Monday, September 14, 2026
9:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Copley Hall Formal Lounge
September 14, 2026
The State of Democracy in the Americas: Third Annual Conference
Event Series: Conferences
Democracy in the Americas is at a critical juncture. Across the region, democratic institutions continue to face mounting pressure from political polarization, declining public trust, attacks on electoral integrity, and the concentration of executive power. While some countries have demonstrated democratic resilience, others have experienced democratic backsliding, weakened checks and balances, and the consolidation of authoritarian rule. At the same time, shifting geopolitical dynamics and evolving regional alliances are reshaping the environment in which democratic governments operate.
As countries across the hemisphere confront these challenges, fundamental questions remain. What are the region's most significant democratic trends, and what do they reveal about the future of governance in the Americas? How can electoral institutions safeguard free and fair elections amid increasing political pressure? What role do political parties, civil society, and democratic leadership play in preventing democratic regression? And what do recent developments in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela suggest about the prospects for political change in the region? To discuss these issues and more, the Georgetown Americas Institute at Georgetown University and Red FORMA are pleased to host the Third Annual State of Democracy in the Americas conference.
Schedule
9:45 - 10:00 a.m. | Welcome Remarks
Julio Borges, Red FORMA
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Democratic Backsliding or Resilience in the Americas? What the Data Shows
Gerardo Berthin, Freedom House
Diana Kapiszweski, Georgetown Democracy Initiative
Jose Antonio Aguilar, UNAM
Moderator: Alejandro Werner, Georgetown Americas Institute
11:00 - 11:15 a.m. | Coffee Break
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Elections and Electoral Institutions Under Threat
Lorenzo Cordova, Georgetown Americas Institute
Jennie Lincoln, The Carter Center
Moderator: Paulina Chavez Alonso, National Democratic Institute
12:15 - 1:15 p.m. | Lunch
1:15 - 2:15 p.m. | Keynote Remarks
TBC
Moderator: Maria Molina, Univision
2:15 - 3:15 p.m. | Political Parties and Political Representation: Their Role in Preventing Democratic Regression
Michael Coppedge, University of Notre Dame
Juan Pablo Luna, Universidad Católica de Chile
Moderator: Hans Noel, Georgetown Democracy Initiative
3:15 - 3:30 p.m. | Coffee Break
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | An Update on Venezuela: Is There Regime Change on the Horizon?
Paola Bautista, University of Notre Dame
Francisco Monaldi, Rice University
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Implications of Recent Geopolitical Shifts for Cuba and Nicaragua
Javier Corrales, Amherst College
Kurt Weyland, University of Texas atAustin
Moderator: Juan Sebastian Chamorro, Tulane University
5:30 p.m. | Closing Reception