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.
SUBSCRIBE
  • 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.

    READ MORE

  • Latest
    Resources

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

    READ MORE

  • Focus
    Areas

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

    READ MORE

  • 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.

    READ MORE

Follow

@THINKDEMOCRACY

WHAT WE’RE UP TO

LATEST Forum NEWS

Sep 16, 2024

Getting Ahead of Digital Repression: Authoritarian Innovation and Democratic Response

In April 2024, the Hoover Institution's project on China’s Global Sharp Power, Stanford University’s Global Digital Policy Incubator, and the National Endowment for Democracy’s International Forum for Democratic Studies held a closed-door,...

Jun 05, 2024

Forum Q&A: Ethan Tu and Billion Lee on How Taiwan’s Civil Society Collaborates to Address Information Integrity Challenges from Beijing

2024 has been called the “year of elections” with over four billion people set to cast their ballots. The potential threat to the integrity of the information space is severe. For those concerned with how authoritarian powers might influence...

Apr 04, 2024

International Forum for Democratic Studies Celebrates 30th Anniversary

This month, the International Forum for Democratic Studies celebrates 30 years as a leading center for democratic thought and analysis. Under the leadership of Marc F. Plattner and Larry Diamond, the International Forum was established in...

VIEW ALL Posts
December 06, 2023

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

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

DOWNLOAD FORUM BROCHURE

Download
Forum

Publications

  • The Struggle Against Authoritarian Influence in the Western Balkans: Montenegro as a Test Case

    A new report authored by Vanja Ćalović Marković explores how Montenegro has become an ideal testing ground for authoritarian actors, and how lessons learned from these influence experiments can be applied by authoritarian actors globally.

    READ MORE
  • Manufacturing Deceit: How Generative AI Supercharges Information Manipulation

    A new report authored by Beatriz Saab explores how generative AI is helping authoritarians tip the scales against democracy and accelerate harmful narratives in a wide variety of country contexts, and how civil society organizations are using the same set of tools to push back.

    READ MORE
  • Fighting Kleptocracy in an Era of Geopolitics

    In a new International Forum report, Ben Judah analyzes how the counter-kleptocracy agenda intersects with, and is at times superseded by, competing geopolitical priorities.

    READ MORE
  • Leveraging AI for Democracy: Civic Innovation on the New Digital Playing Field

    A new report by Beth Kerley, Carl Miller, and Fernanda Campagnucci outlines possible paths toward a prodemocratic vision for AI.

    READ MORE