Global democratic norms face test in four key elections

Four major elections occurring within a ten-day period in Brazil, Israel, Serbia, and the United States are being viewed as critical turning points for global democratic norms. These contests represent a struggle between rising authoritarian right-wing movements and pro-democratic forces.

In Brazil, the second round of presidential elections features far-right candidate Flavio Bolsonaro leading. Bolsonaro has suggested he would change the constitution to pardon his father and ease environmental restrictions regarding the Amazon rainforest. In Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić faces a significant challenge from a student-led protest movement and a coalition of professors and technocrats.

The timing of these elections coincides with data from the V-Dem Institute indicating that global democratic freedoms have declined to levels not seen since 1978. The outcomes in these four nations are expected to have significant regional and global political implications.