Dear Democracy,
How are you holding up? You’ve had some tough days lately, it seems. The last few years haven’t been very kind to you. Despite democracy being at a modern-day high at the end of 2017 (Drew Desilver, Pew Research), a 2025 report from the University of Gothenburg found that autocratic countries now outnumber democracies worldwide, with 72 percent of the global population living under autocratic rule. Democracy, what happened to you? What can we do to make sure your future is secure and hopeful?
Hard-won, even harder-kept
The creation of modern-day democracy didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t easy. America gained independence from Great Britain 250 years ago — a challenge nobody expected to be successful at the time. The Founding Fathers gathered in the cosmopolitan city of Philadelphia, where critical conversations about the future of the thirteen colonies took place. It took an entire war, heartfelt debate and a lot of administrative work (thanks, John Hancock) to see the beginnings of what would eventually become American democracy.
But today, we’re struggling to keep the foundations of democracy from weakening under the weight of economic uncertainty, global instability and a decreasing sense of duty to our fellow humans. These conditions have made democracy seem less and less attractive. During times like this, we all look for someone to guide us, despite the reality that nobody has all the answers.
What’s being forgotten is that you, Democracy, are a core reason that America became the “city on a hill.” The freedoms embedded in the Constitution continue to be a model of societal progress, but we’re increasingly comfortable with these freedoms eroding. What this moment calls for is a reimagining of what democracy can do for all of us. It protects us from kings and would-be tyrants. It allows each of us to have a say in how our country is run. But it also must live up to its full promise — something we have not yet achieved. But to do this, we have to come together and talk. We have to have the hard conversations with people with whom we may not agree, learn to compromise and dream of the ways we can bring about the change we want to see. And what better place to do that than in Philadelphia?
Founding the Future
On June 13, 2026, thousands of people will gather in Philadelphia for a day of conversations that can change the shape of our democratic future. TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures will give democracy a stage, and give people a space to think boldly, dream without boundaries, confront differences in a constructive way and establish the foundation for the next 250 years of modern democracy.
This isn’t just about recognizing democracy’s past — it’s an invitation to dive into the future, where we can create a stronger democracy that works for all of us. But we can’t do it without you! Because if we want democracy to work for us, we have to work for it.
Be part of Philadelphia’s next chapter
Philadelphia’s story has always been written by people willing to speak up and lean in. TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures invites you to be part of that tradition.
Tickets and full event details are available now. Join the dialogue and experience democracy, Philly-style.
Use code “FUTURES” to score 15% off your tickets.