Democracy stabilizes globally after eight years of decline, EIU says According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, among the 167 countries and territories covered, almost three quarters either improved from 2024 to 2025 or remained unchanged.

In its new Democracy Index 2025, the Economist Intelligence Unit says that global democracy has stopped worsening after eight consecutive years of decline. The report highlights the United States as a negative case.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/42392/democr...

After the 8 April election, the UN's NGO Committee remains under the influence of a majority of repressive states. The body helps decide which civil society groups get access to the UN. Only 5 of the 19 newly members are rated free.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/42377/

Photo of the UN General Assembly

Our director Andreas Bummel argues @globalpolicy.bsky.social that the UN’s renewal requires democratic reform & investment, not austerity. He makes the case that a new UN Parliamentary Assembly can help strengthen legitimacy, oversight, & democracy:

www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/02/03/2...

Global freedom declined for two consecutive decades: Freedom House In the new assessment, among 195 countries and 13 territories covered in the report, 89 were considered “free”, 52 “partly free” and 67 “not free” in 2025. Overall, 54 deteriorated and 35 improved.

In their new annual assessment, Freedom House in Washington D.C. announced another global decline in freedom scores in 2025. The U.S., Italy, and Bulgaria in the previous year saw the sharpest declines among countries rated as “free”.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/41714/

Online democracy education can work, new evidence shows Research across 33 countries shows that short online civic education videos can boost support for democracy, improve knowledge, and reduce openness to authoritarian alternatives.

Research across 33 countries shows that short online civic education videos can boost support for democracy, improve knowledge, and reduce openness to authoritarian alternatives.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/41702/

"The world needs to move to a new level of political integration. Replacing a dysfunctional system of competition and power politics with a democratic rules-based order will strengthen self-determination at all levels."

Reimagining Global Cooperation On this page we highlight shared global challenges, cooperation dilemmas and a new vision for global governance.

Our new brochure on "Reimagining Global Cooperation" looks at shared challenges in an interdependent world, the dilemmas of international cooperation and a new global vision for the 21st century based on democracy.

Read and download it here: www.democracywithoutborders.org/reimagining-...

V-Dem report finds global democracy is back at 1978 levels V-Dem’s 2026 assessment finds that autocracies outnumber democracies by 92 to 87. With 44 countries worsening and 18 improving, the current wave of autocratization is continuing.

According to a new assessment by V-Dem, democracy is back at 1978 levels for the average global citizen. The gains of the third wave of democratization since the mid-1970s are almost eradicated. The U.S. is downgraded from liberal to electoral democracy.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/41651/

‘Trump is aiming for dictatorship’. That’s the verdict of the world’s most credible democracy watchdog | Martin Gelin Sweden’s V-Dem Institute warns that the US is no longer a liberal democracy. And autocracy is creeping across Europe too, says writer Martin Gelin

The findings of V-Dem's 2025 global assessment of democracy are dramatic: for the average global citizen, the level is back to 1978 and the United States is no longer considered a democracy.

V-Dem's report:
www.v-dem.net/documents/75...

Report in The Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/world/commen...

Great powers will not save human rights, the rest of us must As great powers undermine global norms, small and medium states must unite to protect UN human rights bodies, defend scrutiny, and restore political will for principled multilateral action, this artic...

In a world dominated by rogue big powers, Raphaël Viana David of the International Service for Human Rights argues the UN human rights system still has one last lifeline: strength in numbers through like-minded middle powers & small states

www.democracywithoutborders.org/41635/

Event announcement

How can democracy evolve for the 21st century? Join democracy researchers Hanno Scholtz and Doina Stratu-Strelet for an online debate on 19 and 26 March 2026 on rethinking democracy and the future of citizen governance.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/events/41602/

New “Tyranny Tracker” maps the world’s authori­tarian regimes A new index by Human Rights Foundation rates 179 countries as democratic, hybrid or authoritarian, using electoral competition, freedom of dissent, and institutional accountability for regime classifi...

The Human Rights Foundation @hrf.org has launched a new index, the Tyranny Tracker, that looks at the performance of the world's countries & territories and classifies them as democratic, hybrid authoritarian, or fully authoritarian

www.democracywithoutborders.org/40940/

Corruption perceptions worsen globally as civic space shrinks Transparency International’s 2025 corruption perceptions index shows a global average score of 42 of 100 and connects low ratings to restricted civic space in the countries concerned.

Transparency International’s 2025 corruption perceptions index shows a global average score of 42 of 100 and connects low ratings to restricted civic space in the countries concerned

www.democracywithoutborders.org/40659/

Trump's Board of Peace draws criticism, "not a viable model" Trump's Board of Peace faces backlash over its unclear mandate, private control, undemocratic structure, and concerns about its deviation from established governance standards.

Today, the Trumpian Board of Peace is gathering in Washington D.C. It is not a viable model for international organization.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/40334/trumps...

Extreme wealth inequality is threatening democracy, reports warn Oxfam, the World Inequality Report 2026 and a G20 panel warn that extreme wealth concentration is accelerating, increasing the risk of democratic erosion worldwide.

Oxfam, the World Inequality Report 2026 and a G20 panel warn that extreme wealth concentration is accelerating, increasing the risk of democratic erosion worldwide

#inequality #democracy

www.democracywithoutborders.org/40592/extrem...

Risk reports outline rising global confrontation and uncertainty Two 2026 risk reports by the Global Challenges Foundation and the World Economic Forum highlight rising global threats, from planetary tipping points to geopolitical conflict.

Two new global risks reports by Global Challenges Foundation & World Economic Forum highlight rising global threats from planetary tipping points to geopolitical conflict & confirm the need for a new model of global cooperation

www.democracywithoutborders.org/40493/

Survey: Global solidarity depends on cooperation that delivers Global polling shows public support for international cooperation is slipping. Trust in global institutions depends on them delivering visible results, this piece argues.

Polling shows that global solidarity is declining. Trust in global institutions depends on them delivering visible results, Anna Hope of Global Nation argues www.democracywithoutborders.org/40434/survey...

Global citizens support a world parliament: leaders need to catch up Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou highlights new survey data showing support for a world parliament, arguing a global conversation on the idea is necessary.

The world’s citizens are ready to support & talk about a World Parliament. Leaders need to catch up, former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou comments on our new survey on the subject which revealed 40% in favor, 27% opposed, and 33% neutral globally

www.democracywithoutborders.org/40397/

Trump's Board of Peace draws criticism, "not a viable model" Trump's Board of Peace faces backlash over its unclear mandate, private control, undemocratic structure, and concerns about its deviation from established governance standards.

Democracy Without Borders has joined a growing chorus of voices warning against Donald Trump’s newly launched Board of Peace, calling it "an unacceptable and regressive shift toward centralized power" which "blurs the line between public and private affairs."

www.democracywithoutborders.org/40334/

Strongest net support for a world parliament was measured in:

Türkiye +38%
Mozambique +38%
Cuba +36%
Côte d’Ivoire +29%
Senegal +29%
Lebanon +29%
Nigeria +28%
Palestine +27%
Egypt +26%
Zimbabwe +25%
Iran +25%

In countries with limited political freedoms, support for a world parliament is particularly high. This points to a public perception that global democratic institutions could help advance democracy at home as well. 👇

Would you support or oppose the creation of a citizen-elected world parliament to handle global issues? Combined global responses, net support 13 percentage points: Support - 40%, Neutral - 33%, Oppose: 27%

Would you support or oppose the creation of a citizen-elected world parliament to handle global issues? Individual country results by net support, ranging from +38 to -11 percentage points

Those who are more at the periphery of power and influence, whether nationally or globally, are most likely to support the idea of a world parliament. - Global Public Opinion on a World Parliament, Results of the 2025 Nira Data World Survey, Democracy Without Borders

Our findings point to a global constituency open to democratic representation beyond the nation-state and a public readiness for dialogue about the future of the global order. - Global Public Opinion on a World Parliament, Results of the 2025 Nira Data World Survey, Democracy Without Borders, 2026

A survey we commissioned, covering 101 countries, finds that 40% of respondents tend to support a #worldparliament while only 27% tend to be opposed and 33% are neutral. Support is strongest in the Global South.

Here is our report:
www.democracywithoutborders.org/40121/

UN cuts its human rights budget amid rising violations worldwide UN budget cuts reflect growing political pressure on human rights, as China and allies push for defunding while civil society warns of weakening global protections and accountability.

As rights violations rise globally, the UN has slashed funding for its human rights office. Advocates warn this weakens protection for victims and defenders www.democracywithoutborders.org/40083/un-cut...

What is Global Citizenship? How does citizenship need to evolve in an interdependent world? We explore its history, dimensions and challenges in a global perspective.

All human beings are said to be born free & equal in dignity & rights. But in reality rights & opportunities depend very much on citizenship & location. Our new brochure "What is global citizenship?" explores the meaning & future of citizenship in an interdependent world:

Global Civic Assembly to deliberate on food systems and climate change A diverse global panel of 105 citizens will meet online in 2026 to develop recommendations on sustainable food systems and climate action, aiming to influence global governance and policy debates.

A global "mini public" of 105 people selected by civic lottery will deliberate on food systems and climate change in early 2026: What should change in how we grow, share and eat food?

UN's human rights work under massive pressure, forty states warn A group of forty states led by Chile and the International Service for Human Rights warned at a meeting in Geneva that proposed budget cuts will disproportionately affect the UN's human rights pillar.

The UN's human rights work is under disproportionate budget pressure, 40 states warned in Geneva, and human rights groups urge no further cuts should be made www.democracywithoutborders.org/39807/uns-hu...

How to circumvent the veto and establish a Second UN Charter The permanent members of the UN Security Council can veto any change of the UN Charter. A way to circumvent a veto is to reconstitute the UN as a new legal entity.

The UN is frozen in time because UN Charter reform is considered impossible. But is it? An international study group has come up with a radical and innovative approach to circumvent possible vetoes.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/39791/how-to...

🚀 New global #PeoplePower2025 report shows civic freedoms are under attack globally. A record number of countries are now rated as ‘Repressed’ and ‘Closed.’

See country ratings & data on top violations 🔴🟡🟢: web.civicus.org/PeoplePower2025

Hillel Neuer: UN prostitutes itself to dictators looking to end western sanctions The General Assembly is hosting a gathering of human rights violators hoping to escape repercussions for their crimes

Autocratic governments known for their gross human rights abuses are hijacking the UN, Hillel Neuer shows in this piece published by the Canadian National Post. Democratic states must stop pretending this is normal diplomacy, he writes. nationalpost.com/opinion/un-p...

Democracy without borders / Sapere Aude YouTube video by Школа гражданского просвещения / Sapere Aude

At a seminar in Vilnius our ED @andreasbummel.bsky.social recently spoke about the dire situation in world politics, the dysfunctional international system & the vision of a democratic global federation. Here is a recording on YouTube.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSyO...