But, make no mistake, the assault on democratic institutions is broad and deep. The last four years have seen systematic attacks on oversight institutions, flagrant conflicts of interestA key part of anti-corruption involves preventing or revealing conflicts of interest — when a public official is in a position to use public office for personal or private gain. Technical specificat..., imploding crises of systemic racism and political polarization, and the blatant spread of disinformation through countless media channels.

The U.S. is now part of a decade-long democratic backsliding globally which has emboldened authoritarian leaders from Hungary to Russia. These elected leaders have eroded and weaponized democratic institutions to attack opposition and consolidate power. Their rise is inextricably linked to corruption; unchecked kleptocrats steal to cement their hold on power, and launder that money in rich countries.

The Biden administration must counter the tide of kleptocracy, including in the U.S, and support democracies that serve all their citizens, not just the few.

The U.S. Capitol prior to the Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C., Jan 20, 2021.PHOTO: Credit: Georgia National Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

To accomplish this the new administration can leverage a ready-made platform that has delivered results: the Open Government Partnership (OGP). In 2011, the Obama-Biden administration launched OGP, which has grown to 78 countries, where national and local governments and thousands of civil society organizations co-create OGP action plans to reinvigorate democracy, empowering citizens to shape and oversee government everyday, not just once every few years when they vote. At the 2020 UN General Assembly, French President Macron, German Chancellor Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, Nigerian President Buhari, and other leaders committed to leveraging OGP to build back better democracy post-COVID-19.

The Biden administration’s task of renewing democracy must begin at home. It can leverage its fourth OGP action planAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... to implement ambitious reforms proposed by U.S. civil society in three priority areas: combating corruption, protecting civil rights and electoral integrity, and tackling disinformation. And abroad it can support similar reforms across 100-plus OGP action plans through U.S. agencies and missions.

First, the U.S. is one of the world’s premier destinations for stolen and laundered money. The recent National Defense Authorization Act limits shell companies, and will require enacting regulationGovernment reformers are developing regulations that enshrine values of transparency, participation, and accountability in government practices. Technical specifications: Act of creating or reforming .... Another important step to limit kleptocracy is to expand mandatory disclosures of cash real estate purchasers. Through OGP, the U.S. can help advance these as global norms. Twenty OGP members have already committed to ending anonymous companies. Additionally, to address weaknesses laid bare in post-Watergate reforms, the new administration must restore trust that the Executive acts in the public interest, through ethics reform such as stronger asset disclosureAsset declaration laws are an essential safeguard against corruption that require public servants to disclose information on their wealth, possessions, and other interests. Technical specifications: A....

Second, the killings of George Floyd and other black men and women — as well as the differential treatment of peaceful protestors at Lafayette Square versus violent rioters at the Capitol — have further exposed the harsh realities of systemic racism, inequality, and injustice. The U.S. OGP action plan can raise the visibility of auditsInstitutional and legal frameworks are necessary for providing assurance of the integrity of financial information and of compliance with budgetary rules and procedure. Technical specifications: These... by the Attorney General and other bodies on violations of civil rights and racial biases in the justiceTo address barriers that prevent citizens from having their justice needs met, OGP participating governments are working to expand transparency, accountability, and inclusion into all systems of justi... and electoral system. Following the killing of Michael Brown, the Obama-Biden Administration used its third action plan to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing on police data disclosure, now in 130 of the largest U.S. police departments. It also used OGP to increase resources for legal aidMore and better information about aid helps partner countries and donor institutions plan and manage aid resources more effectively, parliaments and civil society to hold governments accountable for t.... Colombia, Indonesia, and North Macedonia followed the U.S. example and improved legal aid for the most vulnerable through OGP.

Third, the January 6 violent insurrection viscerally epitomizes the deep polarization tearing American democracy apart. The solutions are complex and must include combating foreign influence in electionsImproving transparency in elections and maintaining the independence of electoral commissions is vital for promoting trust in the electoral system, preventing electoral fraud, and upholding the democr..., tackling disinformation, and holding media platforms accountable, while protecting free speech. Other OGP countries can guide the way. Ireland introduced new laws to make online political advertising transparent. The U.K. has a specialized unit to combat disinformation. And Mexico, following a 2017 illegal surveillance scandal, committed to multi-stakeholder oversight of digital surveillance procurement.

Sign in front of the U.S. Capitol BuildingPHOTO: Credit: Brendan Beale via Unsplash

The President’s proposed “Summit for Democracy” can spotlight the imperative for democracy renewal at home and abroad. Along with the G7, G20, and the OGP 10th Anniversary Summit, this can help forge a coalition to reinvigorate democracy and counter authoritarianism. To ensure that these forums aren’t solely “talk shops,” OGP members can translate global commitments into concrete action plans.

Democracy reform can underpin all of the new administration’s priorities. Accordingly, he must invest commensurate political capital, establishing a White House Office for Democracy, housing OGP in the White House for interagency coordination, and having the U.S. rejoin the OGP Steering CommitteeThe Steering Committee is OGP’s executive decision-making body. Its role is to develop, promote and safeguard OGP’s values, principles and interests; establish OGP’s core ideas, policies, and ru....

Joe Biden won at the ballot box.  He must now renew democracy beyond the ballot box – at home and abroad.