Political Systems and Democracy Governance (PSDG) Diagnostic

Political Systems and Democracy Governance (PSDG) Diagnostic

Democratic governance is in a precarious state, across countries and regions all over the world. The optimism following the end of the Cold War and what was perceived as the global triumph of democracy has given way to more sober assessments of the health of democratic systems. As more authoritarian models of stability and development have become increasingly appealing, especially in light of China’s remarkable socio-economic success, the stability and resilience of democracy have come into question, not just in developing settings but in some of the world’s oldest and most established democracies. As polarisation, the increasing appeal of populism, and the rise of mis- and disinformation attest, there is profound disillusionment with the workings of democracy and its values, and growing disenchantment with political systems that, while ostensibly democratic, are or are perceived to be dysfunctional and unable to deliver on crucial services and expectations. People are angry, and they want to be included – in terms not only of whose voices are heard (vital as that is), but also how prosperity is shared.

This is why this Political Systems and Democratic Governance (PSDG) Diagnostic, developed with the UK Government’s Politics and Governance Centre of Expertise (a joint initiative between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – FCDO – and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy – WFD), in collaboration with the TWP CoP, is so timely and relevant. The struggle to strengthen the quality of democratic governance is as vital as ever.

International actors have a critical role to play in helping countries counter democratic erosion and strengthen democratic governance. Crucially, this is not about imposing democracy from the outside. Rather, the role of the international community is to harness and get behind locally led pressures for change, with domestic actors firmly on the driver’s seat. 

Building on established approaches like political economy analysis (PEA) and Thinking and Working Politically (TWP), the PSDG Diagnostic highlights that:

• Supporting democratic governance is not a technical exercise but a profoundly political process.
• It creates winners and losers and involves altering power relations. This means that the process is complex, messy, contested and uncertain.
• There are tensions, trade-offs, dilemmas and unintended consequences involved, and it is essential to acknowledge and navigate these to avoid doing harm.

This has important implications for how international actors can engage more effectively in efforts to foster democratic governance that tailored to contextual realities. The Diagnostic offers flexible guidance for organisations to adapt their work in diverse contexts, from authoritarian regimes to conflict situations to democratic “bright spots”. The guidance is rooted in action rather than simply on analysis. Its value lies as much in the process of using it as in the outcome, in terms of both bringing people together to forge a common understanding of risks and opportunities, and developing ideas and approaches for how organisations can adapt what they are doing for more effective engagement.

Originally developed for UK diplomatic posts after extensive co-creation and piloting by WFD, WP CoP, FCDO and commissioned experts, the PSDG Diagnostic has been adapted for broader audiences, including multilateral organisations, foreign departments, international organisations, and civil society groups.