Democracy

Framing ethical perspectives

Democracy is a form of government in which political control is given to the people, whether directly or through the election of governing officials. Currently, large numbers of people have lost faith in this form of government and some elected officials have been working to dismantle democratic institutions. Our programs, events, and experts strive to better understand this development.

Featured Democracy Resources

State of global democracy, U.S. global engagement, and more

JUN 9, 2021 Podcast

Illiberal Democracy on the Rise: Examining Brazil, Hungary, & India

APR 19, 2022 Podcast

Why Democracy vs. Autocracy Misses the Point, with Jean-Marie Guéhenno

Senior Fellow Anja Kapsersen is joined by Professor Jean-Marie Guéhenno for a conversation about virtual communities and the advent of the age of data.

FEB 23, 2024 Article

What Do We Mean When We Talk About "AI Democratization"?

With numerous parties calling for "AI democratization," Elizabeth Seger, director of the CASM digital policy research hub at Demos, discusses four meanings of the term.

Explore Our Democracy Resources

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/floringorgan/4694122800/">Florin Gorgan</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

NOV 7, 2011 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: The Climate Change Novel: A Faulty Simulator of Environmental Politics

Ultimatums. Floods. Ecotage. More than 200 novels have been written that imagine life in a climate-changed world, and they point to some of the fundamental difficulties ...

OCT 25, 2011 Podcast

Liberal Leviathan: The Origins, Crisis, and Transformation of the American World Order

The U.S. may no longer be a unipolar power, but the world order it helped create is alive and well. The rise of  other ...

OCT 14, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Occupy Wall Street: Does Rising Income Inequality Threaten American Democracy?

Does rising income inequality pose a threat to American democracy? This question has long been taboo in American politics. Yet as &quot;Occupy Wall Street&...

SEP 27, 2011 Podcast

Yahoo! and YouTube: Balancing Human Rights and Business

How do companies such as Yahoo! and YouTube decide on whether disturbing material should be banned from their sites? What are the free speech and ...

SEP 18, 2011 Podcast

Does the Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy

Former Canadian High Commissioner to India David Malone gives a comprehensive survey of contemporary Indian foreign policy. He begins by focusing on India's geography, history, ...

SEP 16, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Genocide Denial in Rwanda: Dealing with the Past or Subverting Democracy?

Do laws that make it a crime to deny the existence of genocide help to lessen the chances of renewed conflict? Or, do they stifle ...

CREDIT: City of San Francisco.

SEP 16, 2011 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Happy Park(ing) Day 2011

Urban advocates, planners, officials, and artists join forces each September to install miniature parks and pop-up cafes in parking spaces normally reserved for cars.

CREDIT: Marlin Mine. &copy; 2011 Anna Fawcus/Oxfam America.

SEP 9, 2011 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Mining a Grave Concern in Guatemala's Election

Strong natural resource management is essential for a young democracy, yet Guatemala's human rights advocates face death threats after a failed presidential debate on mining.

AUG 26, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Libya After Qaddafi: Redefining our Responsibilities

As Libya prepares for its future, do NATO member states have a moral responsibility to protect peace and stability? Or should Libya's future be of ...

AUG 19, 2011 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: In America, Does Pluralist Democracy Still Work?

Has pluralism in America emphasized private interest over public good? Does the market for ideas need more supervision, or should the market rule?