Amnesty International Founder Peter Benenson & Democratic Backsliding: Key Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, terms, and concepts from the Peter Benenson/Amnesty International material and the comparative analysis of democratic backsliding.

Amnesty International

A human rights organization founded by Peter Benenson in 1961 to condemn persecution wherever it occurs and to mobilize world opinion, notably through a mass letter-writing campaign urging the release of prisoners of conscience.

Peter Benenson

British lawyer who founded Amnesty International after being moved by reports of prisoners; died at 83 from pneumonia in Oxford, England.

The Forgotten Prisoners

Benenson’s 1961 London Observer article describing prisoners imprisoned for their beliefs and inspiring Amnesty’s early campaign.

Prisoners of Conscience

Term coined by Benenson for individuals imprisoned for their beliefs; central rallying cry of Amnesty International.

Appeal for Amnesty (1961)

Amnesty's year-long campaign urging supporters to write letters urging the release of prisoners of conscience.

Letter-writing campaign

A key tactic in Amnesty’s early work, mobilizing supporters to write officials to demand release of prisoners of conscience.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

A foundational UN document; Amnesty’s early campaign helped enforce its principles and stop abuses against dissenters.

Article 18 (UDHR)

The right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change belief and to practice religion.

Article 19 (UDHR)

The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the right to seek, receive, and impart information.

Nobel Peace Prize (1977)

Award given to Amnesty International in recognition of its work against torture and for human rights worldwide.

Candle-and-barbed-wire logo

Amnesty International's emblem: a candle surrounded by barbed wire.

St. Martin-in-the-Fields

London church where Benenson reflected on how to mobilize world opinion; site associated with Amnesty’s symbolism.

Condemn persecution regardless of where it occurs or what ideas are suppressed

Benenson’s stated goal for Amnesty International—universally condemn persecution no matter the place or beliefs involved.

Intra-executive dominance

A focus of Trump-era backsliding: concentrating power within the executive branch by purging oversight and tightening control over agencies.

Executive aggrandizement

A model of democratic backsliding where elected leaders amass power by weakening constraints on the executive and expanding its reach.

Delegitimization of horizontal institutions

Undermining the legitimacy of courts, legislatures, and other independent checks rather than changing them structurally.

Coercive use of federal funding

Using funding and financial leverage to pressure civil society and other actors to align with government policies.

Three-Level Executive Aggrandizement

A framework describing how leaders attempt to dominate the executive, undermine horizontal checks, and weaken societal constraints on power.

Civil Society

Organizations outside government that advocate for interests, provide accountability, and participate in public life.

Horizontal checks

Checks on power provided by other branches (courts, legislature) to constrain the executive.

Vertical checks

Constraints on power from federal structure, subnational units, and civil society, shaping executive power.

Judiciary delegitimization

Attacking the legitimacy of courts and rulings without necessarily changing their formal structure.

Democratic backsliding (backsliding)

A global trend where elected leaders erode democratic norms and institutions, potentially shifting toward illiberal or autocratic rule.

Executive dominance (U.S. context)

The focus on concentrating power within the U.S. presidency, including reshaping agencies, appointing loyalists, and expanding executive control.

Illiberal democracy / backsliding in comparative cases

Countries cited in the analysis (e.g., Hungary, Poland, Türkiye, India, Brazil) where leaders erode democracy through lawful but illiberal means.