On May 27th, 2025, the Center for Emerging Democracies partnered with the Brookings Anti-Corruption, Democracy, and Security (ACDS) project along with Cornell University’s Brooks Center on Global Democracy and Vanderbilt University’s Center for Global Democracy to explore the unprecedented challenges facing democracies, locally and globally. This project aims to forge new networks, tools, and visions for democratic futures, where political parties that promote democracy and civil society must deepen local engagement, reinforce norms, and build broad coalitions to counter authoritarian threats.
The group analyzed solutions for democracy, drawing on comparative and contemporary lessons; the role of political parties and how they can be mobilized to prevent democratic backsliding; global democracy strategies in a shifting landscape, and the need to reimagine democratic leadership in the world; technology, media, and information and increased digital literacy to combat disinformation; and reimagining democracy and the promise and possibility for demanding and attaining responsive, abundant governance.
To reimagine democracy, it must be remembered that liberal democracy is not the historical norm, while also keeping in mind that there are deficits within democracy. They write that, “nevertheless, democracy is essential in achieving security, advancing equality, and protecting rule of law. Democracy provides the possibility for demanding and attaining responsive, abundant governance.” Think tanks, academia, civil society, media, philanthropic organizations, private and public sector representatives, and other critical pro-democracy actors can build stronger collaborations to provide research and action to address challenges to U.S. and global democracy. These partnerships will contribute to the foundations for democratic reimagining and renewal.
@umichDemocracy looks forward to continuing this novel partnership. Please visit the Brookings Institution if you’d like to read more about the conference and the subsequent findings.
