The Latest Breaking News from Democracy

The paradox of democracy’s success: behavioural science helps explain why we miss autocratic red flags

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 paved the way for the democratisation of many eastern European countries and triumphantly ushered in the era of global liberal democracy that some scholars celebrated as “the end of history”. The idea was that human political history followed a steady path and…

The Conversation · Mar 21, 2025

Avoiding your neighbor because of how they voted? Democracy needs you to talk to them instead

Are you angry about politics right now? Seething? You’re not alone. According to the Mood of the Nation Poll by researchers at Penn State, 9 in 10 Americans can name a recent news event or something about American politics that made them angry.

The Conversation · Mar 21, 2025

Turkey: a favourable international climate is spurring Erdoğan’s crackdown on democracy

The Turkish judiciary has finally succeeded in sidelining Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, at the fourth attempt. On the morning of March 19, the 53-year-old posted a video on social media announcing that police had arrived at his home to arrest him on charges of corruption, aiding a terrorist organisation and…

The Conversation · Mar 20, 2025

Indonesia passes controversial law allowing greater military role in government

Activists in world’s third-largest democracy warn the legal changes signal a return to military dominance in civilian affairs that characterised Suharto years

The Guardian - AU · Mar 20, 2025

‘We don’t know what to hope for’: Romanians torn after barring of far-right hopeful

Intelligence reports suggest Călin Georgescu benefited from suspected Russian interference, but the annulment of his first-round win has left many angry and confused

The Guardian - UK · Mar 20, 2025

Israelis Return To Streets In Anger Over Netanyahu's Policies

Blowing foghorns and beating drums, thousands of Israelis on Wednesday took over the winding Jerusalem street outside the prime minister's residence to protest what they see as Benjamin Netanyahu's bid to weaken democracy.

International Business Times · Mar 20, 2025

Literacy crisis becomes democracy crisis

Legal scholar Derek Black: America's schools are being targeted by Trump in a way that fuels autocratic populism

Salon · Mar 19, 2025

What happens if Trump continues to defy court orders?

Trump could be on a path to contempt of court or his own impeachment, legal experts tell Alex Woodward. But nobody knows where a ‘dangerous moment for democracy’ is headed

The Independent UK · Mar 18, 2025

Duterte’s arrest gives ‘a sense impunity ends’, says Nobel peace prize winner

Maria Ressa says rules-based order ‘can perhaps still exist’ but social media is being used to undermine democracy around the world

The Guardian - UK · Mar 18, 2025

Christian nationalism in the U.S. is eerily reminiscent of ‘dominionist’ reformers in history

Far-right politics and Christian nationalism are on the rise in North America and Europe, leading to growing concerns about what it means for human rights and democracy.

The Conversation · Mar 17, 2025