Human Rights Beyond the Headlines: Let's Talk About Democracy!
What is democracy? What does democracy mean to you and to your country?
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about democracy. In the United States, scholars, elected officials, the media, and many voters have expressed fear that our democracy is slipping away, with those concerns regularly populating our news and social media feeds. These conversations are also happening due to the decline in democracy and rise in authoritarianism in countries around the world.
But what is democracy? What are the ideals of democracy? Has the US, or other countries, reached these ideals? What are the elements of democracy and what do we stand to lose if democracy, or components of it, are diminished or dismantled?
What to Know
(Background information for educators and can be read aloud, shared, or summarized with learners)
Defining democracy
While there are different types of democracy (e.g., direct democracy, representative democracy, participatory democracy, parliamentary democracy), democracy can generally be defined as follows:
A political system in which the power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving free and fair elections.
This means that the system of government is based on the idea that the people should have the power, and they vote for representatives who will carry out their policy needs and positions. “We the people,” the opening words of the US Constitution, were powerful and important to the framers because they intended for the government's power to reside with the people, rather than with one ruler, such as a king or monarch.
The framers wrote the Constitution to distribute power among three branches of government: Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives who make the laws), Executive (President, Vice President, and Cabinet who carry out and enforce the laws), and Judicial (Supreme and federal courts who interpret the laws). These three “coequal” branches of government are designed so that no one branch has more power than the others.
To understand democracy in more detail, the Center for American Progress outlined democracy's core values:
A government that represents and involves all people, including those who have been historically marginalized, based on a shared set of values.
Free, fair and accessible elections that reflect the people's will and allow them to hold elected leaders accountable.
Efficient, effective, and honest government that implements policies and delivers services that are responsive to the people and improves their quality of life.
Respect for the rule of law and promotion of equal justice, which means legal accountability not only for political leaders but for anyone who tries to improperly rig or corrupt the system or resorts to political violence.
A loyal opposition that passionately advocates for its policy interests but also respects election results and peaceful transfers of power.
The protection of people’s fundamental freedoms and human rights, including freedoms of expression, privacy, religion, assembly, and association, as well as the freedom from fear or oppression.
An independent news media focused on informing the public and holding the government accountable.
Democracy around the world
What does this look like around the world? How many countries have democratic and autocratic governments, or countries that are somewhere along the continuum?
In 2024, the EIU’s (Economic Intelligence Unit) Democracy Index recorded a democratic decline globally. According to this index, “45% of the world’s population lives in a democracy, 39% under authoritarian rule and 15% in ‘hybrid regimes’ that combine electoral democracy with authoritarian tendencies.”
Authoritarian rule is a form of government where power is held by a single leader or a small group, limiting citizen participation and often suppressing opposition. Authoritarian rule means less freedom, more restrictions, less accurate information, and more violations of human rights. In 2024, the average global score for democracy fell to its lowest point since 2006 and the percentage of the world's population living under authoritarian rule has been increasing. Some of the factors that impact the weakening of democracy include credible elections, functioning governments, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
Over the last 8-10 years with the two Trump presidencies and implementation of Project 2025, democracy in the US has been at risk. Numerous experts and trackers agree there is evidence of a weakening democracy. In the Democratic Matrix Scale, which ranks countries along a scale from “Working Democracy” to “Hard Autocracy,” the US is classified as a “Deficient Democracy,” ranking #36 compared to other countries. The New York Times editorial board, with scholars who study democracies, compiled twelve markers of democratic erosion and determined that the US has regressed on all twelve markers (e.g., an authoritarian persecutes political opponents, declares national emergencies on false pretences, vilifies marginalized groups and more). Between January and April 2025, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) issued 20 alerts when the US government had “eroded or abolished the rules, institutions and norms that have shaped US democracy.”
The US general public agrees and is concerned. A November 2025 study from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Public Agenda found that 84% of respondents said that democracy is either in crisis or facing serious challenges. Only 11% said democracy is doing well.
Various countries across the globe are also facing diminished democracies. For example, Pakistan, according to the Global State of Democracy Framework, scores in the low range on representation (i.e., credible elections, elected government), rule of law (i.e., judicial independence, predictable enforcement) and rights (i.e., civil liberties, political equality, basic welfare, etc.). Several key events signal concern about its fragile democracy:
Pakistan’s disputed 2024 National Assembly elections which were criticized for irregularities and a lack of transparency
President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment which grants extensive powers to the president
Civil society and human rights groups cite documentation of extensive restrictions on free expression, political assembly, and media independence.
What can "we the people" do to help support and preserve democracy?
Democracy doesn’t simply live, thrive, and survive on its own. “We the people” means that we, the nation’s citizens and residents–must actively participate in and support, enhance, defend, and protect democracy.
There are many ways that people can contribute to, protect, and strengthen democracy, including:
Register to vote, learn about candidates, encourage others to vote and work on voter registration
Learn about the issues and topics that are important to you
Reach out to your elected officials to express your viewpoints so they can truly represent you
Participate in dialogue and discussions about democracy and specific issues
Engage in advocacy and activism to fight for the issues that matter to you
Volunteer for organizations that advocate for issues you care about
Attend meetings where policies are discussed including town hall, school board, and other meetings
What other ideas do you have to get people or yourself to participate in and support democracy?
Why It Matters
The global rise of authoritarianism and decline of democracy is cause for great concern. Democracy, although flawed, is a humanitarian and participatory form of government. It is important to discuss, explore, and understand democracy in order to defend it. We have to understand where it is vulnerable and weak. In order to protect democracy, it is critical we understand its value and our role in keeping it alive.
What You Can Do Right Now
(Ideas for learners to take action)
Register to vote or plan to vote when you reach voting age. In the US, there is a movement to extend voting rights to 16 & 17 year olds in local, state, and federal elections.
Find out who your local and national elected officials are and contact them with your thoughts and concerns about issues that are important to you. If you are in the US, you can search by your address to find your national representatives.
Organize a forum at school to learn more about democracy. Engage with others by sharing information, asking questions, and seeking to learn about different perspectives.
Reflect on one or more of the principles outlined in the Center for American Progress’ core values (see above), and what it means to you.
Create and share a piece of artwork about what democracy means to you or how you will work to defend it.
Take a civics course or advocate for including civics education in your school’s curriculum or community education.
Participate in school or community government. There are always opportunities to get involved, regardless of your age.
Conversation Starters and Sparkers
To engage learners in a discussion, use non-judgmental and open-ended questions. Non-judgmental questions are curious questions that seek to understand a person, perspective, or situation without making assumptions or judgments. Open-ended questions are broad questions that can’t be answered in one word or with a simple “yes” or no,” but instead are questions that lead to detailed responses that uncover a person’s opinions or feelings and keep the conversation flowing.
Ask any of the following questions or create your own questions:
How would you describe democracy in your own words?
What does democracy mean to you?
How is your idea of democracy different (or the same) from what you thought before we had this discussion?
What parts of democracy are most important to you? Please explain.
What parts of democracy are you concerned about? What parts of democracy need to be strengthened? Please explain.
What are some aspects of democracy you participate in, or would like to?
Are you surprised to learn that democracy in the US and other countries is backsliding? How so?
In what ways does democracy operate in different parts of our lives like our classrooms, schools or communities?
How can we support, protect, and defend democracy in our communities and country?
Resources for Further Learning
Woven Teaching believes that human rights education is essential for students and adult learners to understand and assert their own rights and to protect the rights of others. As a result, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) lies at the core of Woven Teaching’s materials. The document’s 30 articles outline fundamental human rights: basic rights and freedoms which every human being is entitled to, regardless of race, religion, birthplace, gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. Although its articles are not legally binding, the UDHR serves as a moral compass for the international community. The concepts in this resource connect directly to several UDHR articles, including:
Article 3: Right to life, freedom, and safety.
Article 19: Right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Article 21: Right to participate in your country’s government.
Article 29: Right to be supported by your community and a duty to do the same for others.