Objective

 

We are in the middle of what is referred to as the “third wave of autocratization” with the global level of democracy shrinking to levels not seen since 1985. Shockingly, nearly a third of young Americans view our democracy skeptically and are instead more open to authoritarianism. Our mission is to tackle this problem through youth education. We want to increase our impact by having direct conversations with middle school and high school students. We are planning to organize visits to various schools in early 2026 to introduce students to issues related to the rise of authoritarianism. We are looking for schools that are interested in hosting him. He would like to engage with students of one class period (40-50 mins). We are  preparing a ~25 minute multimedia presentation, with the rest of the time dedicated to Q&A.

 

Key Discussion Topics

 

 

What is authoritarianism? – We will introduce the difference between authoritarian and democratic governments and how to recognize one vs the other (for example many authoritarian countries hold elections, elections are not enough to stop authoritarianism)

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Why is authoritarianism a problem? - We will talk about the perils of giving power to a person or small group of people and cite historical examples of authoritarian regimes ending in disaster. We will also compare historical data about the failures of authoritarianism vs the successes of democracy around the globe.

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How does a country become authoritarian? We will discuss the “playbook” that dictators use to come to power and stay in power. We will cover concepts such as democratic backsliding, the cult of personality, and the erosion of freedoms.

 

What are fundamental rights? - We will explain fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. Additionally, we will show how these rights are fundamentally important for democracy.

 

What is democratic backsliding and how to recognize it? - We will introduce the concept of democratic backsliding. We will also give several real-world examples of democratic backsliding to arm the students with the knowledge they need to recognize it.

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Why should you care? - We will talk about the importance of democracy and how it ensures fairness and progress for all. We will explain the problems with dictatorships and why we should do everything possible to avoid becoming one.

 

How can you get involved? - We will explain what steps everybody can take to secure democracy and how everybody’s voice matters. We will provide a list of youth organizations in New York City for those who are interested to get involved.