Biden’s democracy summit must deliver on its aims to beat authoritarianism | Elise Labott

Critics dismissed the virtual meeting of world leaders as all talk, with no clear benchmarks of what change is needed

• Elise Labott is an adjunct professor at American University's School of International Service

Last week as Joe Biden invited about 110 leaders to a virtual Summit for Democracy, he sounded the alarm over the rising tide of authoritarianism, as well as leading discussion on how to counter democratic backslide. The president admitted the summit was less of a magic bullet than the start of a global conversation on how to stop further democratic rot - an attempt to seed fertile ground for democracies to bloom around the world".

Critics dismissed the summit as an ideological (and cynical) ploy to enlist countries in Washington's strategic competition with China, as well as to appease overseas powers eager to see US leadership on the world stage. Both charges have merit.

Elise Labott is an adjunct professor at American University's School of International Service and the founder and CEO of Zivvy Media