Keeping track of the global state of democracy requires keeping a sharp analytic lens focused on multiple trends simultaneously, including democratic erosion in new or developing democracies, democratic tremors in long-established democracies, and political hardening in many autocracies. Program researchers offer a regular stream of insights on these and other related trends.
The case of Georgia illuminates how pluralistic values and civic mobilization can serve as primary sources of resilience, even when formal institutional safeguards falter. Georgia’s experience shows that democratic culture can deepen even as autocratization advances.
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The disparate cases and hard questions of interpretation underline the need for nuance.
More than 160 significant anti-government protests erupted around the world this year, according to Carnegie’s Global Protest Tracker, with many driven by voting-related grievances.
The EU’s fragmented approaches to the crises of climate change, conflict, and democracy fall short by not addressing the mutually reinforcing links between them. Brussels needs an integrated strategy to tackle the emerging three-way nexus and mitigate the vulnerabilities it creates.
Riyadh’s fence-sitting strategy reflects its desire to keep all doors open. Others may follow its lead.
Given the growing difficulties to reach meaningful consensus among all G20 members, Trump’s return is likely to accelerate the emergence of more pragmatic, mini-lateral initiatives between like-minded actors willing to move forward in a specific policy area, be it in the realm of security, climate, or trade.
Polarization is a mortal threat to democracy, and if the United States hopes to avoid violence and authoritarianism it needs to contemplate significant reforms to its political institutions and reinvigorate a commitment to a common purpose.
Quick and transparent results, holding political actors accountable, curbing disinformation, and fostering cross-party collaboration are tools that any democracy can use to defuse tensions.
Democracies the world over are not being undone by disenchanted citizens but by leaders with predatory political ambitions that use all opportunities to defy constraints to their power.
The 16th BRICS Summit, which took place in the Russian city of Kazan, proved to be a symbolic diplomatic victory for Vladimir Putin.
Since Brazil co-founded the BRICS in 2009, Brazilian analysts and politicians have largely agreed that membership brought tangible benefits to the country—including closer ties to China. But as this year’s summit approaches, the costs are adding up.
Populists undermine the operating environment capitalism depends on—most notably, free competition and a predictable rule of law.
