More Troubled Democracies, More Determined Freedom Fighters: A Concerted Global Effort Toward Exposing Autocratic Regimes

There is currently a great deal of relative inequality and a lack of liberties for individuals residing in troubled democracies and authoritarian regimes. The entire democratic governance ecosystem is under pressure, including crucial components like civil society, independent media, and the rule of law. Given this dire situation, people in these countries often face oppressive and sometimes life-threatening circumstances. The deliberate use of antidemocratic tactics by a wide range of internal and external contexts and actors tends to be eroding democratic institutions in many countries and thereby enhancing the triumphalism of authoritarian regimes. However, there appears to be a correlative relationship between the increase in troubled democracies or authoritarian regimes across the globe and the growing number of determined freedom fighters, who strive to protect democracy and ensure that citizens’ right to freedom is respected. The article reviews this global trend within the context of the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) which offers varied thematic panel discussions, action-oriented workshops, art exhibitions, and theatre lectures around issues of freedom, human rights, and democracy for its participants worldwide.