In 2024, half the world’s population voted. At the same time, growing challenges around the world — including declining trust in political institutions, foreign information manipulation, and new forms of technology — created what some considered “a perfect storm” to test elections and democratic institutions globally. What have been the results and trends from these elections?  What can we learn from taking a global perspective on the future of democracy?

About the presenter: John K. Glenn is senior director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies, where he oversees and develops the Forum’s cross-cutting analytic and research activity in areas including transnational kleptocracy, the integrity of the information space, emerging technology, and modern authoritarian influence. Glenn has over 20 years of international experience in the nonprofit, foundation, and academic sectors, having previously served as policy director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, director of foreign policy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and executive director of the Council for European Studies. Glenn holds a B.A. from Oberlin College and Ph.D. and A.M. from Harvard University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the European University Institute in Florence and Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.  He is the author of numerous articles, reports, and books on international affairs and democratic development.