What Does Political Representation Mean?

What Does Political Representation Mean?

American democracy is founded on principles for providing fair and equal representation to all citizens, but how representative is it really? Are some democracies more representative than others? Yes, and democracies using proportional representation provide their citizens with a more representative form of government.

The Rise of Democratic Elitism in the Era of Celebrity Politics

The Rise of Democratic Elitism in the Era of Celebrity Politics

Democratic elitism refers to the belief or idea that a select group of individuals, who are deemed to be more knowledgeable, should make a decision on behalf of society as a whole. With the rise of celebrities as public political advocates, should we fear a situation where a small group of individuals, including celebrities, are driving the conversations around what is best for society while ignoring the voices of the broader population?

Free Speech and Our Campus: What Kind of Community Do We Want?

Free Speech and Our Campus: What Kind of Community Do We Want?

In today’s contentious and divided political environment, what should colleges and universities do to meet the roles and responsibilities of higher education to foster the campus community we want? Read our deliberative discussion issue guide on Free Speech: How Do We Foster the Community We Want? and join our deliberative forum on Monday March 20th @ 4:30pm ET.

Ukraine: One Year Later

Ukraine: One Year Later

President Zelenskyy has pledged a path to victory for Ukraine in 2023, calling the past year Ukraine’s “longest day.” We look back over the past year at Russia’s declaration of war which sparked an ongoing conflict resulting in a global energy crisis, a humanitarian crisis, devastating loss of human life, and a reworking of how Western nations support democratically-governed countries.

Russia and Iran: Maintaining Undemocratic Power

Russia and Iran: Maintaining Undemocratic Power

While it is not yet definitive that the world faces a global democratic crisis, it does face an alarming trend of strengthening authoritarian control across several regions. Studying two of these countries, the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, provides a wealth of knowledge into how these regimes are able to maintain control. Both countries have used largely the same authoritarian playbook, characterized by the use of fear and misinformation to keep democracy and people subdued.