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Summary of "International Democracy Support: Filling the Leadership Vacuum"

Core Content

This article, part of a series published by the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, examines the impact of the United States' reduced role in global democracy support and explores how other actors are stepping in to fill the leadership vacuum. It highlights the importance of international cooperation in promoting open governance, media freedom, anticorruption, and human rights.

Main Views

• U.S. Leadership Decline: The U.S. has historically played a central role in promoting democracy globally, but under President Trump, this leadership has significantly diminished. His policies have undermined the U.S. position as a democratic exemplar and weakened its influence on the international stage.

• Global Democracy Community: A broad and diverse group of actors, including Western democracies, Southern democracies, multilateral organizations, and international NGOs, has contributed to the global promotion of democracy over the past three decades. This community remains active despite the U.S. retreat.

• Other Countries and Actors Stepping Up: While no single country is taking over the U.S. leadership role, several have increased their engagement in specific areas of democracy support. Examples include Sweden, the UK, and Canada, which are actively promoting open governance, media freedom, and human rights.

• Multilateral and NGO Efforts: International organizations such as the UN and the OECD, along with NGOs and civic groups, continue to support democratic reforms. These actors are crucial in maintaining the momentum of the open government agenda.

• Need for Renewed U.S. Engagement: The article acknowledges the potential for the U.S. to restore its leadership role in democracy support, but emphasizes that the road back will be challenging and requires significant effort and change.

Key Information

The Open Government Partnership (OGP)

• A multilateral initiative with 79 national governments, 20 local governments, and thousands of civic organizations.
• Released its first flagship report, "Democracy Beyond the Ballot Box," at the Ottawa summit.
• The U.S. was a founding member and played a central role in its expansion, but has since reduced its involvement.

U.S. Democracy Support

• Leadership Shift: Trump's policies have distanced the U.S. from its traditional role in promoting democracy, including his praise for autocrats and criticism of independent media.
• Domestic Impact: His actions at home, such as attacks on the rule of law and media freedom, have eroded the U.S. image as a democratic leader.
• Continued Efforts: Despite the shift, U.S. diplomats and NGOs continue to support democratic transitions in countries like Armenia, Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Tunisia.

Leadership in Parts

• Sweden: Launched a new "drive for democracy" in 2019, increasing funding and diplomatic efforts to promote open governance and human rights.
• UK: Increased its contribution to the OGP by over fourfold in 2018 and launched several anti-corruption initiatives.
• Canada: Hosted major international conferences on media freedom and LGBTI rights and allocated new funding to support these causes.

Other Areas of Democracy Support

• Media Freedom: Increasingly important as attacks on journalists and media grow. The UK and other countries are making it a global priority.
• Anticorruption: The UK and other nations are actively promoting anti-corruption measures, while the U.S. has shown weak resolve.
• Human Rights: Countries like Canada and others have taken a more active stance in condemning human rights abuses, such as China's treatment of Uyghurs and the persecution of LGBTI communities.

Role of Non-Governmental Actors

• Civic Groups and NGOs: Play a crucial role in promoting democratic values and supporting open governance, media freedom, and women's political participation.
• Collaboration: Success in the democracy agenda often depends on the collaboration between governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society.

Conclusion

While the U.S. has stepped back from its leadership role in global democracy support, the international community has not collapsed. Other countries and organizations are filling the gap, ensuring that democracy remains a central concern. However, the article stresses that sustained progress will require more coordinated and committed efforts from all actors, including a potential return to leadership by the U.S.