Experts fear 'great democratic depression' as China gains ground globally

PoliticsNew survey shows falling trust in Trump's US, more confidence in XiA voter receives a sticker after casting his ballot in the state of Maine during the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5, 2024. © ReutersKENJI KAWASEJuly 16, 2026 14:00 JSTTOKYO -- Two decades of "backsliding" in global democracies coupled with the rise of more coordinated and technology savvy authoritarian regimes have brought the world to a dangerous precipice, experts warned in Tokyo this week.