Additional Resource
Democracy demands new ideas.
Commentary
Why I’m Excited About the White House’s Proposal for a Higher Ed Compact
Commentary
Conservatism and the Future of Democracy
Harvard’s hub for research and teaching on democracy
The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation develops ideas and fosters practices for equal and inclusive, multiracial, and multiethnic democracy and self-government.
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From expanding voting access to developing new strategies for antiracist organizational change, we tackle the most pressing issues facing democracy and democratic institutions around the world today.
Latest News
Podcast
The Art of the Higher Education Deal?
Archon Fung and Stephen Richer are joined on Terms of Engagement by Joseph Fishkin, Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law, to discuss the latest compact proposed to select universities and the implications for academic freedom and federal power.
Commentary
Why I’m Excited About the White House’s Proposal for a Higher Ed Compact
Last week’s leak of the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” drew intense reactions across academia. Critics call it government overreach threatening free expression, while supporters see a chance for reform and renewed trust between universities and policymakers. Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University, director of the Democratic Knowledge Project and the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation, weighs in.
Commentary
Conservatism and the Future of Democracy
When former Vice President Mike Pence visited Harvard’s Institute of Politics for a discussion on “The Future of Conservatism and American Democracy,” he was introduced not just by a moderator, but by a longtime friend and admirer — Ash Center Senior Fellow Stephen Richer. A former Republican officeholder, Richer has often cited Pence as a personal role model for integrity and constitutional fidelity. Their friendship added a layer of warmth and sincerity to an evening that balanced deep ideological reflection with a spirit of civility and mutual respect.
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Understanding Generation Z’s Rightward Shift in 2024
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Moral Vaccination: Ideas and Institutions in the Control of Contagion in China and India
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Ash Center Seminar Room 225, Suite 200, 124 Mount Auburn Street
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