Some reflections from EEA’s Socio-Political Representative, Julia Doxat-Purser
No earthly political system can ever be perfect. People are involved, power is involved, and wherever people and power meet, things can easily become messy. The temptation to accumulate, protect, or abuse power is as old as humanity itself. But if perfection is impossible, what makes one political system better than another?
The Bible offers a framework for thinking about government and public life:
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Every human being is made in the image of God, inherently precious and capable of remarkable creativity and goodness. At the same time, Scripture is clear that all people are also sinful.
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God gives human beings genuine freedom—to choose between right and wrong, to work, create, care, and live in community with others.
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Human rights originate with God, not governments. Those who hold authority are responsible for protecting these rights, never granting or removing them as if they were theirs to control.
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Good government makes space for human flourishing, while restraining evil when necessary.
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Because every political leader is imperfect and fallible, power should never be concentrated in one place. It should be distributed as widely as possible, and every leader must be held accountable—by law, by institutions, and by people.
When ancient Israel asked God for a king, He warned them of the dangers of centralised power. When they insisted, He ensured that prophets would be there to speak truth to power. Today, the modern equivalents of those prophets include a strong parliament, an independent judiciary, a free media, and an engaged electorate. A healthy political system must always allow space to question, challenge, criticise, and ultimately remove those in authority.
Yet many societies today live with bad government. In some cases, people long for change. In others, they accept the status quo—trusting the propaganda, believing their rights are mostly respected, overlooking the rights of others, choosing not to see the potential for greater oppression ahead.
Equally concerning is the slow slide of once healthy political systems into unaccountable, self-serving ones. This erosion is often subtle: judges aligned with political interests, media captured by those in power, big money shaping policy behind the scenes, and vulnerable groups becoming targets of discrimination. It is often justified in the name of “protecting the people” from a perceived threat.
So how can we discern this slide and guard against it? Here are a few markers worth monitoring:
Indicators of Government Health
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Press Freedom
Each year, check your country’s position in the World Press Freedom Index and whether it is improving or deteriorating: https://rsf.org/en/index
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Corruption Levels
Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index offers a global comparison of integrity in public office:
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025
Summary for Europe:
https://www.transparency.org/en/press/corruption-perceptions-index-2025-europe-must-step-up-leadership-fight-against-corruption
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Judicial Independence
How politically entangled are your nation’s judges? Do they uphold the rule of law even when it challenges the powerful? And how do those in authority react when rulings do not go their way?
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Treatment of All People
Is any group being subtly—or openly—treated as less valuable? Are human rights being weakened or selectively applied? Are we forgetting the imago Dei in others?
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The “Trust Me Alone” Leader
Beware leaders who claim unique trustworthiness or present themselves as the only protector of the nation. This is not only a step toward idolatry but a red flag for excessive, unaccountable power. True trust is earned through transparency, humility, and robust systems of accountability.
