Our Annual Lecture on the State of Democracy in the World shines a light on the human stories that underpin the promise of democracy and the struggle to defend it around the world. Strengthening democracy is a global challenge, and we can learn from the experiences of those working to uphold human rights and strengthen democracy in their countries and communities.

In an era of rising authoritarianism there is a tendency to focus on the role of autocrats and dictators. But every day, people around the world put themselves at risk in service of democracy. Our lecture spotlights democracy defenders and innovators and offers a chance to hear their ideas about the challenges and opportunities for democracy. This can help us identify the way forward to strengthen democracy globally.