Global Democracy in the Age of Disruption
2024 was a year democracy that was put to the test. More voters than ever in history headed to the polls, with elections in 64 countries plus the EU, accounting for almost half of the world’s population.
With democracy having been in decline for more than 15 years, the Digital Technology, Governance and Policy research team at the Hasso Plattner Institute took this extraordinary opportunity to undertake the Path to Power: 2024 project, which aims to develop a picture of global democracy in the age of disruption.
Throughout 2024, we collected comparative datasets, analysed global trends, and undertook detailed case studies of elections in 10 countries, including the world’s three largest democracies – India, Indonesia and the USA – and important regional cases, such as Mexico, South Africa and Georgia.
We will unveil our project’s initial findings with an event in February 2025 that draws together experts from academic, public, policy, advocacy, practice and stakeholder communities.
Through a variety of media and forms – from policy reports to data visualisers, academic papers and social media videos, Path to Power aims encourage constructive discourse among diverse stakeholders and share our expertise in a way that supports the co-creation of future opportunities in this area of crucial global importance.
- Date: Thursday, February 6th 2025
- Time: 14:00- 17:30
- Location: Hasso Plattner Institue, Potsdam.
Highlights of the event include:
- Unveiling of the State of Global Democracy report series and discussion of its themes and conclusions by Prof. Dr. Gillian Bolsover and the Path to Power research team
- Introduction by Stefanie Harter, Group Leader, Governance and human Rights at the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).
- Q&A and moderated discussion with the research team and introduction to the projects’ further directions and other outputs
- Opportunities for engaging dialogue and networking with a diverse range of stakeholders from across government, civil society, academia and practitioners.
To register or for more information email: pathtopower@hpi.de
1. India
- Highlights: World’s largest democracy, diverse electorate, and high voter turnout.
- Key Focus: The role of technology in voting.
2. Germany
- Highlights: Stable parliamentary system with a strong focus on coalition governments.
- Key Focus: Balancing regional and federal interests in democratic processes.
3. South Africa
- Highlights: A young democracy with a history of transition from apartheid.
- Key Focus: Challenges in voter engagement and corruption in governance.
4. Pakistan
- Highlights: A federal parliamentary republic with fluctuating civil-military relations.
- Key Focus: Electoral transparency and political stability.
5. Mexico
- Highlights: Multi-party democracy with a history of contested elections.
- Key Focus: Electoral reforms and combating voter suppression.
6. Indonesia
- Highlights: Third-largest democracy, known for its peaceful transitions of power.
- Key Focus: Managing democracy in a highly decentralized system.
7. United States of America
- Highlights: Long-standing democracy with frequent debates over electoral integrity.
- Key Focus: Polarization, voter rights, and misinformation.
8. Mozambique
- Highlights: Emerging democracy with a history of post-conflict elections.
- Key Focus: Addressing election-related violence and fostering inclusivity.
9. United Kingdom
- Highlights: One of the oldest democracies with a strong parliamentary tradition.
- Key Focus: Electoral reform and the role of referenda in democracy.
10. Georgia
- Highlights: A developing democracy in Eastern Europe, with aspirations for EU integration.
- Key Focus: Strengthening democratic institutions amid regional tensions.
Our Partners
