Turbulent times call for trenchant analysis. The latest issue of the Journal of Democracy covers important and alarming global trends, including political polarization and rising illiberalism, as well the struggle between autocrats and democrats in Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and beyond.
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The Bukele Model: Will It Spread?
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele’s “iron fist” policies are among the most popular political brands in Latin America. But the very reasons for his success explain why this approach will not succeed elsewhere.
Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez and Alberto VergaraAfrican Popular Protest and Political Change
African social movements are among the most successful at ousting autocrats. Yet entrenched undemocratic institutions leave these victories vulnerable to reversal.
Zoe MarksThe Rise of India’s Second Republic
Indian PM Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition won a third consecutive term but not a sweeping victory. The prime minister is laying the foundation for a new political order that is both more democratic and more illiberal.
Milan VaishnavPakistan’s Coming Crisis
Pakistani voters sent a message at the polls in February: They no longer trust the military to be the “guardian of the country.” The generals can no longer escape accountability for their corruption and incompetence.
Adeel Malik and Maya TudorWhy Mexico Is Not on the Brink
Claudia Sheinbaum won Mexico’s presidency in a landslide, stirring fears about the country’s deteriorating democracy. But Mexico’s democratic institutions are resilient.
Viridiana RíosSoutheast Asia’s Toxic Alliances
What some elites in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand portray as “unity” is nothing more than a corrupt bargain meant to cheat voters of their democratic right to decide their country’s political future.
Duncan McCargo and Rendy WadipalapaIs Democracy Bad for LGBT+ Rights?
LGBT+ rights are under threat across the globe. Some populist leaders are manipulating democratic institutions to curtail these rights, not enshrine them.
Kristopher Velasco, Siddhartha Baral, and Yun (Nancy) TangHereditary Democracy
Voters in democratic countries often favor candidates with family ties to former leaders. When citizens can choose anyone, why do they opt for political dynasties?
James LoxtonWho Decides What Is Democratic?
The “crisis” of democracy is a crisis of representation. The danger posed by some of the new populist parties is not that they are antidemocratic, but that they are antiliberal.
Adam PrzeworskiWhen Democracy Is on the Ballot
Democracy is on dangerous ground when its fundamental rules become the main point of political contention. This is where we are today. The truth is that the institutions, not just the players, need to change.
Michael IgnatieffMisunderstanding Democratic Backsliding
Conventional wisdom blames democratic backsliding on democracy’s failure to deliver. This is seldom true and often not accurate at all.
Thomas Carothers and Brendan Hartnett
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Image Credit: Casa Presidencial El Salvador