In the face of increasing political and societal fragmentation, the Global State of Democracy 2026 explains the patterns that define the direction of democratization around the world. Drawing on the latest data from the Global State of Democracy Indices, the report documents both democratic stagnation and key declines in indicators that measure the credibility of elections, the effectiveness of legislatures, respect for freedoms of expression and the press, and access to justice. These phenomena affect countries across thespectrum of democratic performance.
The Global State of Democracy 2026: Democracy in an Age of Conflict
In the face of increasing political and societal fragmentation, the Global State of Democracy 2026 explains the patterns that define the direction of democratization around the world. Drawing on the latest data from the Global State of Democracy Indices, the report documents both democratic stagnation and key declines in indicators that measure the credibility of elections, the effectiveness of legislatures, respect for freedoms of expression and the press, and access to justice. These phenomena affect countries across thespectrum of democratic performance.
Democracy Tracker | The Global State of Democracy
Each report describes an event that affects the state of democracy in a given country, with assessments made relative to that country's context, not as comparisons or rankings between countries.
Another Democratic Future | Substack
DemocracyNext brings you stories, research, and reflections on the global deliberative wave. Click to read Another Democratic Future, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
We Need To Rethink Democracy
Arundhati Roy: The dismantling of democracy in India will affect the whole world
The text of the writer’s speech as she received the 45th European Essay Prize on September 12.
Hands Off Our Vote - Elections 2026
Hands Off Our Vote Messaging guidance for protecting our vote in the 2026 midterm elections Introduction The regime now in office has us in what’s known formally as competitive authoritarianism; the narrative and organizing strategies we’ve used in the past to ensure votes can be cast and coun...
Scoping report: Future challenges to democracy | CoP CC on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy
The report from the European Commission identifies 10 key challenges and emerging trends impacting European democratic systems and suggests future policy options. These challenges are structured across three interconnected levels: citizens and societal dynamics, the information and knowledge environment, and institutions and the democratic system. This framework aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated view of democracy as a connected ecosystem, emphasising how challenges in one area can affect the entire system.
The V-Dem Dataset – V-Dem
Includes the world's most comprehensive and detailed democracy ratings. The latest version of the dataset and associated reference documents can be downloaded free of charge below.
The Dispersion of Power: A Critical Realist Theory of Democracy
Abstract The Dispersion of Power is an urgent call to rethink centuries of conventional wisdom about what democracy is, why it matters, and how to make it better. Drawing from history, social science, psychology, and critical theory, it explains why elections do not and cannot realize the classic ideal of popular rule, and why prevailing strategies of democratic reform often make things worse. Instead, Bagg argues, we should see democracy as a way of protecting public power from capture—an alternative vision that is at once more realistic and more inspiring. Despite their many shortcomings, real-world elections do prevent the most extreme forms of tyranny, and are therefore indispensable. In dealing with the vast inequalities that remain, however, we cannot rely on standard solutions such as electoral reform, direct democracy, deliberation, and participatory governance. Instead, Bagg shows, protecting and enriching democracy requires addressing underlying inequalities of power directly. In part, this entails substantive policies attacking the advantages of wealthy elites. Even more crucially, deepening democracy requires the organization of oppositional, countervailing power among ordinary people. Neither task is easy, but historical precedents exist in both cases—and if democracy is to survive contemporary crises, leaders and citizens alike must find ways to revive and reinvent these essential democratic practices for the twenty-first century.
Democracy indicators in US at lowest levels for 50 years, data shows
Trump administration undermining rule of law at home and worldwide, according to intergovernmental report
Laboratories against Democracy
As national political fights are waged at the state level, democracy itself pays the price
America's Decision 2026 | civicAPI
Live results for the 2026 United States elections, state by state.
State Media Monitor Global Dataset 2025
This dataset provides comprehensive information on the governance, funding, and editorial independence of state and public media outlets worldwide. In 2025, the State Media Monitor covers 170 countries, tracking changes in media governance models, funding mechanisms, and degrees of political control. The dataset underpins the annual State Media Monitor Global Study and supports comparative research in journalism, media policy, and governance. Access the full dataset here: https://www.statemediamonitor.com
The authoritarians are winning, we can all see that. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be the worst thing if pro-democracy people stopped being ridiculously naive about social media. berjon.com/media-media/
Media Media
berjon.comDemocracy is an epistemic discipline, it only works if truth can constrain power. Without a faster, more transparent architecture for shared reality, the arc of democracy bends away from substance, through simulation, and toward authoritarianism. Without major action, it's the inevitable end state.
How will democracy work in the 21st century?
Exploring and understanding how democracy is and must evolve to support self governance and open societies into the future
The Free Expression Evaluation
How a permanent Citizens' Assembly in Paris passed a bill into law
Another Democratic Future | Substack
What Happens When You Have a Choice? : A Breakdown of The People's Assembly and Blacksky's Vision for Democratic Tooling
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Plurality
