Nationalist Governments Now in Both: The 2026 Parliamentary Elections in Scotland and Wales
A transformational election in Wales and continuing debates over Scottish independence highlight challenges that may resonate far beyond the United Kingdom.
Dr. Alan Siaroff
Canadian International Council Victoria, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Lethbridge
Alan Siaroff is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Lethbridge, where he taught comparative politics. His scholarly focus is on political regimes and democratization, political institutions and comparative democracies, electoral systems, and party systems. He is the author of Comparing Political Regimes (now in its fourth edition) and Comparative European Party Systems (now in its second edition), plus many articles in European and North American journals.
Most Recent Posts
The Political Institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The recent leadership change has exposed the deeper architecture of power in Iran.
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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi turned a short, snap election into a personal referendum on her leadership, producing a record landslide victory.
Greenland’s Political History, Constitutional Status, and Future Options
Greenland remains on a slow path to eventual independence, but heavy dependence on Denmark makes it a difficult prospect. However, an offer of free association could provide an alternative option and change that.
Moving to the Right –
The New Government in Japan
The change of LDP Prime Ministers and to a lesser extent its support party reflect a definite rightward shift.
Frustration for the Government: The 2025 Polish Presidential Election
A victory for the new nationalist-populist President Karol Nawrocki spells plenty of trouble for Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his coalition government.
Re-Election Landslide:
The 2025 Australian Federal Election
The blowout victory of the Australian Labor Party over a divided opposition was so strong it suggests Anthony Albanese could remain prime minister for a long time to come.
The Centre Holds for now:
The 2025 German Federal Election
Gains by the far-right and the far-left limited coalition options, paradoxically giving the defeated Social Democrats bargaining power.
Shifts to the Right:
The 2024 European Parliament Election and the New European Commission
The European right is divided and central to this division is Giorgia Meloni, someone with whom Brussels will need to do business given her domestic strength and moderate geopolitical positions.
In the face of American presidential voter patterns will the Democrats ever dominate again?
Going forward, if the Democratic Party is to reverse its fortunes it should listen to its rare elected officials of working-class background.