Recommendations and strategic actions

Action is required immediately, even if the exact form of this does not take shape until the process has begun. As the Persian poet, Rumi, said: ‘As you start to walk the way, the way appears.‘ Recommendations from the meeting include:

1. At such a critical juncture for the future of democracy, a bold, positive and passionate narrative for democracy must be constructed and disseminated which unites people and leaders. To be successful, this needs to connect people to democratic principles in a practical and an emotional way – it cannot be dull or procedural, as has been a critique. This innovative vision should articulate the benefits to be reaped from democracy, not just why authoritarianism is bad.
2. Combine existing meetings on democracy – or at least strengthen coordination between them – to improve visibility and impact, and instrumentalise political will whilst overcoming collective bandwidth challenges. The international democracy events calendar is densely packed, however due to funding cuts, it is likely not all will continue beyond the next year.
3. These combined meetings could facilitate a coalition of willing democracies to collectively counter anti-democratic actors, both state and non-state. This may require suitable international democracy organisations to approach interested Global South countries to lead the initiative. This group, or perhaps treaty-based organisation, would need political will and leadership from a core group of countries. High-level (Heads of State) meetings at regular intervals – annually or biennially – often in the Global South, would provide a structured, permanent platform for dialogue and decision, to set the tone internationally of commitment to democracy.
4. Develop one focal event at global level, a Festival of Democracy, with a celebratory tone as politicians are more likely to engage in positivity.
5. Establish international and/or regional networks on democratic themes, where Global North and Global South actors can share their experiences equally, for example a Special Rapporteur for Electoral Integrity ¹, Summit for Judicial Independence, Global Cyber Security Alliance. These initiatives would leverage technology and enhance multilateral cooperation on key democratic governance themes, such as climate action, security, economic inclusion, and electoral integrity.
6. Strengthen existing structures, such as the UN, and multilateral agencies, to promote democratic principles internationally. This could include pushing existing efforts to reform the UN Security Council.
7. Take a multistakeholder – and where possible direct participation – approach, including encouraging private sector involvement in supporting democratic values and practices. Ensure a broad range of actors and citizens can participate in addressing democratic governance issues.
8. Increase participation of underrepresented groups, including young people (below 30 years old) and women, in international democratic discussions and decision-making. Create mechanisms for inter-generational partnerships.
9. Democratic governments to pool resources, including from interested Global South countries and in-kind resources (experience sharing). Investment rounds could be leveraged for Global South countries to contribute to pooled funds on a more equal footing with Global North countries.
10. Continue this discussion, for example through the Giessbach Democracy Retreat, hosted by Switzerland’s Ambassador for Peace and Human Rights. This small group discusses international democracy support and preventing democratic backsliding² .

Hannah Bowley and Kelvin Kimaili

Wilton Park | April 2025

Footnotes

1. https://www.idea.int/gsod/2024/chapters/policy-recommendations/ ↩︎
2. https://x.com/SwissPeaceHR/status/1790042967090065500 ↩︎

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