India authoritarian slide

India remains a vibrant democracy. Yet its senior leaders remain fundamentally illiberal, and their interests more closely align with authoritarian powers. 

India's democracy was once feted by the West as a model for the developing world. Now, it is increasingly treated as a has-been.

Rather than setting an agenda that would put forward the voices of the Global South and the world’s most marginalized, India has used its G-20 presidency for cynically domestic political purposes. 

The pandemic made it easier for governments to justify authoritarian measures, including crackdowns on the media and excessive surveillance.

By embracing some countries and excluding others, the US has squandered an opportunity to unite South Asia – at least ideologically – against Beijing.