Feature
Ash Center Fellow Jon Alexander joined a diverse group of speakers at TED Democracy Philadelphia to share bold ideas for revitalizing modern democracy.
What does the future of democracy look like? At “TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures,” Ash Center Democracy Fellow Jon Alexander joined researchers, activists, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders to examine democracy from multiple vantage points. The June 13 event took place at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, just a mile from where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago. Reflecting on this legacy, most speakers agreed that while the work of maintaining democracy requires constant effort, we are living through an especially difficult and polarizing period.
While the discussions spanned a range of issues, from artificial intelligence to community organizing, Alexander focused on active citizenship. He pointed to citizen-led assemblies as a vital pathway forward. These assemblies, which bring randomly selected everyday people together to solve local policy issues, are currently being tested in communities worldwide. As Alexander noted, they succeed because “all of us are smarter than any of us.”
Read the full article at The Pew Charitable Trusts: Exploring Democracy for America’s Next 250 Years.
Dana Guterman is a content strategist, writer, and editor with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.
Podcast
Thomas Hicks, who was fired as head of the federal Election Assistance Commission on July 9 when President Donald Trump dismissed all three serving commissioners, joins Terms of Engagement to discuss what the agency does and what the move might mean for the upcoming midterms and future elections.
Feature
For Marcus Board Jr., democracy has never been just an academic subject—it has always been about people. As a 2025-2027 Democracy Visiting Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School, the Howard University political scientist explores how scholarship and community practice can work together to strengthen democracy.
In this conversation, Board reflects on the experiences, ideas, and relationships that have shaped his work.
Podcast
Richard Hanania, a writer and former alt-right influencer who renounced MAGA and now favors political rule by elites, joins Terms of Engagement to discuss his book “Kakistocracy: Why Populism Ends in Disaster.” The book is named for the Greek word meaning “rule by the worst.”
Feature
Books, reports, and articles exploring the front lines of American politics and democracy, as featured on the Terms of Engagement podcast.
Additional Resource
Published as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights’ essay collection “Self-Evident Truths” gathers faculty and fellows across Harvard’s schools including the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, to examine how well America has fulfilled its promise that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights.
The included essays span democracy, technology, public health, immigration, climate, and more, providing a nuanced look at what is required to fully realize the nation’s founding ideals today.
Feature
Tova Wang, director of research projects in democratic practice at the Ash Center, shares her top picks for summer reads focused on making democracy more resilient, responsive, and inclusive.
