Several critical Canadian elections are ahead. Here’s what governments and social media companies must do to assure Canadians that their online personal data won’t be used to manipulate results.
As part of preparing students to live in a democracy, schools should teach students how to engage in political dissent, a philosophy of education scholar argues.
Plato suggested we leave complex things to experts and Aristotle suggested we leave them to the people. That tension has carried through to modern debates about where expertise belongs.
The search for a direct causal connection from public opinion to specific policies, including gun control, may be like hunting for the holy grail. Many factors influence how legislation gets passed.
The abolition of citizen referendums in the Netherlands will do little to remedy the distrust in the political system – and could strengthen Geert Wilders’ far-right party.
Our current politically turbulent times in the US are difficult – but not unusual. History shows that fragility is the norm. Get used to it. What is unusual are moments of calm.
South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, poses a danger to democracy by continuiing to blur the lines between the state and the party.
Decades ago, the CIA created a secret department dedicated to spreading anti-communist propaganda around the globe. A scholar explains how it is comparable to Russian meddling through social media.
Politicians assume that voters cannot face the financial truth. To democracy experts this is just wrong. Involving voters results in better budgets as shows history from ancient Greece.
The State of the Union address, a traditional exercise for US presidents was marked this year by a great divergence on tone and words, showing the clear dictatorial style of the American leader.
Jan Leighley, American University School of Public Affairs and Jennifer Oser, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Citizen activists can influence the policy positions of their elected representatives. Their activism might well counter the advantages of the wealthy in America.