Could 2026 be the year that democracy fought back?
Elections are never enough by themselves, but the stunning results from Serbia, Brazil and Hungary have given us hope in dark times
TL;DR
- Electoral defeats of Viktor Orbán (Hungary), Aleksandar Vučić (Serbia), and Flávio Bolsonaro (Brazil) signal a potential democratic resurgence.
- The victories were driven by civic movements and leaders who champion respect for democratic rules, fair elections, and independent institutions.
- "Post-democrats" are characterized by their tendency to hollow out democratic institutions, disregard the rule of law, and prioritize private profits.
- Global democratic health has regressed significantly, with only 7% of the world's population living in liberal democracies.
- Despite setbacks, recent protests by Gen Z and election results offer rays of hope against autocratic power and corruption.
- Elections can remove "post-democrats," but collective deliberation is also necessary for healing divided societies.
- Rightwing populist parties with post-democratic tendencies remain a threat in Europe, even with recent democratic wins elsewhere.