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] Up until the Arab uprisings, Turkey invested - and was supported by Western countries - in promoting its image as a benign Muslim democratic power that could represent a model of development for the entire region. CIDOB
• [New] Although Thailand holds elections, its constitutional framework places military-aligned elites at a great advantage, while not providing guarantees that election results will ultimately be respected. Journal of Democracy
• [New] Although the AfD did not win outright, that honour going to the social-democratic SPD with 30.6%, moving up ahead of the CDU will send a clear and alarming message to Germany's political establishment. Statista Daily Data
• [New] Russia seeks to put down democratic movements in its neighbourhood because it is afraid they could undermine its status as a pole in the multipolar world order. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
• [New] By the CEC's rules, no plausible Ukrainian vote arrives before spring 2027 - and a realistic one, later. Euromaidan Press
• [New] If history is any guide, efforts to reverse the global democratic recession will likely align with the fates of youth-led movements around the world. Journal of Democracy
• [New] Election threats are coming from within California: The Riverside County Sheriff recently confiscated and attempted to recount 650,000 ballots citing baseless claims of voter fraud pushed by conspiracy theorists. California Budget & Policy Center
• [New] California faces unprecedented election threats. California Budget & Policy Center
• [New] A rich Russia risks tipping the balance between whether democracy or autocracy prevails on our planet, and eventually whether the future human race lives in freedom or under servitude. Yahoo News
• [New] Another problem with Anthropic's plan is that many countries, especially in Europe, view both American and Chinese AI supremacy as a threat to democracy. theregister
• [New] DOJ lawsuits against 30 states for private voter data, federal investigations, threats of criminal charges, seizures of voting materials, DOJ requests for names of election workers, and even raids of election offices are increasingly being used to intimidate election administrators. Issue One
• [New] If Taiwan, out of fear, opts for unconditional political concessions, it could fall into a situation similar to Hong Kong, where its democratic institutions are dismantled, society faces intensified political repression, capital flees, and talent drains away, leading to long-term economic decline. E-International Relations
• [New] The Bahamas will hold a snap parliamentary election today. Everything Briefing
• [New] Poland sees the 2027 parliamentary election cycle approaching with Tusk's Civic Platform retaining majority polling. The Rio Times
• [New] Being a liberal democracy in a world trending authoritarian will not be easy for Canada, to say the least. The Hill Times
• [New] The Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act, combined with new citizenship verification requirements, risks disenfranchising millions and sharply reducing Black political representation. Brookings
• [New] China anticipates potential political tension in the US, which could include the use of military force by the administration of President Donald Trump if election results are contested. RBC-Ukraine
• [New] While China has made no threats to cut off supplies to Taiwan or other economies, the self-ruled democracy routinely carries out exercises to prepare for potential hostilities by the People's Liberation Army. financialpost
• [New] Political violence is taking center stage in Kenya's run-up to 2027's election, with the term goonism now widely used to describe gangs accused of disrupting rallies, intimidating rivals, and deepening fears over democratic backsliding. OkayAfrica
• [New] Continued fighting in eastern Congo could make it impossible to hold the next presidential election on time in 2028, reviving fears of a prolonged political crisis in the conflict-hit country. OkayAfrica
• [New] Few countries on earth hold the geological potential of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mining Weekly

Last updated: 24 May 2026