#Elections
Podcasts
Why Honduras Is Facing Election Chaos
In this episode of the Review of Democracy podcast, Gabriel Pereira speaks with Rachel A. Schwartz about her recent Journal of Democracy article, “Why Honduras Is Facing Election Chaos.” They examine how logistical failures, elite conflict, and long-term democratic erosion combined to produce uncertainty over the outcome, how US backing shaped post-election politics, and what the new government may mean for Honduras’s democratic future.
29.01.2026
News
Dutch Elections: Rule of Law Alert 2.0?
Dutch voters are heading to the polls today, and while the party landscape remains deeply fragmented, the far-right PVV led by Geert Wilders is likely to come out on top once again. In his op-ed, Niels Graaf argues that the previous government attempted to undermine the rule of law in the Netherlands and examines the risks that may lie ahead.
29.10.2025
News
Czech Elections: The Spectacular Failure of the “Pro-Democracy” Block
Andrej Babiš’s ANO triumphed as liberal rivals preached democracy but ignored inequality. Marie Heřmanová and Kateřina Smejkalová argue that this moralizing stance helped fuel the far right’s rise—and deepened Czechia’s democratic malaise.
8.10.2025
News
What Does Moldova’s 2025 Election Say about its Democracy?
Roughly a week ago, on September 28, Moldovan citizens at home and across the globe went to voting polls to decide which political parties would represent their interests in the next four-year parliamentary cycle. The turnout exceeded the threshold for validity, making the vote to be declared valid and the election results being officially accepted at home and internationally. After the votes were counted, the results got warm international praise, especially from representatives of the European political establishment, for Moldovans choosing the path of European integration and transparency. In reality, however, joining the European family of states might be a more thorny path than the electoral promises highlighted.
7.10.2025
News
Voting for Togo’s Personalist Dictatorship
In February, Togo became the first of 10 African states to hold (indirect) executive elections in 2025. February 5 also marked the 20th anniversary of the coup that brought Faure Gnassingbé to power. This article assesses the legacy of the 2005 coup and the failure of Togo’s democratization.
1.05.2025
Podcasts
The U.S. Elections with Levente Littvay
Join hosts Erin K. Jenne and Letitia Roman as they sit down with political scientist Levente Littvay to discuss the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Together, they explore why Donald Trump remains a prominent GOP candidate despite numerous legal challenges, how polarization and populism intertwine, and the role of conspiracy theories in today’s political climate. They also examine parallels between U.S. and European populism and the future of both major parties. Tune in for a deep dive into the complex dynamics shaping this year's election.
4.11.2024
The Radical Right Has Won the Election in Austria, But A Centrist Coalition Will Govern
The far-right FPÖ has won the 2024 general election in Austria but is highly likely to remain locked out of government. With all other parties having ruled out working with the current FPÖ leader, the most likely outcome of the government formation talks is a three-party government – the first to be formed since 1945 – led by the incumbent chancellor Karl Nehammer.
29.10.2024
Reine Populismuslehre in Vienna? The Victory of the ‘Freedom Party’ in the 2024 Austrian National Election
Austria’s far-right FPÖ has won the national elections. Will Vienna follow Budapest since 2010, Warsaw from 2015- 2023, and Rome since 2022 in a path towards backsliding on EU values? Oliver Garner and Matthew Haji-Michael reflect.
24.10.2024
Democracy at Stake: Future Scenarios after Georgia’s Landmark Elections
On October 26, Georgia's parliamentary elections will serve as a referendum on its future, out of which three main scenarios emerge. In the first, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party wins, consolidates authoritarian rule, and aligns with Russia. A second scenario sees the opposition winning, potentially restoring democracy and accelerating EU integration. However, the most likely scenario involves contested results, which could trigger public unrest, violent clashes, and even Russian intervention. This critical election will most likely determine whether Georgia embraces European-style democracy or solidifies authoritarianism, risking further isolation from Western allies.
23.10.2024
Podcasts
Lia Tsuladze on How Georgian Dream Has Diverted Away from Europe and Its Implications for the Upcoming Elections
The Georgia Dream movement came to power over a decade ago. It initially claimed to want to uphold the European integration policies of its predecessor, but has slowly moved towards a more sovereign discourse. Over time, Georgia Dream has increasingly fueled affective political polarization, and now accuses its pro-European critics of wanting to drag Georgia into a war with Russia. It has furthermore vehemently defended adopting controversial anti-democratic legislation such as the so called ‘foreign agents’ law.
21.10.2024
Podcasts
The Vehicle of Change is Always Politics – Sanjay Kumar on the 2024 Elections in India
In this conversation at the Review of Democracy, eminent psephologist and political analyst Sanjay Kumar discusses the recently concluded elections in India. Kumar weighs in on some of the unique features of the Indian elections in 2024, the emerging patterns of change, and what the election verdicts mean for democracy and politics in the Global South.
5.08.2024
The UK General Election: What Might the Future Hold for Ethical Standards and Checks on Executive Power?
Tomorrow, the UK public will go to the polls. But the general election takes place in a climate of public distrust of politics, and against a backdrop of ethics scandals and the weakening of constitutional norms. What should we expect from the next government?
3.07.2024
Why Did Erdoğan’s AK Party Win Again in 2023?
Despite expectations of an opposition victory, Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured the highest vote share and were reelected in 2023. The long-term project of national developmentalism and strong support from women, along with more specific factors like Kılıçdaroğlu’s candidacy and the February 6th earthquakes, significantly influenced the results.
21.05.2024
