Mark Palmer Forum

Mark Palmer Forum for the Advancement of Democracy

The Mark Palmer Forum for the Advancement of Democracy honors the legacy of Ambassador Mark Palmer, long-time Freedom House trustee and vice chairman. The Palmer Forum includes an annual conference with leading policymakers and experts, and programs by human rights defenders and leading digital activists, exploring ways to improve global prospects for strengthening human rights and democracy. 

The Palmer Forum seeks to improve understanding of best practices for democratic transitions to succeed, promotes collaboration among key civil society partners, and gives policymakers the chance to hear directly from human rights activists.

Past Forum Events: 

Lessons from 1989: Reinvigorating Democracy in Europe

October 17, 2019 — November 9, 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This event, combined with the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, cleared the way for the formation or restoration of liberal democratic institutions not only in Eastern Europe, but around the world.

China's Global Challenge to Democratic Freedom

October 24, 2018 —  By changing how democracies speak and think about China, the Chinese Communist Party is attempting to make “the world safe” for its ongoing efforts to deepen its authoritarianism at home and extend its influence internationally. The Hudson Institute and Freedom House's Mark Palmer Forum for the Advancement of Democracy co-hosted a conference on China’s global challenge to democratic freedom. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) delivered an introductory keynote speech, followed by three panel discussions bringing together experts and activists to analyze recent trends, and consider potential responses. 

Democracy Conference: Countering Modern Authoritarianism

March 23, 2018 — Around the globe, democratic political systems and values are under threat from authoritarian states seeking to stifle dissent at home and project influence internationally. Yet people who aspire to live in free societies continue to assert their fundamental freedoms and to push back against both democratic erosion and aggressive despotism. The Mark Palmer Forum for the Advancement of Democracy examines the challenge posed by modern authoritarianism and how governments and activists may overcome it.

About Mark Palmer

Robie Marcus Hooker "Mark" Palmer (July 1941 – January 2013 was a United States diplomat, who served as United States Ambassador to Hungary (1986–90). He was a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Committee on the Present Danger, Vice Chairman of Freedom House and the Council for a Community of Democracies. He was also the co-founder of the National Endowment for Democracy.