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Is Democracy Surviving the “Year of Elections”?

Millions of voters are casting ballots in a string of elections across the globe this year. At the midyear point, how well is democracy holding up?

Did Muhammad Yunus Sign Up for Mission Impossible?

• Šumit Ganguly

The famed economist and Nobel laureate is charged with repairing what remains of Bangladesh’s democracy. But is someone even as accomplished as Yunus up to the task?

Georgia’s Battle for Freedom

• Ghia Nodia

Georgians have returned to the streets to fight for their country’s future. They refuse to let it slip quietly into the autocracy the ruling party seeks.

The Elections That Mattered Most in 2024

The “year of elections” is entering its final stretch, and the contests of 2024 have run the gamut. We saw landslides, charades, and — in democratic and authoritarian settings alike — a fair number of surprises. What were the most significant elections of the year so far?

Why Germany’s Far Right Is Winning Big

• Michael Bröning

The far-right Alternative for Germany is no longer a mere protest party. It’s tapping into widespread discontent and is surprisingly popular with young voters. Even more, it is reshaping the political future of Germany.

The Viktor Orbán Show

• Sándor Ésik

Don’t let the Hungarian prime minister’s globe-trotting and grandstanding fool you. Behind the posturing and attempts to steal the spotlight is a strongman who feels his position slipping.

Why Does the Kremlin Bother Holding Sham Elections?

• Margarita Zavadskaya

Everyone knows that Russia’s election is a fraud. The problem is no dictator ever feels safe enough, and Putin thinks even a fake election will signal to his cronies that he’s still in charge.

The Demise of Senegalese Democracy

• Bamba Ndiaye

President Macky Sall has called off his country’s presidential election just weeks ahead of the vote. His unconstitutional decree will not only keep him in power, but threatens to throw Senegal into violent chaos.

Why Putin Isn’t Forever

• Damon Wilson

The Kremlin’s political theater shouldn’t be mistaken for an election or symbol of stability. It’s a sign of Putin’s weakness and the country’s descent into a deeper tyranny.

Why Militaries Support Presidential Coups

• Sharan Grewal

If you want to understand why generals support a presidential power grab, then you need to understand the logic that motivates them. Why they leave the barracks — and what we must do to get them to stand down.

Can Claudia Sheinbaum Emerge from AMLO’s Shadow?

• León Krauze

She was just elected Mexico’s first woman president in a landslide. The future of Mexico’s democracy rests on whether she can break from her predecessor’s ways and carve her own democratic path.

Inside Orbán’s Plan to Occupy Europe

• Kim Lane Scheppele

The Hungarian prime minister is on a mission to overrun Brussels, disrupt the EU, and consolidate his power at home. It just might work.

Maduro Can Only Rule Through Fear and Terror

• Paola Bautista de Alemán

The Venezuelan strongman lost the election and everyone knows it. He has nothing left to offer but violence and repression. It will be his undoing.

How Tragedy Sparked a Protest Movement

• John Chin

Serbs from all walks of life have had enough with their corrupt, inept, and increasingly authoritarian government. Will Serbia’s president be able to withstand the crisis?

Is This the Beginning of Maduro’s End?

• Alejandro Tarre

The Venezuelan strongman is attempting to steal the country’s presidential election and daring the people to stop him. But even if military leaders are backing him, Maduro is already weaker than he appears.

Why Georgians Won’t Give Up

• Ghia Nodia

Even as the ruling party has grown more repressive, the people have swarmed the streets in protest — every day. The protesters know the government’s true goal is to appease Russia, and Georgians will never accept it.

Our Favorite Books of 2023

New works on China, Russia, political philosophy, English history, and much more graced our shelves this year. Here are the JoD staff’s favorite books of the year.

Why the European Elections Will Test Democracy

• Richard Youngs

The danger is greater than the rise of far-right parties. In fact, there is a risk that in their eagerness to contain the far right, European leaders may do greater damage to democracy itself.

France Rallies to Resuscitate the Republic

• Dan Slater

The French president made a big bet, and the far right lost.

How the World’s Most Popular Dictator Wins

• Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez

El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele may be overwhelmingly popular, but he wasn’t going to let his electoral ambitions hinge on being well-liked. Instead, he rigged the playing field before the first vote was cast.