About This Lesson
This research brief by Eric Chenoweth asks a timely question: is the United States still a democracy? It compares two major 2026 assessments—the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project and Freedom House's Freedom in the World survey—to weigh the health of American democracy as the nation nears its 250th anniversary. Students explore how each organization defines and measures democracy, why a Sweden-based project and a U.S.-based one reach different conclusions, and what both recommend for reversing democratic backsliding. The brief also draws on the New York Times Autocracy Index and recent international examples, including Hungary's 2026 election, to show how citizens and institutions can push back. It is a strong fit for high school and college courses in government, civics, U.S. history, and current events, and pairs well with units on comparative government, elections, civil liberties, and civic engagement.
