Introduction
A collection of democracy narrative resources by the Metropolitan Group to counter authoritarian messaging and advance democratic norms.
The global assault on democratic principles and institutions is directly threatening progress across every major social issue. From healthcare, education, and religious liberty to economic opportunity, environmental justice and racial equity, authoritarian narratives and policies are actively undermining and threatening to erase hard-won progress. No sector is safe from the coordinated authoritarian playbook.
To help counter these threats, Metropolitan Group has conducted extensive multi-methodology scans, and analysis of the most dominant and salient pro-democracy and pro-authoritarian narratives in 12 countries on five continents including the United States.
Based on this formative research, we’ve developed, tested, and refined a set of effective pro-democracy narratives, complete with supporting message frameworks and key value triggers.
The Metropolitan Group are sharing the research findings, narratives, and resources to help advocates across sectors shift hearts, minds, and norms in support of democratic values.
Global Narrative Research and Recommended Narratives
Summary: Global Democracy Narratives and Message Framework
The summary document provides a concise overview of the 12 global dominant narratives; a set of 10 recommended values; the recommended global narrative; and five evidence-based guidelines for effective pro-democracy communication.
Full Report: Mapping the Global Democracy Narrative Landscape: Research Findings and Applications
This report combines all narrative research, testing, and narrative development across 12 countries. It provides in-depth analysis of narratives and values; testing results that informed narrative development; new narratives and message frameworks; and five evidence-based guidelines for more effective messaging.
Message Guide: Pro-Democracy Global Narrative and Message Guide
This message guide provides an actionable set of tools to help apply the new narrative and three examples of issue specific message frames that can be customized and applied to increase support for liberal democracy.
Slide Deck: Mapping the Global Democracy Narrative Landscape: Research Findings and Applications
The slide deck provides an overview and analysis of 12 global narratives identified in the global report.
U.S. Narrative Research and Preliminary Narrative
Full Report: A New Narrative to Promote Democracy in the United States
This report provides an in-depth analysis of dominant and salient pro-authoritarian and pro-democracy narratives in the United States, 10 recommended values, qualitative testing findings, and a preliminary U.S. narrative.
Summary Overview: A New Narrative to Promote Democracy in the U.S
This concise summary includes key findings from research and testing; 10 recommended values; and the preliminary narrative.
Slide Deck: Developing a New Narrative to Promote Democracy in the U.S.
The slide deck includes a detailed overview of findings from the U.S. narrative scan and subsequent new narrative testing, recommended values, and a preliminary pro-democracy narrative.
Narrative Framework: Freedom Matters Narrative and Message Framework in the U.S.
This one page document provides the 10 recommended values and the preliminary narrative framework.
Pro-Democracy Narrative Playbook: A shared initiative to advance liberal democracy
Concept Note: Pro-Democracy Narrative Playbook
Metropolitan Group and our partners have launched a new initiative to build a narrative infrastructure that can help organizations and coalitions, across issue areas and sectors, advance an upstream pro-democracy narrative and more effectively counter pro-authoritarian narratives. The initiative seeks to build a movement of movements beyond the democracy space to mobilize every sector that depends on democracy and the protection of democratic principles.
About the Author
Metropolitan Group is a group of advocates, storytellers, artists, social scientists, strategists and big thinkers. They live to bring people together and to advance social justice missions. They seek systemic change. They like data. They believe in the power of creative expression. They are inspired by change agents whose work is rooted in social justice and anti-racism across issues and sectors. Explore more of their narrative work.
Explore Further
- How to Change the Narrative / Story: Guides, Worksheets and Templates
- Framing Issues for Social Justice Impact: Directory of Messaging Guides
- Exploring Narrative Practices for Broad-based Movements in Contexts of Democratic Decline
- Framing Democracy: A Quick-Start Guide
- The Power of Story to Grow Democracy, Harmony Labs
- Confronting Authoritarianism and Organizing Resistance: Case Studies and Lessons Learned
- Authoritarianism: How You Know It When You See It
- The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding
- Strengthening Democracy: A Democracy Resource Hub Guide
- Narrative and Storytelling: Training and Planning Tools