We defend democracy against foreign, domestic and technological threats.

Defend Democracy: What?

Defend Democracy is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit civil society organisation. Our mission is to defend and strengthen democracy against foreign, domestic and technological threats. Defend Democracy is registered as a nonprofit foundation in The Hague, the international city of peace, justice and security. We work transatlantically: most of our day-to-day work is done in Brussels and (virtually) in Washington DC.

Defend Democracy: How?

Defend Democracy works at the intersection of freedom, security and technology. To achieve our mission, we operate on the front-line: building awareness, shaping advocacy and taking action. In particular, we help build societal resilience to hybrid and technological threats for a whole-of-society defence of democracies.

Our activities range from community and capacity building for democracy defenders to convening high-level democracy stakeholders for influential working sessions; advocating for whole-of-society resilience to hybrid threats to democracy, for the regulation of Big Tech and fixing the information disorder; and from exposing organised information manipulation to training practitioners on handling disinformation and other harmful information activities.

Defend Democracy: Why?

The need for an organisation like Defend Democracy has never been more evident. Democracy is under pressure worldwide, even in countries where we took it for granted. For years, there has been:

1) foreign interference in our democracies, also known as hybrid threats to democracy

2) democratic backsliding, affective polarisation, domestic extremism and terrorism

3) technological threats to democracy

Unfortunately, our governments and other stakeholders are doing too little to defend established democracies against foreign interference, to prevent further polarisation and erosion of democracy “at home”, and to protect our democracies from technological threats. Worse, few are grasping that these threats are interconnected and are reinforcing each other. The future of our democracies depends on building resilience to this triple threat to democracy as of now.

Because countries fail in their duty to defend democracy against foreign, domestic and technological threats to democracy, Defend Democracy steps into the breach. Not by publishing reports but as a do-tank that gets to work. Defend Democracy proposes a Zeitenwende for democracy. We encourage citizens, democratic governments and their international alliances (EU, NATO) to build whole-of-society resilience against the triple threat to democracy. And as civil society actor we help them do it.

“Defend Democracy!” is a call to action to governments, lawmakers and institutions, and a name that invites everyone to join us in being active citizens.

Defend Democracy: Who?

Team

Founder and Executive Director Alice Stollmeyer has a solid background in ‘Science, technology and society’. After her PhD research Alice specialised in EU public affairs, strategic communications and digital advocacy. Alice now leads Defend Democracy and works on issues related to democracy, security, technology and geopolitics. She is a leading voice on defending democracy in an age of ‘sharp power’ and is a trailblazer for societal resilience to hybrid and technological threats to democracy.

Senior Advisor Chris Kremidas-Courtney is a globally recognized thought leader, futurist, and policy influencer with 34 years’ experience in building consensus and developing policy approaches to protect and support democracy, equality, and the rule of law in a fast-changing world. Chris advises and conducts research for Defend Democracy on emerging tech threats and disinformation as well as training and exercise support.

Senior Advisor Jonathan Hill has 25 years’ experience in political communications. He was speech-writer to the President of the European Commission, and Chief of Staff to the Commissioner for Education and Culture. Jonathan advises Defend Democracy on communications strategy.

Advisor Suzanne Nam is a lawyer turned journalist who has worked in the US and Asia and is now based in the EU. She uses her legal and communications expertise to support Defend Democracy, and others that focus on social justice, community building and inclusion.

Supervisory Board (generously offering their time in a personal capacity)

Chair Pepijn Gerrits is currently Programs Director at Oxfam Novib. Previously, he was Executive Director of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC) and Head of Programmes at the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). Throughout his career, Pepijn has specialised in issues around democracy, rule of law, human rights and organisational development.

Secretary Michiel van Hulten is currently Director of Transparency International EU. He is a former Dutch Labour Party MEP (1999-2004) and party chairman (2005-2007). Throughout his career, Michiel has specialised in issues around democracy, transparency, accountability and citizenship.

Portfolio holder Finance & Organisation Senna Bouteba is helping organisations like Defend Democracy bloom. She is strong on development and finance of social entrepreneurship, social projects, diversity & inclusion. Throughout her career, she has helped others to contribute to a better society.

Governance

Defend Democracy has a two-tier governance structure: a Board and a Supervisory Board. The roles and tasks of each of its bodies are laid out in the organisation’s statutes. The Board is in charge of the day to day governance and management of the nonprofit organisation. It also has the responsibility for directing and implementing its programs. The Board is monitored by an independent Supervisory Board and assisted by advisors on long-term policies and strategy.

The day to day work of Defend Democracy is led by its founder and Executive Director, Alice Stollmeyer. She is currently the only member of the Board, in accordance with Dutch law and the ‘Code Goed Bestuur voor Goede Doelen‘ (Code of Good Management for Charities, also known as the ‘Code-Wijffels’). The Executive Director is tasked to represent, manage and govern the nonprofit organisation; develop, implement and report on its annual and multi-annual plans and report on financial management; prepare the annual state of accounts and ensure its sustainability. The execution of the Executive Director’s tasks is monitored by the independent Supervisory Board.

Defend Democracy is a nonprofit foundation registered as Stichting Defend Democracy under Dutch law in The Netherlands.

Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK): 77749901
Dutch fiscal number (RSIN): 8611.25.605
EU Transparency Register: 656334937846-80