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

MAY 1, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Jumping Parties: Principles or Pragmatism?

Senator Specter is now a Democrat. Was his decision to switch parties principled, pragmatic, or just expedient?

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24443965@N08/2723654681/">Okinawa Soba</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

APR 27, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: A Blight on the Nation: Slavery in Today's America

Certain things we know to be true. We know that the South kept slaves, and the North fought a righteous war of liberation. We know ...

Hit and run. Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chozno01/2049157702/">Claudio</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

APR 24, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: The G-20's Global Hit-and-Run

The economic crisis has been compared to familiar catastrophes such as the sinking Titanic and a tsunami. But the car crash analogy works much better ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vhhammer/8885641187/">V. H. Hammer</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

APR 22, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Spring 2009 Poetry Contest Winners

Policy Innovations is pleased to announce the winners of its Spring 2009 Poetry Contest. The following five submissions, each from a different city, represent the inspiration ...

APR 17, 2009 Podcast

God Is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World

John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge argues that God is back as part of politics. On the street and in the corridors of power, religion is ...

APR 17, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: International Aid: Does Help Hurt?

According to Dambisa Moyo, large foreign aid flows to Africa disenfranchise Africans and prop up corrupt African leaders. If we follow Moyo's advice and cut ...

APR 7, 2009 Podcast

Barbara Crossette Interviews Nandan Nilekani

Journalist Barbara Crossette talks to Indian software entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani about his book, "Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation." Their topics include politics, ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_carpenter/250580962/">Chris Carpenter</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

MAR 31, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Simultaneous Policy for Global Problems

Instead of a global race to the bottom, coordinated international action could help governments make tough policy choices without scaring off capital and factories. John ...

MAR 27, 2009 Podcast

Global Ethics Corner: Obama and Ethics

Can public discussion of issues acknowledge gray areas despite being polarized by the media and single issue groups?

MAR 19, 2009 Podcast

Turkey Decoded

Ambassador Ann Dismorr examines Turkey's troubled relations with the EU, its role in the Middle East, its complex relationship with the U.S., and the ...