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Research & Resources

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.

Additional Resource

Self-Evident Truths: The 250-Year Pursuit of Human Rights in the United States of America

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.

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The 2024 Presidential Election: The Broken Bond Between Youth and Democracy
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Policy Brief

The 2024 Presidential Election: The Broken Bond Between Youth and Democracy

The 2024 election saw Donald Trump make significant gains among young voters, increasing his support among 18- to 29-year-olds by 10 percentage points. This report aims to investigate the deeper issues at stake that are causing this historical shift.

Utah Digital Choice Act: Reshaping Social Media

Additional Resource

Utah Digital Choice Act: Reshaping Social Media

The bipartisan Utah Digital Choice Act aims to reform the social media ecosystem by giving users more choice and ownership over their personal data, while encouraging platform innovation and competition.

Information Inequality Can Be a Matter of Life or Death
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Policy Brief

Information Inequality Can Be a Matter of Life or Death

In this paper, Mary W. Graham examines how unintended information inequities undermine critical health and safety alerts. Focusing on three key policies — wildfire alerts, drinking water reports, and auto safety recalls — she identifies common roots of these disparities and highlights efforts by policymakers to address them.

United States Election and Post-Election Resources
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United States Election and Post-Election Resources

Election season is in full swing, and Election Day is fast approaching. The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation has compiled a list of election-related articles, resources, and events to keep you up to date.

Justice by Means of Democracy
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Book

Justice by Means of Democracy

In this book from leading thinker Danielle Allen, a bold and urgent articulation of a new political philosophy: power-sharing liberalism.

Why US States Are the Best Labs for Public AI

Additional Resource

Why US States Are the Best Labs for Public AI

In a recent piece for Tech Policy Press, Allen Lab Senior Fellow Alex Pascal and Nathan Sanders outline how US states are well-positioned to lead the development of Public AI. State governments can act as “laboratories of twenty-first century democracy” to experiment with AI applications that directly benefit citizens.

Descended from Immigrants and Revolutionists: “How Family History Shapes Immigration Policymaking”
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Occasional Paper

Descended from Immigrants and Revolutionists: “How Family History Shapes Immigration Policymaking”

In this study, Benjamin Schneer and co-authors examine the influence of family history on U.S. lawmakers’ views on immigration policy, finding that legislators with immigrant ancestry tend to support more permissive immigration laws and speak more positively about immigration. It examines personal background, including family history and identity, and how that plays a significant role in shaping policymaking.