Publication

V-Dem Democracy Report 2026: Strategic Implications

The V-Dem Institute’s 2026 report describes a broad global decline in liberal democracy, including unusually rapid deterioration in the United States and continuing pressure on democratic institutions across several regions. This brief summarizes V-Dem’s principal findings, considers South Korea’s position in the report, and identifies practical implications for institutional resilience and foreign policy. All country classifications, scores and rankings cited here are V-Dem estimates rather than legal determinations.