The deterioration of democracy around the globe has reached alarming levels. As political rights and civil liberties sank to their lowest in decades, autocrats emerged emboldened and democratic societies were undermined from within.

Defending democracy requires more than faith in institutions—it demands proactive engagement, popular mobilization, and legal reinforcement. This report offers strategies for resisting the rise of authoritarianism and building resilience against backsliding. It focuses on prevention as much as restoration, exploring how to fortify democracy from inside: how to prevent legislative obstruction, limit the power of courts through “court capture,” and mitigate manufactured majorities.

From the exploitation of voter polarization to the obfuscation of elections, these tactics allow would-be autocrats to manipulate democracy’s appearance to entrench their power and eliminate democratic checks and balances. The result is a hollowed-out democratic facade characterized by governing dominance, corruption, and the systematic suppression of dissent and minority voices.

The United States cannot remain aloof to the growing threats to democracy worldwide and expect its allies to act on their own. We must support the fight for democracy by providing resources, training, and strategic advocacy, both in the United States and internationally. To that end, Princeton Public Library staff has curated three book lists to help readers understand and respond to this global democracy crisis: