The relevance of social policies for democracy

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Global threats to democracy, a vital form of inclusive governance, have been increasing. This paper examines how social and economic inequalities influence autocratisation, which refers to the decline in democratic qualities of political regimes. The central question addressed is whether various types, levels, and changes in distributional inequalities (aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 10) contribute to the deterioration of democratic institutions, thus reducing governance inclusivity (SDG 16). The focus is on distributional inequalities and their relationship with governance forms (autocracy vs. democracy). Findings indicate that traditional measures of income inequality, such as the Gini coefficient, show little correlation with the decline in democratic qualities. In contrast, disparities in social service provision, particularly in healthcare and education, are strongly linked to the likelihood of autocratisation. Countries that offer social opportunities more equitably are significantly less prone to weakening democratic qualities. These insights are particularly relevant for international actors prioritizing democracy, like Sweden and Switzerland, and are crucial for all stakeholders involved in the 2030 Agenda, as achieving SDG 16 is essential for the overall success of the agenda.