Through our books, case studies, journal articles, papers, and surveys, the Ash Center is home to some of the world’s most advanced research and publications on issues related to democratic governance and self-governance.
To explore all research authored by Ash Center faculty, please visit the Harvard Kennedy School website. You can view the Ash Center’s open access policy here.
Case Study
In this case study of democratic innovation at the local level, the authors answer the questions: Why, in 2022, was voting representation and democratic reform firmly on Portland’s agenda? Did this shift contribute to Portlanders passing Measure 26-228?
Newest
Case Study
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The Ash Center hosted a conversation about how Watchmen and other popular entertainment can highlight and help us understand critical issues around race and policing.
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The Ash Center hosted a conversation with leading scholars and practitioners about the George Floyd protests, their place in the long fight for social justice, and what they tell us about the state of democracy in America today.
Policy Brief
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COVID-19 was amplifying a fundamental democratic mismatch: the vulnerable, often low-income and of-color, workers who are among the most affected by this pandemic have little influence over decisions — in companies and governments — about how this pandemic was managed.
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Like governments around the world, America’s 574 federally recognized tribal nations were racing to protect their citizens from the coronavirus. Impacting tribes at a rate four times higher than the US population, the pandemic was testing the limits of tribal public health infrastructures.
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Speakers included:
Policy Brief