Tim Pires Alves
In January 2026, many believed Venezuela to be on the brink of democratic transition. Recent political developments, however, have tempered any such optimism. So, have transformative efforts come to an end, or did they ever truly begin? Tim Pires Alves outlines a possible long-term trajectory for Venezuela toward a dysfunctional democracy shaped by economic dependence and opportunism Read more
Elif Davutoğlu
AI companies often present their technologies as politically neutral. But as frontier models become intertwined with national security strategies, neutrality is giving way to a new reality: AI as a core instrument of state power, writes Elif Davutoğlu Read more
Matthew E Bergman
Matthew E Bergman reveals how so-called valence populism (populism focused on competence and good governance rather than ideology) has a potential electoral disadvantage. While non-ideological messages that focus on good governance may broaden electoral appeal, lacking an ideological core can also cost votes. The fortunes of Italy’s Five-Star Movement offer a cautionary tale Read more
Linde Stals
Democratic legitimacy runs on citizens’ trust in public institutions. We often assume citizens critically monitor their institutions, only granting trust when they perform well. However, Linde Stals and Carmen van Alebeek show that much of this institutional trust is learned, rather than earned. Their findings raise important questions about democratic accountability Read more
Annamária Sebestyén
In countries experiencing democratic backsliding, opposition MPs must confront not only the crisis of political representation but also structural constraints that limit their influence. Drawing on research in Hungary, Annamária Sebestyén argues that in such circumstances opposition MPs develop innovative strategies to remain politically relevant, but these have clear limits Read more
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