International IDEA

What Future for Citizen Participation? On 5 November, join International IDEA's Secretary-General, Kevin Casas-Zamora, at the Council of Europe's #WorldForumForDemocracy to explore whether and how tools like deliberative forums, citizen assemblies, and other forms of public engagement can break down barriers to engagement, rebuild trust, and help revive democracy. #CoE_WFD https://lnkd.in/dqFwJD2j

Every month, the #DemocracyTracker monitors global developments in democracy and human rights. Among dozens of events tracked, a select few are highlighted for their particular relevance in the regional landscape. Here are the standout events for September 2025, offering insights to anticipate challenges, guide research, and inform advocacy strategies. Explore them across regions and see what they reveal about emerging trends and democracy challenges worldwide. Read more #DemocracyInsights: https://bit.ly/DemTrac

Trend lines rise and fall. Democracies are more complex than a line. Our latest #DemocracyNotes piece by Alexander Hudson explains how not to read a democracy report: why trend lines are useful, but limited, and how to pair them with context before drawing conclusions. Key takeaways - A line is a proxy, not a verdict. Indices track specific concepts (e.g., credible elections, absence of corruption). They don’t capture the full democratic experience. - Democracy isn’t an object. Movement in a line reflects many actors and decisions across institutions, society and political community. - Avoid the “back to normal” trap. Treating bounce-backs as success can mask structural vulnerabilities. - Use the ecosystem well. Read the narrative, consider longer horizons, and complement indicators with contextual developments. - And last but not the least: Democracy is the product of decisions of many people and the complex actions they take. 🔗 Read the blog note and share with your team: https://bit.ly/3KOJ27T

On the margins of the 80th UN General Assembly, International IDEA - together with Canada, Chile, Estonia, Ghana, Mongolia, South Africa, Switzerland,  International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the Trust, Accountability and Inclusion Collaborative -  convened a high-level roundtable at the @FordFoundation: “Support for Democracy in a New Geopolitical Context.” Democracy is facing its most serious challenges in decades. Authoritarian resurgence, shrinking civic space, and contested norms are testing global commitments. The dialogue brought together Ministers, Ambassadors, multilateral institutions, philanthropy, academia, and civil society to identify actionable ways forward. Key insights included: 🔹Democracy is a universal value, not a regional model. 🔹Resilience depends on delivering tangible benefits in people’s daily lives. 🔹We must move beyond donor-recipient models toward genuine, horizontal collaboration. 🔹Renewed alliances across the Global North and South are essential to defend civic space, address inequality, and counter disinformation. As Julie Delahanty, President of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) concluded: “We must leave here today not only with ideas, but with renewed resolve — resolve to do more, to do better, and to do it together.” The convergence of #UNGA80 and International IDEA’s 30th anniversary in 2025 offers a critical opportunity to chart a renewed global agenda for democracy. Read the full event summary: https://lnkd.in/dVPqPPTr #DemocracySupport #GlobalPartnership #UNGA80 #GlobalStateOfDemocracy

If governed in ways that uphold democratic values, #AI can enhance efficiency and reliability in electoral management. It can also be leveraged to fight-fire-with-fire and counteract AI-based threats. The key question is: how can Latin American governments develop long-term strategic visions that harness the benefits of the technology while keeping its risks at bay? Sit down with Juliane Müller, Associate Programme Officer at International IDEA's Digitalization and Democracy Programme, and Natalia Zuazo in the latest #DemocracyIDEAs #podcast to examine the need for holistic AI-frameworks in the context of #LatinAmerica and the #Caribbean. https://lnkd.in/gWcaZ4nU

On the sidelines of the International Civil Society Week in Bangkok, Thailand, International IDEA will host a mini-workshop entitled “Reimagining Democracy in #Asia: Addressing the Threat of Backsliding”, on 3 November 2025. #ICSW2025 This timely event will bring together civil society activists from 11 countries across Asia and Africa, creating a dynamic space for cross-regional dialogue and collaboration. https://lnkd.in/di-95pvd

🗺️ From social norms to digital frontiers, the forces shaping #democracy are complex and interconnected. In our latest 📰 #DemocracyFocus #newsletter, we explore: 🔹 The crucial role of male engagement in advancing #gender equality. 🔹 Key lessons from a decade of global #constitutional change. 🔹 The impact of #AI and our information society on elections. 🤓 Get expert analysis on the critical trends defining our world.

Insights from the Asia and the Pacific Regional Profile by #DemocracyTracker Presenting data from the first half of 2025, the page showcases key developments across four pillars of democracy—Rights, Rule of Law, Representation, and Participation. Among the most impacted factors of democracy in the region were:  - Civil Liberties,  - Access to Justice,  - Political Equality. Also Asia and the Pacific highlighted with: - 12 “To Watch” events, - 6 Elections events,  - and 0 Red-flagged events. Discover gains made in the region, from increased women's representation in parliament and the cabinet to the easing of restrictions on public demonstrations, and more. 👉 Explore more insights on the Regional Profile: https://bit.ly/gsodap 

Empowering the next generation of parliamentary leaders: The new Youth Parliamentary Academy (YPA) Toolkit, developed by International IDEA’s INTER PARES | Parliaments in Partnership, with support from the European Union, offers a step-by-step guide for parliaments to create their own youth engagement programmes. Based on lessons from Zambia’s pioneering YPA in 2024, this resource helps parliaments build young people’s capacity to understand, participate in, and shape democracy. Whether you’re a parliamentary staffer, educator, or youth advocate, this toolkit will help you strengthen democratic participation from the ground up. Explore the toolkit: https://lnkd.in/eVvw5ziw The interactive toolkit was edited and designed by @Research Retold #YouthEngagement #Democracy #Parliaments #YouthParticipation #DemocracyForAll

At International IDEA, we are committed to providing clear, impartial, and comprehensive insights into the state of democracy worldwide. Through our #DemocracyTracker, we monitor political developments across 173 countries, analyzing 29 key indicators to deliver verified, actionable knowledge. Stay informed about the latest trends and developments shaping democracy. Explore last month’s key findings:🔗 https://bit.ly/DemTrac