Ten days that could shake the world: democratic norms at stake in four pivotal elections

• Four elections on four continents within 10 days could reshape global politics, with Brazil, Israel, Serbia and the US all holding votes in which pro-democracy parties are in close races with current or aspiring autocrats. • According to the Sweden-based V-Dem Institute, the democratic freedoms enjoyed by the average global citizen are down to levels last seen in 1978. • The cluster of pivotal elections could either halt the authoritarian trend or reinforce it, with likely spillover effects in each region and beyond.