Introduction

Elected authoritarians are threatening many of the world's democracies. They fuel division, scapegoat minorities, and claim to speak for "the real people" against corrupt elites. But behind the slogans, they usually deepen inequalities and undermine the quality of life for ordinary people.

Their playbook is dangerous —but effective. And what makes them even stronger is that they collaborate across borders, sharing strategies and reinforcing one another. That's why we decided to do the same—bringing together the greatest hits of democratic defense.

Democracy defenders need a playbook too, one that, when executed with boldness, creativity, and discipline, can make us more appealing, trustworthy, and unifying than the authoritarians.

To win, democracy must feel like a popular movement for something, not just a reaction against someone. It must reach people not only through reason but through emotion. Not only through speeches but through stories. Not only in elections but in everyday life. And above all, it must deliver—tangible improvements people can actually feel.

This Democratic Playbook is our answer to this moment. It draws from the best of the ten volumes of the Anti-Authoritarian Toolkit, with over fifty proven plays to counter authoritarianism.

Here, we bring together a selection of those plays. Each can be explored further in detailed publications, offering deeper analysis and practical tools for those who want to go further into specific strategies.

Our time is now. The D-Hub community exists to connect us all—sharing lessons from both victories and setbacks. If we succeed, we won't just defend the democracies we have; we'll help spark the next wave of global democratization—moving closer to a world of freedom and dignity for all.

We can do it—if we do it together.

With love,

Nika Kovač. Executive Director, D-Hub.