Democracy work is getting harder, and the organizations doing it are largely invisible in the data
Around the world, organizations working to protect and promote democracy are navigating increasingly complex environments. Some work to strengthen elections and democratic institutions, others to defend human rights, and still others to protect civic spaces, media freedom, or public participation. These organizations vary enormously in size, resources, strategies, political contexts, and risks. Yet despite the importance of their work, we know surprisingly little about the organizations that make up this global democracy landscape. That gap matters. Decisions about funding, partnerships, and policy are often made without a clear picture of who is on the frontlines, what resources they have, or what risks they face, and what they need. When we can’t see the full landscape, support flows to the visible few, while leaving the rest overlooked.
The Frontlines of Democracy Project at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is working to close that gap and we need your help.
Our survey, Protecting and Promoting Democracy: A Global Survey, led by Dr Tina Nabatchi, Dr Prami Sengupta, and our team, seeks to generate evidence that helps funders and other stakeholders better understand and support the work of democracy organizations. The survey asks about organizations’ characteristics, strategies, and funding, as well as the challenges and risks they face.
Who should participate?
Democracy-related work extends well beyond organizations that explicitly call themselves “democracy organizations.” Organizations and networks working on human rights, government accountability, freedom of expression, civic participation, minority rights, gender equality, electoral integrity, anti-corruption, and related issues all have critical insights to offer. If you’re unsure whether your work counts, it probably does. The survey is open to formally registered organizations as well as networks, coalitions, and informal or volunteer-run groups, regardless of size, budget, or legal status. Our goal is not just to collect a large number of responses. It is to make sure the data reflect organizations of different sizes and forms, working across different regions and political contexts. A truly global dataset will give practitioners, funders, and researchers a more accurate picture of the field.
We invite you to contribute to this global picture by sharing your organization’s experience.
The survey is anonymous, so organizations in every context, including those in sensitive or restrictive environments, can share their experiences without concern about being identified. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete and is available in 16 languages!
Findings will be shared in academic publications and in practitioner-facing resources designed to be useful to people working in the democracy and participation ecosystem.
Take the survey by October 26: https://bit.ly/frontlinessurvey. Protecting and Promoting Democracy: A Global Survey is part of the Frontlines of Democracy Project at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. Questions about the project can be directed to frontlines@syr.edu.
Authored by: Dr Prami Sengputa and Dr Tina Nabatchi
