Jair Bolsonaro’s historic defeat in Brazil’s presidential elections yesterday marks the 15th straight opposition victory in Latin America. Over the past years, not a single democratic leader in the region has managed to get re-elected or pick his or her successor.
Democracy promotion has been a long-standing objective of U.S. foreign policy. Indeed, America’s role as the shining “city upon a hill” has shaped its foreign policy through decades of war and peace.
Developed in partnership with private companies, China has unleashed wholesale monitoring and tracking of Uyghur individuals, including biometric data collection of facial imagery and iris scans and genomic surveillance through mandatory DNA sampling.
Just like in countries such as Venezuela under Chávez, Hungary under Orbán, Nicaragua under Ortega and Turkey under Erdogan, where voters gave populists with authoritarian tendencies a second chance, Brazil’s democracy would face tremendous pressure if Bolsonaro were to triumph on October 30.
U.S. democracy is in rapid decline. The most immediate manifestation is the threat to our system of free and fair elections.
It is hard to describe the damage that will be done to American government if these plans are carried out.
The US and Japan have responded positively to developing countries’ calls for greater representation. Europe is lagging behind and losing credibility.
Philanthropy has responded heroically to the crisis in American Democracy.
FIFA’s decision to give Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup brought criticism—and opportunities for change. With fans’ chants for the protection of human rights getting louder, will the country and FIFA answer with long-term reforms?
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak has become the new UK prime minister. If he manages to win respect from both the voters and the markets, Labour’s current advantage in the polls may come into question.