Ash Center logo

News and Analysis

Read the latest news, commentary, and analysis from the Ash Center.

Graphic of two men yelling at each other.

Commentary

Ten ways to take down the political temperature

The intensification of political polarization in recent years has raised pressing concerns about the health of democratic discourse and the rise of political violence. Ash Center Senior Fellow Stephen Richer shares ten principles he believes provide a framework for fostering more constructive engagement: encouraging self-reflection, prioritizing substantive dialogue over hyperbole, and creating incentives that reward integrity and ideas rather than division.

Read The Story

Filter by

  • Issue Areas
  • Programs
  • Format

Filters

Close

Filters

Issue Areas
Programs
Format

516 Items

of 58

Newest

The AI and Democracy Movements Workshop: A Postscript
The capitol building in front of a tech background

Feature

The AI and Democracy Movements Workshop: A Postscript

Erica Chenoweth shares a brief addendum to the Nonviolent Action Lab’s workshop held in December 2024 on how AI can influence social mobilization, for better or worse.

From Crisis to Action: Turning the Tide on Democratic Erosion Through Organizing
A distorted photo of greek columns

Feature

From Crisis to Action: Turning the Tide on Democratic Erosion Through Organizing

In response to the recent anti-democratic patterns in the United States, the Ash Center hosted a panel of Harvard scholars to discuss how civil society can resist democratic backsliding through social mobilization and organizing.

Does Ranked Choice Voting Create Barriers for Minority Voters?
Vote Here placard at polling station

Commentary

Does Ranked Choice Voting Create Barriers for Minority Voters?

Ranked choice voting (RCV) aims to expand voter choice and improve representation, but Nolan McCarty’s research warns it could have unintended negative effects on minority communities’ representation and influence.