Introducing the Democracy Narratives Campaign

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Together with a global group of organizations, we are launching a new initiative to compile, develop, and promote compelling narratives that increase public support for and engagement in democracy. The Democracy Narratives Campaign brings together more than 30 organizations, research institutions, and funders working on democracy and communications.

The campaign is a new initiative of the Global Democracy Coalition and is coordinated by People Powered with International IDEA, the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Busara, Fundación Corona, FrameWorks Institute, and the SNF Agora Institute, with initial funding from Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

At a time when support for democracy is declining around the world, we see an urgent need to shift how we communicate. Dominant narratives frame democracy narrowly around elections, yet citizens are increasingly frustrated with existing electoral politics. To counter the appeal of anti-democratic autocrats, we need to offer more meaningful visions of democracy. 

Behavioral science and communications researchers have been assessing and developing new narratives for democracy in several countries. Much of this research points to a need to move beyond abstract concepts of democracy, to talk more directly about how people can participate in decision-making for the issues that affect their lives.

This research has been fragmented, however, and has had limited impact on communication practices. The campaign will synthesize and connect this global research, and translate it into coordinated action by leading international organizations and funders.

What the campaign will do:

  1. Compile and develop new democracy narratives, messaging, and framing strategies that increase engagement and support for democracy.

  2. Generate more aligned and strategic communications by democracy organizations and advocates, using shared narratives and tools.

  3. Build support and resources for further development, testing, and application of new narratives and framing strategies at the global, national, and local levels.

We will host the first workshop of campaign members on October 5–6, 2025, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, and release initial resources at the 2025 OGP Summit on October 7–9.

Stay informed

The campaign is just getting started, and we’ll share more in the months ahead. Sign up here to stay updated and or get involved.

Campaign members