STUDY DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS EXTERNAL ACTORS IN DEMOCRATIZATION Lessons from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung The study reviews the role of external actors, specifically in­ternational democracy promo­tion organizations including the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES), in supporting democratization efforts in target countries. The study draws out lessons from the academic literature on the conditions under which democracy assistance is most effective, considering factors such as the international en­vironment and the charac­­te­r­istics of external actors, democracy assistance itself, and target countries. Sarah Bush and Julian D. Melendi October 2024 The study explores the role of FES in five countries: Peru, Portugal, Serbia, South Africa, and Tunisia. It highlights the successes and challenges faced in promoting democratic tran­sitions, offering insights into how international support has influenced political reform and democratic deepening.