Global Scans · Democracy · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Society is expressing its discontent with current democratic processes that leave the elites struggling to convince their voters of their good intentions and competencies. Read on to see how democracy is offering both great opportunities and risks while this period of volatility shakes out.

• [New] The assault on democratic rights, the criminalization of protests against the Gaza genocide, and the militarization of police forces all reflect the ruling class's fear of mass opposition. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Democratic attorneys general and governors plan to file a lawsuit today against the Trump administration over its decision not to use emergency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program during the government shutdown. Just Security
• [New] The misuse of AI could worsen disinformation and threaten democracy. Daily Post Nigeria
• [New] Turkey respects the democratic choice of Turkish Cypriots and will continue to support the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Turkish Minute
• [New] While Democrats continue to vote to prolong the government shutdown, blocking funding for mothers and babies who rely on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, USDA will utilize tariff revenue to fund WIC for the foreseeable future. Investigate Midwest
• [New] The US government has been shut down for the last two weeks with many experts believing it could continue into November as Democratic lawmakers make a stand to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Yahoo Finance
• [New] AI-generated phishing accelerated in 2025, with election-themed spear phishing noted as a key threat. Bright Defense
• [New] Local governance will remain a battleground for political power, further complicating efforts to stabilize Turkey's democratic framework. Ainvest
• [New] The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) does not seem keen, either, likely preferring to continue building popularity in hopes of winning in 2028. Fisher Investments
• [New] The U.S. has a significant debt problem, and its internal political landscape is dangerously polarized by wealth and values gaps, putting democracy itself at risk. Fortune
• Scotland will get new nuclear power station if Labour win Holyrood election. Electricity Info
• A US threat to sanction - including via port call fees - countries that vote for an IMO net zero framework may have contributed to the vote being postponed until 2026. Freightos
• The next few months - as battlefields freeze and the U.S. heads deeper into election season - could prove decisive in determining whether the Ukraine war finally winds down or explodes anew. Pattern Nexus
• S. Pressures Countries to Delay Fees to Clean Up Ship PollutionUnder threats of tariffs and other sanctions from the U.S., nations postponed a vote on whether to charge fees on emissions from ships. The New York Times
• The global aid system is facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens to dismantle civil society, stifle peaceful activism, and undermine decades of progress on human rights, democracy, and social justice. Devdiscourse
• Voting in council elections could become mandatory in Western Australia if the turnout for this weekend's poll continues to plummet. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Globally, the outcome of the U.S. election could influence international crypto policies. Edgen
• FAO's new report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo warns of acute malnutrition among Indigenous Peoples, who face an unjust lack of nutritious food due to climate shocks, conflict, displacement, and unequal access to natural resources. CNS Media
• Australia's compulsory voting means that success has, at least so far, been found in the middle ground, which remains far more responsive to the politics of opportunity than that of grievance. The Conversation
• A second way South Korea can contribute to supporting the costs of maintaining the international order is by leveraging its defence industrial capacity to help democratic nations under threat through arms sales and transfers. Korea Economic Institute
• The Kremlin's wider aggression could come before 2029 and that it was already using methods such as election manipulation, propaganda, and provocations to undermine NATO and destabilize Europe. Newsweek
• Washington threatens retaliatory measures against countries backing proposed global carbon levy ahead of IMO vote this week. WorldCargo News

Last updated: 02 November 2025