Athens Democracy Forum: Reinventing a Democracy for Our Times

A drumbeat of hard realities echoed through the halls at this year’s Athens Democracy Forum, where participants noted trends that do not portend well for the form of governance.

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‘Czech Trump’ Andrej Babis Is Poised to Return as Prime Minister in Elections

The party of Andrej Babis, former leader of the Czech government, is expected to prevail in parliamentary elections that begin Friday.

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America’s New Segregation

To be one nation, we have to embrace ground-up social change.

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Sohei Kamiya Brings Trump-Style Populism to Japan’s Election

With his calls to limit foreign workers, fight globalism and put “Japanese First,” Sohei Kamiya has brought a fiery right-wing populism to Japan’s election on Sunday.

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Japan Election 2025: What to Know

Shigeru Ishiba of the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party could face calls to resign if his party fares poorly in Sunday’s Upper House elections.

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Why a Third-Party Bid Is Unlikely but Not Impossible

Answering reader questions about the obstacles and opportunities for new parties like the one formed by Elon Musk.

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‘Are We Past Peak Harvard?’: 3 Writers Mull Higher Education’s Woes

Pondering the politics of universities, and their future.

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Should Republicans Have Won in a Landslide?

The question of whether Donald Trump cost conservatives a more decisive victory is a useful one to consider.

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Josh Hawley and the Republican Populists, at War With Their Party

The conservative senator from Missouri, better known for his raised fist in solidarity with Trump supporters on Jan. 6, is embracing a key rhetorical theme in the president’s political ascendancy.

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A Hit in Alberta, Poilievre’s Populism Falters Elsewhere in Canada

Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative seeking to become prime minister, fires up the faithful in Alberta, including Trump supporters, with his anti-elitist, anti-woke message.

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