Josh Lerner for Philea: Beyond defence: New strategies for renewing democracy

In a new Philea op-ed, co-executive director, Josh Lerner argues that defending democracy is no longer enough. Around the world, people are experimenting with ways to give communities real power—but these efforts often remain isolated. Josh calls for a shift from scattered pilot projects to a coordinated ecosystem that connects local innovation with global support.

He highlights a path forward: invest in long-term structural change, build shared tools and learning infrastructure, and center the voices of marginalized communities in shaping policy. Taken together, these strategies can move us from crisis response to genuine democratic renewal.