• Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Global logoCarnegie lettermark logo
DemocracyIran
  • Donate
A New Phase of Civic Movements: Implications for International Democracy Support
Research
Carnegie Europe

A New Phase of Civic Movements: Implications for International Democracy Support

International democracy support has yet to catch up with the changing shape of global civil society. Many democracy-support donors remain uncertain about how to engage with activists, given the lack of institutionalization and accountability mechanisms.

Link Copied
By Richard Youngs, Elene Panchulidze, Carlotta Magoga
Published on May 7, 2025
Program mobile hero image

Program

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

Learn More
Project mobile hero image

Project

European Democracy Hub

The European Democracy Hub was launched in 2021 as a joint initiative of Carnegie Europe and the European Partnership for Democracy. To continue to follow the project’s outputs, please visit: https://europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu.

Learn More
Read the Publication

About the Authors

Richard Youngs

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Richard Youngs is a senior fellow in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, based at Carnegie Europe. He works on EU foreign policy and on issues of international democracy.

Elene Panchulidze

Head of Research, European Partnership for Democracy

Elene Panchulidze is head of research at the European Partnership for Democracy.

Carlotta Magoga

Authors

Richard Youngs
Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Richard Youngs
Elene Panchulidze
Head of Research, European Partnership for Democracy
Elene Panchulidze
Carlotta Magoga
Democracy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

  • Heavily armed security personnel standing atop an armored vehicle
    Commentary
    Emissary
    When Do Mass Protests Topple Autocrats?

    The recent record of citizen uprisings in autocracies spells caution for the hope that a new wave of Iranian protests may break the regime’s hold on power.

      • McKenzie Carrier

      Thomas Carothers, McKenzie Carrier

  • Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    The EU Needs a Third Way in Iran

    European reactions to the war in Iran have lost sight of wider political dynamics. The EU must position itself for the next phase of the crisis without giving up on its principles.

      Richard Youngs

  • High-tech data center with server racks
    Article
    The Architecture of Digital Repression

    Internet service providers can facilitate internet access but also draconian control.

      Irene Poetranto

  • People in voting booths
    Commentary
    Emissary
    Indian Americans Still Lean Left. Just Not as Reliably.

    New data from the 2026 Indian American Attitudes Survey show that Democratic support has not fully rebounded from 2020.

      • +1

      Sumitra Badrinathan, Devesh Kapur, Andy Robaina, …

  • Research
    New Approaches to Defending Global Civil Society

    New thinking is needed on how global civil society can be protected. In an era of major-power rivalry, competitive geopolitics, and security primacy, civil society is in danger of getting squeezed – in some countries, almost entirely out of existence.

      Richard Youngs, ed., Elene Panchulidze, ed.

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie global logo, stacked
1779 Massachusetts Avenue NWWashington, DC, 20036-2103Phone: 202 483 7600Fax: 202 483 1840
  • Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
  • Donate
  • Programs
  • Events
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts
  • Contact
  • Annual Reports
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
  • Government Resources
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.