How the U.S. Can Still Defend Democracy: Global Lessons on Building Broad Coalitions

Signs of public dissent have begun to grow in the United States from many different corners. People are mobilizing in the streets, in statehouses, in places of worship, and in town halls against perceived corruption, fear of interruption of government services, and democratic backsliding. From Tesla showrooms to courtrooms, Americans are rising to defend specific laws and legal rights. Many are frustrated by the lack of meaningful response from either political party in Congress and the absence of leadership and an alternative vision from the Democratic Party.

But protest alone is not enough to secure democratic change. Defending democracy requires broad coalitions committed to protecting universal rights, impartial justice, and constitutional order. And when transformative change is needed, it cannot be imposed unilaterally on a deeply divided population.

Global examples offer lessons for the United States. They show the importance of building broad coalitions of political leaders, civic organizations, and everyday citizens who unite not around shared ideologies, but around a common commitment to the republic’s well-being.