New Global Declaration of Democratic Principles
Note: This article originally appeared on Lawfare.
At the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 16, a group of former world leaders released a Declaration of Principles aimed at reaffirming shared democratic principles and a rules-based order in response to the rising tide of authoritarianism and anti-democratic trends in many countries. The Declaration for Freedom, Prosperity and Peace is the product of a yearlong task force sponsored by the Atlantic Council and Canada’s Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and led by Steve Hadley and Madeleine Albright among others, in which I and a group of former U.S. government officials participated.
The declaration includes seven overarching principles, loosely modeled on the Atlantic Charter, affirming the right to freedom and justice, democracy and self-determination, peace and security, free markets and equal opportunity, an open and healthy planet, the right to assist others, and collective action. The principles set forth a blueprint of more specific responsibilities for governments, private entities and individuals to support the principles.