📖 The US has shifted towards engaging with Lukashenka's regime in #Belarus, a move that threatens to dismantle years of coordinated pressure. The EU must not repeat the mistake of re-engagement, instead should sustain sanctions and double down on support for democratic forces. Continue reading 👇

"Young people are not disengaged – they are redefining #participation." 💡 A must-read from @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu on the lessons structured systems of civic participation can learn from the way young people mobilise. 👇

📖 The EU’s new Pact for the Mediterranean aims to renew Euro-MENA relations, but looks dead on arrival. Given the EU’s reluctance to sanction Israel and shifting regional dynamics, the pact risks being worse than simply pointless. Continue reading on @carnegieeurope.bsky.social ⤵️

💬 The integrity of Moldova's parliamentary election is crucial for the country’s democratic future and should give momentum to ongoing democratic reforms. Read our latest spotlight and learn about Moldova’s recent democratic reforms and remaining internal vulnerabilities ⤵️

🎉 This week's BB ⬇️ 📘 Moldova’s Democracy | @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu 📝 Election Observation Manual 🎙️ A Global Health Check for Democracy and Civil Society 📍Inclusive Digital Europe Conference | 7 Nov 💼 We are hiring a Finance and Admin Officer 📬 ow.ly/Xwpk50V7vpa

#Research 💡 🇲🇩 This Sunday's parliamentary #election will be a decisive test for #Moldova's electoral integrity and a chance to build momentum for democratic reform The latest from @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu 👉 europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/tackling-the...

📖 This Sunday’s parliamentary #election is a decisive test - one that could determine the durability of democratic progress and influence #Moldova’s EU accession prospects. Read the latest spotlight 👇

Day 2 at the International Democracy Day Brussels has just started. Check the full agenda here 👉 idd-brussels.eu/agenda/ #IDDBrussels

At International Day of Democracy event in Brussels #IDDBrussels @richardyoungs.bsky.social from @carnegiedcg.bsky.social and @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu explaining we are living a renewed activism phase with new civic movements all around the world

👥 Today and tomorrow, we join the International Democracy Day Brussels "Democracy and Inclusion in an Age of Insecurity". Full programme 👉 idd-brussels.eu/agenda/ #IDDBrussels #InternationalDemocracyDay

📢 Save the date | European Democracy at a Crossroads Want to be part of a global gathering to discuss democracy in Europe? Sign up for the pre-programme side event of the Democracy R&D Annual Conference. Register now 👉 forms.gle/5F6hYYWdeQCF... More info 🔗 www.drd2025.org/pre-programm...

📖 Often labelled as “youth”, young people are taken into account only when it comes to youth issues or in limited spaces like youth councils. In search of alternative routes, they are developing new forms of civic engagement, rewriting the rules of political participation. Latest article 👇

📚 118 countries have serious civic space restrictions, leaving only 2.1% of people living in countries with open civic space, according to CIVICUS's 2024 report. Democracy support donors need to develop response strategies, or democracy activism risks being wiped out. How should donors respond? 👇

Democratic regression has left no region of the world untouched, and Asia is no exception. Discover our collection of expert analyses on Asia's democratic challenges and opportunities 👇

💬 “Democracies for future generations are built with and by the current generations of young people.” This #InternationalYouthDay, learn from countries like Costa Rica, the Philippines, and others that offered successful examples of youth participation strategies.

🇧🇩 5 August 2025 marked the 1st anniversary of the student-led uprising that toppled 15 years of authoritarian rule in #Bangladesh. How has the EU responded to this moment of democratic opportunity? @naomihossain.bsky.social wrote for us 👇

💬 “It is daunting to imagine how global democracy can be effectively supported as the United States retreats from the field [...]. Yet reimagining and reinvention are possible—necessity can be turned into opportunity.” Must-read piece on @carnegieendowment.org

💬 "Yoon’s decision in 2024 to declare martial law emerged as a product of South Korea’s long-standing nationalist polarisation. His strategy reflected an intensification of constitutional hardball tactics in both camps, based on half a century of deepening nationalist division," says Jung Kim.

📚 Electoral support has been a cornerstone of European democracy support. But today, this work faces growing pressure due to the shifting geopolitical tensions and technological development. How can the approach be adapted to remain effective? Dive into our collection of publications 👇

#Research 💡 🇰🇷 Months of political turmoil highlight the paradox of South Korea's democracy: strong enough to resist autocracy, but vulnerable to elite-level polarisation. Read our latest research on @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu 👉 europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/south-koreas...

📖 Belarusian activism is shifting from structured, institution-based to fast, decentralised, and digital forms. Digital tools are creating safe spaces for political debate and engaging people who might otherwise remain marginalised in traditional movements. Learn more 👉 ow.ly/ovpM50W76t5

📖 | In June 2025, South Korea held a snap presidential election following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Jung Kim explores the paradox of South Korean democracy - strong enough to resist autocracy, yet vulnerable to elite dysfunction.

📚 EU enlargement is often seen as a tool to spur political reforms and support democracy in candidate countries. However, it has not always been effective in driving reforms or preventing democratic backsliding. Explore our collection of articles on democracy support in EU accession countries 👇

📖 It is daunting to imagine the future of international democracy support as the US retreats from its global leadership role. Yet this moment also presents an opportunity for reinvention. A recent paper from @carnegieendowment.org identifies key areas that need to be addressed to move forward.

📢 We're launching a #NewVideo 👉 In the latest #EuropeChats, @gisellebosse.bsky.social, Professor at @maastrichtu.bsky.social, sits down with TEPSA Executive Director @mariam-k.bsky.social to discuss whether EU enlargement is geopolitical Watch it now on YouTube ⬇️ youtu.be/rKmm-RegnFE

📚 As we move into summer, the European Democracy Hub team has put together a special reading list to accompany the season 👇

💬 "Strong EU regulation is required but is a reactive attempt to patch up problems. The EU needs a longer-term strategy that tackles the root causes of digital distortions and attempts more preemptively to shape the technological sphere." says Richard Youngs on @carnegieeurope.bsky.social.

📖 Innovative forms of activism are playing an increasingly vital role in democratic processes. 💡 Our research shows that both formal civil society and new activism bring unique strengths - and that their impact is greatest when their efforts complement one another. Read more 👉 ow.ly/ovpM50W76t5

#EPDAC2025 is finally here! 🎉 As it couldn’t be any other way, EPD’s Executive Director @kenlcg.bsky.social is opening our big day. In today’s world, where democracy is the exception, he reflects: What can we change to keep #RebootingDemocracy? 💡 📲 Stay tuned to discover the code for the future.

💬 “European policies need to look beyond tech sovereignty and map ways to ensure proactive citizen engagement in the shaping of a digital society,” says Richard Youngs @richardyoungs.bsky.social. Read his latest piece on @carnegieeurope.bsky.social

🗣️ Our Research & Data Manager, Evelyn Mantoiu (@evelynmantoiu.bsky.social) took part in the 2nd Civic Engagement Conference hosted by CPR Moldova 🇲🇩 She moderated a panel on tools for deliberative democracy, exploring the enabling factors for democratic innovations to be successfully implemented.

📖 In June 2024, a popular uprising ousted the increasingly authoritarian Awami League after over 15 years in power. Naomi Hossain (@naomihossain.bsky.social) unpacks how international partners have responded to Bangladesh's democratic opening 👇

📚 | As civic movements evolve and become more influential, their evolution presents challenges for democracy support strategies - such as the lack of mechanisms to support informal activists. How can donors better foster the civic sphere? Read our latest deep dive👇 ow.ly/ovpM50W76t5

This helped me think about the connections between the MAGA movement and the far right in Europe, and the complications in that relationship. An important point they make is this is an international movement, starting to operate in a coordinated way. 🧵 5/6

🔍 CASE STUDY | Ever since gaining independence in 2006, Montenegro has aspired to join the EU. Yet, while the accession process advances on paper, it has failed to drive the deep democratic reforms needed to dismantle entrenched power structures. Continue reading 👇

🎙️ Podcast 💬 One important distinction to keep in mind is between threats to policies and threats to political systems. Some parties advocate for conservative policies, while others push agendas that pose threats to democratic systems. How threatening they are remains unclear.

I found this a timely, hopeful read, given the capture of New Zealand's Ministry of Education that I have been documenting since August 2024. It's a clear example of institutions not being "inherently self-reinforcing as democratic" and thus vulnerable to autocratising forces. Recovery playbook 💪👍

🚨 Georgian Dream has enacted its Foreign Agents Registration Act, further cracking down on freedom of expression and association. Recommended readings to better understand Georgias' fight for democracy and how the international community could respond to the wave of repression on civic space 👇

💬 "Building whole-of-society resilience means rethinking the democracy-security nexus as a two-way street, asking not only how to secure democracies from external threats but also how to streamline democratic principles within security policies [...]" - ✍️ Federica D'Alessandra

💡 Over the past decade, young and informal activists have revitalised democracy and civic mobilisation across many countries. As new forms of activism have become more influential, tensions have emerged between formal civil society and newer, informal activist groups. Explore our latest report 👇

"International support can play a helpful role in fostering the new phase of civic movements and promoting cooperation among them," write @richardyoungs.bsky.social, @elenepanchulidze.bsky.social, & Carlotta Magoga. Read their full piece for @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu here⤵️

📖 After years of military rule, Thailand saw moments of democratic opportunity in 2019-21 & 2023. The EU supported these efforts through soft sanctions and condemnations of human rights violations - but China's growing influence made it a delicate balancing act. Continue reading 👇

📖 In the last decade, civic movements have played an increasingly important role in driving democratic processes. Activism has become more creative, nimble and community-centred, reviving civic life in many spaces. How can donors support these new forms of activism? Explore our latest Deep Dive 👇

💬 "Democratic resilience should not simply enable the survival of or the return to a flawed status quo. It should also provide the means to adapt to changing conditions and to innovate and improve democracy." - ✍️ @beattyriedl.bsky.social, @jennifermccoy.bsky.social, Kenneth Roberts, Paul Friesen

Valuable papers 👇 europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/a-new-dynami...

🚀 The European Democracy Hub is currently at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2025. Yesterday, we hosted a roundtable to present our recent Deep Dive on European responses to moments of democratic opportunity. We're grateful to @aodemocracies.bsky.social for this opportunity 👏

✍️ Richard Youngs (@richardyoungs.bsky.social) l, Elene Panchulidze (@elenepanchulidze.bsky.social), Carlotta Magoga. 🤝 Heinrich Böll Stiftung (@boelleu.bsky.social).

#Research 💡 💪 Over the past decade, civic movements have increasingly been innovative and influential in driving democratic processes. 📚 The latest report from the @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu offers insights into how donors can better support emerging civic movements. Explore 🔗 ow.ly/cCQh50VMPnP

Great to be at the Copenhagen Democracy summit! Looking forward to our session with the @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu later today! #CDS2025

🇧🇩 The popular uprising that began in June 2024 created a tentative window of democratic opportunity for Bangladesh. Naomi Hossain ( @naomihossain.bsky.social) unpacks how the EU and other international partners have been supporting Bangladesh’s political reforms. Continue reading 👇