#KeepDemocracyAlive Advocacy Campaign: A Global Call to Action

The Global Democracy Coalition officially launched the second phase of its global advocacy campaign last week with the unveiling of #KeepDemocracyAlive, a bold follow-up to last year’s widely recognized #ThankYouDemocracy advocacy campaign. The campaign kicks off  with the release of Season 2, Episode 1 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, available now on all major platforms.

The transition from #ThankYouDemocracy to #KeepDemocracyAlive reflects a necessary shift in focus. The first phase of the campaign fostered a more hopeful and positive narrative around democracy by highlighting its universal value, uplifting youth participation, and encouraging civic education. It worked to combat political apathy and disillusionment by showcasing innovative democratic practices and amplifying the work of youth groups, civil society organizations, and democracy advocates worldwide. 

Now, with democratic systems under increasing attack from coordinated disinformation campaigns, autocratic regimes, and far-right movements, the Global Democracy Coalition is turning its attention to more directly defending democracy itself. #KeepDemocracyAlive represents a shift from gratitude to action, offering a timely response to growing global threats that aim to distort, delegitimize, and dismantle democratic norms and institutions.

At its core, the second phase of the campaign seeks to reaffirm the authentic principles of democracy, clarify the functions and importance of democratic institutions such as legislatures, courts, and oversight bodies, and actively counter the false narratives that seek to redefine these systems for political convenience. The campaign shows how democracy shapes our everyday lives — from access to healthcare and education to the protection of rights and freedoms. It also strives to promote civic and media literacy as tools for resisting misinformation and defending democratic participation. 

To achieve these goals, the Global Democracy Coalition will be rolling out a robust program of activities throughout 2025. This includes two high-profile op-eds by leading experts, the production and launch of Seasons 2 and 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, and a global event later this year that will bring together UN Special Rapporteurs, industry leaders, policymakers, media, and civil society representatives to explore the future of democracy in a rapidly changing world.

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Engaging multimedia content will be central to the campaign’s outreach strategy, with weekly social media posts structured around five key themes.  #NextGenMondays will engage youth in discussions about representation and civic action.  #FactCheckingTuesdays will explore the dangers of misinformation, AI manipulation, and electoral disinformation. #RightsWednesdays will address women’s rights, minority inclusion, and social equity. 

#TransparencyThursdays will focus on democratic accountability and the rule of law. #FreedomFridays will champion core freedoms like expression, association, and media independence.

By launching #KeepDemocracyAlive, the Global Democracy Coalition signals that this is not a moment for silence or passivity. Around the world, the space for democracy is shrinking, but so too is the willingness of citizens to let it slip away. 

This campaign is a global call to reclaim the democratic narrative, resist authoritarian influence, and keep democracy alive for generations to come.

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Tune in to the first episode of Season 2 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, available today. This episode includes insight from Mary Yvonne Ododa, Board Member at our Coalition Partner, The Youth Cafe, Founder of Jarumi Ventures Africa, and Executive Director at Nuru Trust Network as well as Mumbiko King’ori, Partnerships Associate at The Youth Cafe, former youngest Presidential aspirant in Kenya, WYDE Youth Advisory board member with the European Partnership for Democracy and a Kofi Annan Foundation Fellow. This episode covers how they first got involved in democracy work, the personal experiences that shaped them, and the real pushback they face in shrinking civic spaces across Africa. 

Join the #KeepDemocracyAlive movement as it unleashes a bold, global campaign to defend truth, protect rights, and reclaim democracy. From hard-hitting op-eds and expert voices, to eye-opening multimedia stories, dynamic social media themes, and a landmark global event this fall, this is your call to action to speak out, push back, and step forward to help shape the democratic future we all deserve.