Resetting global democracy support: let those on the frontlines lead

The global democracy movement is at a critical juncture. Major funding cuts from the U.S. and Europe, and the U.S.’s retreat from its historic role as a democracy champion, have triggered a crisis for the democracy support field. But the roots of the problem run deeper as it has been apparent for some time that the current model is no longer working.

Despite decades of investments, international efforts to promote democracy, primarily led by Western countries, have failed to stop – let alone reverse – the authoritarian wave, even in long-established democracies. Undermined by foreign policy double standards and overly technocratic approaches, they often are perceived to be disconnected from the realities of the people they aim to support.

To better understand why pro-democracy strategies appear to be falling short and what can be done differently, the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University consulted more than 40 civil society leaders, scholars, funders, and frontline activists from across the globe. Their message was clear: democracy support remains too top-down, sidelining local leadership and expertise. There are too few spaces where Global Majority leaders – those with the most experience resisting authoritarianism – can build collective power or shape global strategy.

Two overarching strategies: rebuilding trust and transforming democracy support

A new report emerging from these conversations identifies a number of common causes of democratic erosion across the world, among them growing corruption, inequality, disinformation and polarization. Yet it doesn’t provide a one-size-fits-all blueprint for addressing them. Instead, the report points towards two overarching strategies: focus on rebuilding trust in the democratic process and transforming international cooperation on democracy. This includes reimagining how the global community supports democracy, starting with shifting power and resources to those on the frontlines.

Central to this shift is the recognition that leadership must come from the Global Majority. For too long, democracy support has reflected Western assumptions and priorities. But democracy can’t thrive unless it speaks to the experiences and aspirations of the majority of the world’s population, in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Pro-democracy leaders from these regions who resist authoritarianism bring the credibility, local insight, and legitimacy to drive more relevant and resilient strategies.

Leadership must shift to democratic forces in Global Majority countries 

Equally important is the need to build broad, cross-sectoral alliances. Democracy can’t be defended by elite institutions alone. Nor can it be siloed by issue – whether gender, climate, or labor rights. Lasting progress requires broad alliances that bridge movements, sectors, and constituencies, linking civil society, informal movements, political actors, diaspora communities, academics, and artists. Such coalitions are better positioned to connect democratic values to people’s daily lives and mobilize the scale of public support needed for change.

Another vital element lies in how democracy is communicated. Too often, democracy is framed as a distant, abstract ideal. We must ground it in people’s everyday concerns – jobs, security, dignity, opportunity – and tell stories that inspire. That means supporting locally led narrative strategies, reclaiming values co-opted by authoritarians, and offering hopeful visions of a better future. We must also speak beyond our own circles, reaching audiences who’ve tuned out or never been included.

None of these ideas are entirely new. What’s different now is the urgency. As authoritarian movements grow bolder, better funded, and more coordinated, the global democracy community is falling behind. The moment demands a reset – a decentralized, unified, and locally anchored approach.

We invite donors, policymakers, and practitioners to engage with this emerging theory of change – test its assumptions, build on it, and above all, act on it.