Why Latin America’s Losers Won’t Concede
Flávio Bolsonaro lost Brazil’s presidential election and then did a predictable thing: He claimed it was stolen. Why are the region’s runners-up constantly crying foul when they lose free and fair elections?
Why Latin America’s Losers Won’t Concede
A New Day for Democracy
We have just witnessed a series of stunning democratic gains in a single day. We may look back to see October 25, 2026 as the beginning of the end of the democratic recession.
Yes, Protest Still Works. Serbia Just Proved It.
Serbia’s student movement just peacefully ousted the country’s corrupt leader by turning their protests into political power. They did it by marrying creativity to strategy, organization, and outreach.
Is Egypt’s Sisi Really Stepping Down in 2030?
Or is this just another ruse? Either way, the fine print in Sisi’s statements suggests even greater military control of Egypt’s elections and political life.
Inside Modi’s “Cockroach” Crackdown
The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has scored important wins against Modi. But they need to keep learning if they are going to turn public outrage into real change.
Cubans Are Leading from the Inside
The Cuban people urgently want change, and their courage is rising. This is how civil society stands up as a corrupt system begins to collapse.
Israel’s Slide into Competitive Authoritarianism
Under Netanyahu, Israel has become a competitive authoritarian regime. The country’s upcoming elections are its best chance to halt Israel’s democratic backsliding before it’s too late.
Democratic Resistance in Eroding Democracies
Today the chief threat to democracy comes not from generals in the streets but from elected leaders dismantling it from within.
Zambia’s Authoritarian Turn
Hakainde Hichilema came to power five years ago promising to restore Zambia’s democracy. But his government now commits the very abuses he once railed against.
Why Germany’s Mainstream Parties Have Lost Their Way
The country’s far right is connecting with voters where they live. Germany’s mainstream parties need to borrow from that playbook and become a presence in the communities they hope to lead.
What “Leaderless” Actually Means
Gen Z protests are about more than a generation. Uprisings like the one we helped lead in Kenya are rewriting how movements organize, and how states fight back.
Is Germany Falling for the Far Right?
For the first time since the party’s founding in 2013, the “firewall” that has kept the far right out of German government is trembling. Can it hold? And what does the AfD’s breakthrough reveal about the health of democracy across Europe?
The Alternative for Germany Is Triumphant
The far-right German party is surging on the heels of a historic victory. The so-called Blue Storm is no longer a force on the horizon. It has arrived, and Germany’s political center is falling fast.
Why Today’s Global Disorder Rewards Authoritarians
Autocratic middle powers are exploiting the rifts and divisions in the world order to reap newfound deals and influence.
The Future the Taliban Cannot Control
Five years of repressive Taliban rule has not extinguished Afghans’ determination to shape a freer future.
Why Political Polarization Is Rising, and How to Reverse It
Democratic politics depends on the messy, sometimes bitter competition of parties and ideas — opposition is how citizens hold power to account. But in democracies around the world, healthy rivalry is hardening into something more corrosive: the tendency to see political opponents as enemies, not rivals.
Why Political Violence Is Rising
Democratic government — ideally — provides channels for resolving conflict among competing groups and interests, defusing hostilities before they explode into physical violence. It has never worked perfectly.
How China Weaponizes Buddhism
China is an atheist state, so why does it promote Buddhism? That’s because the CCP thinks it can be a tool for political control. But the strategy actually exposes Beijing’s deepest fears.
How AI Agents Are Empowering Human-Rights Defenders
With news of a rogue AI jumping developers’ guardrails, authoritarian governments harnessing its power to ramp up repression, and companies laying off scores of workers, it might be tempting to dismiss the good this technology can do. That would be a mistake, according to Alex Gladstein.
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Readers come to the Journal of Democracy seeking a deeper understanding of what democracy is and how it works best, insights and analysis on the latest democratic developments around the world, and a lens through which to interpret events in their own backyard.