Global Leadership
Freedom and Democracy
Affirming the values of freedom and democracy, strengthening the institutions that secure these values at home, and helping to spread them abroad.
71%
of Americans favor the U.S. government taking steps to support democracy and human rights in other countries
84%
of Americans believe it is important to live in a country governed democratically
-
The Democracy Project
Americans remain committed to the ideals of democracy but a majority see democracy in the U.S. as growing weaker
-
The Spirit of Liberty: At Home, In the World
-
Democracy
Is democracy in decline? Is democracy in danger?
-
The Spirit of Liberty: At Home, In the World
Call to action to affirm our values of freedom
For more than 75 years, the liberal international order has secured peace, advanced justice, and expanded prosperity in the United States and around the world. American leadership has been central to its success.
Today, that order appears to be under attack. The rise in populism, illiberalism, nationalism, and protectionism; fading confidence in our institutions and free markets; global economic disruption; and polarized political discourse are all to blame.
The Freedom and Democracy project seeks to celebrate, protect, and extend the spirit of liberty at home and in the world.
We know that free governments are the only way to ensure that the strong are just and the weak are valued. We know that when we lose sight of our ideals, it is not democracy that has failed. It is the failure of those charged with preserving and protecting democracy.
President George W. Bush at the Spirit of Liberty, October 19, 2017
- Public Opinion Research
Studying support for democratic values at home and American leadership in the world, in partnership with Freedom House and Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement
www.democracyproject.org - Contact
humanfreedom@bushcenter.org - Media Inquiries
media@bushcenter.org
Related Content
Commentary
Latest Articles View all-
What Happens When Men and Women See Equal Rights at Home Differently
-
Human Rights and the American People
-
Venezuela's President Cracking Down on Opposition
-
Local Media are Essential to Strong Communities
-
Federalizing our Attention to Politics Crowds out Local Issues
-
Look Closer to Home if You Want to Restore Trust in Government
-
How Americans Feel About Their Democracy
-
The Bookshelf: Don't Give Up Yet. Localism May Be Saving Democracy.
In the News
Latest Press Releases & Headlines View all-
The Democracy Project Launches Discussion Series with Diverse Communities of University Students
-
Americans’ Commitment to Democracy Is Strong — and Civics Education Is the People’s Choice for Making Our Democracy Even Stronger
-
Does Democracy Still Work? Americans Weigh In
-
Preventing the Suicide of American Democracy
-
Restoring American democracy a challenge that is within our reach
-
The Democracy Project: Reversing a Crisis of Confidence
-
Democracy in America Is Already Weak and It’s Only Getting Worse, Majority of Americans Say in New Poll
-
A poll commissioned by Bush and Biden shows Americans losing confidence in democracy
-
Condoleezza Rice speaks on racism and democracy at Bush Center
-
George W. and Laura Bush celebrate freedom, democracy at graduation of Liberty and Leadership forum
Human Freedom
Extending freedom and democracy around the world
