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] Record snowfall in northern Japan over the past few weeks, which blocked roads and was blamed for dozens of deaths nationwide, could hinder voting or delay vote counting in hard-hit areas. The Mainichi
• [New] While democratic governments around the world have continued to make progress to ensure the prosperity and security of their citizens, they have been faced with a period of rapid change and disruption that requires fast and deep transformation. OECD events
• [New] One Nation's success at the 2028 federal election, though not guaranteed, would mark a historic disruption to the decades-old dominance of Australia's traditional conservative parties. East Asia Forum
• [New] In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Felix Tshisekedi's suggestion that he might seek a third term once his mandate expires in 2028 - despite the constitutional two-term limit preventing it-have triggered strong resistance from opposition parties, now united in a new coalition. ConstitutionNet
• [New] Berlin's September election could still produce a coalition committed to socialization. REFIRE
• [New] Over the past year, federal cuts to election security budgets and staff have created dangerous gaps in threat prevention resources, creating a critical need for additional support for protection. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
• [New] The overarching message from the streets of Zahedan is clear: the regime of massacre will ultimately be overthrown by the Iranian people and their organized Resistance Units to establish a democratic republic. NCRI
• The CCP likely aims to present the KMT as a more effective and legitimate spokesperson for Taiwan than the DPP; a narrative that the CCP likely hopes will convince Taiwanese voters to elect KMT politicians to ensure cross-Strait stability. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• Cobalt supply risk has re-emerged as a critical concern for battery manufacturers, automakers, and mining investors as political and security instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo intensifies. MiningIR
• With the cost of living at the center of many voters' minds in a midterm election year, political ramifications could mount for the Republican president in the coming months. / Iran PBS News
• The future of Timor-Leste's democracy will depend not only on its capacity to win elections. TATOLI Agencia Noticiosa de Timor-Leste
• Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Angola and Pakistan were found to be the most vulnerable, facing GDP losses of more than 15% by 2030. Green Central Banking
• Between now and 2028, when Taiwan holds its next presidential election, Beijing is likely to further escalate its pressure. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• The Peace Pulse initiative is a response to historical election-related disruptions that have threatened Kenya's economic progress. Mwakilishi
• Incorporating citizenship status on state IDs will strengthen Florida's election security by improving citizenship verification processes and coordinating identification records with voter registration systems. The Sekou Clarke Law Group
• The permanent CSA Regulation will shape EU communications privacy for years; in July 2026 vote is a placeholder next to it. Hive Security
• Gov. Kevin Stitt's latest effort targeting Muslim groups is political theater meant to tap into a broader undercurrent of Islamophobia and create unwarranted fears during an election year. Counter Extremism Project
• Any use of U.S. ground troops - even for a limited mission - could pose significant political risks for Trump, given low - American public support for the Iran campaign and Trump's own pre-election promises to avoid entangling the U.S. in new Middle East conflicts. The Daily Star
• West Virginia will allow election officials to challenge a voter's residency based on a new, stringent set of residency factors. Brennan Center for Justice

Last updated: 20 September 2026