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

Ark of the Liberties: America and the World

NOV 4, 2008 Podcast

Ark of the Liberties: America and the World

Ted Widmer shows that from its beginnings, the United States, for all its shortfalls, has been by far the world's greatest advocate for freedom.

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/1062694623/">Capt. Darrick Lee</a>, U.S. Air Force (PD).

OCT 29, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: United States Experiments with African Command

Was it auspicious timing or a bad omen that Somali pirates hijacked a Ukrainian arms shipment the day before the U.S. military launched AFRICOM, ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/wili/2202129234/">Ville Miettinen</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 22, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Lovers with Borders

Young international couples find the strict Danish immigration policies rotten, but a new ruling from the European Union could ease cross-border marriages.

Oil spill. Photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/esqenzo/320311357/">Jay-P</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 16, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: A Slick Solution for Oil Markets

Although oil prices are declining, the global oil market is out of whack and prices remain high, causing economic suffering around the world. To get ...

The Freedom Agenda: Why Americans Must Spread Democracy (Just Not the Way George Bush Did)

OCT 14, 2008 Podcast

The Freedom Agenda: Why America Must Spread Democracy (Just Not the Way George Bush Did)

According to James Traub, although Bush bungled his famous Freedom Agenda—that American liberty is dependent on liberty in other lands—the concept still holds ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/julien_harneis/1373309049/">Julien Harneis</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 14, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Saving the Congo

The scale of Congo's resource curse, weak governance, and civil war calls for policy changes beyond anything typically contemplated by the international community.

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/kaba/157303191/">Kaba</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

SEP 24, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Peace Breaks Out in the Taiwan Strait

While the world's attention is focused on wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Georgia, a little-observed positive trend is taking place on the other side of ...

CREDIT: Andres Marin (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

SEP 9, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Oil Revenue Sharing for Iraq

Developing a fair system for sharing Iraqi oil revenues will ensure that no one can aspire to be the next Saddam Hussein.

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/changhg/100412648/">Mike Chang</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

AUG 28, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: The Rights of Human Goddesses

At last, the young girls who are worshiped as living goddesses in Nepal are now awarded basic human rights by the state.

The opening ceremonies, as seen on TV. <br>Photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/deniscollette/2745796325/">Denis Collette</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

AUG 28, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: One Bed, Different Dreams

Seeing the Olympics as a watershed event, Japanese commentators have speculated about a "post-Olympic" China, and their prognoses are generally darker than the more optimistic ...