Ash Center logo

Book  

Democracy Reinvented: Participatory Budgeting and Civic Innovation in America

Issues

Civic Engagement

Learn more about the book

Democracy Reinvented is the first comprehensive academic treatment of participatory budgeting in the United States, situating it within a broader trend of civic technology and innovation. This global phenomenon, which has been called “revolutionary civics in action” by the New York Times, started in Brazil in 1989 but came to America only in 2009.  Participatory budgeting empowers citizens to identify community needs, work with elected officials to craft budget proposals, and vote on how to spend public funds.

Brookings Institution Press, 2016 

More on this Issue

The Case for Building an AmeriCorps Alumni Leadership Network

Additional Resource

The Case for Building an AmeriCorps Alumni Leadership Network

In a new essay, The Case for Building an AmeriCorps Alumni Leadership Network, Allen Lab Policy Fellow Sonali Nijhawan argues that the 1.4 million Americans who have completed national service represent an underleveraged civic asset. Drawing on her experience as former Director of AmeriCorps, Nijhawan outlines a roadmap for transforming dispersed alumni into a connected leadership network capable of reinvigorating public service, rebuilding trust in government, and strengthening civic participation.

So, Is It Fascism?

Podcast

So, Is It Fascism?

Jonathan Rauch joins the podcast to discuss why he now believes “fascism” accurately describes Trump’s governing style.

Beyond MAGA: What Trump’s Coalition Really Looks Like

Podcast

Beyond MAGA: What Trump’s Coalition Really Looks Like

Drawing on new data from more than 10,000 Trump voters, this episode of Terms of Engagement unpacks the diverse constituencies behind the MAGA label.