The 2025 State of Civil Society Report by CIVICUS, released on March 20, offers a comprehensive yet alarming portrait of the world’s political and civic landscape. From rising authoritarianism and state violence to economic inequality and climate inaction, the report outlines systemic threats undermining democracy across continents. Yet even amid crisis, it identifies civil society—especially youth and feminist movements—as a resilient force pushing back, from Nairobi to Gaza, Guatemala to Seoul.
Drawing from more than 300 interviews and analysis across 120 countries, the report’s message is clear: the rules-based international order is eroding, but people are still mobilising, organising, and winning.
Kenya’s Gen Z Uprising: A Symbol of Global Discontent
Kenya features prominently in this year’s report, cited as one of the epicentres of Africa’s youth-led resistance. In 2024, Kenyan Gen Z activists—many still students—spearheaded protests against new tax proposals amid growing disillusionment with the country’s economic direction and political elite. The CIVICUS report notes how these protests not only disrupted public discourse but also inspired a wave of youth activism across Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and the wider continent.
However, the backlash was swift. Kenyan authorities responded with a now-familiar toolkit of repression: abductions of activists, surveillance, and threats against civil society organisations. The report situates these tactics within a broader trend across Africa where governments attempt to curtail dissent by silencing young voices demanding accountability and reform.
“Efforts to engage people in governance, hold power accountable, and build reform coalitions don’t always make headlines,” said Andrew Firmin, Editor-in-Chief at CIVICUS. “But they show how people can mobilise to protect democracy.”
A Global Democratic Backslide
Across the globe, the report documents an accelerating democratic decline. From Bangladesh to Hungary, governments are consolidating power through authoritarian means—discrediting elections, restricting protests, and vilifying excluded groups such as migrants, LGBTQI+ communities, and Indigenous peoples.
Notably, CIVICUS tracks a surge in what it calls state capture: instances where right-wing political leaders collude with business elites and media oligarchs to dominate state institutions. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are named as examples of tech billionaires whose platforms have undermined civic discourse while amplifying disinformation and hate speech. The rollback of diversity and inclusion initiatives at major US tech firms is also noted as a sign of how “anti-rights” narratives are gaining ground.
The United States, once a key defender of human rights, is now described as part of the problem. Attacks on student protesters advocating for Palestinian rights, alongside legislative efforts to criminalise abortion and restrict LGBTQI+ expression, suggest a country veering into authoritarian practices. The report warns that what happens in the U.S. sets dangerous precedents for other regimes.
War Without Rules
The report expresses deep concern about the erosion of international humanitarian law. In Gaza, over 48,000 deaths were recorded, with 92% of homes damaged or destroyed. Civilians, humanitarian workers, and journalists are increasingly being targeted—170 journalists and 320 aid workers were killed in 2024 alone.
Conflicts in Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo show similar disregard for human rights norms. CIVICUS warns that the weakening of global accountability mechanisms—particularly the ineffectiveness of the United Nations Security Council—is enabling widespread impunity.
In Kenya, while not in conflict, the situation still reflects this trend. The government’s growing reliance on security agencies and opaque digital surveillance systems to monitor dissent undermines civic space, especially for activists protesting economic policy, corruption, and social injustices.
Economic Injustice and the Failure of Global Institutions
At the heart of the unrest is rising economic inequality. Global military spending hit US$2.3 trillion, while just US$3 billion was pledged in climate financing during COP29—far below the US$1.3 trillion needed annually. The world also loses US$492 billion every year due to tax loopholes, yet governments continue to resist calls for a global tax treaty and wealth taxation.
CIVICUS argues that austerity-driven policies—often tied to International Monetary Fund conditions—are exacerbating inequality and triggering social upheaval. Kenya is cited as a case study, where IMF-backed fiscal policies, including proposed tax hikes, have sparked sustained backlash from civil society.
The report calls for reforms to the global financial system, including the adoption of universal basic income models, fair taxation, and the end of harmful debt practices that leave countries like Kenya vulnerable.
Climate Crisis and Repression of Environmental Activists
The climate emergency looms large. CIVICUS reports that 2024 was the hottest year on record, yet climate summits continue to be dominated by fossil fuel lobbyists—especially in petro-states with restricted civic spaces. Indigenous communities, land defenders, and climate activists remain among the most targeted for violence and repression.
Legal victories were achieved nonetheless. In Ecuador, courts recognised the rights of a river. In the Netherlands, civil society successfully halted arms transfers to conflict zones via the courts. And in South Korea, lack of emissions targets was ruled unconstitutional—driven by youth legal advocacy.
Kenya’s environmental movement, while not as visible in the report, is growing. Local NGOs continue to advocate for forest protections and clean energy policies, but they too face pressure from government and corporate interests, particularly in areas targeted for large-scale development.
Civil Society’s Blueprint for Resistance
CIVICUS offers a roadmap for action, urging civil society to:
- Adopt a movement mindset, focused on collaboration, agility, and community engagement.
- Embrace narrative change to counter disinformation and populist rhetoric.
- Use legal tools and strategic litigation to fight back where protest is criminalised.
- Build cross-border solidarity, particularly around digital rights, gender justice, and economic reform.
Despite severe restrictions, civil society remains “the last line of defence,” the report concludes. It is already shaping policy, winning legal battles, and mobilising people around transformative ideas.
In Kenya—and around the world—the struggle is far from over. But the CIVICUS 2025 State of Civil Society Report makes one thing clear: even in a fractured world, civic resistance is not only possible—it is essential.
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