Why “Defending Democracy” Isn’t Enough

John K. Glenn
Former-Senior Director, National Endowment for Democracy; Adjunct Faculty, George Washington University  

Americans are worried about democracy – and frustrated with it. In a recent poll , over three-quarters of Americans said democracy is under serious threat, and roughly two-thirds expressed dissatisfaction with political leadership across the board. This is not just a challenge in the United States. Despite some bright spots in the “super year of elections,” 2024 was judged to be the 19 th year of declining democratic freedom around the world. What insights can Americans learn from others who have faced threats to their democracies -- in Taiwan, Poland, the Philippines and other places? Recognizing the global playbook helps connect the dots, clarifies the challenge, and informs a positive vision for change. 

John K. Glenn has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit, foundation, and academic sectors. He served until recently as senior director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). For his work at NED, he was sanctioned by the Russian Foreign Ministry and banned from travel to the country. He previously served as policy director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, director of foreign policy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and executive director of the Council for European Studies. He has a PhD from Harvard University and currently serves as adjunct faculty at the Elliott School for International Affairs at George Washington University.