Democracy Without Borders

London conference explores government for the planet Experts gathered in London to examine pathways toward global government, exploring UN reforms, citizen participation and representation, and better arrangements to address urgent planetary challenges.

More than 25 experts from around the world gathered in London to discuss how the planet is (not) governed in view of accelerating global crises, including war, climate change, pandemics, artificial intelligence, and inequality.

Read our report here:
www.democracywithoutborders.org/37452/

London conference explores government for the planet Experts gathered in London to examine pathways toward global government, exploring UN reforms, citizen participation and representation, and better arrangements to address urgent planetary challenges.

More than 25 experts from around the world gathered in London to discuss how the planet is (not) governed in view of accelerating global crises, including war, climate change, pandemics, artificial intelligence, and inequality.

Read our report here:
www.democracywithoutborders.org/37452/

Freedom boosts economic prosperity, says Atlantic Council 2025 index Atlantic Council’s 2025 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes link democracy to economic prosperity.

The 2025 Freedom and Prosperity report from the Atlantic Council @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social highlights that democracy pays off: countries that democratize see an 8.8% GDP per capita boost over 20 years, outpacing autocracies www.democracywithoutborders.org/37415/freedo...

‘Democracy and human rights are two sides of the same coin’ CIVICUS discusses the potential for a United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Democracy with Andreas Bummel, founder and executive director of Democracy Without Borders, an international civil socie...

Interviewed by CIVICUS, our Executive Director @andreasbummel.bsky.social explains why the UN should appoint a Special Rapporteur on Democracy, what the benefits would be, and what is needed to make it happen: majority support in the UN Human Rights Council.

lens.civicus.org/interview/de...

Dictators’ clubs: how regional blocs support authoritarianism Authoritarian regimes use regional organizations to suppress opposition, resist pressure, and stay in power, new book shows.

Authoritarian regimes use regional organizations to suppress dissent and bolster their power as @debremaria.bsky.social shows in her new book "The Dictators' Club". As autocrats coordinate across borders, democratic actors must do the same, she writes.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/37302/

Invoking Article 109: How South Africa's G20 presidency can lead global governance reform South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy exemplifies how political transformation can be driven by vision and international solidarity.

In this piece, featured by the self-organized academic platform of the G20, the so-called T20, Tim Murithi makes the case for South Africa spearheading a UN Charter Review to rebuild and democratize the United Nations. We fully agree. t20southafrica.org/commentaries...

Quality declined in over half of 2024’s 62 elections worldwide: report 2025 report finds election quality declined in over half of 62 national votes held in 2024

Quality declined in over half of 2024’s 62 elections worldwide says the new Global Electoral Report 2025 with most concerning findings related to established and emerging democracies, including Mexico, the UK, the USA, India and Indonesia www.democracywithoutborders.org/37218/qualit...

A movement is needed to ensure AI serves humanity and democracy A call to action for building a democracy movement to ensure public oversight and governance of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is advancing at unprecedented speed. Former Hong Kong legislator Nathan Law calls for a global Democracy AI movement that demands transparency, citizen participation, and rights-based regulation. www.democracywithoutborders.org/37130/a-move...

Democracy under attack: the case for a new UN Special Rapporteur Civil society is calling on the United Nations (UN) to create a Special Rapporteur on Democracy. The campaign argues that while the UN monitors specific human rights through specialised rapporteurs, d...

While the UN investigates everything from torture to toxic waste, democracy – supposedly a core UN principle – receives no systematic international oversight. Civil society wants to change that. Read more in this piece by our partner CIVICUS:

lens.civicus.org/democracy-un...

The UN at 80 must not be sidetracked by global hegemons The UN80 initiative weakens multilateralism and empowers a minority of self-interested nations, prioritising military spending over global crises

As the United States retreats from the UN and the global order, the governments of the global majority need to commit to putting their money where their mouths are if they are serious about reviving multilateralism, argues Tim Murithi in this piece mg.co.za/columns/2025...

OECD paper explores good practices in global civil society engagement An OECD paper outlines how civil society engagement enhances the legitimacy and effectiveness of international decision-making.

It's important that international organizations engage with civil society and other stakeholders. A recent OECD @oecdgovernance.bsky.social paper studied 26 different mechanisms. Here's a summary on our blog:

www.democracywithoutborders.org/36983/oecd-p...

We The Peoples Campaign Join the call for a UN World Citizens' Initiative, a UN Parliamentary Assembly and a UN Civil Society Envoy

On this day 80 years ago, the United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco. We mark the anniversary by reiterating our call for "We the Peoples", in whose name it was declared, to finally have an actual voice in the world organization.

www.wethepeoples.org

What is Democracy? - Democracy Without Borders On this page, we explain what democracy is, how it has developed over time, and the challenges it faces. Available in several languages.

In many countries, people worry about democratic backsliding or resist outright authoritarianism. But what does democracy actually entail? Our new brochure “What is Democracy?” offers a clear and accessible overview. www.democracywithoutborders.org/what-is-demo...

Voting, elections and participation are all indispensable elements of democracy. Sortition-based bodies should be made use of (and we support them) but in themselves they will not save democracy, even less the world. There should be no illusions.

Reforming the UN Security Council: enlargement is not enough The UN Security Council (UNSC) has never played the ambitious role that the architects of the United Nations had intended, as it too often failed to prevent wars and ensure...

The UN Security Council needs to become more representative. But enlargement is not enough argues Daniele Archibugi. The veto power is a key problem and it is anachronistic that the world's people have no voice.

Read more about it here:
www.democracywithoutborders.org/36950/

Global trade union warns of a "concerted assault" on workers’ rights Workers' rights are in decline around the world according to a report published by the International Trade Union Confederation.

Global trade union @ituc.bsky.social warns of a “concerted assault” on democracy and workers’ rights in their 2025 Global Rights Index

www.democracywithoutborders.org/36927/global...

New UN democracy mandate debated at Oslo Freedom Forum side event An expert round table in Oslo discussed the United Nations' engagement on democracy and explored the appointment of a special rapporteur.

Is the UN "Missing in Action" with regard to democracy? A round table on the sidelines of the 2025 Oslo Freedom Forum discussed the proposed appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy. Democracies need to regain the initiative at the UN. www.democracywithoutborders.org/36909/new-un...

The United Nations braces for dramatic cuts and massive restructuring Facing a funding crisis, the UN plans deep budget cuts and restructuring. Civil society at the same time urges democratic reforms.

As US funding is expected to disappear, the United Nations braces for dramatic cuts and massive restructuring. Civil society at the same time promotes democratic reforms. “What the UN needs is a rethink", says our Executive Director. www.democracywithoutborders.org/36875/the-un...

We are attending the 2025 @oslofreedomforum.com that assembles freedom fighters, dissidents and activists who fight worldwide for democracy and against authoritarianism. Check out their livestream.

Repression and conflict put UN goals at risk: civil society declaration At the 2025 United Nations conference on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16, held in New York on May 12, a joint civil society declaration was presented.

Repression and conflict put achievement of UN sustainable development goals at risk warns joint civil society declaration presented in New York

www.democracywithoutborders.org/36827/repres...

Global Citizens’ Assemblies should help revive the UN: new report Democracy International and Democracy Without Borders at a webinar presented a joint report on Global Citizens’ Assemblies

Global Citizens' Assemblies made up of randomly selected people from across the world should help revive the UN, a new report recommends, presented at a webinar last week and published with @democracyintl.bsky.social

www.democracywithoutborders.org/36794/global...

Global Citizens' Assemblies - Pathways for the United Nations This policy brief examines principles, design and implementation of Global Citizens' Assemblies.

A policy brief we published today jointly with @democracyintl.bsky.social recommends that people around the world, selected randomly according to demographic criteria and diversity, should deliberate on global topics & provide their input to UN bodies www.democracywithoutborders.org/36645/global...

Misinformation is one of the common causes identified in the report which you can find here (PDF download): snfagora.jhu.edu/wp-content/u...

Resetting global democracy support: let those on the frontlines lead SNF Agora Institute identifies common causes of democratic erosion across the world and in response suggests two overarching strategies.

A report by @snfagora.bsky.social at Johns Hopkins University explores causes of democratic erosion worldwide & suggests that leadership of global democracy support should shift to those on the frontlines in Global Majority countries. www.democracywithoutborders.org/36605/resett...

Global Governance Just Won Big — As The U.S. Left The Room On April 11, 2025, the world achieved something rare: a legally binding global climate agreement to cut shipping emissions

Win for climate action: The International Maritime Organization voted to adopt a binding global deal to cut ship emissions. This breakthrough was possible because no individual country - like the U.S. - could veto the decision.

www.forbes.com/sites/we-don...

US Tariffs Threaten to Undermine World Trade Organization As the Trump administration’s hostility towards the United Nations and other international organizations keeps growing, a New York Times columnist last week proposed what he frivolously described as “...

From the standpoint of democratic checks and balances, it is concerning that the US President apparently can unleash a trade war with most of the world’s countries while the US Congress simply looks on, our Executive Director told IPS News @ipsnews.net #tradewar

www.ipsnews.net/2025/04/us-t...

A new UN Rapporteur on Democracy: addressing common concerns Around the world, people are demanding responsive, accountable and democratic governments. Many countries are facing challenges. According to latest assessments there are currently 45 countries that a...

Civil society groups are pushing for a UN Rapporteur on Democracy #UNROD - an independent voice to help strengthen & monitor #democracy worldwide. But among governments, a number of common concerns are raised. This article tackles them head-on:
🔗 www.democracywithoutborders.org/36566/a-new-...

Education key to supporting democracy says UN Human Rights Council The UN Human Rights Council in a resolution emphasized the important role of education in strengthening democracy.

Education key to supporting #democracy says UN Human Rights Council, calls for determined action "to prevent and combat the trend of democratic backsliding" www.democracywithoutborders.org/36508/educat...

Why are political protests surging around the world? To help illuminate and analyze the notable number of major antigovernment protests that have been occurring around the world in recent years, the Carnegie Endowment maintains the Global Protest Tracke...

Political protests are surging in dozens of countries around the world. They manifest the continued commitment of citizens to uphold democratic norms and demand governmental accountability, even in the face of considerable personal risk, this article explains www.democracywithoutborders.org/36471/

The UN cannot continue to stand by as democracy retreats Despite democracy being a core principle of the United Nations, there is no dedicated UN mechanism to monitor and protect it.

Despite #democracy is a core principle of the United Nations, there is no dedicated UN mechanism to monitor and protect it. Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Executive Director of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, makes the case for a UN Special Rapporteur. www.democracywithoutborders.org/36396/the-un...