The State of Democracy in 2025

Event Date: 21st January 2025
Location: Internet 21:00 - 22:00 GMT

In 2024, two billion people in over 70 countries were eligible to exercise their basic democratic right to vote for their leaders in a national election.      

The results were all over the map.  

There is no simple explanation for the disparate outcomes. In some cases – India, the United States, and Botswana, for instance – incumbent parties either lost or fared worse than expected. But in other places incumbent parties fared well. In Moldova and Romania foreign election interference dramatically altered the outcome of elections; in other places – like Taiwan – foreign influence efforts were less successful. In Venezuela a dictator stole the election to retain the presidency; in Senegal citizens’ demands ensured a fair vote and transfer of power. Right wing populist parties did well in some votes, but in other cases democratic forces successfully united to thwart the far right’s bid for power.  

Looking back at these consequential votes, what can we learn about state of democracy today? What lessons can we draw from the elections of 2024? How should we be thinking about democracy – and democracy promotion – in 2025?