Civil society leverages Global State of Democracy initiative to strengthen democratic practices

The Global State of Democracy (GSoD) initiative is one of International IDEA’s flagship initiatives, which aims to provide up-to-date, incisive and relevant data, analysis and policy guidance that helps shape the global debate on democracy. The Institute’s annual Global State of Democracy report is a reference point for policymakers and media, while the monthly Democracy Tracker monitors progress and setbacks around the world. 

Think tanks and advocacy groups worldwide are leveraging GSoD data and report findings to inform debate and promote democratization efforts. Users in 2025 included Democracy Without Borders, the Kofi Annan Foundation, the Middle East Institute and the National Democratic Institute. The GSoD initiative’s findings also inspired dialogue on regional democratization efforts in the Western Balkans.

High-profile figures, such as Pita Limjaroenrat, the legitimate winner of Thailand’s 2023 general election, and Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, have helped to amplify the Democracy Tracker and the GSoD report.

In 2025 non-governmental organizations used GSoD data in educational materials that build public understanding of issues such as press freedom. Initiatives such as Playing Democracy 2.0 (pictured above) used the GSoD initiative to engage communities through participatory art.

The private sector also emerged as a more prominent user of GSoD data, as businesses increasingly recognized the connection between democratic governance and responsible investment. Covalence, a Geneva-based company that evaluates businesses on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, integrated the GSoD Indices into its evaluations, demonstrating the framework’s relevance beyond the public sector.