"This paper brings together 7 case studies on closing democratic space by experts from countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa as well as examples from Europe. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for preventing and reacting to closing democratic space. Three broad tactics to close democratic space were identified in the research that we suggest as a framework of analysis for understanding closing democratic space. These are: 1. Restricting civic space (particularly freedom of expression, assembly and association) with various legal, administrative, extra-legal and political measures, and thereby inhibiting the proper functioning of media outlets, emerging political (opposition) forces, and civil society organisations (CSOs); 2. Changing the rules of the game so as to create an uneven playing field for political contestation. This includes the abuse of state resources by the incumbent, skewed reforms in political party and electoral legislation, and one-sided private and illicit financing in campaigning; 3. Undermining the separation of powers, notably the independence of the judiciary, and thereby politicising legal processes, and allowing impunity and violence to shape the activities of citizens, media actors and CSOs." (Executive summary, page 4-5)