As 2025 draws to a close, RevDem editors Alexandra Kardos (History of Ideas), Gabriel Pereira (Cross-Regional Dialogue), and Kristóf Szombati (Political Economy and Inequalities) take stock of a turbulent democratic year through three keywords: imagination, frustration, and realignment.
From Latin America’s shifting right and disillusionment with democratic “delivery” to renewed geopolitical pressures and the growing visibility of China, they reflect on what is changing, why it matters, and what gets lost when Europe remains intellectually inward-looking. The conversation also highlights where democratic energy still surfaces—in civic mobilization, investigative journalism, and grassroots organizing. These reflections set the stage for Part II, which turns from diagnosis to the priorities and risks shaping democracy in 2026.
This discussion was led by Ece Ozbey. Alina Young edited the audio file.
