Global Challenges to Democracy Seminar
In-Person Event
Ash Center Seminar Room 225, Suite 200, 124 Mount Auburn Street
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm EST
Global Challenges to Democracy Seminar Series
Understanding what stands in the way of more accountable, responsive, and capable democracies.
In the span of a few years, democracy has gone from a likely, if distant, destination for much of the world to a far more tenuous prospect. This seminar series, co-chaired by Professors Yanilda María González and Gautam Nair and hosted by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, delves deep into the various challenges, both internal and external, that stand in the way of building more accountable, responsive, and capable democracy. Leading scholars of politics provide insights using a wide variety of methods and expertise in countries from across the globe.
We invite you to explore any upcoming events and previously recorded events below.
Upcoming Events
The latest news, resources, and research
Commentary
The Democratic Dismantling of Democracies: How Leaders Undermine the Systems That Elect Them
A recent panel discussion explored global patterns of democratic backsliding, focusing on the experiences of Venezuela, Thailand, and the United States. Moderated by Archon Fung, director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, the conversation shared insights into how democratically elected leaders systematically erode checks and balances to consolidate power. The panelists highlighted common tactics of democratic erosion, and also strategies for safeguarding democracy.
Video
Why Citizens Don’t Hold Politicians Accountable for Air Pollution
This Global Challenges to Democracy Seminar Series event featured Tariq Thachil, Professor, Madan Lal Sobti Chair for the Study of Contemporary India; Director, Center for Advanced Study of India; University of Pennsylvania. Urban citizens in low-income democracies rarely hold elected officials accountable for toxic air. To understand why, Thachil discussed a recent paper co-authored by Shikhar Singh.
Video
Preventing Rebel Resurgence after Civil War
This Global Challenges to Democracy Seminar Series event featured Michael Weintraub, Associate Professor in the Escuela de Gobierno at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, and Director of the Security and Violence Area of the Center for the Study of Security and Drugs (CESED).
Video
Who Gets Hired? Political Patronage and Bureaucratic Favoritism
During this talk, Hassan discussed her latest paper “Who Gets Hired? Political Patronage and Bureaucratic Favoritism,” which considers the relative importance of each source of biased hiring as an allocation problem between managers and politicians who have different preferences regarding public sector hiring and different abilities to realize those preferences.
Video
Academic Freedom: Empirical Data on a Contested Idea
A Global Challenges to Democracy Seminar Series event was held featuring Katrin Kinzelbach, Professor of International Politics of Human Rights, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitä. Professor Kinzelbach discussed academic freedom from a human rights-based perspective.