On December 4, 2024, the Brookings Anti-Corruption, Democracy, and Security (ACDS) project observed its first anniversary with a webinar outlining the challenges facing democracy in 2025 and beyond, as well as strategies for building democratic resilience. Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.), ACDS chair and senior fellow in Governance Studies, led this discussion with Asha Rangappa, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Senior Lecturer at the Jackson School of Global Affairs at Yale University and Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. Speakers discussed the challenges of disinformation and polarization, concerns about disenchantment with democracy, and the tactics being used by authoritarians worldwide to undermine democracy.
Eisen and Rangappa kicked off the conversation by unpacking changes to the media ecosystem and discussing their impacts on the electorate. Rangappa framed the fragmentation of the media landscape as one in which Americans are living in “two separate realities,” noting that “You can’t debate policy if you’re not starting from the same set of facts.” Rangappa and Ben-Ghiat discussed the benefits and challenges of the increasing individualization of online content. These include the risks associated with rapid dissemination of unverified content as well as the advantages of greater accessibility of information (including that it can make censorship more difficult).
The conversation then pivoted to the factors driving democratic backsliding around the world, with Ben-Ghiat discussing how democracy has arguably made people “lonely” and failed to deliver for all citizens. Rangappa shared an alternative perspective that loneliness threatens democracy, noting that social media has “exacerbated a lack of trust and left a vacuum of things that used to bind us together.”
The speakers also discussed the tactics used by authoritarians, including the weaponization of corruption to deepen state capture and consolidate power. Ben-Ghiat explained how authoritarians often make deals with oligarchs and elites in exchange for rewards from the state. Rangappa spoke to the national security implications of corruption, outlining how the nomination of loyalists to positions like FBI director could potentially result in increased foreign influence, destruction of evidence, poor surveillance, and the sale of classified information.
The speakers also outlined pathways to reinforce pillars of democracy. Ben–Ghiat expressed that people want positive change, as seen in countries like Chile, Belarus, Iran, Israel, and Serbia that since around 2019 have experienced their biggest nonviolent demonstrations in decades or ever. She highlighted the example of Poland and its turbulent history of democracy, one in which Poles weathered Nazi occupation, communism, and recently a far-right government. Notably, Poles successfully organized to counter democratic backsliding and elect a new government. Rangappa emphasized that a belief in agency among the public is important to build resilience against “authoritarian creep.” According to Rangappa, some of the most important actions members of the public can take now are to get out into the community, reconnect with each other, and have meaningful conversations.
ACDS will continue to host timely discussions and publish analyses that seek to address U.S. and global democracy, rule of law, and anti-corruption challenges. To better understand how to respond to democratic backsliding, review the Brookings Democracy Playbook 2025, which provides actionable steps for democratic actors in the U.S. and globally to strengthen democratic institutions and resist illiberal forces.