New Delhi, Sept. 11 -- As a teenager growing up in Istanbul, I was lucky to be part of a generation that had democratic role models nearby. European countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Sweden fuelled our aspirations for prosperity and democracy, giving us hope for the future of our own imperfect polity. These countries' experiences showed us that economic growth, social justice and political freedom were not only compatible but mutually reinforcing.

Where will today's youth look to find a similarly hopeful message? Liberal democracy once seemed destined to be the wave of the future. But now, democratic backsliding is a global phenomenon, with Donald Trump's America only the most visible and dramatic example.

Since the early 2...