Media Release
The new initiative brings together scholars, sports leaders, and civic organizations to explore how sports can strengthen American democracy.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Reimagining Democracy Program at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation today announced an expanded initiative examining how professional sports and fandom can strengthen civic health and democratic life in the United States.
Led by Tova Wang, Director of Research Projects in Democratic Practice at the Ash Center, the Sports, Democracy and Civic Health program brings together scholars, election officials, democracy advocates, professional sports organizations, leagues, athletes, and civic organizations. The initiative will explore how the shared identity and sense of belonging fostered by sports can build trust, reduce polarization, encourage civic participation, and strengthen connections across differences.
“For millions of Americans, sports are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds come together around a shared identity and purpose,” said Tova Wang. “That sense of belonging represents an important, and still underexplored, resource for strengthening American democracy.”
The initiative builds on more than five years of work by the Reimagining Democracy Program, including research on how sports teams can use their facilities and fan networks to increase voter engagement.
The participants engaged in this work with the Center are:
“This project connects rigorous research with the practical experience of leaders across sports and civic sectors,” said Archon Fung. “By learning what teams, leagues and sports organizations are doing for their fans and in their communities, we can investigate how the power of connection in sports can be used to support a healthier and more inclusive participatory democracy.”
The Sports, Democracy and Civic Health program will pursue three principal goals:
The program will announce additional research and public programming in the months ahead.
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