Four elections on four continents within 10 days could profoundly(深刻地) reshape global politics, propelling the world further along its current authoritarian trajectory(轨迹、轨道) or marking a limited comeback(标志着有限回归) for democratic norms.
四大洲将在十天内接连举行四场选举，这可能深刻重塑全球政治格局：要么推动世界沿着当前的威权轨迹继续前行，要么标志着民主规范的有限回归。
In all four contests, basic democratic norms are at stake(处于危险中、攸关) at a time when autocracy(威权统治、专制) is advancing worldwide at an alarming rate(以惊人的速度). According to the Sweden-based V-Dem Institute, which uses multivariable assessment tools, the democratic freedoms enjoyed by the average global citizen are down to levels last seen in 1978 – long before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in Europe.(根据瑞典V-Dem研究所（该机构使用多变量评估工具）的数据，全球普通公民享有的民主自由已降至1978年以来的最低水平——远在柏林墙倒塌和欧洲共产主义崩溃之前。)
四场选举都关乎基本民主规范的存亡，而与此同时，威权主义正以惊人的速度在全球推进。总部位于瑞典的V-Dem研究所采用多变量评估工具，其数据显示，全球普通公民所享有的民主自由已降至1978年以来的最低水平——那是在柏林墙倒塌和欧洲共产主义崩溃之前很久。
The cluster of four pivotal(关键的、至关重要的) elections could either halt that trend or reinforce it. In each contest, pro-democracy parties are in close races(势均力敌的竞争) with current or aspiring(有抱负的、意图成为的) autocrats. The outcomes in each case are likely to have spillover effects(溢出效应、连锁影响) in their regions and beyond.
这四场关键选举要么能遏制这一趋势，要么会强化它。在每一场角逐中，支持民主的政党都与现任或意图成为独裁者的人势均力敌。每场选举的结果都可能在其所在地区乃至更广范围内产生溢出效应。
Brazil
巴西
Serbia
塞尔维亚
Israel
以色列
The US
美国