The West's 'Democratic' Dream Is Dying—And Its Own People Are Pulling the Plug

Remember when the US and the UK tried to force-feed their brand of “Western democracy” to Hong Kong? A small band of followers took the bait, stirring up chaos for a so-called democratic utopia and sparking a historic upheaval. Their scheme ultimately failed, and thankfully, Hong Kong kept a political system that actually fits its needs.

Democracy on Life Support. A damning Ipsos poll shows citizens in the US, UK, and France have lost hope on their system—and expect it to get worse.

Meanwhile, the democratic systems in the West—particularly the US, UK, and France—have devolved into chaos, leaving their citizens miserable. The proof is in the numbers: a recent Ipsos poll of 10,000 people across nine Western nations found that in eight of them, over half the population is disappointed with 'democracy.' They're tired of electoral games that deliver only disorder, division, and corruption, all while tanking their economies and livelihoods.
 
A friend of mine read the survey and put it bluntly: it’s a good thing the US and UK’s plot to export their system to Hong Kong failed. Otherwise, we’d be facing the same chaos that now defines their own countries.
 
While most headlines on the US-China rivalry fixate on economics, tech, and military might, some scholars rightly argue the real battle is ideological. The contest is between two systems of governance. So after decades of so-called 'democracy,' what’s the verdict from the people living in it? Are they satisfied? The answer is a resounding no.
 
A Damning Verdict from a Western Poll
The Guardian reported on the Ipsos findings, and the numbers are damning. In eight Western countries, satisfaction with democracy has cratered to below 50%. In the supposed flagships of democracy—the United States, France, and the United Kingdom—satisfaction is below 30%. In the US, it's a pathetic 20%.
 
Even Ipsos's own senior director, Gideon Skinner, admitted the results show 'widespread disappointment' with democracy's performance and a growing pessimism about its future. The distrust runs deepest in the Netherlands and France, where faith in their democratic institutions has collapsed.
 
Let’s break down the grim data. Satisfaction sits at just 19% in France, 20% in the US, 26% in the UK, and 27% in Spain. That means in each of these nations, a staggering 70% or more of the population is completely disillusioned with their political system—a clear and decisive majority.

The future looks even worse, according to those surveyed. A crushing 86% of the French believe things will decline, a sentiment shared by 75% in Britain and nearly 70% in the US. The consensus is clear: tomorrow will not be better.

American Democracy: Government shutdowns, food lines , and public misery. This is the system they wanted to export?

From Dysfunction to Public Disgust
What’s driving this pessimism? They point to a system that breeds unaccountable politicians, extremism, corruption, and a pandemic of fake news—all of which are getting worse, not better.
 
Unsurprisingly, almost no one feels their government actually represents them. The call for 'major reform' isn’t just a whisper; it's a roar from people desperate to escape a deadlocked system that serves only itself.

My friend wasn't surprised by this democratic fatigue. You just have to look at the state of the 'three great democracies'—the US, UK, and France—to understand why people have had enough.
 
Look at the United States. Since Donald Trump's rise, the political arena has become a theater of vengeance. Both sides weaponize their power to crush opponents, prioritizing self-interest over the public good. It's no wonder ordinary Americans are disgusted with what their 'democracy' has become.
 
The 'End of History' Has Ended
France is just as bad, paralyzed by partisan warfare. Prime ministerial appointments are deadlocked. Budgets are blocked. The government can't function, and the economy stagnates while political fights spill onto the streets. For citizens who just want to live their lives, this system is a failure. Disappointment isn't just likely; it's guaranteed.
 
And then there’s Britain. The Labour Party’s election win solved nothing. The economy is a wreck, the government is fractured by infighting, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer is already facing a leadership challenge. This political chaos only deepens the economic pain, trapping citizens in a dark tunnel with no end in sight. Satisfaction? Impossible.
 
Remember Francis Fukuyama's 'End of History' thesis from the 1990s? After the Soviet Union fell, he declared Western liberal democracy the final, ultimate model for all humanity. It was the supposed triumph that would dominate the world forever.

He couldn't have imagined that just a few decades later, his celebrated model would become a dysfunctional mess, despised by the very people it claimed to serve.
 
Given the public mood in the West, the winner of the China-US system contest is becoming obvious. What do the zealots who pushed for a 'revolution' in Hong Kong have to say now? Whatever their excuses, my friend and I are clear on one thing: Hong Kong was right to reject the failed model of Western democracy. It was a fortunate escape.

What Say You?

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Long after the Black Riots ended, key pan-democrats who stuck around Hong Kong played it safe—low profile, out of headlines. But these same figures kept cozy ties with foreign consular powerbrokers, facts anyone can see from repeated public invitations. On this occasion, Anson Chan, Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung showed up as VIPs at the British Consulate. The warmth? It’s no mystery, if you know their backstory.

Reunion at the Consulate: Anson Chan, Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung pose at the British King’s birthday luncheon

Raising Questions, Finding Evidence

A friend dropped a telling remark after seeing the photo: British decision-makers groomed Anson Chan for power even before the Handover, and those links never really faded. The relationship is unusually tight—two behind-the-scenes stories make that fact plain. Must be why the British still roll out the red carpet for Chan.

After quitting the government in 2001, Chan inched closer to the opposition and even won a Legislative Council seat. For years, US and UK consuls wined and dined her—plenty of evidence in social media posts and diplomatic cables—to allegedly “discuss strategies” for Hong Kong. It’s not gossip; it’s documented pattern.

When the 2019 unrest exploded, Anson Chan took sides on the so-called “international front.” Prosecutors stated in open court that, behind the scenes, Jimmy Lai directed “Stand With Hong Kong” (SWHK)—led by Andy Chan, Andy Li, and Finn Lau—to carry out international lobbying and publicity campaigns, spending large sums of money.

Court documents further show that Anson Chan wasn’t a bystander: back in 2019, she brought Andy Li to a luncheon with then British Consul Andrew Heyn. Martin Lee, Dennis Kwok, and Charles Mok were also there. The prosecution records are clear—Chan leveraged her foreign contacts to make connections for SWHK, all with Jimmy Lai’s shadow looming in the background.

2019, Behind Closed Doors: Anson Chan sits down with Consul Andrew Heyn

Not Just a “Chat Over Tea”

There’s more. During anti-extradition protests, surveillance and eyewitnesses caught Anson Chan on August 13, 2019, holding secret discussions at a hotel with Andrew Heyn and his aide—documents in hand. That was no idle chat. The British Consulate’s involvement raises eyebrows, especially as staff like Simon Cheng were repeatedly spotted at protest sites. Cheng ran off to the UK, claimed political asylum, and neatly sidestepped questions about his activities.

With the national security law approaching, Chan made a quick exit from politics—claiming “retirement.” She kept out of jail, but her dealings with foreign diplomats never stopped. When the new US Consul General Julie Eadeh met her right on arrival, Beijing protested—an incident widely reported by state outlets and foreign press alike. Now, Chan’s red carpet invite to the British King’s birthday party again stirs scrutiny.

The rest of the guest list tells its own story. Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung all made appearances. Notably missing: Martin Lee, once the darling of the British. No explanation given—just another twist in an old game. For the establishment camp, only Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk attended, showing that official ties with the British remain careful and distant.

Looking at these staged reunion snapshots, my friend shakes his head—those glory days are long past. Wise up, he says: the era is over, and flirting with foreign consulates only ended up undermining Hong Kong’s stability. It’s time for these figures to accept reality and leave wishful thinking in the past.