoritarian regimes [1]. The shift undermines decades of US advocacy for rule of law abroad [GPT].
mass deportation operations bypass judicial oversight
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted widespread arrests in cities like Minneapolis, often without warrants or due process [1]. Thousands were detained arbitrarily, sometimes violently, and swiftly deported [1]. One notable policy involved sending Venezuelan migrants to the CECOT prison facility in El Salvador, where reports confirmed torture and sexual abuse [1]. Activists argue these practices violate international humanitarian law and represent a systemic effort to silence dissent [1]. Independent monitoring remains limited despite ongoing concerns [alert! ‘current extent of independent access unclear’].
authoritarian alliances reshape geopolitical landscape
China and Russia have intensified efforts to weaken democratic institutions globally, aligning strategically with the current US administration’s stance [2]. All three powers share a disregard for established international laws and norms, according to Philippe Bolopion, Director at Human Rights Watch [1]. The withdrawal of the US from the UN Human Rights Council and sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court in The Hague further destabilize the global rights architecture [1]. Analysts warn this convergence threatens the post-war liberal order [GPT].
democratic backsliding affects three-quarters of global population
Three out of four people worldwide now live under authoritarian rule, marking a historic low point for democratic governance [2]. Human Rights Watch attributes this decline to coordinated attacks on civil society, media freedom, and judicial independence [1][2]. Governments increasingly target journalists, NGOs, lawyers, and academic institutions perceived as oppositional [1]. The trend reflects what experts call a ‘non-precedented wave of authoritarianism’ challenging the foundations of international cooperation [2]. Without strong collective responses, the damage may become irreversible [GPT].
netherlands faces foreign policy recalibration amid shifting global order
The alarming findings in the Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 demand urgent attention from democratic allies, including the Netherlands [1]. With growing pressure on freedoms globally, Dutch foreign policy must reassess partnerships and conditionality regarding trade and security agreements [GPT]. Supporting independent watchdogs and protecting dissidents becomes more critical [GPT]. Given historical commitments to human rights diplomacy, the Netherlands is expected to play an active role in forming coalition responses alongside like-minded states [GPT].