I really think you should chalk a lot of it up to media sensationalism. The Soviet Union collapsed around the time you were born, and that was a massive reduction in authoritarianism across the globe. By nearly all measures, things are better for everyone: poverty, child mortality, easily curable disease, access to education, to clean water, are all dramatically better since then.

Media sensationalism and bubbles are driven by several cooperating incentives: consolidation of traditional media ownership into fewer and fewer corporations all which have similar goals; more competition from non traditional outlets; suspension of traditional journalistic principles; cozy relationships among journalists, politicians and academics that tend to a very narrow Overton Window; a climate of fear regarding cancel culture.

Fortunately, alternative perspectives are easier to find than ever before.