dpart - research for political participation’s Post

How can cities fight for democracy in times of democratic backsliding? In a recent article for Contemporary Politics, co-authored with Aron Buzogany, we explore how the Visegrád capitals—Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Warsaw—are leading the charge in promoting local democratic resilience and advocating for democracy. Published as part of a special issue edited by Luca Tomini and others, our work shows how these cities, led by progressive mayors, are setting best practices for countering authoritarian trends. Through local democratic innovations like participatory budgeting and citizen councils, as well as city diplomacy initiatives such as the Pact of Free Cities and direct negotiations for EU funding, these capitals are building networks and alliances to uphold democratic values, address pressing issues like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change, and support other cities, including Kyiv. This project began during my Visiting Research Fellowship with the German Marshall Fund of the United States in 2022, where we focused on how cities can contribute to democracy both locally and globally.