State Surveillance and the Decline of Democracy: Comparative Insights from Hybrid Regimes

Abstract

This study explores the intersection of state surveillance and democratic decline within hybrid political regimes. Focusing on cases such as Turkey, Hungary, and India, the research investigates how governments employ digital surveillance systems to monitor populations, restrict dissent, and consolidate authority, all while upholding the outward appearance of democratic institutions. A qualitative comparative case study design was adopted, drawing on data from government records, human rights documentation, and interviews with subject-matter experts. The analysis demonstrates that surveillance mechanisms have grown increasingly sophisticated and are legitimized through legal structures and nationalist narratives. These findings highlight the extent to which digital tools are instrumentalized to weaken democratic practices and reinforce authoritarian tendencies. The article underscores the urgent need to reassess the relationship between technological governance and political freedoms in the contemporary digital era.