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picture alliance / AP | Thoko Chikondi

Democracy and society

When tomorrow looks like yesterday

A former Malawian president, once seen as a symbol of failure, now tempts voters again — proof that economic despair can rewrite political memory

By Golden Matonga

picture alliance / AP | Achmad Ibrahim

Democracy and society

Polite democracy, brutal reality

Indonesia’s mass protests signal not just public anger at inequality, but the quiet dismantling of democratic space

By Andreas Ufen

picture alliance / Anadolu | Gerald Anderson

Democracy and society

Rising giant or fading echo?

The Gen Z protests have made Kenya’s youth impossible to ignore — the question is whether they can now remake politics itself

By Charles Wachira

picture alliance / Anadolu | Diego Radames

Democracy and society

Spain’s real trial

The amnesty law is polarising Spain. But it’s the right and far right – not PM Sánchez – who are threatening democracy

By José Montilla Aguilera

picture alliance / AP | Jose Luis Magana

Democracy and society

The ones who cry fascist

Democracies collapse not only through extremism, but also through the slow corrosion of debate and the narrowing of acceptable opinion

By Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf

picture alliance / abaca | Europa Press/ABACA

Democracy and society

The illusion of normalcy

Unlike what is happening at the national level, the shift to the right in the EU is much less visible, creeping in, unnoticed by the public

By Tobias Mörschel

picture alliance / Sipa USA | SOPA Images

Democracy and society

A seat at the table

Russian democratic forces in exile seek representation in the Council of Europe’s Assembly — but will they succeed?

By Ekaterina Venkina

picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Darko Vojinovic

Democracy and society

Protest flames engulf Serbia

Ten months after the tragedy in Novi Sad, students are demanding clarification, new elections and a democratic Serbia — Vučić's regime is responding with harsh measures

By Kirsten Schönefeld

picture alliance / SvenSimon | Malte Ossowski

Democracy and society

Testing Europe’s democratic nerve

As Sánchez’s behaviour suggests, legitimate fear of democratic erosion from the right should not distract from similar threats on the left

By Cristina Ramirez

picture alliance / ANP | Eva Plevier

Democracy and society

Hypocrisy as foreign policy

The Gaza war has deepened a rift already dividing Western leaders from their publics — and fractured the centre-left along the way

By Matthew Duss