Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation” - Security – Innovation – Democracy
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Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation”
Asset Publisher
IMAGO / Xinhua
New government in Latvia: Four-party alliance under Kulbergs
JV remains security policy anchor
On 28 May 2026, the Saeima confirmed the new government under Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs. The 47-year-old businessman, economist and trained car mechanic from the centrist United List (Apvienotais saraksts, AS) takes over the duties of Evika Siliņa (Jaunā Vienotība, JV), whose cabinet collapsed on May 14 over a dispute over the replacement of the defense ministry after several drone incidents, including the impact on an oil storage facility in mid-May. President Edgars Rinkēvičs then tasked Kulbergs with forming a government. The new prime minister promises an "effective, professional and accountable government" and describes himself as a "realist". Kulbergs leads a four-party coalition.
Oliver Morwinsky
May 29, 2026
Country reports
AI and the Future of Digital Governance: Advancing Public Service Transformation in 2025
The proceedings on key discussions, policy insights, and challenges surrounding the transition toward digital government in the age of AI
The proceedings consolidate the key findings and discussions from the academic seminar entitled “AI and the Future of Digital Government: Advancing Public Service Standards 2025,” organised by the Institute of Democratization Studies on 24 November 2025, with support from KAS Thailand. They explored the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms in strengthening state capacity, enhancing public-service delivery, and advancing digital governance in Thailand. Bringing together perspectives from policymakers, local authorities, and public-governance experts, the seminar particularly highlighted the cases of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Nakhon Sawan Municipality, reflecting both the innovative potential and the structural limitations of Thailand’s ongoing digital transformation.
May 21, 2026
Single title
IMAGO/alterphotos
"A People Determined to Be Free Cannot be Stopped"
An Interview with María Corina Machado
At the beginning of 2026, the US intervened militarily in Venezuela, taking strongman Nicolás Maduro out of the country. However, the authoritarian regime in Caracas remained largely intact, now under the leadership of Delcy Rodríguez. Opposition leader María Corina Machado had been excluded from the 2024 presidential election by Maduro. Edmundo González, at that moment something of a political nobody and the candidate who ran in her place – nevertheless clearly won the election. However, the regime falsified the result and retained de facto power. Machado – who had been living in hiding in her own country – managed to leave Venezuela covertly, travelled to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at the end of 2025, and has been living in exile ever since. In this interview with International Reports, conducted on 8 May 2026, Machado talks about the situation in her country, what should happen next, and why this also concerns us in Germany and Europe.
Dr. Sören Soika
May 11, 2026
International Reports
IMAGO / Xinhua
Presidential Election in Benin in the Context of Democratic Backsliding in West Africa
Government Candidate and Former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni Wins the Election
On 12 April 2026, the citizens of Benin elected a new president. Romuald Wadagni, the former Minister of Finance and candidate of the governing coalition, emerged as the clear winner with 94.05 per cent of the vote. His sole opponent, Paul Hounkpè, chairman of the opposition party Forces Cauris pour un Bénin Émergent, lagged far behind with just under six per cent. Given the exclusion of the main opposition party Les Démocrates, the outcome of the election was largely predictable prior to the vote. Against this backdrop, observation focused less on the electoral result itself and more on voter turnout.
Louisa Mendoza, O. Kevin Anvo
April 30, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Kyodo News
Presidential elections in Peru
Keiko Fujimori heads to a run-off for the fourth time
Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Peru on 12 April. The ongoing vote count suggests that Keiko Fujimori of the conservative Fuerza Popular party has won the election with 17 per cent of the vote. In light of this result, a second round of voting will be necessary on 7 June. It remains to be seen who will advance to this round as the runner-up: Left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez and conservative candidate Rafael López Aliaga are locked in a neck-and-neck race, each with 12 per cent of the vote. One must wait for the final vote count. Election day was marked by disruption due to the delayed delivery of polling materials in the city of Lima. The opening of 13 polling stations had to be postponed until the following day. In the regions, initial reports suggest the elections proceeded in an orderly manner and without major incidents. Peru’s foreign policy has traditionally followed a long-term approach, and this is likely to continue under a new government of any political persuasion. Germany and the EU should continue to make constructive use of this openness in foreign policy.
Annette Schwarzbauer
April 16, 2026
Country reports
Vlad Bereholschi, Imago
The Growing Success of Right-Wing Populists Is Exposing Democratic Deficits in Romania
Crisis of Confidence and a Disoriented Centre
The annulment of Romania’s 2024 presidential election and the rise of the right-wing populist AUR reflect a profound political and social crisis, in which historical wounds inflicted by the Securitate, current social tensions, and manipulative social media campaigns are inextricably intertwined. At the same time, societal fault lines and a politicised diaspora are shifting the balance of power ever further towards the fringes. What steps can traditional parties take to regain lost trust in the face of this gradual erosion of democracy?
Dr. Stefan Hofmann, Mihai Marc
April 2, 2026
International Reports
NurPhoto, Imago
The Challenges of Polarisation Facing the Conservative Side of South Korean Politics
A Political K-Drama Stuck on Repeat
South Korea is regarded as a stable democracy – yet social polarisation, economic pressure, and partisan power struggles are intensifying tensions within the country. The conservative camp in particular is facing a profound crisis of identity and leadership. What differences exist between the South Korean and German party systems – and what lessons can be drawn from them?
Henrik Braun
April 2, 2026
International Reports
Xinhua, Imago
South Africa’s Fragile Political Centre
Between Polarisation and Populism
South Africa’s political centre is searching for direction in the face of growing populism, social inequality, and a fracturing party landscape. While the Democratic Alliance has the potential to become a catch-all party, reaching voters across classic class and social divides, the question remains: what strategies are needed to secure a majority for centre-right parties?
Gregor Jaecke, Dr. Christoph Wiedenroth
April 2, 2026
International Reports
photonews.at, Imago
Reflections on How to Deal with Far-Right Parties in Europe
Door Open or Door Closed?
The rise of right-wing populist parties is fundamentally altering the political balance of power in Europe, confronting centre-right parties with the difficult question of how to respond. At the same time, it becomes clear that far-right parties differ significantly in their programmes and political positions — for instance regarding the EU, Russia, and the rule of law. Blanket strategies therefore fall short. What options remain for the political centre to remain politically viable under these conditions in the long term?
Sebastian Enskat, M.A.
April 2, 2026
International Reports
Zuma Press Wire, Imago
Polarisation and the Political Centre in Japan
How the Liberal Democratic Party Staged Its Comeback
In Japan’s 2026 lower house elections, the Liberal Democratic Party secured a historic landslide victory, gaining an unprecedented parliamentary majority. By pivoting to a new right-conservative agenda under Sanae Takaichi and promising economic reform, the party successfully held its ground against populist rivals. But what does this triumph signify for the political centre, the rise of new right-wing movements, and the demands of the electorate?
