The Global State of Democracy Report 2021 - Building Resilience in a Pandemic Era
International IDEA’s “The Global State of Democracy: Building resilience in a pandemic era” report aims to influence the global debate and analyses current trends and challenges to democracy, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It offers specific policy recommendations to spark new and innovative thinking for policymakers, governments and civil society organizations supporting democracy.
Visit the GSoD website to read and download the 2021 report.
The GLOBAL STATE OF DEMOCRACY Events
International IDEA will host a series of global and regional events in November and December about The Global State of Democracy (global and regional) reports. Browse this events page for more details about all event agendas involving notable speakers and supporters of democracy.
Please register to join events online or plan to watch live.
Follow us and engage with us on social media: #GSoD2021, #RenewDemocracy, #GlobalStateofDemocracy
Please check back often for more information.
THE GLOBAL STATE OF DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE
In 2016, International IDEA launched the Global State of Democracy Initiative, to analyze democratic trends and challenges and opportunities impacting on the global democracy landscape. The Global State of Democracy Initiative provides evidence-based and balanced analysis and data on the state and quality of democracy across most countires and all regions of the world. It aims to contribute to the public debate on democracy and inform policy interventions to strengthen democracy.
The Global State of Democracy Initiative is led by the Democracy Assessment team. For contact or queries on the GSoD Initiative or the GSoD Indices, please contact the DA team and GSoD Helpdesk.
Event notices:
- Individuals noted on any UN sanctions list (United Nations Security Council Consolidated List) or European Union sanctions list are not allowed to participate in any International IDEA events.
- All events will be recorded.
Event Listing
- The Global State of Democracy Report - Global Launch
- State of Democracy in Asia and the Pacific Report Launch
- The Global State of Democracy Report - Stockholm Presentation
- State of Democracy Report in Asia and the Pacific - Melanesia Presentation
- State of Democracy Report in Europe - Brussels
- The Global State of Democracy Report - Washington, DC Presentation
- State of Democracy Report in Africa Launch - Nairobi (This event will be held in English with French simultaneous translation)
- The Global State of Democracy Report - New York (UN) Presentation
- State of Democracy Report in the Americas Launch - Panama City
- State of Democracy Report in The Americas - Santiago Presentation (Cancelled)
- State of Democracy Report in Europe - The Hague Presentation
- State of Democracy Report in The Americas - Lima Presentation
Events

The global State of Democracy report - global Launch
Date: 22 November 2021, 15:00-17:00 CET
Location: Brussels and online
Opening
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H.E. Michael Clauss, Permanent Representative of Germany to the European Union
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Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA
Keynote
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Ms Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships (pre-recorded message)
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Dr Jürgen Zattler, Director-General for International Development Policy, 2030 Agenda, Climate, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Presentation of the Global State of Democracy Report
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Dr Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessment Unit, International IDEA
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Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA
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Mr Christophe Deloire, Secretary General, Reporters Without Borders
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Mr Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa
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Ms Mu Sochua, Democracy activist and former Vice-President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party
Moderator: Massimo Tommasoli, Director of Global Programmes, International IDEA

State of Democracy in Asia and the Pacific report Launch
Date: 24 November 2021, 16:00-17:30 AEDT, 6:00-7:30 CET
Location: Canberra (Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) and online
Welcome Message and Opening
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Daryl Karp AM, Museum Director at Museum of Australian Democracy
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Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA
Special Messages (pre-recorded)
- Hon. Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of Taiwan
Presentation of the State of Democracy in Asia and the Pacific Report
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Leena Rikkila Tamang, Regional Director, Asia and the Pacific, International IDEA
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Edward Aspinall, PhD , Professor, Coral Bell School of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University
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Imelda Deinla, PhD , Associate Professor, Ateneo School of Government, Philippines
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Nematullah Bizhan, PhD, Lecturer in Public Policy, Australian National University, former government official of Afghanistan
Mark Evans, PhD ,Professor, Center for Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra
Host: Adhy Aman, Senior Programme Manager, Asia and the Pacific, International IDEA

The Global State of Democracy report - stockholm Presentation
Date: 25 November 2021, 15:00-17:00 CET
Location: Stockholm and online
Opening
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Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA
Keynote
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H.E. Ann Linde, Foreign Affairs Minister, Sweden
Presentation of the Global State of Democracy Report
- Dr Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessment, International IDEA
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Ms Benedicte Berner, Civil Rights Defenders
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Mr Erik Halkjaer, Reporters Without Borders
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Ms Birgitta Ohlsson, National Democratic Institute

State of Democracy report in Asia and the Pacific - melanesia
Date: 7 December 2021, 10:00 PGT (PNG time), 11:00 AEDT (Canberra)
Location: Papua New Guinea
View complete event details on the Global Democracy Coalition Forum website.

The Global State of Democracy report - Washington, dc presentation
Date: 7 December 2021, 9:00-10:30 EST, 15:00-16:30 CET
Location: Washington, DC
Opening
- Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA
Presentation of the Global State of Democracy Report
- Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessment, International IDEA
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Annika Silva-Leander, Head of North America, International IDEA
- Johnny Walsh, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, USAID
- Thomas Carothers, Senior Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Thinzar Shun Lei Yi, Democracy Activist, Myanmar
Closing remarks
- Damon Wilson, President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy

State of Democracy report in Africa Launch
Date: 10 December 2021, 11:30-13:30 EAT, 09:30-11:30 CET
Location: Nairobi, Kenya and online
This event will be held in English with French simultaneous translation.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Dr Roba Sharamo, Regional Director International IDEA Africa and West Asia
- Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General, International IDEA
Keynote Speech
- Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security- African Union Commission
“Continental perspective on the state of democracy and the role of the AU and regional economic bodies”
Presentations of The State of Democracy Reports
- Presentation of the Global Findings: Dr Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessments, International IDEA
- Presentation of Africa Findings, Dr Roba Sharamo, Regional Director International IDEA Africa and West Asia
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Ms Njeri Kabeberi, Chair, International IDEA Board of Advisors
- Democratic Recession Amidst a Global Health Pandemic – Re-Emergence of Coups, Extended Presidential Tenures and Infringements of Fundamental Rights - Dr Andrews Atta Samoah, Programme Head, African Peace and Security Governance - Institute for Security Studies
- Africa’s youth- Channelling the Opportunities to Address the Challenge of Exclusion - Ms Animu Athiei Risasi, Founder of Animu Athiei Foundation
- Key Considerations for Addressing Democratic Regression in Africa - Dr Khabele Matlosa, Former Director of Department of Political Affairs, African Union Commission

State of Democracy report in Europe - Brussels
Date: 13 December 2021, 10:00-11:00 CET
Location: Online event
Opening
• H.E. Ms Hanna Lehtinen, Ambassador and Representative of Finland to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union
Keynote
• Ms Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency
Presentation of the State of Democracy in Europe Report
• Ms Nana Kalandadze, Programme Manager, International IDEA
Panel Discussion
• Dr Adam Bodnar, Poland’s Seventh Ombudsman (Commissioner for Human Rights), Professor at the SWPS University
• Ms Márta Pardavi, Co-chair, Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC)
Moderator: Mr Sam van der Staak, Head of Europe Programme, International IDEA

The Global State of Democracy report - New York (UN) presentation
Date: 13 December 2021, 13:30-15:00 EST, 19:30-21:00 CET
Location: New York and online
- Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA
- Ambassador Magnus Lennartsson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations
- Faiza Shaheen, Program Head for the Inequality and Exclusion Grand Challenge of the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies
- Mandeep Tiwana, Chief Programmes Officer, CIVICUS Advisory Board Member, UN Democracy Fund
- Mario Buil Merce, Senior Political Affairs Officer, Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect United Nations
- Anne Marie Goetz, PhD, M.Sc., Professor of practice at the Center for Global Affairs, New York University, and Professorial Fellow Emeritus at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex
Moderator
- Massimo Tommasoli, Director of Global Programmes and Permanent Observer to the United Nations, International IDEA

State of Democracy report in the americaS launch
Date: 15 December 2021, 10:00-11:30 EST
Location: Panama City, Panama
Ver más información en español
Welcome and Opening Remarks
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Magistrado Presidente del Tribunal Electoral de Panamá, Heriberto Araúz
Opening Remarks
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Secretario General IDEA Internacional, Kevin Casas-Zamora
Presentation of the State of Democracy Report in the Americas
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Director Regional IDEA Internacional, Daniel Zovatto
Presentation of the State of Democracy Report in Panamá
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Politólogo y decano de la Facultad de las Ciencias y las Artes Liberales de Universidad del Norte de Texas, Dr. Orlando Pérez
Presentation of the State of Democracy Report in México
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Profesora de Ciencia Política en el Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Denise Dresser
Presentation of the State of Democracy Report in Brasil
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Investigadora del Centro Brasileiro de Análisis y Planificación (Cebrap) Dra. María Herminia Tavares
Presentation of the State of Democracy Report in Peru
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Jefe de Misión de IDEA Internacional en Perú, Percy Medina

State of Democracy report in THE americaS - santiago presentation
Date: 17 December 2021, 9:30-11:30 CLST, 15:00-17:00 CET
Location: Santiago, Chile
Ver más información en español
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretario General IDEA Internacional Presentación de resultados para LAC
Presentation of the Global State of Democracy Report
- Dr Daniel Zovatto, Director Regional IDEA Internacional Presentación de resultados para Chile
- Sergio Bitar, Miembro del Directorio de IDEA Internacional
Panel Discussion
- Valeria Palanza, Cientista Política y Profesora asistente del Instituto de Ciencia Política de la Universidad Católica
- Claudia Heiss, Profesora asistente y jefa de la carrera de Ciencia Política del Instituto de Asuntos Públicos de la Universidad de Chile
Moderator: María Jaraquemada, Oficial de Programa de Chile y el Cono Sur

State of Democracy report in europe - the hague presentation
Date: Early 2022
Location: The Hague, Netherlands
More details to come.

State of Democracy report in THe americaS - LiMA presentation
Date: Early 2022
Location: Lima, Peru
More details to come.