DW debuts docuseries probing global decline of democracy
Created and hosted by Turkish investigative journalist Can Dündar, "Democracy Under Attack" examines how core democratic values such as freedom of expression, press freedom and the separation of powers are increasingly contested, even in countries long seen as stable democracies. Drawing on years of reporting from countries under pressure – including his docuseries Guardians of Truth in Mexico, Belarus and Turkey – Dündar brings a perspective shaped by firsthand experience in confronting corruption and restrictions on a free press.
Focus on the United States
The opening film, Democracy Under Attack: Can Dündar and Trump's America, turns to the United States at a pivotal moment. As the country approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, deep political divisions and rising tensions are testing the resilience of its democratic institutions. Critics have pointed to an increasingly authoritarian governing style under President Donald Trump, while political discourse has grown more confrontational.
The documentary poses urgent questions: How resilient is American democracy? And what do current developments signal for democracies worldwide?
Directed by Can Dündar and Demid Sheronkin, the 55-minute film follows the story of Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor who became the target of public attacks after being labeled "Dr. Antifa." Following threats against him and his family, Bray relocated to Spain. Through interviews with students, activists, academics and political organizers, the film captures the depth of polarization in the United States – and the competing visions of democracy shaping the national debate.
Demid Sheronkin, co-director: "While working on the documentary, I observed a complex and often polarized political and cultural landscape in the United States. The experience was intense and eye-opening, leaving me with a lasting impression of a country engaged in an ongoing conversation about its identity."
Can Dündar, co-director: "In Trump's America, there's a playbook unfolding that has long been tested in autocracies like my home country Turkey. It's an unsettling replay of events we've already lived through. But during filming, we've also seen resistance – so the fight for democracy is not lost."
Democracy Under Attack: Can Dündar and Trump's America is a Deutsche Welle production, made with the support of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb).
The documentary is available on DW’s YouTube platforms in English, Spanish, Arabic, Indonesian and Hindi, and will be available in the ARD Mediathek:
DW Documentary in English: youtube.com/DWDocumentary
DW Documentary in Spanish: youtube.com/DWDocumental
DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو: youtube.com/DWDocArabia
DW Documentary हिन्दी: youtube.com/DWDocHindi
DW Dokumenter (Indonesian): youtube.com/DWDokumenter
