Southern-led approaches to democratic resilience

 

In recent years, there has been a steady decline in democracy and a rise in autocracies around the world. At the same time, countries and regions have withstood this trend and proved resilient. Furthermore, surveys consistently show that people aspire to democracy over an authoritarian system, and that it is leaders they do not trust, not the democratic system itself. This persistent demand for democracy speaks to the often-overlooked role that people and communities play in sustaining democratic systems. This suggests the need to better understand the idea of democratic resilience, a concept attracting growing interest, and to develop a systematic comprehension of how to protect democratic spaces. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for Southern-led research on the specific threats to democracy in the Global South, and on local and national solutions.

This project investigates the factors behind democratic resilience in Africa and South America. It unites researchers from both regions and looks at the historical, societal and political specificities of democracy in these regions. It will compare countries that have maintained democratic standards and those that have not, likely including Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Zambia, Argentina, Colombia and Peru as case studies.

In addition to knowledge creation, the project will establish structures and mechanisms to build capacity, generate new ideas and make actionable recommendations, drawing together policymakers and stakeholders from around the world.