In the annals of human history, few causes have been more noble than the defense of democracy. The grand idea that the people rule is the crucible where human dignity, free will, and hope are forged into governments.

Yet, in 2024, democracy finds itself fighting two of its worst enemies: authoritarianism and tyranny. As we look forward, 2025 will be a calling for nations, organizations, and individuals to rally around democracy with unyielding resolve, aspirational expectations, and the faith that authoritarianism and tyranny will be weaker a year from now. 

In order to understand what needs to happen during 2025, we need to know what’s happened in 2024. The three main actors confronting democracy are the new axis powers: China, Russia, and Iran. These three actors have dominated global politics in a struggle against the United States and The West in one of the most power hungry and deadly 12 months we’ve seen in decades. 

Under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the despotic leadership of its president Xi Jinping, China has projected its vision of international authoritarian control through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). What appears to be economic outreach to roughly 140+ countries is, in truth, a wave of autocracy spreading across the world. 

Next, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, seeks to remake the world in the image of its antiquated authoritarian ambitions. Its war on Eastern Europe is not merely a geopolitical strategy but an assault on the very principle of self-determination. Putin’s imperial aspirations threaten to plunge the world into chaos, forcing democracies to defend not just borders but freedom itself. He seeks a rebirth of the USSR—the pinnacle of authoritarianism. His partnership with North Korea to bring 11,000 troops into the Kursk Region, only a couple hundred miles from Kyiv, only goes to support his authoritarian ambitions. 

And then there’s Iran and her proxies. The year 2024 saw the first time Iran attacked the democratic state of Israel. The April attack, and the subsequent missile and drone attack in October, signaled that Iran has the political will to act on its own while directing proxies Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen to manipulate regional tensions. As Israel is the only true democracy in the region, her destruction would only solidify Iran’s tyrannical grasp on the Middle East. The efforts made to put this tyranny in check are not simply on behalf of Israel, but on behalf of democracy throughout the entire world—for all of democracy is threatened if tyrants are allowed to expand with no limits. 

Finally, 2024 was no stranger to democracy’s silent enemies: poverty and corruption. No matter where one is in the world, poverty creates greater concerns for survival than it does political ideologies. Corruption thrives in such environments, where daily concerns for subsistence override values and human dignity. This creates a gap between the ideals of democracy and individual needs, and that gap quickly becomes filled by authoritarianism and tyrants. The power structure of those nations is overcome by the restless logic of mass poverty and normalized, even institutionalized corruption. Democracies have a sacred duty to address this, not simply out of charity, but as an investment in freedom and the future stability of humanity.

What have we been doing? Throughout 2024 RTG has been working throughout the world to alleviate some of these threats. 

In Lebanon, RTG has been in-country helping the political opposition, politicians and parties who suffer under the manipulative rule of the terrorists known as Hezbollah. The group has been one of democracy’s main regional threats since the group was formed in 1982 with the constant support of Iran. There is a chance that a pro-democracy political parties and some brave individuals will curtail and suppress Hezbollah’s malign influence in the country and the region. Lebanese civil society has become more aware of the need to fight corruption, especially in the wake of the Beirut port blast explosion and the lack of justice that followed. Much more work needs to be done, but the seeds of change have been planted. 

Regarding China, the BRI is the new seed of authoritarianism. It is disguised as a no-strings-attached economic development commitment, and some of the BRI countries have started to see the writing on the wall. They are reaching out for help. In countries like Panama, we’ve been helping journalists find ways to counter PRC narratives and helping them find ways to stay safe while doing so. Free speech is not a value of Xi Jinping, and as China’s influence grows free speech will shrink. Reporters and journalists have some of the strongest voices against authoritarianism and we believe they should be assisted with any and all tools to bring truth to the people. 

In Fiji, RTG has been supporting efforts to help women—and the next generation of leaders—gain advocacy and communications training, political party organization skills, and, like in Panama, the tools they need to counter Chinese influence in the country. 

While RTG can be found helping in many countries, our work in Mexico, specifically in the Oaxaca region, addresses challenges to democracy in other ways. The widespread class divisions and corrupt power structures in Mexico have mixed with the economics of drug and human trafficking to create powerful incentives for families to send their men away for work. While not unique to Oaxaca, this dynamic corrodes the spirit of the communities and creates a continuous level of social instability. This undermines the selflessness and hope which future generations need to prosper. Our efforts in Oaxaca are based on economic development which specializes in agriculture and education. Over the years and into 2024, our efforts, along with others, have created higher crop yields in rural, indigenous mountainous areas, higher returns for those crops at market, and scholarships to agricultural degree programs for the next generation. As we have seen in other countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, poverty alleviation has a positive effect on democracy. 

As we lean into 2025, it’s important to look ahead with clear eyes to the main challenges we face when we support democracy and combat authoritarianism:

• We must counter China’s influence and narrative throughout the world. 
• We must continue to support the infrastructure of democracy by helping pro-democracy opposition parties in ethical governance and communication training. 
• We must support civil society groups and politicians in exposing and countering corruption.
• We must share our knowledge of economics, agriculture, and education with poverty-stricken communities throughout the world. 

Democracy is not merely a system of governance; it is a testament to humanity’s highest aspirations—a belief in the dignity of every individual and the collective power of free peoples. It is a light that has guided nations through the darkest times and inspired generations to dream of a better future.

As we move into 2025, it is more important than ever to accelerate our defense of democracy in every corner of the world. Now is not the time to pull back on these efforts through cost-cutting measures. The enemies of democracy expect this, and therefore it is a perfect strategic time to increase our efforts to protect not only democracy, but humanity as well.