When Democracy Is Under Pressure: A Reflection on What We’re Seeing — and What We Can Do

At Hera Associates, much of our work sits at the intersection of systems, institutions, and people. We spend our days helping organizations become more transparent, equitable, and effective; building the structures that make progress possible. But lately, we’ve found ourselves reflecting on something larger: the system that holds all other systems together. Democracy.

Across our research, client work, and daily lives, we’ve seen patterns that echo what scholars and civic leaders are now calling democratic erosion. It’s a slow, often invisible shift - the kind that doesn’t happen overnight or with a single event, but through small, repeated fractures that weaken public trust, accountability, and fairness.

What we're seeing...A Slow Erosion of Trust and Accountability

In the U.S., we’re witnessing what experts describe as “executive aggrandizement” - the gradual concentration of power within a single branch of government and the politicization of agencies meant to serve the public good. We’ve seen this in efforts to weaken oversight bodies, discredit the judiciary, and replace professional governance with partisan loyalty.

At the same time, laws and administrative rules in several states have made it harder for people to vote or for election workers to do their jobs without fear. Disinformation campaigns have fueled distrust in election results, and local officials (the quiet stewards of democracy) are facing harassment for simply doing their work.

We’ve also watched civic space narrow. Journalists, educators, and advocates have been targeted for speaking truth to power. Even public service itself has become politicized, with civil servants treated as partisan actors rather than guardians of the public trust.

And beneath all of this lies something deeper — an erosion of belief. Many Americans no longer trust that institutions are fair or that the system works for them. As trust wanes, so does engagement. When people stop believing democracy can deliver, they stop participating. And that disengagement creates the very vacuum that anti-democratic forces depend on.

Why this matters....to all of us

We often think of democracy as something separate from our daily work — like it's the domain of politics, not management, philanthropy, or operations. But democracy is the foundation that allows all of us to do what we do.

When institutions are accountable, business thrives because rules are fair (or "fairer") and predictable. When people have voice, communities can build programs that reflect their real needs. When rights are protected, innovation and inclusion flourish.

The erosion of democracy does more than threaten our political stability, it threatens the systems we depend on for everything else: justice, equity, and social progress. It limits our ability to create lasting change, to serve communities with integrity, and to build trust that endures.

Meeting the moment....what we can all do

If democracy is weakening, the responsibility for strengthening it doesn’t rest with politicians alone. It rests with all of us - as citizens, leaders, business owners, and public servants.

Here’s what that can look like in practice:

• As individuals, we can stay informed and engaged - not just by voting, but by understanding how our local institutions work and holding them accountable. We can resist the pull toward cynicism by building bridges across difference, even when it’s uncomfortable.

• As business leaders, we can use our platforms responsibly - ensuring transparency, advocating for fair policies, and supporting civic infrastructure like independent media, libraries, and education. Stability in democracy means stability in the markets and communities we serve.

• As government and agency leaders, we can protect the integrity of our institutions - ensuring that data, hiring, and decision-making processes remain insulated from partisanship. Transparency and open communication aren’t just good management; they’re democratic acts.

• As social-impact and philanthropic leaders, we can see democracy itself as part of the social fabric we’re here to strengthen. The systems we design - from health equity to climate justice - only work in an environment where people have a voice and power is accountable.

And collectively, we can help shift the narrative: away from fear and polarization, toward a shared understanding that democracy isn’t fragile because it’s failing — it’s fragile because it depends on us.

And Yet… The Reality of Fear and Risk

It would be naïve to ignore the cost of speaking up in this moment. In any sectors, standing for what’s right can come with real consequences - a loss of contracts, diminished funding, or backlash from those who see neutrality as safety. We’ve seen organizations shy away from naming truth because they fear alienating partners or jeopardizing revenue. We’ve seen individuals weigh their livelihoods against their values.

That fear is real. The pressure to stay silent is real. But the question we must ask ourselves is this: What do we lose if we stop standing up?

When we allow fear to shape our actions, we begin to internalize the very dynamics we oppose. We normalize silence. We teach others (especially those watching us lead) that self-preservation matters more than principle. And we quietly concede power to the forces that erode democracy in the first place.

Courage in this context doesn’t have to be loud or performative. It can mean asking hard questions in a meeting. It can mean choosing transparency over convenience. It can mean naming inequities in systems we depend on - even when it’s uncomfortable to do so!

Sustaining operations and sustaining values are not mutually exclusive. In fact, over the long term, they are deeply intertwined. Integrity, accountability, and fairness are structural advantages. They create trust. They attract aligned partners. They build the kind of resilience that fear can’t undo.

We can acknowledge the risks - and still choose to lead with conviction. Because silence is not neutral. And democracy, like trust, is only as strong as our willingness to defend it when it’s hardest to do so.

the work beneath the work

Democracy is not self-sustaining. It lives in our daily actions - in whether we question power, listen with empathy, and show up for one another. It's more than a structure of government; it’s a reflection of our shared values: accountability, dignity, and care for the common good.

The challenge before us is not simply to preserve democracy as an idea, but to strengthen it as a system - one that delivers fairness, opportunity, and voice for everyone. That begins with the choices we make every day: to engage, to collaborate, to speak up, and to lead with integrity.

At Hera Associates, we believe systems can only be as strong as the values they’re built on. Protecting democracy is the work beneath all other work. It's the foundation for every community we hope to serve and every future we hope to build.

So as we move through this moment together, we invite you to pause and ask: What part of democracy do you protect in your daily work? How will you strengthen it from where you stand?