The West’s democratic order is unraveling. How does one make sense of so much chaos happening in so many different countries?

The Varieties of Democracy Institute, headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, publishes an annual report on the state of democracy and freedom in the world.

The 2026 report showcases a startling trend of democratic decline in democracy’s birthplace: Europe. We spoke to Marina Nord, who helped compile the report, on what its findings mean for modern Europe.

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