Key Facts:
- A new research hub at UNSW Sydney will address global democratic decline by investigating ways to strengthen democratic systems and institutions
- Democracy faces worldwide threats, including the consolidation of executive power, the weakening of civil liberties, and the erosion of trust
- The Resilient Democracy Lab will host policy workshops, an annual global conference, and prioritise public engagement and civics education to support democratic debate
- Key research areas include examining economic power, institutional design, media influence, and strengthening public participation, particularly for underrepresented groups
Democracy is under threat worldwide. Both new and long-standing democracies are decaying as free elections, civil liberties and other key checks and balances are weakened.
Notably, the United States is witnessing the consolidation of executive power, the politicisation of core justice institutions and pressure on the free press and opposition voices. Australia remains a strong democracy, though challenges are growing, driven by the erosion of trust and social cohesion.
Now, a new research hub at UNSW Sydney will address the global decline of democracy and investigate ways to strengthen the systems, bodies and rules that underpin it. The joint initiative between UNSW Business School and UNSW Law & Justice will connect leading scholars to develop evidence-based ways to build long-term democratic resilience.
"Democracy underpins both our freedom and prosperity," said Lab co-director, constitutional law expert Scientia Professor Rosalind Dixon. "It reflects a deep commitment to equality and active liberty among citizens and is integrally connected to the principles of freedom and the rule of law."
The state of democratic institutions directly affects citizens' rights and is essential to a functioning democracy. Decline often begins with illiberal policies that seem practical but chip away at democratic norms before the consequences become clear.
Professor Gabriele Gratton, co-director of the Lab and an expert in economics and politics, said that economic and social crises push voters towards populist leaders who deepen polarisation and weaken institutions, thereby allowing democracies to slide into illiberal regimes and even dictatorships.
"In recent decades, the most common form of democratic backsliding is one in which democracy erodes from within," Prof. Gratton said, "when voters cease to believe that liberal democracy delivers on its promise of a good life for all, with dignity and a true sense of belonging to a free society.
"If liberal democracies are failing to deliver this and govern the demographic and economic changes of our time, then we need to adapt and improve them."
The Lab will host policy workshops and an annual global conference that convene leaders and policymakers to tackle the most pressing challenges. It will also prioritise public engagement and civics education in schools to support thoughtful, balanced debate in NSW and nationwide.
A distinctive feature of the Lab is its focus on the economic, legal and political factors that affect democratic resilience. It will identify risks to democracy and resilience worldwide, especially within our region.
"The right policies and institutional settings can go a long way to mitigating the risk and decline, and renewal is always contingent," Prof. Dixon said. "Fighting for democratic resilience is therefore not just worthwhile, it is critically important."
UNSW Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said the new Lab demonstrates the University's commitment to building a stronger, more resilient and more united society, in line with the UNSW Strategy: Progress for All.
"Australia and the world have long benefited from strong democratic institutions, but they must be continually protected and renewed," Prof. Brungs said. "Democratic institutions are under pressure around the world and in Australia.
"This Lab will harness UNSW's standing as a world leader in democratic research across economics, political economy and law to build the knowledge, capacity and dialogue needed to keep democracy resilient here and globally."
UNSW Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, Professor Verity Firth AM, said universities had a vital role in ensuring democracy remained a source of strength, stability and opportunity for all.
"Democratic resilience relies not only on strong institutions, but also on empowering citizens," Prof. Firth said. "The Resilient Democracy Lab will help achieve this by generating the evidence, tools and public engagement needed to rebuild trust in democracy and the processes that underpin it."
Designing more resilient institutions
Key research streams will examine the connections among economic power, institutional design, money and media in shaping democratic resilience and challenges such as misinformation, campaign finance and foreign interference in elections. The Lab will also explore ways to strengthen public participation and inclusion, particularly for women and cultural minorities.
"Liberal democracy is not made of fragile glass, but if it's too rigid, it may break," Prof. Gratton said. "Designing better-functioning and more resilient democratic institutions requires a truly interdisciplinary evidence-based approach to understanding the causes and consequences of democratic erosion globally.
"The future of democracy depends on it."
Professor Paul Andon, Interim Dean of UNSW Business School, said the Lab would demonstrate the power of cross-faculty expertise in addressing an urgent global challenge.
"The strength of this collaboration lies in uniting UNSW Business School's expertise with our colleagues in UNSW Law & Justice to better understand and propose the right policies and interventions to protect democracies," Prof. Andon said. "By bolstering public trust, transparency and accountability, the Lab will reinforce the vital connection between robust democracies and thriving economies."
Professor Andrew Lynch, Dean of UNSW Law & Justice, said the partnership with UNSW Business School was an extension of the faculty's longstanding commitment to enhancing public understanding of Australia's constitution and democratic institutions.
"While UNSW Law & Justice has long focused on democratic constitutionalism, its defence is identified as a priority area in our current 5-year strategy," Prof. Lynch said. "We are living through a period of global challenges to constitutionalism, and this Lab will help ensure that safeguards on political power and core democratic principles remain central to Australia's national conversation while also contributing to world-leading research and training of future democratic leaders and judges."
