What We Do

About the Forum

The International Forum for Democratic Studies is a leading center for analysis and discussion of the theory and practice of democracy around the world. Bridging the gap between academic research and the practice of democracy, Forum initiatives include publishing the Journal of Democracy, housing fellowship programs for democracy activists and researchers, and organizing events. Through its Power 3.0 blog and other products, the Forum also fosters discussion on modern challenges to democracy, from transnational kleptocracy and authoritarian influence to risks emanating from the evolving global information space.
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  • Power 3.0
    Blog and Podcast

    The Forum's blog and podcast explore how authoritarians survive and thrive in the globalized age and how democracies contend with this challenge.

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  • Latest
    Resources

    A selection of resources from the International Forum for Democratic Studies.

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  • Focus
    Areas

    Major themes explored by the Forum include authoritarian influence, transnational kleptocracy, the information space, and democracy and civil society.

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  • Democracy
    Challenges

    The series of four issue briefs highlight emerging global challenges to democracy, including integrity of the information space, transnational kleptocracy, emerging technology, and global authoritarian influence.

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WHAT WE’RE UP TO

LATEST Forum NEWS

Nov 28, 2023

Deepening the Response to Authoritarian Information Operations in Latin America

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT (LEE EL INFORME EN ESPAÑOL) A new report authored by Iria Puyosa and Mariví Marín Vázquez and edited by Adam Fivenson examines civil society's response to the intensification of authoritarian information manipulation...

Oct 19, 2023

Setting Democratic Ground Rules for AI: Civil Society Strategies

Download the Report A new report by Beth Kerley (International Forum for Democratic Studies) analyzes priorities, challenges, and promising civil society strategies for advancing democratic approaches to governing artificial intelligence (AI). The...

Jul 27, 2023

Kleptocratic Cooperation in Africa: How Russia and China Undermine Democracy

TWEET | SHARE DOWNLOAD THE REPORT Authoritarian actors play a crucial role in enabling kleptocracy across sub-Saharan Africa. In a new International Forum report, J.R. Mailey (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) and Andrea...

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December 06, 2023

Twentieth Annual Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture: Larry Diamond on "Power, Performance, and Legitimacy"

05:30 PM - 06:45 PM
Larry Diamond will present the twentieth annual Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture on Democracy in the World on the topic of "Power, Performance, and Legitimacy."

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Forum

Publications

  • Defending the Global Human Rights System from Authoritarian Assault: How Democracies Can Retake the Initiative

    In a new report for the International Forum for Democratic Studies, Dr. Rana Siu Inboden examines how authoritarian regimes exploit multilateral institutions to further their illiberal goals and how democracies can work together to uphold the system and hold abusers accountable.

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  • A Full-Spectrum Response to Sharp Power: The Vulnerabilities and Strengths of Open Societies

    The final report in the Sharp Power and Democratic Resilience series reviews the findings of eight papers that highlight serious vulnerabilities in a cluster of institutions related to information and ideas, commerce, media, and technology.

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  • Kleptocratic Cooperation in Africa: How Russia and China Undermine Democracy

    In a new International Forum report, J.R. Mailey and Andrea Ngombet highlight ways in which global authoritarian powers, Russia and China, provide surge capacity to kleptocratic networks in Africa.

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  • The Global Struggle Over AI Surveillance: Emerging Trends and Democratic Responses

    This report explores the challenge of safeguarding democratic principles and processes as AI technologies enable governments to collect, process, and integrate unprecedented quantities of data about the online and offline activities of individual citizens.

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