Democracy news covering threats to democratic institutions, voting rights, election integrity, authoritarianism, and democratic health in the US and abroad.
This commentary argues that economic inequality undermines electoral democracy, drawing on historical analysis from France (1789-2022) by economists Julia Cagé and Thomas Piketty. It contends that rising public debt and higher interest rates make the issue more politically explosive today, advocating for policy responses to address inequality's corrosive effects on democratic institutions.
This commentary presents an interview with Louise Crow, CEO of mySociety, discussing the organization's two-decade history in civic tech, its tools like FixMyStreet and WhatDoTheyKnow, and the challenges of gaining government approval for oppositional technologies. Crow emphasizes the importance of open-source code and global replication of their models.
This commentary argues that economic liberalization in autocracies often leads to increased repression, contrary to the expectation that it would promote democracy. Drawing on José Kaire's book "The Road to Repression," it contends that autocratic elites perceive liberalization as a political threat and respond by tightening control, citing examples from Mexico, Malaysia, and Senegal.
This commentary argues that President Trump's efforts to undermine election integrity require a coordinated local and state response. It highlights a memo titled "Act Free to Be Free" as a blueprint for pro-democracy groups to resist federal interference, emphasizing the need for civil society mobilization to protect voting rights.
Former senior FBI and intelligence officials warned that President Trump's upcoming prime time address on election security is part of an attack on democracy. New details reveal that election denial activists attended a secret White House briefing ahead of the address, signing nondisclosure agreements. Democrats later called for invoking the 25th Amendment after the speech.
The commentary argues that the Indian government's refusal to engage with activist Sonam Wangchuk and student protesters undermines democratic values. It contends that peaceful protest and dialogue are hallmarks of a confident democracy, and that ignoring dissent risks moral and political costs.