The tussle between democracy and authoritarianism has drastically altered Europe’s geopolitical landscape

If Trump’s new administration were to walk away from all elements of global leadership, U.S. democracy support would evaporate. More likely, however, is that Trump’s second presidency will see various shifts in U.S. global engagement but hardly a full abrogation.

A second Trump presidency would likely see the return of more explicit U.S. pressure on Latin American countries to pick sides in the brewing competition between the United States and China. That could create considerable friction in the region.

When conflict-affected countries have a democratic opening, U.S. policymakers need to better understand and incorporate the many factors at play—local actors and power structures, emerging powers and their interests, and competing U.S. interests, among others.

If, for many years, the EU dangerously neglected the need for hard, defensive power it now risks moving to other extreme – giving hard power such pride of place that it detracts from the more consequential trends that will redefine the world order.

Protests have revealed divisions between Kenya’s political elites and its public. The United States should listen to the people’s demands for accountable governance.

A discussion on the risks of political violence in the United States and what can be done to address them.

In the next institutional term, EU leaders must rejuvenate and prioritize democracy support policies.

In one of the most striking campaign pledges so far, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced that she will create a European Democracy Shield if she is re-appointed after the EU elections in June.

Despite a favorable political environment in recent years on both sides of the Atlantic for close European-U.S. cooperation on international democracy support, only policy convergence has been achieved.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed Europe into a new strategic era. But as the conflict persists, European governments and institutions are struggling to move past crisis-driven, short-term policies and design a new European order.

International assistance for women’s political empowerment has evolved significantly over the last three decades, from a first generation of aid programs aimed at integrating women into nascent democratic institutions to a second generation focused on transforming the broader political ecosystem.