Democracy

Peace & Justice Opinion

Making Democracy Deliver

Salzburg Global Fellow Berk Esen explains why today's democracies are increasingly eroded by elected leaders - and how responsive governance can rebuild trust and democratic resilience

Jul 09, 2026

Peace & Justice Feature

Defending Democracy Requires More Than Elections

Salzburg Global Fellow Stacey Abrams on the rise of authoritarianism, the importance of civic participation, and the lessons that democracies can learn from one another

Jul 01, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

The Battle for Liberal Democracy

Salzburg Global Fellow Eric Frey analyzes how the digital revolution has exposed vulnerabilities to polarization, disinformation, and anti-democratic movements

Jun 26, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

Tech-Patrimonialism: The Dictator's New Playbook

Salzburg Global Fellow Julia Ebner explains how AI-powered surveillance and propaganda are accelerating "tech-patrimonialism" by authoritarian leaders

Jun 23, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

The Pushback Era: Defending Democracy in an Age of Backsliding

Salzburg Global Fellow Javier Corrales on how citizens, coalitions, and institutions are learning to resist democratic backsliding

Jun 16, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

A Self-Critique of the International Pro-Democracy Field

Salzburg Global Fellow Jhanisse Vaca Daza argues that the pro-democracy field is systematically funding the wrong things - and that the most effective method for defeating authoritarian regimes continues to be strategic nonviolent collective action

Jun 12, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

Democracies Are Losing Their Civic Defenders

Salzburg Global Fellow Breza Race Maksimovic identifies the "most serious threat" to democracies as the gradual erosion of civic capacity

Jun 10, 2026

Peace & Justice Update

Welcoming the Second Cohort of the International Law Fellows Network

28 of the world’s rising legal leaders are coming together to safeguard the rule of law

Jun 09, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

The Savior of Democracy Will Be Citizen Action

Salzburg Global Fellow Jim Shultz outlines a blueprint for transforming civic anger into a strategic, protected, and sustained movement capable of resisting political repression

Jun 03, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

We Know How To Safeguard Democracy. But Why Aren’t We Doing It More Effectively?

Salzburg Global Fellow Martina Kohl on why democracy cannot survive as an abstract idea, but has to be lived, felt, and practiced through empathy, community, and giving young people a real voice

Jun 01, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

Doubling Down on Democracy

Salzburg Global Fellow Elias Forneris on why democracies must inspire civic participation and "compassionate patriotism" to survive

May 29, 2026

Peace & Justice Opinion

Brazil's Democracy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Salzburg Global Fellow Marcio Schiefler Fontes warns that AI-driven mis- and disinformation will likely challenge upcoming elections in Brazil

May 27, 2026