These media sources have a slight to moderate progressive/liberal bias.  They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes) to favor progressive/liberal causes.  These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.

• Overall, we rate the Journal of Democracy as Left-Center biased based advocacy for democratic governance and a rejection of authoritarianism. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to authoritative sourcing and a clean fact check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-2.7)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (0.3)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Journal
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

The Journal of Democracy is a scholarly publication dedicated to analyzing democratic institutions, political movements, and governance worldwide. Founded in 1990 by the National Endowment for Democracy’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, it is published quarterly by the Johns Hopkins University Press. It is a platform for political scientists, journalists, and policymakers to discuss democratic development, authoritarianism, and governance challenges.

Read our profile on the United States media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

The Journal of Democracy is owned and published by the Johns Hopkins University Press, a reputable academic publisher. It receives funding primarily through institutional support, subscriptions, and grants from organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which promotes democratic initiatives worldwide.

Analysis / Bias

The Journal of Democracy is an academic publication focused on democracy, governance, and political trends worldwide. It presents well-researched, peer-reviewed articles from scholars, journalists, and policymakers. The journal’s editorial stance generally favors democratic principles, human rights, and civil liberties, which often align with center-left political perspectives.

While the journal remains largely analytical, some articles reflect concern over rising authoritarianism and democratic backsliding, which can lead to a critique of right-leaning or nationalist governments. For example, “Is Mexico at the Gates of Authoritarianism?” raises alarms about Mexico’s political trajectory, while “Why Ukraine Shouldn’t Negotiate with Putin” strongly argues against compromise with authoritarian regimes.

The journal also explores skepticism toward populism, as seen in “Why the World Is Down on Democracy”, which highlights global dissatisfaction with democratic systems. While articles present multiple perspectives, there is a tendency to emphasize the importance of liberal democracy over alternative governance models, which contributes to a center-left bias in framing and issue selection.

Headlines and language are academic and neutral, avoiding overt sensationalism. The publication does not promote misinformation or conspiracy theories and adheres to high editorial standards, making it a highly factual and credible source.

Failed Fact Checks

• None in the last five years from major fact-checking organizations.

Overall, we rate the Journal of Democracy as Left-Center biased based advocacy for democratic governance and a rejection of authoritarianism. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to authoritative sourcing and a clean fact check record. (D. Van Zandt 02/03/2025)

Source: https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/