Global Scans · Democracy · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Society is expressing its discontent with current democratic processes that leave the elites struggling to convince their voters of their good intentions and competencies. Read on to see how democracy is offering both great opportunities and risks while this period of volatility shakes out.

• [New] We hold no sympathy for the corrupt and undemocratic Maduro government in Venezuela, however unlawful aggression will only produce another Libya or Syria scenario, not democracy. Volt Europa
• [New] Domestic drama will further complicate matters - 2026 will be an election year in Israel. Middle East Institute
• [New] Maintaining primary fiscal surpluses - a core IMF requirement - will demand sustained political commitment to tax reform and spending restraint, a difficult task in a pre-election environment. THE AsiaN
• [New] Western politicians love to frame the U.S.-China competition as democracy versus autocracy, with the implicit assumption that democratic systems will naturally produce superior technological innovation. Medium
• [New] Lawmakers are planning a wide range of AI regulations, especially heading into the 2026 election year. WITF
• [New] The use of realistic AI-generated images to target political opponents is expected to grow substantially in the 2026 midterm election year. WITF
• [New] Uganda's 2026 elections - historically characterised by tension and civil-society crackdowns - are likely to trigger temporary delays in capital deployment as investors monitor the pre-election trajectory. Verdict
• [New] Nation-state activity, election cycles, and deepfake-driven disinformation have raised reputational and operational risk in several APAC nations. News, Events, Advertising Options
• [New] Ukraine's efforts to move toward a more accountable and democratic system of government are a key cause of Moscow's escalating aggression, with Putin viewing Ukrainian democracy as an existential threat to Russian authoritarianism. Atlantic Council
• [New] The people of Burma, including the Karen, have never and will never change in their desire for freedom, human rights and democracy. ENG.MIZZIMA.COM
• [New] As with Poland's rounds of voting during the past decade, the next few elections in the United States will not only be contests between competing policies but involve a more fundamental choice between democracy and authoritarianism, as well. Foreign Affairs
• [New] The gravest danger to U.S. democracy is not repression but demobilization. Foreign Affairs
• [New] Electoral authorities in Honduras are expected to conduct a recount in the coming days after last month's disputed presidential election. Everything Briefing

Last updated: 28 December 2025