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] The snap election is very much crystallizing in investors' minds the risks that Japan's public finances just are not going to put on a sustainable path. The Asahi Shimbun
• [New] In New Jersey's state legislature, women will hold 37.8% of Democratic and 13.2% of Republican seats. Center for American Women and Politics
• [New] As a result of the 2025 election, the number of Asian American, Black, and Latina women in the Virginia House of Delegates will increase. Center for American Women and Politics
• [New] While the number of both Democratic and Republican assemblywomen will go down from 2025 to 2026, the percentage drop among Republican women is larger than that among Democratic women. Center for American Women and Politics
• [New] In Wales, the first election under a reformed Senedd will test new institutional arrangements and could alter coalition dynamics and policy influence. Edelman Global Advisory
• [New] 2026 will see a decline in freedoms and democratic quality on a global scale. Degrowth
• [New] The US midterm elections in November will be a critical test for the resilience of American democracy. Degrowth
• [New] The future of Iran, whether collapse, fragmentation, or democratic transformation, will largely depend on how the United States chooses to engage, respond, and support Iranian aspirations. The National Interest
• [New] The next major opportunity for interference will be the 2027 presidential election in France, where President Emmanuel Macron will not run and the far-right RN will be the main contender. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• [New] While narrower than California's climate disclosure laws and impacting only specific high emissions sectors, the New York regulations are another indication that some states with Democratic party majorities will seek to mandate climate disclosures in the future. JD Supra
• [New] Without the election of President Trump and a dramatic shift in energy policy, blackouts could have increased 100 times in 2030.Nuclear Power will play an important role in unleashing more affordable, reliable and secure electricity to the American people. Energy.gov
• [New] What is unfolding in New York, California, Hawaii and Minnesota is the spearhead of a broader capitalist offensive that threatens democratic rights, economic security and social cohesion. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Divisions within the Syrian Democratic Forces, which have reportedly impeded the year-long integration negotiations, threaten to prolong fighting between the SDF and the Syrian government in eastern Aleppo Province and risk further destabilizing northeastern Syria. Critical Threats
• [New] Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to allow lawmakers linked to its slush fund scandal to run on proportional representation lists in the next election. The Asia Cable
• [New] Wood Mackenzie flags the risk that election-year politics complicate fiscal decision-making and keep trade policy unsettled, particularly as tariff measures and negotiations with China remain unresolved. Metal Tech News
• [New] Programs like the U.S.-EU Democracy Dialog, now dormant, could expand into a permanent platform for democratic innovation. ECPS

Last updated: 01 February 2026