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] Globalism poses a threat to the future of democracy because it disenfranchises the vast majority and empowers a technocratic elite. The Heritage Foundation
• [New] By the end of the decade, Cambodia had fallen back into an autocratic system that, due to regular, unfree elections, could at best be described as a facade democracy. BTI 2026
• [New] Any reform must respect due process, transparency and the rule of law; otherwise it will undermine public trust, harm service delivery, and weaken India's democratic fabric. Ekam IAS Academy
• [New] In short, this month's election will have consequences far beyond Hungary, a country that accounts for just 1.1% of the EU's GDP and 2% of its population but has, under Orban, come to play a role on the international stage out of all proportion to its size. The Guardian
• [New] In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the primary danger from terrorism is posed by 'ADF, a militant group with links to Daesh'. Cambridge Core
• [New] The calm and quiet in Bosnia will not last long, moreover - 2026 is an election year, with national elections due in October. Balkan Insight
• [New] The predicted increase in size for ID will be due to the growing vote for France's Rassemblement National, which should more than compensate for the expected drop in support for Italy's Lega. gmfus
• [New] In the midst of an election campaign, Hungarian president Viktor Orban is demanding that Ukraine restore Russian oil supplies to his country through the Druzhba pipeline - otherwise he threatens to block a vital €90bn EU loan to Kiev. Le Monde diplomatique
• [New] The Democratic Republic of Congo's position in global cobalt production has created unprecedented supply chain vulnerabilities that ripple through multiple industries. Discovery Alert
• [New] Threats to democracy is the top issue facing the U.S., down 11 points from February, followed by immigration, healthcare, crime, education, and foreign policy. Emerson Polling
• [New] Taiwan's 2026 local elections and the 2028 presidential election are thus consequential near-term inflection points. Brookings
• [New] As the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on a Trump-backed voter ID bill known as the SAVE Act, millions of citizens who lack easy access to its required forms of documentation are now at risk of disenfranchisement. Democracy Now!
• [New] Tools like generative AI will essentially lower the barrier for actors, state and non-state, with fewer resources to engage in potential election interference. Defense One
• [New] Twenty-five years on, as Scotland approaches its seventh parliamentary election, few expect universities to feature so prominently. HEPI
• [New] North Korea's 2026 election is a ceremonial confirmation of Kim Jong Un's re-election and a pre-approved economic plan, with 99.99% turnout expected. Ainvest
• [New] The decisions the world's democracies make in this decade will shape the international security landscape for generations to come, determining whether the future is defined by greater democratic resilience or further authoritarian encroachment. Project Syndicate
• [New] The 2026 election calendar is shaping up as a geopolitical turning point: a handful of national votes and regional contests could shift economic policy, trade ties and climate action at a moment of elevated global tensions. ECIKS.org
• [New] Election-related violent threats surged 300% during the 2024 campaign cycle, and attacks against government facilities and public institutions have increased by 45% year-on-year. Insurance Journal
• [New] As institutional shareholders begin to rely on AI solutions and proxy advisors focus on a more tailored approach to client advice, we expect that fiduciary duties in relation to proxy voting will be in the spotlight in 2026 and beyond. / Canada JD Supra
• [New] New Mexico has quietly decided that armed federal agents hanging around ballot boxes might not be the best look for a democracy. Caffeinated Dispatches Substack
• [New] Political dynamics around AI regulation, Section 230 reform, and election law make comprehensive federal deepfake legislation unlikely before 2027 at the earliest. The Collective
• [New] At Disability Independence Group, voting will be a major focus for us in 2026. Disability Independence Group, Inc.

Last updated: 12 April 2026