Most people around the world still believe in democracy. But global dissatisfaction with how it works in practice is at a record high. In that gap, authoritarian leaders have advanced simple, emotionally resonant stories that frame democracy as broken and beyond repair. How should democracy’s defenders respond? Not with more facts; the evidence shows that’s among the least effective approaches. And not by repeating anti-democratic claims to debunk them, which often backfires.
Five categories of democracy narratives that shape public attitudes — from outcomes-oriented to process-oriented — each paired with the counter-narrative it can address
Practical guidance on messaging: how values, audience, messenger, framing, and message structure all influence whether communications land
Real-world examples from Ghana, Tunisia, India, France, Ireland, and beyond
Do’s and don’ts for countering disengagement narratives: including why pre-bunking works and crisis framing doesn’t
The brief synthesizes evidence from over 150 studies from academic and practitioner publications, and insights from more than 40 organizations, researchers, and funders who are part of the DNA.
