As the US retreats from global health leadership, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan examines how BRICS is stepping up as a key player. With the Pandemic Agreement still under negotiation. This gives BRICS countries an opportunity to promote a more equitable, inclusive approach to global health diplomacy in a shifting geopolitical landscape
The once steady alliance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has now become a bitter feud. It has transformed what should be serious political discourse into a social media spectacle that perfectly encapsulates our current democratic crisis. Mimi Mihăilescu argues that American democracy is crumbling into a grotesque theatre where the world's most powerful men treat governance like a reality show
Donald Trump's trade tariffs to fund his 'Big Beautiful Bill' are intended to forge business deals that serve only his own interests. But Albrecht Rothacher warns that for ordinary Americans, the tariffs will cause price hikes on essential goods such as fuel and medicine, and the resulting inflationary surge may well damage Trump's prospects in next year's midterms
Adrianna Zabrzewska and Roberto Kulpa show that, despite populism's hostile political climate, limited funding, and tensions within the community, the pursuit of a liveable and joyful life for LGBTIQ+ individuals and cishet women in Poland is an unfolding project of resilience and resistance
Erica Dorn and Sofía Bosch Gómez argue that citizen disillusionment with democratic systems presents designers with an important opportunity. Moving beyond digital interfaces, relational design reimagines governance by prioritising equity, legitimacy, and collective care. Designers help shape who belongs, who decides, and the potential in participatory, inclusive, and systemic interventions
What role do sexism, racism, and climate denial play in the regime of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán? Hanna Zelma Horányi describes how Orbán is legitimising his power through the concept of ‘petro-masculinity’
The Science of Democracy 2.0 offers a bold, innovative rethinking of democracy by embracing diversity and challenging Western-centric models. Hong Do acknowledges its ambition, but argues it risks romantic pluralism by celebrating traditions without fully addressing embedded inequalities and power hierarchies within them
Esra Serim argues that rapid advances in artificial intelligence-enabled drone technology significantly enhance nuclear weapon delivery, precision targeting, and deterrence capabilities. However, the proliferation of autonomous drone systems also introduces critical strategic and ethical challenges. To ensure global stability, we must create robust international frameworks
Milada Anna Vachudova argues that defending liberal democracy is essential to Europe's geopolitical power. EU enlargement and military investment must fill the security and values vacuum left by the United States in 2025
Gender and sexual minorities are not just increasingly targeted by the state in Turkey – they are isolated by opposition groups that purport to champion democratic values. Ilker Kalin argues that the isolation of LGBTQ+ activists weakens democracy, and plays into the hands of repression
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