Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation

As political polarization and declining civic participation challenge our democracy, higher education plays a pivotal role. In a compelling new paper, Danielle Allen and her co-authors argue by implementing mandatory civic curricula, incentivizing civic engagement, and fostering robust civil discourse, higher education institutions can prepare students to actively participate in democratic processes and bridge societal divides. Read more from Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation ⤵️ https://buff.ly/3VLZEyR #HigherEd #CivicLearning #CivicEngagement #CivicEducation #CSCollegePresidents

What led to the rise — and then fall — of participatory democracy in Colombia? Research by Democracy Postdoctoral Fellow Jamie Shenk highlights how referendums in Colombia served as a powerful tool to block the expansion of mining and oil enterprises before the practice was curbed by the country’s Supreme Court. “Jamie’s research sheds light on an important democratic problem and shows the way forward: why has the ‘participatory turn’ in many Latin American political institutions sometimes democratized politics but often failed to do so?” says Ash Center Director Archon Fung. “She shows how the benefits of participatory arrangements depend both on communities’ histories and specific configurations of institutions and the powerful actors affecting vulnerable communities.” Learn more here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ezfGihRm

We're hiring! The Ash Center is looking for an Assistant Communications Director to oversee the day-to-day work of the communications team and provide expert guidance for faculty’s outreach and dissemination activities. The Assistant Director of Communications will be instrumental in ensuring that the Ash Center’s research and programming reach key decision makers across academia, policy, and practice. To learn more about the role, check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/eKwMgWDP

We're hiring! The Ash Center is looking for an Assistant Communications Director to oversee the day-to-day work of the communications team and provide expert guidance for faculty’s outreach and dissemination activities. The Assistant Director of Communications will be instrumental in ensuring that the Ash Center’s research and programming reach key decision makers across academia, policy, and practice. To learn more about the role, check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/eKwMgWDP

As some of the oldest civic organizations in Boston, neighborhood associations are integral to the city’s local politics. Priya Millward MPP ’24 highlights neighborhood associations as civic participation building blocks in her policy analysis exercise where she examines association membership, and how to make these groups more inclusive. “At a time when national rates of civic engagement are declining, helping these well-established neighborhood groups grow is one way the City can encourage more constituent participation," she reflects. Learn more about her work here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/epPD7n8T

We're hiring! The Ash Center is looking for an Assistant Communications Director to oversee the day-to-day work of the communications team and provide expert guidance for faculty’s outreach and dissemination activities. The Assistant Director of Communications will be instrumental in ensuring that the Ash Center’s research and programming reach key decision makers across academia, policy, and practice. To learn more about the role, check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/eKwMgWDP

Could deliberative democracy ameliorate democratic backsliding? Two HKS students believe it might. As concerns for the health of democracy mount, Medha Uniyal and Kartikeya Bhatotia consider one particular “experimental democratic practice” that could increase connectivity between citizens and decision-making processes. “I think a lot of deliberations that we’ve seen rise have come from crisis … I think in times of crisis come great ideas, and not keeping an eye on them is a big failure. A big takeaway for me is that deliberation [has risen] in response to a lot of the negatives about democracy," notes Uniyal. “Professor Keyssar’s course helped us understand what democracy can be, how decisions can move from the ground up and above, and what the expansion looks like," reflects Bhatotia. Learn more about their research here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/enBjbJw4

We're hiring! The Ash Center is looking for an Assistant Communications Director to oversee the day-to-day work of the communications team and provide expert guidance for faculty’s outreach and dissemination activities. The Assistant Director of Communications will be instrumental in ensuring that the Ash Center’s research and programming reach key decision makers across academia, policy, and practice. To learn more about the role, check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/eKwMgWDP

Freddy Guevara Cortez MC/MPA 2024 is not giving up on the global struggle for democracy. Imprisoned and now exiled for his opposition to the Venezuelan government, Guevara is working to stem the growing tide of authoritarianism. “Yes, I expected to gain knowledge of political systems and democracy when I came to HKS, he says. “But in the end, I learned far more about my life, public service, and leadership—all of which I hope will impact my work to restore freedom in Venezuela.” Ultimately, Guevara says, “my commitment is not only to Venezuela. It’s to democracy itself–and how I can help and contribute to this global struggle.” Read more about Freddy Guevara's time at HKS ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eHj3ijP3

📚 Planning your summer reading list? A collection of must-reads curated by Ash Center’s Tova Wang showcases new ideas and efforts to build a more inclusive democracy in the US https://lnkd.in/eAPm3Kvp