Democracy news covering threats to democratic institutions, voting rights, election integrity, authoritarianism, and democratic health in the US and abroad.
The Guardian reports that US democracy indicators have hit 50-year lows, citing International Idea data. The commentary argues the Trump administration's actions undermined the rule of law and tested alliances, reflecting a broader global democratic decline where more countries deteriorated than improved in 2025.
Focus Taiwan reports that Taiwan ranked seventh globally for citizen participation in the Global State of Democracy 2026 report, tying with Finland. While legislative oversight improved, judicial independence declined, moving Taiwan into the middle tier alongside nations like the US and India, amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Gordon Whitman argues that academia and faith-based institutions are essential for rebuilding grassroots agency amid rising autocracy and democratic disillusionment. Citing Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, he suggests that bottom-up collective action is necessary to counter technocratic rule and restore public trust in governance.
The article promotes a new NYU Press book, "Democracy's Challenges: 100 Ideas," edited by Robert Bauer and others. The author highlights their contribution arguing that empowering citizens to vote with their feet can mitigate voter ignorance and the near-powerlessness of individual voters in an increasingly polarized American democracy.
The author argues that the Alternative for Germany's significant electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt challenges the integrity of Germany's democratic firewall. The commentary contends that while institutional safeguards remain, the expanding political constituency for far-right extremism tests the resilience of defensive democracy.
The commentary argues that Germany's 'Brandmauer' firewall against the AfD is collapsing following the party's strong showing in Saxony-Anhalt. It contends that traditional parties face a historic dilemma similar to the Weimar Republic, warning against absorbing anti-democratic movements into the governing apparatus.
John Harris argues that the decline of deep reading and the rise of fragmented digital consumption are eroding public engagement with serious political issues. He cites polling data showing low awareness among UK youth regarding recent far-right demonstrations as evidence of this democratic risk.
Haaretz argues that the Israeli government's refusal to comply with High Court directives and the attorney general creates an imminent constitutional crisis. The commentary contends this defiance of judicial authority fundamentally undermines democracy by challenging the separation of powers and decentralization essential for civil liberty.