Global Scans · Democracy · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Society is expressing its discontent with current democratic processes that leave the elites struggling to convince their voters of their good intentions and competencies. Read on to see how democracy is offering both great opportunities and risks while this period of volatility shakes out.

• [New] Uganda will hold a presidential election today. Everything Briefing
• [New] Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve parliament next week and call a snap general election. CNBC
• [New] The 2026 U.S. midterms risk destabilizing global markets through eroded institutional trust and election integrity doubts. Ainvest
• [New] If no presidential or parliamentary election campaign is announced, if no scandalous black swans emerge from the latest NABU wiretap recordings, if no other documents or evidence surface in corruption cases and schemes involving Ukraine's top decision-makers, then 2026 will be a carbon copy of 2025. International Liberty Institute
• [New] In Central Africa, the re-election of CAR President Touadera consolidates existing political structures but risks entrenching long-standing governance challenges. RileySENTINEL
• [New] In 2026, AI's trajectory will be shaped by four realities: technical and economic limits, the need for new approaches beyond scaling, enterprise adoption moving from pilots to P & L scrutiny and AI becoming a voting issue in American politics. Forbes
• [New] Taiwan's military is under pressure from China, which claims the democratic island is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it. Space Daily
• [New] With Thailand's economy in 2026 projected to grow modestly at around 1.5%, several business sectors have begun preparing for potential headwinds - some persisting from last year and others emerging as new risks, particularly with a planned general election in February. https://www.bangkokpost.com
• [New] The instability in Thailand and Myanmar, democratic backsliding in Indonesia, and tensions between Cambodia and Thailand all pose risks to regional stability and economic certainty. Asia Media Centre | Helping New Zealand media cover Asi
• [New] The Commission has previously opened proceedings into TikTok for election-interference risks and can impose fines up to 6% of global turnover for DSA violations. MarketingProfs
• [New] The Supreme Court case could reshape the voting landscape in the United States, potentially affecting 47 million people, including some 5 million military and civilian voters living abroad. The Conversation
• [New] The election in Brazil will determine if the world's seventh-largest economy remains a leader of the Global South or pivots back toward a US-integrated trade architecture. Robeco.com - The investment engineers
• [New] Around the world, autocratic leaders are dismantling democratic norms, threatening opponents, and eroding the rule of law. Greater Good
• [New] The next phase of US-Taiwan relations will not be decided by declarations or arms packages alone, but rather, it will be shaped by whether both sides can sustain a shared narrative, one that is honest enough for democratic societies, yet disciplined enough for strategic competition. Taiwan Insight
• [New] Across Europe, the far right is gaining ground, feeding on fear and disinformation, and pushing an agenda that undermines democratic norms and workers' rights. Social Europe
• [New] For the United States, which has been experiencing democratic backsliding for a decade, the potential and reality of crises is becoming a new normal. The New Humanitarian
• [New] Hungary's parliamentary election, expected in 2026, sits at the heart of Europe's eastern security dilemma. Politics UK - The Home of UK Political News
• [New] In a volatile Middle East, Israel's 2026 election will shape both regional stability and its international legitimacy. Politics UK - The Home of UK Political News
• [New] Israel's 2026 elections might be the last chance to save key democratic institutions that have been under sustained assault by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Week
• [New] Democratic backsliding will likely accelerate in weaker states like Ethiopia, where security conditions and state capacity render genuine competitive contestation impossible. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] Russia will hold its first parliamentary election since launching its invasion. SKY
• [New] Further east, Hungary's parliamentary election will act as a referendum on the durability of illiberal governance within the European Union, with consequences for democratic norms and European cohesion in 2026. Politics UK - The Home of UK Political News

Last updated: 18 January 2026