Threats to Democracy

Around the world, democracy is being challenged as never before. Many Western democracies, including the United States, face significant democratic backlash at home. Would-be autocrats are using democratic tools, like elections, to erode representation, subvert checks and balances and constitutional freedoms, and consolidate power—all in the name of the people. Right-wing parties are ascendant, and populism and political polarization are fraying civic bonds. This research theme analyzes how the threat of democratic backsliding is playing out in democracies globally, and how democracies can come back from periods of serious backsliding.