Fighting Authoritarianism: Democracy Leaders in Hungary and Poland

Like many of you, I've become

increasingly concerned about

the rising wave of

authoritarianism sweeping the globe.

We're seeing politicians target civil society,

undermine freedom of the press,

weaponize the justice system,

and no one is being spared.

Even countries that thought they were

immune from wholesale assaults on

democracy now understand

we're all part of this struggle.

That's an enormous challenge,

but it also means we can

learn from each

other.

I recently sat down with three leaders

who are part of the

Obama Foundation's

Alumni Network to discuss their work in Hungary and

Poland,

two countries on the leading edge of confronting autocracy.

People like Stefania,

Sandor,

and Zuzanna, they give me hope,

and it's why a big part of our

mission here at the

foundation is to connect,

inspire, and empower leaders like them.

All three of you have been fighting

the good fight and rising up in the

face of significant challenges

to try to strengthen democracy,

and so you're setting an example for all of us

in the United States, here in the

UK.

Democracy is something

to be practiced regularly.

We need people to be

engaged and to be empowered for

them to feel the ownership of the country, that it's theirs-

Right

... and not to give it away to someone.