International Forum for Democratic Studies

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International Forum for Democratic Studies The International Forum for Democratic Studies is a leading center for democratic thought & analysis.

The Forum's activities involve and benefit scholars, policy makers, and activists representing diverse experiences and views. As part of its core mission, the Forum has initiated several interrelated programs:

Research and Conferences - through a combination of international conferences and meetings, analyzes the practical and theoretical aspects of democracy and democratization. Journal of Democracy - a quarterly magazine and book series. Fellowship Programs - a program that enables democracy activists, scholars, and journalists from around the world to spend time in residence at the Forum. Network of Democracy Research Institutes - a global association of think tanks that study democracy and democracy-related issues

"Prodemocracy civil society must become competitive and unpredictable enough to deny authoritarian actors the total cont...
10/15/2026

"Prodemocracy civil society must become competitive and unpredictable enough to deny authoritarian actors the total control they seek.”

Read more from Vukasin Petrovic, former strategic director at Freedom House and student organizer in Serbia, on how civic leaders across the world can adapt to shrinking civic space and authoritarian control. .

https://thinkdemocracy.substack.com/p/civic-space-is-still-contested-but

In his latest essay for the Forum, Jacob Mchangama highlights how free speech intertwines with other fundamental freedom...
09/28/2026

In his latest essay for the Forum, Jacob Mchangama highlights how free speech intertwines with other fundamental freedoms to hold those in power accountable.

Explore "The Fundamental Freedoms Today: Views from the Frontlines of Repression," our latest essay series commemorating and examining the freedoms vital to democratic life around the world.

🔗 Read the first two essays in the series: https://www.ned.org/the-fundamental-freedoms-today-views-from-the-frontlines-of-repression/

As Russia continues to repress civil society and independent media in exile, it is more important than ever to sustain f...
09/18/2026

As Russia continues to repress civil society and independent media in exile, it is more important than ever to sustain funding and protection for those working to keep the people's voices heard.

Alexander Cooley examines how the Kremlin is expanding its reach beyond its borders, as well as the growing pressure it places on independent media and journalism in exile.

Read more in our latest report, Testing the Limits: https://www.ned.org/testing-the-limits-china-and-russias-authoritarian-influence-at-scale-in-a-new-period-of-impunity/

Today we celebrate a very special during .While the US Constitution is not quite as old as the nation itself, the pri...
09/17/2026

Today we celebrate a very special during .

While the US Constitution is not quite as old as the nation itself, the principles of liberty, justice, and individual rights it sets out have been looked to as a beacon not just by Americans, but by those looking to realize the promise of freedom across the world.

The Forum’s newest essay series examines the global relevance of the fundamental freedoms outlined and promised by the Constitution’s First Amendment, and how those rights are faring in some of the most challenging international settings.

Read the first two essays by Knox Thames
and Jacob Mchangama – more to come this fall: https://www.ned.org/the-fundamental-freedoms-today-views-from-the-frontlines-of-repression/

The fundamental freedoms set out in the First Amendment represented a milestone not only for America, but in the global ...
09/14/2026

The fundamental freedoms set out in the First Amendment represented a milestone not only for America, but in the global story of democracy.

Proclaimed in the U.S. by America's Founding Fathers, the freedom of speech—the right to express one's opinions openly and forcefully—is also reflected in international standards and has been invoked by generations of activists working against repression worldwide.

In the second essay in our collection "The Fundamental Freedoms Today," Jacob Mchangama outlines the close connection between free speech and democracy, both historically and in the present day. Today, free speech is a critical dimension of the struggle between repressive regimes and modern-day defenders of freedom in countries like Russia, Belarus, and beyond.

More in our latest essay series: https://www.ned.org/the-fundamental-freedoms-today-views-from-the-frontlines-of-repression/

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, we remember the nearly 3,000 people killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania—and all whose lives were forever changed.

We also honor the courage of the first responders, passengers, and everyday Americans who acted to protect and care for others amid unimaginable loss.

Their example reminds us that democracy depends on citizens who accept responsibility for one another and defend the freedoms that bind their communities together. Those values continue to guide NED’s mission and the work of our partners around the world.

In honor of and tonight's Democracy Awards with the National Endowment for Democracy, the Forum is publishing the firs...
09/10/2026

In honor of and tonight's Democracy Awards with the National Endowment for Democracy, the Forum is publishing the first of a new essay series on the Fundamental Freedoms outlined in the First Amendment and how they are faring across the globe.

Knox Thames writes that, around the world, statist regimes in the most repressive countries suppress the faith of religious minorities, compel citizens to practice the government’s prescribed religion, or try to stamp out spiritual practices altogether.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution outlines a clear and unshakable liberty to practice whichever religion—or lack thereof—that a person chooses. Such a right has since been recognized as an essential cornerstone of freedom for democracy in any country or region, including by worshipers working to establish a safe place to practice their faith in places like China, Iran, and Nicaragua.

https://www.ned.org/the-fundamental-freedoms-today-views-from-the-frontlines-of-repression/

📖 NEW ESSAY SERIES 🦅 The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution marked a milestone in the history of democracy. Today,...
09/09/2026

📖 NEW ESSAY SERIES 🦅

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution marked a milestone in the history of democracy. Today, the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition are embedded in the international human rights system, enshrined within the constitutions of other nations, and defended by citizens worldwide who are standing up to tyranny.

This month, in honor of and this week's National Endowment for Democracy Democracy Awards, the Forum will begin publishing a series of thought-provoking essays on how civic actors in authoritarian settings strive every day for these fundamental freedoms. As authoritarian powers double down on restricting their citizens’ rights to speak, worship, gather, and hold their leaders accountable, rights-respecting democracies have crucial roles to play in supporting frontline civil society and protecting the future of freedom.

Written by a group of leading researchers and practitioners, this five-part series dives into what the five freedoms outlined in the First Amendment mean for people around the world today—and the challenges they face on the frontlines of repression.

Stay tuned for each of these essays as they are released in September!

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