January 2026, Volume 1, Issue 37
Why Populists Hollow Out Their States
Elected leaders across the globe are intentionally undermining their governments’ ability to govern. How and why do these leaders seek to dismantle the states they lead?
More from the Journal
January 2026, Volume 1, Issue 37
Three Mistakes Ukraine Must Avoid
Ukraine must win its war against Russian aggression. But it is also true that the decisions it makes now will determine what kind of state it will be when the war is over.
January 2026, Volume 1, Issue 37
Inside Modi’s Assault on Academic Freedom
Narendra Modi and his ruling BJP have developed the textbook attack on India’s universities and centers of free thought. It offers a vital warning for other countries where higher education is in danger.
January 2026, Volume 1, Issue 37
Uganda After Museveni
The reelection of Uganda’s octogenarian president Yoweri Museveni may be a foregone conclusion, but the country is wracked with unease. His highly personalized regime is passing, and there is no clear view of what will follow.
Latest Online Exclusives
How Venezuela Actually Becomes a Democracy | José Ramón Morales-Arilla
The South American country may be on the verge of real change. But it isn’t going to descend into civil-war chaos like Libya. It will be difficult, imperfect, and far better than what Venezuelans have had to endure.
Why Honduras Is Facing Election Chaos | Rachel A. Schwartz
Days after the election and still no one knows who the next president will be. Even worse, none of the likely winners offer much hope for the country’s democracy.
Why the War on Crime Threatens Democracy | Nicholas Barnes, Henrique Gomes, and
Juan Masullo
Last month Rio’s police conducted the deadliest police operation in Brazil’s history, killing 117 people. It is one episode in a long history of state violence. Not only are such iron-fisted methods ineffective, they pose a danger for democracy itself.
News & Updates
January Issue Out Now!
January 2026
The new issue of the Journal of Democracy is here! Read about Gen-Z uprisings; lessons from Brazil on holding would-be autocrats accountable; how direct-democracy initiatives such as referendums are being undermined by AI; the steps Ukraine must take to remain democratic; and more.
Syria After Assad—One Year On
December 2025
On 8 December 2024, a coalition of Islamic militants toppled the brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, whose family had ruled the country for more than half a century.
Most Read
How to Prevent Political Violence
Political violence is rising in wealthy democracies. Polarized societies and bitter party politics are putting candidates and election officials in serious peril. Political leaders, more than anyone, have the power to stoke or stamp out this dangerous cycle of violence.
How AI Threatens Democracy
Generative AI can flood the media, internet, and even personal correspondence, sowing confusion for voters and government officials alike. If we fail to act, mounting mistrust will polarize our societies and tear at our institutions.
The Myth of Democratic Resilience
We must face an uncomfortable truth: Democracies often fail to reverse the damage after an authoritarian lapse, if they manage to recover at all. If we are to make our political systems more resilient, we must steel democracy against authoritarianism…
AI’s Real Dangers for Democracy
Artificial intelligence and its effects on democracy are a matter of choice, not fate. The concerns are longer term than the recent spate of worry about “generative” AI would suggest. The democratic conversation about AI has hardly begun.
Why Ukraine Shouldn’t Negotiate with Putin
Many pundits cry for a negotiated settlement to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. But they misunderstand Vladimir Putin’s motives. The only just end to the war will be in the trenches, not at the bargaining table.
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How Organized Crime Threatens Latin America
By Javier Corrales and Will Freeman
Drug cartels possess the power of militaries and profits of corporations. They won’t be eliminated anytime soon. But the region’s democracies can try to raise their costs, limit their influence, and curb the violence.
Plus the entire October 2024 issue, available free of charge for a limited time.