When Democracy Falls, How Do You Pick It Up Again?

When Zack Beauchamp boarded a plane to Brazil, he wasn't chasing a typical foreign correspondent story. The Vox senior reporter was on a mission: to understand how a democracy survives when authoritarianism comes knocking. What he found in Brazil—and what his colleagues discovered in Finland, Poland, and America's own past—reveals something both sobering and hopeful about 21st-century democracy.

It's fragile. But it's also more resilient than we think.

The Numbers Tell a Grim Story

Freedom House data paints a stark picture: from 2006 to 2023, democracy declined in 71 countries while improving in only 35. The post-World War II era of liberal democratic triumph appears to be ending, replaced by what scholars call the "third wave of democratic recession."

America exemplifies this trend. January 6th, election denialism, and the elevation of personal loyalty over constitutional principles have shattered assumptions about democratic stability. When the world's oldest continuous democracy shows cracks, nowhere feels safe.

Yet Vox's ambitious two-week reporting project starts from a different premise: "The diagnosis, while serious, isn't terminal." Their global investigation reveals that democracy's obituary may be premature.

Brazil's Playbook: How to Beat Your Own Trump

Jair Bolsonaro was Brazil's Trump—questioning election integrity before votes were cast, attacking the judiciary, courting military support. But unlike his American counterpart, Bolsonaro's authoritarian playbook failed. When he lost the 2022 presidential election, he ultimately stepped down.

Brazil's success wasn't accidental. The country's Supreme Court aggressively prosecuted disinformation campaigns. Electoral authorities maintained transparent, rapid vote counting. Most crucially, civil society remained vigilant and engaged.

"Democracy doesn't run on autopilot," Beauchamp discovered in his Brazilian reporting. It requires constant maintenance, active participation, and robust institutions willing to defend themselves.

Finland's 1930s Lesson: Unity Against Extremism

Perhaps more instructive is 1930s Finland. As fascism swept Europe, Finland faced its own far-right threat: the Lapua Movement. Unlike many European neighbors, Finland's democracy survived.

The key? Mainstream parties recognized the threat and formed a cross-party coalition to defend democratic norms. Conservative and liberal politicians set aside differences to preserve the system that allowed their disagreements to exist peacefully.

This "democratic unity" model offers lessons for contemporary polarized societies. Sometimes the greatest act of partisanship is setting partisanship aside.

The American Reform Tradition

Democracy scholar Lee Drutman contributes a historical perspective that counters doom-and-gloom narratives. "Reform has been a constant in the American story," he argues. The Civil War, Progressive Era, New Deal, and Civil Rights Movement all emerged from periods of democratic crisis.

"Trump is not forever," Drutman writes. American democracy has weathered authoritarianism before—from Andrew Jackson's populist demagoguery to Joseph McCarthy's anti-democratic crusades. Each crisis produced reforms that strengthened democratic institutions.

The pattern suggests current threats, while serious, fit within America's broader story of democratic renewal rather than terminal decline.

Poland's Cautionary Tale

Not every story has a happy ending. Vox's upcoming podcast from Poland reveals how quickly democratic norms can erode when institutions fail to defend themselves. Poland's experience under the Law and Justice Party shows that democratic backsliding isn't just an American or Brazilian phenomenon—it's a global challenge requiring global solutions.

Ideas Whose Time Has Come

Crisis breeds innovation. Vox's series explores concrete reforms gaining traction: expanding the House of Representatives to reduce gerrymandering and improve representation; ranked-choice voting to reduce polarization; campaign finance reforms to limit plutocratic influence.

These aren't radical proposals but practical solutions tested elsewhere and adapted for American conditions. Democracy's toolkit is larger than many realize.

The Choice Ahead

What emerges from this global survey isn't naive optimism but informed hope. Democracy faces real threats—from authoritarian leaders, social media manipulation, economic inequality, and polarization. But other democracies have faced similar challenges and emerged stronger.

The key insight transcends national boundaries: democracy is a choice, not a destiny. It requires active participation, institutional vigilance, and citizens willing to defend it even when—especially when—it's inconvenient.

This story was supported by a grant from Protect Democracy. Vox maintained full editorial discretion over content.