The global ebb and flow of democracy continues. In some places, the democratic zeitgeist is one of deep pessimism and alarm, while in others it reveals positive new dynamics of renewal. In either case, the new challenges posed by three major exogenous crises—climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and geopolitical turbulence—require that we reconsider established frameworks for understanding democracy’s evolution.
For example, in Myanmar, the military’s campaign of rape, mutilation, and slaughter of the Rohingya people has exposed serious flaws in the country’s hybrid political system and given oxygen to authoritarian dynamics. In South Africa, the ruling African National Congress faces uphill fights to curb corruption and bolster its reputation ahead of elections next year. And in the United States, President Trump’s smear campaigns against the media and the judiciary are putting vital democratic safeguards under pressure.
But in spite of these negative developments, the evidence suggests that a broad movement to strengthen democratic guardrails is underway. The most critical steps will involve citizens, civil society groups, governmental officials (especially at the local and state levels), lawmakers, and regulatory institutions—all of whom must be free to respond to these threats without fear of reprisal or repression. Smart messaging and broad coalitions are essential for mobilizing countervailing pressure, defending constitutional norms against creeping authoritarianism, and ultimately effecting the surest means of blocking its advance—defeating it at the ballot box. This guide provides a number of strategies to help you get started.