If 2024 was the year of democracy—a year that saw more people worldwide heading to the polls than ever before—then what is in store for 2025? Early returns are worrisome: political repression continues to throttle civil society movements while global media struggles to keep pace with rampant information manipulation and propaganda. In many places autocratic leaders are tightening their grip on power and democratic backsliding seems to be on the rise globally.
Perry World House sat down with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on fascism and authoritarian movements to discuss our current global political moment in history, how it echoes with authoritarianism of past, and the critical role media must play in order to keep democracy alive and well.
