Global Scans · Democracy · Weekly Summary

• [New] The Democratic Party, if it retains the White House in the next election, will have one last chance to try diplomacy with Iran. ai-cio
• [New] Democrats have made abortion rights a central issue of their campaigns in Arizona, which was already expected to be a major battleground, and Florida, a longtime election bellwether that has swung further to the right in recent years. The Guardian
• [New] Beyond mere operational enhancements, the true potential of tokenized investments lies in their ability to democratize finance, granting broader access to investment opportunities for the general population through fractionalized investments in global assets. The UCW Newswire
• [New] With the rising demand for decentralized finance solutions and potential global adoption, Synthetix is poised to disrupt traditional financial markets, democratizing access to diverse investment opportunities. Vestinda
• [New] A worrying 2023 report previously warned that hate crimes will likely increase during the 2024 presidential race for the White House as groups including neo-Nazis attempt to wage war on democracy. PinkNews
• President Biden's campaign, the larger anti-MAGA coalition, and democracy defenders in the United States and around the world could not be more overjoyed. The Washington Post
• Delegations from South Korea and the U.S. specifically called out the dangers of digital technologies like AI being used to produce fake news and disinformation campaigns intended to weaken democratic institutions. New America
• A spike of violence in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has forced 540 schools to close in the past year, creating chaos for children and putting them at risk of being recruited by armed forces, forced into work. Save the Children International
• While the Defending Democracy Taskforce seeks to reduce the risk of foreign interference to the UK's democratic processes, they do not focus on the chronic threat to democracy from domestic and non-state actors engaged in disinformation, conspiracies and extremism. GOV.UK
• Democrats see an opportunity to pummel Trump on abortion access, as well as concerns about access to in vitro fertilization after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are legally children. Time
• In recent years, Christian nationalism has received a great deal of attention as an ideology that some critics have said could threaten American democracy. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project
• In a significant turn of events, Zambia has emerged as the third most democratic country among nine nations grappling with the threat of autocratic rule. Lusaka Times
• In the tumultuous landscape of Iranian politics, one organization stands out as a beacon of hope for a future marked by democracy, equality, and human rights: the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Official website of the National Council of Resistance
• Democratic party identification and liberal ideology will be associated with a higher sense of trust in the WHO while Republican party identification and conservative ideology will be associated with a lower sense of trust. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The revival of the draft Law raises serious concerns and will undermine the whole idea of making Georgia a stronger democratic society. ICNL
• The European Union's dithering has allowed foreign agent laws to spread in Europe and Central Asia, Human Rights Watch says, increasing the risk to civil society organizations that are already under threat from governments who are seeking to stifle democratic institutions and the free press. RFE/RL
• Trump is already putting the future of a democratic Ukraine (and possibly other NATO allies) at risk by instructing House Republicans, where an aid package has stalled, they can not help Ukraine. Time
• As billions of people vote in elections around the world in 2024, researchers and scientists are warning that disinformation around elections poses an unprecedented threat against democracy. The Equation
• South Korea's efforts in cyberspace not only protect its own democratic institutions but also contribute to the broader defence of democracy worldwide against the rising tide of cyber and informational threats. The Diplomat
• The United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand accused PRC-state-sponsored cyber threat actors of conducting malicious cyber operations against democratic institutions. Institute for the Study of War
• The very existence of a democratic Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) threatens the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party. The Heritage Foundation
• There is a legitimate concern that emigration could pose a threat to voter turnout in the upcoming election, with a significant portion of Ghanaians seeking opportunities abroad, potentially undermining the democratic process. GhanaWeb
• Voter Apathy: A Threat to Democracy: Voter apathy is a significant concern looming over Ghana's upcoming election. GhanaWeb

Last updated: 21 April 2024