In 2026, the United States will celebrate a milestone in its history. The declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776 marked the beginning of a democratic development that resonated across the globe. The famous triad of ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness’ has lost none of its appeal to this day. The goals and principles set out in the Declaration – popular sovereignty, a government without a crowned head, and the recognition of universal human and civil rights – continue to exert a influence that has made them a defining feature of the ‘Western community of values’. However, their positive connotations are coming under increasing pressure in many countries and regions of the world as a result of current geopolitical developments.

For the Max Weber Foundation (MWS), this anniversary provides an opportunity to examine the historical and contemporary far-reaching effects of the year 1776. What did the emergence of modern democracy in the USA trigger in other parts of the world? What influence did it have on national developments, on revolutions, wars and refugee movements? How and why did regionally diverse understandings of democracy develop?