Mission and History

Vanderbilt’s Center for Global Democracy (CGD) is a premier social science institute dedicated to pioneering research and innovation in democratic politics. Our mission is to deepen the understanding of how democracies emerge, function, and decline globally through research that adheres to the highest standards of scientific rigor. Our core research projects investigate how mass publics perceive, experience, and support democratic development. CGD’s research and activities also drive policy innovation to strengthen democracy and good governance worldwide.

The cornerstone of CGD’s research is LAPOP Lab, a hub of excellence in international survey research with a focus on the Americas. LAPOP Lab was founded in 2004 by Dr. Mitchell A. Seligson as the Latin American Public Opinion Project. He led the project until 2013, at which point Dr. Elizabeth J. Zechmeister served as director until 2024. Today, LAPOP Lab is an established world leader in the development, implementation, and analysis of studies of public opinion and political behavior. Renowned for its flagship AmericasBarometer survey, LAPOP Lab’s data and reports are frequently cited in global media, government reports, academic research, and by analysts across the Americas. The LAPOP Lab team comprises experts in rigorous social-scientific methodologies, innovative techniques in international survey research, impact evaluation, and capacity building.

At Vanderbilt, CGD collaborates with and trains faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students. Our research projects and activities also engage a vast network of partners across universities, civil society organizations, intergovernmental institutions, and government agencies spanning dozens of countries around the world.