 Never have so many people lived in democracies as now. But the value of democracy is more contested than ever before. Our report finds that the number of democracies keeps growing, but the quality of democracy is deteriorating. The report finds that the global challenges to democracy are many. Despite these threats to democracy, the report also finds reasons for optimism. Despite the ills, democracy remains the best option to advance human dignity. That should move all of us to take action, however small, to reinvigorate representative institutions, to build vibrant civil societies, to protect the free media and to fight corruption, all of which remains essential for healthy democracies. Let's not give up on democracy. Let us recapture and revive democracy's promise.