Designing Open Democracy — Landscape News: Democracy

Democracy in Colour: Welcomed the Federal Court's dismissal of Pauline Hanson's appeal against a racial discrimination finding

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — Advocacy response to a significant court ruling

Statement by National Director Noura Mansour, described as drawing "a clear boundary, demonstrating that racial abuse is not acceptable in our parliament or anywhere else in our community."

Democracy in Colour welcomes the Federal Court’s decision to uphold the racial discrimination finding against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. ... The court dismissed Hanson’s appeal on the ruling that found she breached the racial discrimination act against Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi on social media in September 2022.

Landscape profile: Democracy in Colour · Source

Australia · Democracy · Representative Democracy · Isegoria

Perludem: Held a Media Briefing and Civil Society Workshop with International IDEA on its Mixed-Member Proportional electoral system simulation

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — Flagship electoral-reform research event with an international partner

Simulation used data from Indonesia's 2024 General Election and drew on the MMP experiences of New Zealand and Germany; per Perludem Executive Director Heroik M. Pratama, intended as a technical tool to assess electoral-system design implications, not to predict outcomes.

Perludem, in collaboration with International IDEA, held the Media Briefing and Civil Society Workshop: Understanding the Mixed Member Proportional Electoral System and Its Simulation Results in Indonesia at the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) Learning House in Jakarta on 23 July.

Landscape profile: Perludem · Source

Indonesia · Democracy · Representative Democracy · Mixed-member proportional representation

Helen Clark Foundation: Published "Facing Up to Our Future," a 21-contributor book on New Zealand's long-term structural challenges ahead of the general election

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Major — Flagship publication ahead of a general election

Month-only date estimate ("June 2026" per web-search corroboration; the Foundation's own page carries no publish date). Edited by Emeritus Professor Peter Davis, with forewords by Helen Clark and Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa; released ahead of New Zealand's November 2026 general election.

Facing Up to Our Future: Challenges and Choices for New Zealand brings together 21 of the country's leading thinkers to confront the long-term pressures shaping the nation's next decades.

Landscape profile: Helen Clark Foundation · Source

New Zealand · Democracy · Representative Democracy

Conversations at the Crossroads: Convened "Reclaiming Democracy Together" national launch at Melbourne Town Hall, marking the 125th anniversary of Australia's first federal parliament

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Major — Platform/product launch

On 9 May 2026, we gather to launch Reclaiming Democracy Together — an ambitious seven-year project. The aim: to rethink and revitalise democratic life in Australia, and beyond.

Landscape profile: Conversations at the Crossroads · Source

Australia · Citizens’ Assembly · Deliberative Democracy · Democracy

Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU): Democracy Index 2025 finds the global democratic recession has stabilised after eight years of decline

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — Flagship annual Democracy Index release

Following eight years of decline, 2025 marks a stabilisation of democracy scores that suggests an end to the global democratic recession.

Landscape profile: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) · Source

United Kingdom · Democracy · Liberal Democracy · Representative Democracy

Gorée Institute: Hosted its 9th Annual Symposium, refocusing its strategic priorities on youth and women

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — Strategic pivot of the Institute's flagship annual symposium

Translation: "For this 2026 edition, the Gorée Institute made the strategic choice to refocus its priorities on youth and women, who represent nearly 70% of the population." Per Executive Director Doudou Dia, the first eight editions were mainly academic reflection; the 9th marks a deliberate pivot toward action, inclusion, and youth/women-led co-construction of solutions to democratic challenges in West Africa and the Sahel.

Pour cette édition 2026, le Gorée Institute a fait le choix stratégique de recentrer ses priorités sur les jeunes et les femmes, qui représentent près de 70 % de la population.

Landscape profile: Gorée Institute · Source

Senegal · Democracy · Deliberative Democracy · Representative Democracy

V-Dem Institute: Democracy Report 2026 finds backsliding has reached well-established Western democracies

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — Flagship annual Democracy Report release

Democratic backsliding is now happening in well-established democracies. Democracy in the USA is deteriorating at unprecedented speed, and media and journalists are increasingly targeted across the world.

Landscape profile: V-Dem Institute · Source

Sweden · Democracy · Liberal Democracy · Representative Democracy

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC): Opened the fourth session of the 14th National Committee's annual plenary session in Beijing

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — Routine annual plenary session

More than 2,000 of the National Committee's members convened to review the Standing Committee's work report and deliberate the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30); per earlier web-search corroboration, 2,078 of 2,125 members attended in person. Session closed 11 March 2026.

The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) kicks off at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2026.

Landscape profile: Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) · Source

China · Vanguardism and Consultative Democracy · Democracy

Movilizatorio: Won the Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Award 2026 at Davos, the first Colombian organisation to do so in its category

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Major — Major international recognition

Translation: "This is the organisation Movilizatorio, which received the Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Award 2026, one of the world's most important recognitions in social innovation and entrepreneurship, presented in partnership with the World Economic Forum during its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland." Corrects this page's earlier "2025" references (in the frontmatter summary and body prose) — multiple independent sources (El País Cali, El Tiempo, El Colombiano, Semana, Portafolio) confirm the award was presented 20-21 January 2026 during the WEF's 56th Annual Meeting, not 2025.

Se trata de la organización Movilizatorio que recibió el Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Award 2026, uno de los reconocimientos más importantes del mundo en innovación y emprendimiento social, entregado en alianza con el Foro Económico Mundial durante su Reunión Anual en Davos, Suiza.

Landscape profile: Movilizatorio · Source

Colombia · Democracy Apps & Tools · Deliberative Democracy · Democracy

Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK): Designated a "terrorist organisation" by Russia's Supreme Court, the harshest legal classification available

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Major — Harshest legal designation escalation against the organisation

The ruling targeted Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF), Inc., the US-registered successor entity to the original Russia-based FBK (declared an "undesirable organization" in 2021). Escalates a years-long designation crackdown; Russian authorities have opened over 100 criminal cases against donors to Navalny-linked groups.

Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday designated Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation as a terrorist organization, escalating a yearslong crackdown on the late opposition leader’s network and exposing its members and supporters to even harsher penalties.

Landscape profile: Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) · Source

Russia · Accountability Sink · Radical Transparency · Democracy

Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA): Delivered election observation training for Pan-African Parliament members in Pretoria

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — Continental capacity-building training for AU election observers

Attended by over forty PAP Members and Secretariat staff; part of EISA's broader mandate building continental bodies' technical capacity for election oversight, aligning parliamentarians' understanding with African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) methodology and code of conduct.

The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), in partnership with the African Union Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (DPAPS) through its Democracy and Elections Unit (DEU), successfully delivered a three-day Election Observation Training for Members of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) from 12–14 November 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Landscape profile: Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) · Source

South Africa · Representative Democracy · Democracy · Accountability Sink

Espacio Público: Named among the "100 Think Tanks to Watch 2025" by On Think Tanks — the only Chilean think tank on the list

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Notable — International peer recognition

Translation: "Espacio Público was included among the 100 Think Tanks to Watch 2025, an On Think Tanks initiative that highlights research centres worldwide for their innovation, collaboration and impact." The page states Espacio Público is the only Chilean think tank in this edition. A peer-nominated recognition, not a ranking.

Espacio Público fue incluido entre los 100 Think Tanks to Watch 2025, una iniciativa de On Think Tanks que destaca a centros de estudio de todo el mundo por su innovación, colaboración e impacto.

Landscape profile: Espacio Público · Source

Chile · Democracy · Radical Transparency · Deliberative Democracy