Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Ireland was once one of Europe's most religious countries, with laws to match. But through

a citizen's assembly, a series of referendums, and a remarkable national reckoning, it's

become surprisingly progressive, surprisingly fast. And every year, the Economist Intelligence

Unit publishes its democracy index, ranking countries by how well they preserve democratic

norms. The global picture this time reveals that democracy is at its lowest level since

the index started.

At first, next week, Canada's Parliament will reconvene for its first long session since

October's election. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party is still in control,

but in a minority government with smaller parties. Back in 2015, after winning a thumping

parliamentary majority, Mr. Trudeau declared that a new Liberal era had begun.

Canadians have spoken. You want a government with a vision and an agenda for this country

that is positive and ambitious and hopeful.

Four years later, he sounded much the same. And they voted in favor of a progressive

agenda and strong action on climate change. But in October's election, his party won

a million fewer votes, and won no seats in the Western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The victory speeches may have sounded similar, but in his second term, it seems Mr. Trudeau

may not.

Justin Trudeau had struggled to get reelected, in part because he had attempted to try

to change the world. In fact, at one point, his Twitter bio-read changing the world a little

bit every day. John Ivesen has reported on Mr. Trudeau's fortunes for the Economist.

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