Trend Trend P: Breakdown of political and institutional stability

Summary

Existing democratic systems and political order are under threat from several directions. The spread of surveillance technology is strengthening authoritarianism and shrinking civic space. Extremism and populism spreading through digital platforms, together with online radicalisation and demagoguery, are shaking the foundations of democracy. The trend groups issues on the expansion of state authoritarianism and shrinking civic space, political and ideological extremism, and populism and digital politics. The crisis of democracy and political polarisation, which had appeared under a dropped candidate megatrend on governance and policy innovation, are handled within this global-order megatrend and the social megatrend.