Building Sustainable and Inclusive Democracy

The HRI analyzes how the U.S. and partners can advance a human rights agenda that strengthens democratic institutions against contemporary threats, supports civil society as a foundation of resilience, and integrates human rights across U.S. foreign policy priorities.

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Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images

Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images

Hungary After Orbán: The Hard Road Back to Democracy

The road back to democracy from authoritarianism is a difficult one, filled with fits and starts that thwart even the best attempts; Hungary holds some lessons for others trying to walk that path back to democracy.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman and Donatienne Ruy — April 27, 2026

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Hungary After Orbán: The Hard Road Back to Democracy

The road back to democracy from authoritarianism is a difficult one, filled with fits and starts that thwart even the best attempts; Hungary holds some lessons for others trying to walk that path back to democracy.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman and Donatienne Ruy — April 27, 2026

Shifting Power: The Next Phase of U.S. Foreign Assistance

This moment of tremendous flux creates an existential question for development practitioners. That is, will the same model move forward, content to do “less with less,” or will a new model take hold that aims to maximize the available resources through a new approach? Either effort requires considerable consultation and input from those most impacted by foreign assistance.

Commentary by Hadeil Ali and Andrew Friedman — October 7, 2025

Local Tools for Global Competition: An Ambassadors Fund for Governance

Without good governance, foreign investment is unsustainable. Commercial diplomacy must pair with efforts to improve governance, fight corruption, and uphold the rule of law. We propose an Ambassadors Fund for Good Governance to support local, context-driven initiatives.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman and Derek Mitchell — September 8, 2025

Can Washington Counter Beijing Without Repeating Cold War Mistakes?

Efforts to counter Beijing across the globe, including countering Chinese military bases, need to prioritize consulting civil society in host countries. A sole focus on government is more fickle and less sustainable than getting true popular buy-in for U.S. partnership.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman — June 26, 2025

Support Civil Society, Counter Autocracy

The United States should provide robust and long-term support for civil society. Ending this support cedes the space to dictators looking to build a more authoritarian world.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman — April 28, 2025

What Are the U.S. Department of State Human Rights Reports?

The U.S. Department of State is anticipated to release its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. As many expect the Trump administration to modify this year’s reports, this CQ unpacks the reports’ relevance, history, and changes from previous administrations.

Critical Questions by Anne Frederick, Lily Kennedy, Andrew Friedman, and Michelle Strucke — April 25, 2025

What Are Civil Society Organizations?

Civil society organizations are vital partners in U.S. foreign policy, improving security, pushing back on authoritarianism and global adversaries, and providing lifesaving assistance, but too few people understand how they operate.

Critical Questions by Andrew Friedman — February 26, 2025