Our Purpose
The Cross-Regional Democracy Collective is a global thought leadership initiative that brings together scholars from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East to reimagine democracy from the perspectives of the Global South.
At a time of widespread democratic erosion, growing inequality, and deep frustration—especially among younger generations—incremental reforms and institution-centered approaches have proven insufficient to address the structural, social, and economic forces undermining democratic legitimacy. Yet across the Global South, rich traditions of democratic practice, critique, and innovation continue to shape political life, often beyond the spotlight of global debates.
The Cross-Regional Democracy Collective was created to amplify these ideas, connect them across regions, and position Global South thinkers as central contributors to the next phase of global democratic renewal.
Our Story
The initiative emerges from a growing recognition that democracy cannot be renewed through Western-centric frameworks alone. As geopolitical power shifts and long-standing assumptions about democracy are increasingly contested, there is both an opening and an urgent need for intellectual and political leadership from the Global South.
Research and consultations conducted in 2024 with democracy scholars, practitioners, and funders worldwide highlighted several shared challenges: deep socio-economic grievances driving democratic disillusionment; the limits of liberal democratic institutions to deliver inclusion and dignity; and the absence of compelling, future-oriented democratic visions capable of inspiring public trust—particularly among youth.
Despite these challenges, there is currently no dedicated, cross-regional platform that brings together Global South scholars explicitly focused on rethinking democracy and generating original, joint research. The Cross-Regional Democracy Collective seeks to fill this gap.