Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced the dynamics of global politics and the resilience of democratic systems worldwide. This study examines how the pandemic has exacerbated political polarization and populism reshaped public trust in democratic institutions and highlighted the vulnerabilities of global governance structures. The imposition of emergency measures including lockdowns and restrictions on civil liberties has sparked debates about the balance between public health and individual freedoms. In many democracies leaders leveraged the crisis to consolidate power raising concerns about authoritarian tendencies. Conversely the pandemic has also underscored the importance of transparent governance participatory decision-making and international collaboration in addressing global crises. This research focuses on three key areas: the role of populist rhetoric in shaping public discourse during the pandemic the impact of emergency policies on democratic institutions and th