The Democracy Compass project is a social and messaging research project undertaken by Grata Fund in partnership with 89 Degrees East and Common Cause Australia.
Democracy Compass was developed to better understand how Australians perceive democracy, civic participation, power and accountability and to create an evidence based roadmap for strengthening democratic culture and public engagement over the long term.
The project seeks to answer a series of foundational questions:
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How do Australians understand democracy today?
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Where do people feel agency, belonging and influence?
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What role do institutions, including courts and accountability mechanisms, play in public understanding?
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How might narratives and strategies evolve to strengthen public and political support for public interest litigation?
The project aims to produce two key reports:
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A Democracy Compass report which provides new and valuable insights into perceptions and experiences of democracy in Australia, and potential opportunities for strengthening our democracy;
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A Climate Litigation Messaging Guide, which will provide our sector with an evidence-based narrative framework and messaging recommendations for strengthening public and political support for climate litigation.
Why the Democracy Compass?
Across Australia and globally, democracies are experiencing increasing pressure. Trust in institutions is declining, political polarisation is growing, and many people feel disconnected from systems intended to represent them. At the same time, significant challenges, from climate change to inequality and attacks on human rights require institutions capable of responding effectively and maintaining public legitimacy.
Grata Fund’s work sits at the intersection of democracy, accountability and systems change. Through our support of strategic litigation and movement building, we see firsthand that legal rights and democratic structures alone are not enough. Systems function best when people understand them, trust them and feel empowered to participate in shaping them.