International Pro-Democracy Cooperation

The International Pro-Democracy Cooperation program was created out of the recognition that today’s democratic crisis is global and transnational in nature. The advance of authoritarian movements, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and attacks on democratic institutions is happening simultaneously in different countries, driven by international far-right networks and by global processes of democratic erosion. In this scenario, the Pact understood that defending Brazilian democracy requires international cooperation, strategic exchange, and the building of global alliances capable of responding collectively to authoritarian threats.

The international political context of recent years has reinforced how central this agenda is. The rise of anti-democratic leaders, shifts in international funding policies, and the strengthening of digital platforms aligned with disinformation have expanded the risks facing democracies in different regions of the world. At the same time, Brazil has come to be recognized internationally as an important reference point for democratic resistance and civil-society coordination, especially following the institutional response to the January 8, 2023 attacks.

The program’s main objective is to embed the Pact and Brazilian civil society within international networks defending democracy, promoting strategic cooperation, the exchange of methodologies, and the building of coordinated global responses to authoritarianism. The program seeks to strengthen bridges between organizations, leaders, and democratic institutions in different countries, expanding the flow of knowledge, resources, experiences, and advocacy strategies.

The Pact’s international work takes shape through active participation in global coalitions and forums, such as the Global Democracy Coalition and the Demos Kratos initiative, focused on democratic strengthening in the Global South. The program also drives regional exchanges across Latin America, supporting coordination processes inspired by the Brazilian experience, such as the creation of the Alianza por la Democracia in Colombia. In parallel, the Pact engages in multilateral spaces and international conferences, bringing the experience of Brazilian civil society into global debates on democracy, rights, and combating disinformation.

Results achieved so far include a stronger international presence for the Pact, recognition of Brazil’s experience through global social-innovation awards such as the Skoll Awards, and expanded connections with organizations, funders, and democratic leaders around the world. This international work has also helped increase the visibility of the threats facing Brazilian democracy in the international press and in global spaces of political advocacy.

Democracies will only be able to resist authoritarian advances through cooperative, transnational strategies built on solidarity. Strengthening global networks in defense of democracy expands the capacity to respond to crises, strengthens the circulation of shared learning, and reduces the isolation of organizations operating under political pressure. By sharing methodologies and building lasting alliances, the program helps strengthen the collective capacity of the international democratic field.

As a result, we will see the consolidation of an articulated, resilient global network of organizations and leaders committed to defending the rule of law. By positioning Brazil as an international reference point for democratic coordination and civic innovation, the program expands the protection of Brazilian democracy and strengthens the capacity of global civil society to confront processes of autocratization in different political contexts.

The challenges facing democracy are increasingly transnational. For this reason, the Pact works to build international alliances, exchange experiences between organizations, and promote coordinated responses to democratic challenges shared across different countries.