From the streets of Belgrade to the polling stations of São Paulo, a wave of youth-driven democratic activism has delivered decisive blows to authoritarianism, offering a stark counterpoint to American political despair. Over the past weekend, voters in Serbia and Brazil turned out in massive numbers to reject the status quo, signaling that the global march toward freedom is far from over.
In Serbia, a student-led movement that began after a tragic railway station collapse in Novi Sad in November 2024 managed to topple President Aleksandar Vucic's twelve-year rule. What started as weekly campus protests grew into a nationwide campaign with the rallying cry “Serbia or Mafia?” The movement, which drew support from farmers, teachers, actors, and lawyers, culminated in the country's largest anti-government demonstration in March 2025 and ultimately forced Vucic to call snap elections. Turnout soared to over 67%, the highest since Yugoslavia's dissolution, delivering a historic rebuke to Vucic's corruption-tainted government.
Across the Atlantic, Brazil's youth also played a pivotal role in securing a victory for democratic forces. Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at 80 years old, defeated right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently imprisoned for plotting a coup after his 2022 loss. Lula's 52% victory, achieved with an 80% turnout, was particularly remarkable given that he had lost the first round by over two million votes. The younger Bolsonaro, facing a money laundering investigation, has fled the country, and former President Trump has baselessly claimed the election was rigged.
These victories follow a similar pattern in Hungary, where Viktor Orbán's far-right government fell six months ago after a grassroots movement, again led by students, protested against his education policies and a scandal involving a pardon for a child abuse cover-up. The Hungarian example, along with Serbia and Brazil, underscores a common thread: when citizens, especially the young, mobilize and vote in overwhelming numbers, authoritarian regimes can be defeated.
For Americans, the message is urgent. With the midterm elections just a week away, President Trump's approval ratings are near record lows. A recent poll shows 73% of voters disapprove of his handling of fuel prices, and 52% plan to vote Democratic. Yet, only 19% of Americans believe U.S. democracy is performing well, and 91% say the country is on the wrong track. The disillusionment is palpable, fueled by rising costs, the ongoing war in Iran, and the threats posed by AI and climate change.
The lesson from abroad is clear: change comes through the ballot box, and it requires turnout far exceeding the typical 40% seen in U.S. midterms. As voters fear the GOP could illegally overturn the midterms, the stakes have never been higher. But the examples of Serbia and Brazil show that when people refuse to stay home, democracy can prevail.
For those Americans still considering sitting out, the warning is stark: authoritarianism thrives when citizens conclude their voices don't matter. The youth of Serbia, Brazil, and Hungary have shown that collective action can reshape nations. It's time for American voters to heed that call and make their voices heard.
As the new poll shows voters demand Congress tackle costs and Iran exit, the path forward is through the ballot. The future of American democracy may depend on it.
