Digital democracies and the challenges of Anthropocene

Only sustained human intervention can effectively mitigate challenges to daily human life

Why do autocrats insist on sham elections?

As Vladimir Putin wins yet another term in the Kremlin, the question remains what is the point in having an election at all?  

Africa’s democratic deficit

Political leaders fail to deliver in Africa

New global order (or disorder)

Fixing weaknesses in democracy is not about less, but more democracy

A one-sided election risks Bangladesh’s future

With the distinction between the state, government and party obliterated, Bangladesh is heading towards a personalised autocracy  

Laws are chipping away at democracy around the world

Trouble is brewing around the world, say experts

Money is breaking democracy in Nigeria

As long as money can buy votes, the future of democracy is uncertain  

Rahul Gandhi vows to spend more on health. High time India does

Congress chief vows to push healthcare spend to 3% of GDP, increase staffing

Dissent and democracy

Forty years after the Emergency was declared, India must revisit its legacy of dissent

More than 4 billion people are eligible to vote in an election in 2024. Is this democracy’s biggest test?

Even amid spreading illiberalism and disillusionment about the benefits of a democratic system, there is reason for cautious optimism 

EXCLUSIVE: Eben Moglen says freedom depends on the Net

Beware of even democratic regimes which want to wiretap

Kenya election 2022: The candidates, issues and role of money in a fierce contest

Raila Odinga and William Ruto are the leading candidates in the polls 

Why Bolsonaro failed to overthrow democracy – and why a threat remains

Although Bolsonaro is currently ineligible to stand for office, a political comeback is not unimaginable should democratic institutions fail to …

Madagascar’s 2023 presidential election is crucial for the island’s future, but it’s off to a rocky start

A critical question is whether this election will be considered “free and fair” and the results accepted by all

Latest parliamentary win by Putin’s United Russia has been years in the manufacturing

The election coincides with a period of economic stagnation, high household inflation, the ongoing coronavirus crisis and environmental disasters

Democracy is good for heart, increases life expectancy

A study of 170 countries between 1980 and 2016 brings out for the first time the impact of democratic systems on population health

Mass protests protect Hong Kong’s legal autonomy from China – for now

If the "One country, two systems" falls, what remains of Hong Kong’s democracy will go down with it

Why bullshit hurts democracy more than lies

The bullshitter may do even more damage than the liar in politics

How accurate are exit polls? There's no easy answer

In the world's largest democracy, the science of poll forecasting is still struggling with the basics

Invisible Trillions review: global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy

In Raymond W Baker’s view, democracy is self-correcting, but capitalism is not. His main message is: reform capitalism or forfeit democracy

The African Union at 20: some reason to cheer, but lots of work ahead

There is some reason to cheer as the continental body celebrates its 20th anniversary on 9 July. Yet a lot remains to be achieved.

Abiy put Ethiopia on road to democracy, but major obstacles still stand in the way

Abiy’s major achievement was dismantling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. But this was not without its challenges 

Why farmers don't have electoral clout

Although farmers vote at least as much, if not more than industrial workers or urban middle classes, elections are not fought around farmers' issues

What ‘third-term fever’ tells us about the state of democracy in Africa

This year no fewer than 16 elections will take place in Africa, many of which involve removing presidential term limits. The motives are worth …

Why history will judge Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza harshly

Pierre Nkurunziza ruled with an iron fist, making few compromises: his insistence in 2015 on changing the constitution to enable him to have …