Freedom in the World 2026: Pivotal Elections, Criminal Violence and Targeting of Civil Space in the Americas

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Join Florida International University's School of International & Public Affairs for the launch of Freedom in the World 2026, the flagship annual report assessing global trends in political rights and civil liberties. This year’s edition examines the state of democracy in 2025, and this launch event will focus on the Americas—a region experiencing profound political shifts, rising criminal violence and intensifying pressure on civic space. Across the hemisphere, democratic institutions face mounting challenges. Electoral manipulation has weakened checks and balances, while the growing influence of organized crime has contributed to continued democratic decline. The event will also consider how regional and international actors can respond. The in-person presentation will highlight key findings from the report, followed by a panel discussion on the implications for governance, security and democratic resilience.