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] Direct threats to domestic communities and election integrity do not originate solely from Russia; they are increasingly driven by Western political and corporate actors. EU DisinfoLab
• [New] The skeptical commentary identifies the risk Seoul would have to manage: a U.S.-DPRK process that prizes leader-level optics, election-year achievement, or partial threat reduction to the United States over South Korea's interest in denuclearization, extended deterrence, and alliance-based security. Fault Lines
• [New] 64% of Americans agree with the view that American democracy is in danger of failing. Ipsos
• [New] U.S. democracy is in danger of failing. Ipsos
• [New] The world's two most ambitious authoritarian powers continue to pose a genuine and dynamic threat to the United States and its democratic allies, which must adapt and innovate if they are to successfully defend their interests. CEPA
• [New] A Reform UK general election victory could lead to an irreversible change in UK politics. The Guardian
• [New] Political elections & campaigns drew the greatest concern in Germany at 34%, fueling fears of misinformation during voting periods. Call Your Girlfriend
• [New] Pollsters predict an extremely tight vote in line with the last three election runoffs in Peru. The Guardian
• [New] Concern has grown among experts and policy makers that democracy itself is at risk in the US and that the current US administration is seeking to establish an authoritarian form of government [16, 17, 18, 19]. SpringerLink
• [New] An outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda has global public health officials scrambling to contain the relevant virus, which the World Health Organization has warned will likely spread further and cause more deaths beyond the more than 130 estimated fatalities so far. Scientific American
• [New] Actors from Russia and the US are attempting to promote separatist ideas in what researchers behind the report described as a threat to Canada's democratic integrity. BBC News
• [New] Before America, proponents of democracy generally solved the problem of selfishness by suggesting that citizens could rise above their own interests to join in achieving some larger good that they would recognize through reasoning together. AMERICAN HERITAGE
• [New] Redistricting is set to continue beyond 2026, as Georgia, New York, Mississippi, and Maryland are expected to redraw their congressional districts ahead of the 2028 presidential election, with other states likely following suit. Acled
• [New] With the far-right AfD becoming stronger, the next federal election, expected in 2029, is increasingly viewed as pivotal for Germany's defence trajectory. International Centre for Defence and Security
• [New] The now-upended court battle about Mississippi's judicial elections will serve as an early test of whether voting rights plaintiffs can still mount a convincing case in some circumstances. The Marshall Project
• [New] Ethiopia will hold a general election. Everything Briefing
• [New] Erdogan assumes that as long as Turkey accommodates the White House's strategic imperatives and the financial demands of international markets, it will be insulated from international blowback regarding its democratic backsliding. Turkish Minute
• [New] Given the weakness of many social democratic parties in Europe, there is a unique opportunity for Green parties to broaden their appeal: it might even provide them with a route to become the dominant left-of-centre force. The Guardian
• [New] Scotland - the SNP won a fifth successive election but do not have a majority, so there may be some changes in policy as they will rely on other parties' support to pass legislation. Strutt & Parker - Rural Hub
• [New] The loan, which remains conditional on continued democratic and anti-corruption reforms, will fund a significant portion of Ukraine's military and financial requirements over the next two years as it fights Russia's brutal invasion. The Conversation
• [New] Stronger economic growth should attract more capital to the U.S. in that time frame, while the French presidential election next spring could increase concerns around political risk in Europe, weighing on the euro. Morgan Stanley
• International partners - including the European Union and NATO - will likely continue to provide guidance and incentives, helping to anchor Romania in democratic principles and economic stability. BTI 2026
• The move, which will require new legislation and a vote in parliament, marks the latest policy U-turn for Germany, which has for decades pursued a policy of simultaneously phasing out nuclear power, coal and-soon-gas in a bid to transition Europe's biggest economy to renewable energy. The Council of Industry

Last updated: 21 June 2026