Podcasts about democratic governance

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, John Maytham is in conversation with political veteran Tony Leon. As the Government of National Unity (GNU) nears its one-year mark, John and Tony take stock of its performance — asking whether this bold political experiment has truly fostered collaboration or simply replaced strong parliamentary opposition with internal discord. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pantheon Founder Zack Rosen joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about founding Pantheon, a web ops platform, working with California YIMBY to work on the housing crisis and his current role at Abundance Network which he sees as a new source of ideas for the Democratic party.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with Jay Ulfelder, a political scientist and former Program Director of the Nonviolent Action Lab at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. The two discuss Jay's decision to resign from Harvard Kennedy School after the school adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which would cause Jay to, as he wrote in his resignation letter, "risk running afoul of the university's anti-discrimination policies and harming the work of the Lab and the Ash Center" if he were to continue to speak publicly about Israel, Gaza, and Zionism. (You can read the full resignation letter below.) Additionally, the two discuss modeling practices for predicting genocide and political violence as well as the relationship between suppression of dissent and growing authoritarianism. For more resources, please see:

Ten years ago, political scientists Martin Gilens of Princeton and Benjamin Page of Northwestern took an extraordinary data set compiled by Gilens and a small army of researchers and set out to determine whether America could still credibly call itself a democracy. They used case studies 1,800 policy proposals over 30 years, tracking how they made their way through the political system and whose interests were served by outcomes. For small D democrats, the results were devastating. Political outcomes overwhelmingly favored very wealthy people, corporations, and business groups. The influence of ordinary citizens, meanwhile, was at a “non-significant, near-zero level.” America, they concluded, was not a democracy at all, but a functional oligarchy.  Fast forward to 2024 and a presidential campaign that saw record support by billionaires for both candidates, but most conspicuously for Republican candidate Donald Trump from Tesla and Starlink owner Elon Musk, the world's richest man. That prompted outgoing President Joe Biden, in his farewell address, to warn Americans about impending oligarchy—something Gilens and Page said was already a fait accompli ten years before. And as if on cue, the new president put billionaire tech bro supporters like Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg front and center at his inauguration and has given Musk previously unimaginable power to dismantle and reshape the federal government through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. So what does it mean that American oligarchy is now so brazenly out in the open?  Joining host Ralph Ranalli are Harvard Kennedy School Professor Archon Fung and Harvard Law School Professor Larry Lessig, who say it could an inflection point that will force Americans to finally confront the country's trend toward rule by the wealthy, but that it's by no means certain that that direction can be changed anytime soon. Archon Fung is a democratic theorist and faculty director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at HKS. Larry Lessig is the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School and a 2016 presidential candidate whose central campaign theme was ridding politics of the corrupting influence of money. Archon Fung's Policy Recommendations:Involve the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in monitoring executive orders and changes to the federal government being made by President Trump, Elon Musk, and other Trump proxies.Demand transparency from Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency about their actions in federal agencies, what changes and modifications they are making to systems, and an accounting of what information they have access to.Lawrence Lessig's Policy Recommendations:Build support for a test court case to overturn the legality of Super PACs, which are allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates.Experiment with alternative campaign funding mechanisms, such as a voucher program that would give individuals public money that they could pledge to political candidates.Urge Democratic Party leaders to lead by example and outlaw Super PAC participation in Democratic primaries.Episode Notes:Archon Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government and director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Kennedy School. at the Harvard Kennedy School. His research explores policies, practices, and institutional designs that deepen the quality of democratic governance. He focuses upon public participation, deliberation, and transparency. His books include “Full Disclosure: The Perils and Promise of Transparency” (Cambridge University Press, with Mary Graham and David Weil) and “Empowered Participation: Reinventing Urban Democracy” (Princeton University Press). He has authored five books, four edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in professional journals. He holds two S.B.s — in philosophy and physics — and a Ph.D. in political science from MIT.Lawrence Lessig is the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School. Prior to returning to Harvard, he taught at Stanford Law School, where he founded the Center for Internet and Society, and at the University of Chicago. He clerked for Judge Richard Posner on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Antonin Scalia on the United States Supreme Court. Lessig is the founder of Equal Citizens and a founding board member of Creative Commons, and serves on the Scientific Board of AXA Research Fund. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, he was once cited by The New Yorker as “the most important thinker on intellectual property in the Internet era,” Lessig has turned his focus from law and technology to institutional corruption and the corrupting influence of money on democracy, which led to his entering the 2016 Democratic primary for president. He has written 11 books, including “They Don't Represent Us: Reclaiming Our Democracy” in 2019. He holds a BA in economics and a BS in management from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in philosophy from Cambridge University, and a JD from Yale.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Communications and Public Affairs is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an BA in political science from UCLA and a master's in journalism from Columbia University.Scheduling and logistical support for PolicyCast is provided by Lillian Wainaina.Design and graphics support is provided by Laura King and the OCPA Design Team. Web design and social media promotion support is provided by Catherine Santrock and Natalie Montaner of the OCPA Digital Team. Editorial support is provided by Nora Delaney and Robert O'Neill of the OCPA Editorial Team.  

As President-elect Trump returns to the White House, the stakes for U.S.-Taiwan relations are at an all-time high. Wenchi Yu, a renowned global affairs advisor and expert in cross-border strategy, offers her perspective on navigating the intricate dynamics among the U.S., Taiwan, and China during these volatile times. What can we expect from Donald Trump's second term? - The mood in Washington, D.C., as Trump returns to power [09:17] - How Trump's second term may differ from his first [11:39] - Will Trump's approach to China shift this time around? [13:28] - What Taiwan can anticipate under Trump 2.0 [19:05] - Is Taiwan's “Silicon Shield” losing its strength? [23:40] Host: Kwangyin Liu, Managing Editor of CommonWealth Magazine Guest: Wenchi Yu, Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation Producers: Yayuan Chang, Weiru Wang ＊Read more about how Taiwan can navigate Trump's second term: https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=3812 ＊Share your thoughts: bill@cw.com.tw Powered by Firstory Hosting

As part of the D.C. Bar International Law Community's historic year of elections* initiative focusing on global principles and standards for national elections, Brief Encounters hosted Thomas Garrett and Tova Wang, global democracy experts to discuss how this historic year of elections is now transitioning into a historic year of governance in the United States and around the world.We considered trends in voter access, assessed the benefits and risks of decentralized election laws and governance, noted the potential dangers of lengthy count times, emphasized good comparative practices, and stressed the role of law and lawyers in bolstering trust in democratic institutions and upholding democratic governance standards.For more, please visit the International Law Community's webpage of key resources on Global Elections and Electoral Standards here, including guidance for legal frameworks, equal access to voting, protections for election observers and electoral workers, electoral integrity and accountability, as well as links to organizations who work on elections and democratic governance promotion.*This year over half the globe's population has already or will be voting in over 80 national elections, for more information click here to view more. Making 2024 the biggest election year in history, and the largest election cycle until 2048. Speakers bios:Thomas Garrett is currently a Practitioner in Residence and Distinguished Global Democracy Lecturer in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy. He is the immediate former Secretary General of the Community of Democracies, a global intergovernmental coalition of Member States (including the US) coordinating efforts on the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. In 2024, the Government of Romania conferred the National Order of Merit–Grand Officer on Thomas for his work on behalf of human rights and democracy. Previously, Thomas was Vice President of Global Programs at the International Republican Institute (IRI), a nonpartisan organization supporting elections, civil society, and democratic governance around the world. An enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, he began his national career at the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs as the Director of Congressional and Legislative Affairs and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.Tova Wang is the Director of Research Projects in Democratic Practice, with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, at Harvard Kennedy School. Tova previously served as Director of Policy and Research at the Center for Secure and Modern Elections, where she worked on voter registration reform and led research on how to develop transformative strategies for increasing political participation among marginalized groups. She has over 20 years of experience working on improving democracy and has focused on issues related to greater political inclusion in the United States, including major studies on increasing voter participation rates among low income people, communities of color, naturalized immigrants, women and Native Americans. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, The Politics of Voter Suppression: Defending and Expanding Americans' Right to Vote. She has advised international organizations on voting rights, election reform, and constitutional reform in countries around the world. Her commentary on voting and participation has appeared in myriad media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Hill and Politico, and numerous national television and radio news shows. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations. Thank you to our sponsor!CASEpeer is a comprehensive practice management software for personal injury law firms, optimizing workflows and increasing productivity with robust and intuitive case management and business operations features.

This Cultivating Connections podcast episode features a rich conversation with George “Chip” Greenidge, Jr., a veteran in philanthropy, education and nonprofit leadership. He shares his insights on the importance of mentoring, his passion for higher education access and promoting racial justice. The discussion with host David Crowley begins with a reflection on their long-standing relationship, spanning over two decades, and the early days of George's career at the Boston Foundation. George shares his thoughts on the evolution of philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of personal engagement through site visits. He highlights how these interactions foster genuine connections and demonstrate a commitment to understanding the needs of communities, contrasting this with the more transactional nature of modern philanthropic practices. George also delves into his motivations for pursuing a career in nonprofit work. He attributes his passion to his upbringing in the Greater Boston area, where he had wonderful mentors and access to prestigious educational institutions like Harvard and MIT. These experiences not only provided him with exceptional role models but also inspired him to advocate for college access and mentorship for young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. He discusses his founding of Greatest Minds, an organization designed to connect youth with mentors at various stages of their lives, reinforcing the idea that inspiration can come from peers as well as established figures. The conversation also touches on George's current role at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University. He reflects on how this position allows him to engage with global scholars and contribute to discussions around civic participation and democratic values. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the significance of building relationships within philanthropy and the necessity of nurturing connections over time to cultivate trust and support. His insights into the changing landscape of philanthropy, coupled with his personal anecdotes, provide listeners with a profound understanding of the intersection between education, mentorship, and community engagement.  

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW, we discuss the state of democratic governance on the African continent and what US and African leaders can learn from recent trends.  Joining us are Charles Ukeje, Professor of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and Rawia Tawfik, Visiting Associate Professor with the Council on African Studies at Yale University's MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies.  We also highlight the first event in a series on Trendlines and Transformations in African Democratic Governance, which examines how citizen participation and civic engagement demands are shaping governance in different ways across the continent.

With climate action stalled by political gridlock, could citizens' assemblies be the bold democratic solution we need to break through barriers and finally make progress? When it comes to climate change, most of us want to see action but feel that we don't have power and politicians aren't listening. Deliberative democracy and citizen empowerment have been proposed as solutions to that widespread sense of disempowerment. In this episode, Kristen chats with Dimitry Courant, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, who explains what citizens assemblies are and how they have been used around the world to address climate change. He also shares insights about the best ways to design citizens assemblies so they work well and drive real change. We recommend Dimitri's writing on mini-publics and citizen's assemblies! Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!  

In this month's episode, host Antonio Tijerino sits down with Jonathan Jayes-Green (they/them), a trailblazing LGBTQ+ non-binary Afro-Latinx activist and advocate for justice. Jonathan shares their deeply personal journey of returning to Panama after nearly 20 years in the U.S., reflecting on the healing, reconnection, and self-discovery that accompanied this transformative experience. Jonathan also opens up about the challenges of navigating multiple intersecting identities—Black, Latinx, queer—and the societal pressures that come with them. They offer powerful insights into the realities of racism and classism, both in the U.S. and Latin America, and discuss the ongoing struggles faced by marginalized communities.Throughout the conversation, Jonathan highlights the importance of creativity, self-care, and the boldness required to push for meaningful change. Their story is one of resilience, identity, and the power of community—an inspiring reminder that our struggles are interconnected, and together, we can create a more just and inclusive world.ABOUT JONATHAN JAYES-GREEN: Jonathan is committed to the practical and innovative deployment of capital for the public good. Jonathan brings over a decade of nonprofit, philanthropy, and political experience in senior leadership roles. Jonathan earned a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. Jonathan is currently a Democracy Visting Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Previously, Jonathan served as a Gleitsman Fellow at the Harvard Center for Public Leadership and as a Rappaport Institute Public Finance Fellow at the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Administration and Finance.Jonathan serves on the boards of eBay Foundation, Funders of LGBTQ Issues, and Hispanics in Philanthropy. Jonathan's profile and contributions to social justice movements are featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.WATCH: Click here to watch this and other episodes on YouTube. FOLLOW: Follow us on Insta @FritangaPodcastCONNECT: For questions or guest recommendations, email us at Fritanga@HispanicHeritage.orgTEAM:Host: Antonio TijerinoExecutive Producer: Antonio Caro Senior Producer:  Connor Coleman Producer: Ambrose Davis  

The Gary L. McDowell Institute welcomes Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, to the Jepson Leadership Forum for her presentation "Justice by Means of Democracy.” The 2024-25 Jepson Leadership Forum invites scholars and experts to discuss how division and polarization affect American democracy. We will explore how and why divisions have manifested historically and currently in the United States, focusing on their impact on justice, education, politics, culture, technology, and class. Are division and the struggle to find common ground making us stronger or tearing us apart? Join us as we search for answers to this and other questions. This event was presented by the Jepson Leadership Forum, the Gary L. McDowell Institute, the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, and the School of Arts and Sciences. September 12, 2024

Part 1:We talk with Nitish Pahwa, associate writer for Business and technology at Slate.com.We discuss the latest ruling against Google, which declared that Google engaged in monopolistic practices.Part 2:We talk with Teva Wang, Senior Researcher in Democratic Practice at Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.We discuss grass roots efforts across the country to increase voting. This is happening in a climate of red states who are moving to restrict voting rights. We discuss different strategies that states have used to expand voting rights and opportunities.  WNHNFM.ORG   production

The attempted assassination of former President and candidate Donald Trump has catalyzed an important discussion about both actual violence and threats of violence against political candidates, office-holders, policymakers, election officials, and others whose efforts help make our democracy work. Harvard Kennedy School professors Erica Chenoweth and Archon Fung join host Ralph Ranalli to talk about political violence, what it is, what it isn't, why it has grown, and—most importantly—strategies for mitigating it to ensure the health of democratic governance in the United States and beyond. The motivations and political leanings of the 20-year-old Pennsylvania man who shot and wounded Trump with an AR-15-style assault rifle, Thomas Crooks, remain murky, making it difficult to make sense of why it happened. In one sense it was a continuation of an unfortunate 189-year-old tradition of assassinations and attempted assassinations of U.S. presidents. But for many scholars, researchers, and political analysts, it also appeared to be a culmination of a more recent uptick in the willingness of some people to use violence to achieve their political aims in today's highly polarized society.  Fung is director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at HKS and has talked to numerous local officials about their first-hand accounts of being on the receiving end of violent threats. Chenoweth is director of the Nonviolence Action Lab and is a longtime scholar of both political violence and nonviolent alternatives.Please also see: The Ash Center's webinar on Political Violence and the 2024 ElectionErica Chenoweth is the Academic Dean for Faculty Engagement and the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School. Chenoweth studies political violence and its alternatives. They have authored or edited nine other books and dozens of articles on mass movements, nonviolent resistance, terrorism, political violence, revolutions, and state repression, including the recent “Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know” (2021) and “On Revolutions” (2022). Along with Zoe Marks, Chenoweth is also the author of the forthcoming book “Bread and Roses: Women on the Frontlines of Revolution,” which explores how women's participation impacts mass movements. At Harvard, Chenoweth directs the Nonviolent Action Lab, an innovation hub that uses social science tools and evidence to support movement-led political transformation. Foreign Policy ranked Chenoweth among the Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2013. They hold a Ph.D. and an M.A. in political science from the University of Colorado and a B.A. in political science and German from the University of DaytonArchon Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government and director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Kennedy School. at the Harvard Kennedy School. His research explores policies, practices, and institutional designs that deepen the quality of democratic governance. He focuses upon public participation, deliberation, and transparency. His books include “Full Disclosure: The Perils and Promise of Transparency” (Cambridge University Press, with Mary Graham and David Weil) and “Empowered Participation: Reinventing Urban Democracy” (Princeton University Press). He has authored five books, four edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in professional journals. He holds two S.B.s — in philosophy and physics — and a Ph.D. in political science from MIT.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Communications and Public Affairs is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an AB in Political Science from UCLA and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University.Design and graphics support is provided by Lydia Rosenberg, Delane Meadows and the OCPA Design Team. Social media promotion and support is provided by Natalie Montaner and the OCPA Digital Team. Editorial support is provided by Robert O'Neill and Nora Delaney of the OCPA Editorial Team.

In 2014, Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Danielle Allen about her newly published book, OUR DECLARATION: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality. Featured on the front page of the New York Times, her book publisher writes in its description of the book: "Our Declaration is already regarded as a seminal work that reinterprets the promise of American democracy through our founding text. Combining a personal account of teaching the Declaration with a vivid evocation of the colonial world between 1774 and 1777, Allen, a political philosopher renowned for her work on justice and citizenship reveals our nation's founding text to be an animating force that not only changed the world more than two-hundred years ago, but also still can. Challenging conventional wisdom, she boldly makes the case that the Declaration is a document as much about political equality as about individual liberty."Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. She is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, Ivan Vejvoda hosts Kim Lane Scheppele, the Lawrence S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University. With a particular focus on the example of Hungary under Orbán, they explore the rise of populism, identity politics, and nationalism, and point out the threats these pose to democracy - especially when leaders exploit the legal frameworks of democratic institutions to entrench and extend their power. How can populism corrupt a democratic state into an autocracy?They comment on the European Union's struggles to address democratic backslides in Hungary and Poland, emphasizing the complexity and slowness of the EU's response. Scheppele reflects on Hungary's shift from a pro-European democratic atmosphere in the 1990s to its current autocratic state. They also discuss strategies for opposition and civil society, the role of economic policies in populist strategies, the importance of media control, and the implications of urban-rural political divides. Finally, they touch on the potential challenges in upcoming elections in France and the United States, stressing the need for vigilance and robust democratic engagement.Kim Lane Scheppele is the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University, focusing on the intersection of constitutional and international law, particularly in systems under stress. She has researched the development of constitutional law in Hungary and Russia post-1989 and the impact of anti-terrorism laws globally post-9/11. Scheppele has served as an expert advisor to the Hungarian Parliament's Constitutional Drafting Committee and co-directed the Gender and Culture Studies program at Central European University. She previously taught at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and has held visiting professorships at Humboldt University, Erasmus University, Yale, and Harvard. She directed Princeton's Program in Law and Public Affairs and has received the Kalven Prize from the Law and Society Association, with elections to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the International Academy of Comparative Law​.Find Kim on X @KimLaneLawSee her selected publications at princeton.edu  Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.You can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/

In the third episode of the Conference on the Political Economy of Artificial Intelligence, we hear from speakers Marc Aidinoff, Institute for Advanced Study; Andy Russell, SUNY Polytechnic Institute; Mar Hicks, University of Virginia; and moderator Susannah Glickman, Stony Brook University on the topic of alternative models of technological innovation in history. The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and inclusive, multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy and self-government. Visit the Ash Center online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter.Music is Wholesome by Kevin McLeod.

In the second episode from GETTING-Plurality's Conference on the Political Economy of AI, we hear from speakers Janet Haven, Amba Kak, and Julius Krein about unpacking the motivations behind AI innovations. The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and inclusive, multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy and self-government.Visit the Ash Center online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter.Music is Wholesome by Kevin McLeod.  The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and inclusive, multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy and self-government. Visit the Ash Center online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter.Music is Wholesome by Kevin McLeod.

Join us for the final podcast on panel four of GETTING-Plurality's conference on the Political Economy featuring speakers Secretary Jason Snyder, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Secretary Yvonne Hao, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Ami Fields-Meyer, Former White House; and moderator Alex Pascal, Harvard University. This episode covers the topic of AI in the public interest from federal and state perspectives.  The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and inclusive, multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy and self-government. Visit the Ash Center online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter.Music is Wholesome by Kevin McLeod.

I think we've seen democracies can be unstable. Autocracies are even more unstable.David MossMade in partnership with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationGet your copy of When Democracy Breaks or read it open access.Access Episodes Ad-Free on PatreonMake a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.Proudly sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Learn more at https://kellogg.nd.eduProudly sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Learn more at https://carnegieendowment.orgA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Archon Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also the Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.David Moss is the Paul Whiton Cherington Professor at Harvard Business School. He is also founder and president of the Tobin Project and the Case Method Institute for Education and Democracy.Arne Westad is the Elihu Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University.They are the editors of When Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, From Ancient Athens to the Present Day.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:20Thinking about Democratic Breakdown - 3:51What is Democracy - 19:26Democratic Recovery - 26:36Resilience and Fragility - 45:15Key LinksWhen Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, From Ancient Athens to the Present Day edited by Archon Fung, David Moss, and Odd Arne Westad"Introduction: When Democracy Breaks" by Archon Fung, David Moss, and Odd Arne WestadAsh Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationDemocracy Paradox PodcastWhen Democracy Breaks: Scott Mainwaring on ArgentinaWhen Democracy Breaks: 1930s Japan with Louise YoungMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast100 Books on DemocracySupport the Show.

In this first episode of GETTING-Plurality's Conference on the Political Economy of Artificial Intelligence, listeners can tune into the opening remarks given by Allen Lab Director Danielle Allen, as well as the Lightening Talks panel which includes speakers Yochai Benkler, Harvard University; Sharon Block, Harvard University; and Noman Bashir, MIT. The mission of the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is to develop ideas and foster practices for equal and inclusive, multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy and self-government. Visit the Ash Center online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter.Music is Wholesome by Kevin McLeod.

March 24th, 1976 is the coup and it unleashes wild celebrations in establishment Argentina and almost no opposition.... Of course, this unleashed the most ruthless dictatorship in Argentina's history and in recent South American history as well.Scott MainwaringMade in partnership with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationGet your copy of When Democracy Breaks or read it open access.Access Episodes Ad-Free on PatreonMake a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.Proudly sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Learn more at https://kellogg.nd.eduProudly sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Learn more at https://carnegieendowment.orgA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Scott Mainwaring is the Eugene and Helen Conley Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2010. His most recent book is Democracy in Hard Places (coedited with Tarek Masoud). In April 2019, PS: Political Science and Politics listed him as one of the 50 most cited political scientists in the world.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:20Democratization in 1973 - 3:41Democratic Erosion - 18:30Breakdown - 39:08Argentina Today - 43:18Key LinksWhen Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, From Ancient Athens to the Present Day edited by Archon Fung, David Moss, and Odd Arne Westad"Democratic Breakdown in Argentina, 1976" by Scott MainwaringAsh Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationDemocracy Paradox PodcastScott Mainwaring on Argentina and a Final Reflection on Democracy in Hard PlacesWhen Democracy Breaks: 1930s Japan with Louise YoungMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast100 Books on DemocracySupport the Show.

There's a fog of democratic breakdown where really you cannot see the actual impact of your choices or your actions until after the fact.Louise YoungMade in partnership with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationGet your copy of When Democracy Breaks or read it open access.Access Episodes Ad-Free on PatreonMake a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.Proudly sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Learn more at https://kellogg.nd.eduProudly sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Learn more at https://carnegieendowment.orgA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Louise Young is a professor of history at the University of Wisonsin-Madison. She is the author of the chapter “The Breakdown of Democracy in 1930s Japan.” It is part of the volume When Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, From Ancient Athens to the Present Day.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:20Democratization - 2:52What Made it Different - 11:41Democratic Breakdown - 20:14Resisting Democratic Erosion - 37:15Key LinksWhen Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, From Ancient Athens to the Present Day edited by Archon Fung, David Moss, and Odd Arne Westad"The Breakdown in Democracy in 1930s Japan" by Louise YoungAsh Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationDemocracy Paradox PodcastWhen Democracy Breaks: Ancient Athens with Josiah Ober and Federica CarugatiDan Slater on IndonesiaMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast100 Books on DemocracySupport the Show.

What strikes me about that period is that democracy was not inevitable.Federica CarugatiMade in partnership with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationGet your copy of When Democracy Breaks or read it open access.Access Episodes Ad-Free on PatreonMake a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.Proudly sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Learn more at https://kellogg.nd.eduProudly sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Learn more at https://carnegieendowment.orgA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Josiah Ober is a Professor of Political Science and Classics at Stanford University. Federica Carugati is a Lecturer in History and Political Economy at King's College London. They are the coauthors of the chapter “Democratic Collapse and Recovery in Ancient Athens (413-403 BCE)” in a new book called When Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, From Ancient Athens to the Present Day.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:20Democratization - 3:28Breakdown - 17:36Rebirth - 36:48Final Lessons - 47:51Key LinksWhen Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, From Ancient Athens to the Present Day edited by Archon Fung, David Moss, and Odd Arne Westad"Democratic Collapse and Recovery in Ancient Athens (413-403 BCE)" by Federica Carugati and Josiah OberAsh Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationDemocracy Paradox PodcastDoes Democracy Rely on a Civic Bargain? Josiah Ober Makes the CaseDavid Stasavage on Early Democracy and its DeclineMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast100 Books on DemocracySupport the Show.

I think that if you got rid of the Electoral College, in the short run, there would be losers. But it hasn't always been the same group and it hasn't always been the same party.Alexander KeyssarMade in partnership with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and InnovationMake a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.Proudly sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Learn more at https://kellogg.nd.eduProudly sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Learn more at https://carnegieendowment.orgA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Alexander Keyssar is the Matthew W. Stirling Jr. Professor of History and Social Policy at Harvard University and the author of the book Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:20Origin of the Electoral College - 3:05Proportional or District Electoral Votes - 17:37Race and Civil Rights - 27:02Why No Reform - 41:44Key LinksWhy Do We Still Have the Electoral College? by Alexander KeyssarWatch Electoral College Symposium: What's to be Done?Follow Alexander Keyssar on X @AlexKeyssarDemocracy Paradox PodcastHeather Cox Richardson on History, Conservatism, and the Awakening of American DemocracyDaniel Ziblatt on American Democracy, the Republican Party, and the Tyranny of the MinorityMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast100 Books on DemocracySupport the Show.

Danielle Allen is the author of Justice by Means of Democracy. She is also the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. We discuss power sharing liberalism as a new paradigm in the practice of democracy.   Whether it's through ballot measures to introduce ranked choice voting or open primaries, we are experiencing great innovation in democratic practice that make it more possible for us to bring our whole selves and to share political power within US democracy. Power sharing liberalism centers around the lived human experience, which needs foundations for flourishing. To that end, the economy should serve the ends of human flourishing. Allen envisions a “dynamic economy that supports people in their lives and to support people in their lives requires supporting their empowerment politically as well as supporting them materially.”    Follow Danielle on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/dsallentess    Follow Mila on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/milaatmos    Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Sponsor:  Thanks to Shopify for supporting Future Hindsight! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey!  http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard    Take the Democracy Group's Listener Survey! https://www.democracygroup.org/survey   Want to support the show and get it early?  https://patreon.com/futurehindsight    Check out the Future Hindsight website!  www.futurehindsight.com   Read the transcript here:   https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/power-sharing-liberalism-danielle-allen      Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Danielle Allan Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

To counter the "implicit feudalism" that is the norm on the Internet, activist-scholar Nathan Schneider explains the potential of democratic governance in online life and its importance to "real world" democracy. A professor of media studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, Schneider argues that "online spaces could be sites of creative, radical and democratic renaissance." But this will require progressive activists to heed the lessons of various social and decolonial movements throughout history, and to find the resolve to use the technologies in creative ways.More on the commons at Bollier.org.  

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: MATS AI Safety Strategy Curriculum, published by Ryan Kidd on March 8, 2024 on LessWrong. As part of the MATS Winter 2023-24 Program, scholars were invited to take part in a series of weekly discussion groups on AI safety strategy. Each strategy discussion focused on a specific crux we deemed relevant to prioritizing AI safety interventions and was accompanied by a reading list and suggested discussion questions. The discussion groups were faciliated by several MATS alumni and other AI safety community members and generally ran for 1-1.5 h. As assessed by our alumni reviewers, scholars in our Summer 2023 Program were much better at writing concrete plans for their research than they were at explaining their research's theory of change. We think it is generally important for researchers, even those early in their career, to critically evaluate the impact of their work, to: Choose high-impact research directions and career pathways; Conduct adequate risk analyses to mitigate unnecessary safety hazards and avoid research with a poor safety-capabilities advancement ratio; Discover blindspots and biases in their research strategy. We expect that the majority of improvements to the above areas occur through repeated practice, ideally with high-quality feedback from a mentor or research peers. However, we also think that engaging with some core literature and discussing with peers is beneficial. This is our attempt to create a list of core literature for AI safety strategy appropriate for the average MATS scholar, who should have completed the AISF Alignment Course. We are not confident that the reading lists and discussion questions below are the best possible version of this project, but we thought they were worth publishing anyways. MATS welcomes feedback and suggestions for improvement. Week 1: How will AGI arise? What is AGI? Karnofsky - Forecasting Transformative AI, Part 1: What Kind of AI? (13 min) Metaculus - When will the first general AI system be devised, tested, and publicly announced? (read Resolution Criteria) (5 min) How large will models need to be and when will they be that large? Alexander - Biological Anchors: The Trick that Might or Might Not Work (read Parts I-II) (27 min) Optional: Davidson - What a compute-centric framework says about AI takeoff speeds (20 min) Optional: Habryka et al. - AI Timelines (dialogue between Ajeya Cotra, Daniel Kokotajlo, and Ege Erdil) (61 min) Optional: Halperin, Chow, Mazlish - AGI and the EMH: markets are not expecting aligned or unaligned AI in the next 30 years (31 min) How far can current architectures scale? Patel - Will Scaling Work? (16 min) Epoch - AI Trends (5 min) Optional: Nostalgebraist - Chinchilla's Wild Implications (13 min) Optional: Porby - Why I think strong general AI is coming soon (40 min) What observations might make us update? Ngo - Clarifying and predicting AGI (5 min) Optional: Berglund et al. - Taken out of context: On measuring situational awareness in LLMs (33 min) Optional: Cremer, Whittlestone - Artificial Canaries: Early Warning Signs for Anticipatory and Democratic Governance of AI (34 min) Suggested discussion questions If you look at any of the outside view models linked in "Biological Anchors: The Trick that Might or Might Not Work" (e.g., Ajeya Cotra's and Tom Davidson's models), which of their quantitative estimates do you agree or disagree with? Do your disagreements make your timelines longer or shorter? Do you disagree with the models used to forecast AGI? That is, rather than disagree with their estimates of particular variables, do you disagree with any more fundamental assumptions of the model? How does that change your timelines, if at all? If you had to make a probabilistic model to forecast AGI, what quantitative variables would you use and what fundamental assumptions would ...

Established as an independent complaints mechanism in 1993, the Inspection Panel is tasked with bringing transparency and redress to those adversely affected by World Bank-funded initiatives. The Panel is widely recognized as an international pioneer in respect to holding a major multilateral organization to account on social and environmental issues. Over the past three decades, it has registered numerous “Requests for Inspection”, from communities potentially affected by World Bank-financed projects, and has focused on a range of issues, such as environmental assessment, resettlement and the rights of indigenous peoples. Just how effective has the Inspection Panel been in safeguarding the interests of marginalized groups while holding one of the world's most powerful institutions to account?Ramanie Kunanayagam is the Chairperson of the Inspection Panel. She has a distinguished track record in leadership roles within the realm of sustainability, having served in prominent capacities in the corporate world and on the boards of several non-profit organizations. LinkedinKey highlightsIntroduction – 00:24How does the Inspection operate? - 03:32Shrinking civic space and the Panel's accessibility - 10:44How the Bank acts upon the Panel's recommendations  - 16:53Typical complaints - 21:23The puzzling lack of consultation of local residents - 25:29The business and human rights linkages - 38:33Learning from past mistakes - 48:51 HostProfessor Dan Banik (@danbanik @GlobalDevPod)Apple Google Spotify YouTubeSubscribe: https://globaldevpod.substack.com/

In this week's episode of Politics In Question, Lee considers what American democracy will look like in the 21st century with Archon Fung. Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at Harvard Kennedy School and director of Harvard's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. His research explores policies, practices, and institutional designs that deepen the quality of democratic governance with a focus on public participation, deliberation, and transparency. He has authored five books, four edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in professional journals.What is the present state of American democracy? What impact will artificial intelligence have on it? Will the way in which people consume information exacerbate extremism and negativity in American politics? These are some of the questions Archon and Lee ask in this week's episode.

Harvard Kennedy School faculty member Jorrit de Jong and Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson say the big, intractable problems challenges facing city leaders today are too complex to be addressed by any one agency or government department. Complex challenges like the shortage of economic opportunity and affordable housing, homelessness, the effects of the climate crisis, crime—and can only be solved by multiple organizations working together. But that's easier said than done. Bringing together government agencies, nonprofits, private business, academia, and the public into successful collaborations can be a huge challenge. Different people bring different agendas and goals. They don't necessarily trust each other. Sometimes they can't even agree on what the problem actually is and they fail before even getting started. In a recent study, de Jong and Edmondson found that the most successful problem-solving collaborations have a number of things in common, including building a culture of safety and trust and being empowered to try, fail, and learn from mistakes. Sometimes, they say, the key can be just finding a place to start. Jorrit de Jong is the Emma Bloomberg Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Management at Harvard Kennedy School. He is director of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University. His research and teaching focus on the challenges of making the public sector more effective, efficient, equitable, and responsive to social needs. A specialist in experiential learning, Jorrit has taught strategic management and public problem-solving in degree and executive education programs at HKS and around the world. He is also Faculty Co-Chair of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a joint program of Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, the world's most comprehensive effort to advance effective problem-solving and innovation through executive education, research, curriculum development, and fieldwork in cities.He is also Academic Director of the Innovations in Government Program at the Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. In that capacity, he launched the Innovation Field Lab, an experiential learning, executive education, and action-oriented research project working with 15 cities in Massachusetts and New York to help them leverage data, community engagement and innovation to revitalize distressed and underinvested neighborhoods. He holds a PhD in Public Policy and Management from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, as well as a Master in Philosophy and a Master in Public Administration from Leiden University. He has written extensively, including the books “The State of Access: Success and Failure of Democracies to Create Equal Opportunities;” “Agents of Change: Strategy and Tactics for Social Innovation;” and “Dealing with Dysfunction: Innovative Problem Solving in the Public Sector.”Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society. Edmondson has been recognized by the biannual Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers since 2011, and most recently was ranked No. 1 in 2021. he also received that organization's Breakthrough Idea Award in 2019, and Talent Award in 2017.  She studies teaming, psychological safety, and organizational learning, and her articles have been published in numerous academic and management outlets. Her 2019 book, “The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth,” has been translated into 15 languages. Her prior books: “Teaming: How organizations learn, innovate and compete in the knowledge economy;” “Teaming to Innovate;” and “Extreme Teaming” explore teamwork in dynamic organizational environments. Edmondson's latest book, “Right Kind of Wrong,” builds on her prior work on psychological safety and teaming to provide a framework for thinking about, discussing, and practicing the science of failing well. Edmondson received her PhD in organizational behavior, AM in psychology, and AB in engineering and design from Harvard University.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Communications and Public Affairs is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an AB in Political Science from UCLA and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University.The co-producer of PolicyCast is Susan Hughes. Design and graphics support is provided by Lydia Rosenberg, Delane Meadows and the OCPA Design Team. Social media promotion and support is provided by Natalie Montaner and the OCPA Digital Team.  

Danielle Allen is a political scientist, professor, and director of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. Allen explains the Declaration of Independence's error about democracy, how she navigates a cluttered world of power, and the opportunities she sees to marry religious ideologies with civic identities. Guest Bio: Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. She is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy. She is also a seasoned nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, tech ethicist, distinguished author, and mom.  You can tune in to all episodes on our website, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday at 5 a.m. CST. 

There's a suggestion floating around that to ix our broken Congress, we actually need to make it bigger, MUCH bigger! Is adding more representatives to the lower chamber a pipe dream, or a perfect solution? Danielle Allen, Political Scientist and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, joins guest host Ian Hoch to discuss the possibility.  

Kennedy School Lecturer in Public Policy Bruce Schneier says Artificial Intelligence has the potential to transform the democratic process in ways that could be good, bad, and potentially mind-boggling. The important thing, he says, will be to use  regulation and other tools to make sure that AIs are working for us, and just not for Big Tech companies—a hard lesson we've already learned through our experience with social media. When ChatGPT and other generative AI tools were released to the public late last year, it was as if someone had opened the floodgates on a thousand urgent questions that just weeks before had mostly preoccupied academics, futurists, and science fiction writers. Now those questions are being asked by many of us—teachers, students, parents, politicians, bureaucrats, citizens, businesspeople, and workers. What can it do for us? What will it do to us? Will it take our jobs? How do we use it in a way that's both ethical and legal? And will it help or hurt our already-distressed democracy? Schneier, a public interest technologist, cryptographer, and internationally-known internet security specialist whose newsletter and blog are read by a quarter million people, says that AI's inexorable march into our lives and into our politics is likely to start with small changes, like AI helping write policy and legislation. The future, however, could hold possibilities that we have a hard time wrapping our current minds around—like AI entities creating political parties or autonomously fundraising and generating profits to back political candidates or causes. Overall, like a lot of other things. it's likely to be a mixed bag of the good and the bad.Bruce Schneier is a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, a faculty affiliate at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at HKS, a fellow at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. An internationally renowned security technologist, he has been called a "security guru" by the Economist and is the New York Times best-selling author of 14 books—including A Hacker's Mind—as well as hundreds of articles, essays, and academic papers. His influential newsletter “Crypto-Gram” and blog “Schneier on Security” are read by over 250,000 people. Schneier is a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and AccessNow, and an advisory board member of EPIC and VerifiedVoting.org. He is the Chief of Security Architecture at Inrupt, Inc.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Public Affairs and Communications is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an AB in Political Science from UCLA and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University.PolicyCast is co-produced by Susan Hughes. Design and graphics support is provided by Lydia Rosenberg, Delane Meadows and the OCPA Design Team. Social media promotion and support is provided by Natalie Montaner and the OCPA Digital Team.  

Guest: Ebrahim Fakir is an independent political researcher and commentator and a research associate at the Centre for African diplomacy and leadership (CADL) and he joins John to consider the need for South Africans to invest in civic capacity and public education if we are to nurture democracy back to health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Harvard Center for International Development's Road to GEM23 Climate & Development podcast. At CID, we work across a global network of researchers and practitioners to build, convene, and deploy talent to address the world's most pressing challenges. On our Road to GEM23, we strive to elevate and learn from voices from the countries on the frontlines of the climate crisis and will feature learnings from leading researchers and practitioners working to combat climate change. In this episode, we are joined by Alvin Tian, A Post-Masters Research Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. Alvin founded BlockCarbon, a blockchain-based project aimed at facilitating and accelerating China's efforts to achieve carbon net-zero. Alvin has been a Mason Fellow at Harvard and a Sloan Fellow at MIT, where he has also earned an MPA degree and an MBA degree. His fields of study at Harvard and MIT include climate change, international relations, impact investing, venture capital, renewable energy, and blockchain. Alvin is joined by CID Student Ambassador Charles Hua to discuss the pathway to carbon-zero

The history of American democracy has always been fraught when it comes to race. Yet no matter how elusive it may be, Harvard Kennedy School professors Khalil Gibran Muhammad and Archon Fung say true multiracial democracy not only remains a worthy goal, but achieving it is critically important to our collective future. From the earliest, formative days of the American political experiment, the creation of laws and political structures was often less about achieving some Platonic ideal of the perfect democratic system than it was about finding tenuous compromises between people and groups who had very different beliefs and agendas when it came to the status of people of other races. Those tensions have been baked into our system ever since, and the history of the movement toward a true multi-racial democracy in the United States has been marked with conflict, progress, reaction, and regression—from the 3/5's Compromise to the Civil War to Jim Crow to the Civil Rights movement and on up to threats to democracy in our present day. Fung is a leading scholar of citizenship and self-governance and the faculty director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Muhammad is a professor of history, race, and public policy and director of the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project. He is also the former director of the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the world's leading library and archive of global black history.  They say that in our increasingly diverse and interconnected country and world, the question isn't whether or not to strive for a multiracial democracy, but, if you don't fully reckon with how race has shaped our system of governance, can you really have democracy at all?Archon Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. His research explores policies, practices, and institutional designs that deepen the quality of democratic governance. He focuses upon public participation, deliberation, and transparency. He co-directs the Transparency Policy Project and leads democratic governance programs of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Kennedy School. His books include Full Disclosure: The Perils and Promise of Transparency and Empowered Participation: Reinventing Urban Democracy. He has authored five books, four edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in professional journals. He received two SBs — in philosophy and physics — and his PhD in political science from MIT.Khalil Gibran Muhammad is the Ford Foundation Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. He directs the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project and is the former Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a division of the New York Public Library and the world's leading library and archive of global black history. Before leading the Schomburg Center, he was an associate professor at Indiana University. His scholarship examines the broad intersections of racism, economic inequality, criminal justice and democracy in U.S. history. He is co-editor of “Constructing the Carceral State,” a special issue of the Journal of American History, and the award-winning author of The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America. He is currently co-directing a National Academy of Sciences study on reducing racial inequalities in the criminal justice system. A native of Chicago's South Side, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Economics in 1993, and earned his PhD in U.S. History from Rutgers University.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Public Affairs and Communications is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an BA in Political Science from UCLA and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University.The co-producer of PolicyCast is Susan Hughes. Design and graphics support is provided by Lydia Rosenberg, Delane Meadows and the OCPA Design Team. Social media promotion and support is provided by Natalie Montaner and the OCPA Digital Team. 

In his newest book “A Hacker's Mind: How the Rich and Powerful Bend Society's Rules, and How to Bend Them Back,” cybersecurity expert and HKS faculty affiliate Bruce Schneier asks readers to expand their simple definition of hacking beyond just computer and IT systems but to consider how nearly everything around us can be hacked — for better or worse. With chapters covering everything from airline frequent flier miles to elections and redistricting, Schneier pushes us to examine how people use and abuse system vulnerabilities to get ahead — and how by adopting a hacking mindset, we can find and fix these weaknesses.On March 6, 2023, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation hosted a book talk with Schneier. Ash Center Director Archon Fung moderated. About the Ash Center The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence and innovation in governance and public policy through research, education, and public discussion. By training the very best leaders, developing powerful new ideas, and disseminating innovative solutions and institutional reforms, the Center's goal is to meet the profound challenges facing the world's citizens.Visit the Ash Center online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter.Music is Wholesome by Kevin McLeod. 

The United States continues to grapple with creating an accurate, national picture of racial inequality in crime and justice. Criminal justice reform requires policies that interrogate and solve for the historical legacy of racial exclusion and structural inequalities.On Tuesday, February 28, the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project (IARA) at the Ash Center hosted a discussion with Bruce Western, Bryce Professor of Sociology and Social Justice and Director of the Justice Lab at Columbia University; and Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Ford Foundation Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and Director of the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project; co-chairs of the recent National Academies of Science publication on “Reducing Racial Inequity in Crime and Justice: Science, Practice, and Policy.”  Sandra Susan Smith, Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Professor of Criminal Justice and Faculty Director of the Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management, provided an introduction.Read the report: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26705/reducing-racial-inequality-in-crime-and-justice-science-practice-and About the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project IARA's research portfolio focuses on sector-specific interests and critical evaluation of antiracist structures and policies within private, nonprofit, public/government, and academic institutions. By documenting and understanding the field of “diversity” and antiracist training groups, as well as organizations that have sought to engage in antiracist change and the standards by which they have been held accountable, IARA seeks to develop critical measures for establishing antiracist institutional accountability.To learn more about the IARA Project, visit IARA.hks.harvard.edu.Curious how people and organizations are untying knots of systemic oppression and working towards a more equitable future? Tune into the IARA podcast, Untying Knots  hosted by Erica Licht and Nikhil Raghuveera: https://iara.hks.harvard.edu/work/untying-knots/ About the Ash Center The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence and innovation in governance and public policy through research, education, and public discussion. By training the very best leaders, developing powerful new ideas, and disseminating innovative solutions and institutional reforms, the Center's goal is to meet the profound challenges facing the world's citizens.Visit the Ash Center online, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter.Music is Wholesome by Kevin McLeod. 

China is no longer in the game of providing African countries with enormous loans to finance large-scale infrastructure projects. In fact, BRI financing last year for projects in Africa plunged more than 50% to just $7.5 billion.But that doesn't mean Chinese companies still aren't building big things in Africa.Stella Hong Zhang, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation joins Eric & Cobus to discuss her new research on the Port of Lekki in Nigeria and why this venture may hold some important clues about the future of Chinese development financing in Africa and around the world.JOIN THE DISCUSSION:Twitter: @ChinaGSProject| @stadenesque | @eric_olander | @stellahongzhangFacebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProjectFOLLOW CAP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC:Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChineعربي: www.akhbaralsin-africia.com | @AkhbarAlSinAfrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Health is not a luxury product. But why have our systems commodified health? How might we design health into our everyday lives? Joanne Cheung is an artist and designer. She formerly served as a Director of Systems Change at the global design firm IDEO. In her ongoing effort to amplify the public impact of research and policy through design, she spearheaded creative collaborations with institutions including the Icelandic Glaciological Society, Harvard Earth and Planetary Sciences Visualization Lab, Harvard Office of Sustainability, Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, and Dartmouth Life Sciences Center. She has been a Fellow at the Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and the American Association of University Women, an Artist-in-Residence at the Icelandic Association of Visual Artists, and a speaker at Duke Center on Law & Technology and the National Academy of Sciences, and her work has been featured in Wallpaper, Wired, Azure Magazine, Fast Company, and the New York Times. She lectures at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Episode mentions and links: https://joannekcheung.com https://medium.com/@jcheung IDEO: First Mile Health via Building H Upstreaming Health, a d.school class by Joanne Cheung, Stephen Downs, and Sara Singer Joanne would take you to a Thai Temple Backyard Brunch at: Wat Mongkolratanaram Follow Joanne: Twitter Episode Website: https://www.designlabpod.com/episodes/106

From cars and phones to satellite technology, semiconductors play a key role in many of our modern utilities and consumer goods. As such, semiconductors are China's main import item and an essential component of a lot of its exports. Since the US push to restrict this trade, China has been investing heavily on its semiconductor industry, to reduce their dependence on the rest of the world. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Giuseppe Porcaro is joined by Bruegel's Alicia García-Herrero and Jason Hsu, a Senior Research Fellow at The Ash Centre for Democratic Governance and Innovation Harvard Kennedy School, to discuss China's semiconductor policies, as well as its implications and lessons for Taiwan and the rest of the world.    This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics. ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe. Sign up now to receive it in your mailbox!

In this week's episode of Politics In Question, E.J. Dionne and Miles Rapoport join Lee to discuss their new book, 100% Voting: The Case for Universal Voting. Dionne writes about politics for The Washington Post. He is also a government professor at Georgetown University, a visiting professor at Harvard University, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution and a frequent commentator on politics for National Public Radio and MSNBC. Rapoport is Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to his appointment to the Ash Center, Rapoport was president of the independent grassroots organization Common Cause and headed the public policy center Demos.What would happen if everybody voted? How would democracy change? In some countries, voting is mandatory. Should the United States become one of those countries? These are some of the questions E.J., Miles, and Lee ask in this week's episode.

In 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting, E.J. Dionne and Miles Rapoport argue that all members of a democracy must participate in elections. Universal voting would be the surest way to protect against voter suppression and the active disenfranchisement of a large share of our citizens. And it would create a system true to the Declaration of Independence's aspirations by calling for a government based on the consent of all of the governed.The system works in Australia, but can it work in the United States? Would it become just another tool in partisan warfare? Can American democracy even handle something like universal voting? We explore those questions this week.Dionne is is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post, university professor at Georgetown University, and visiting professor at Harvard University.  He is the author of Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country.Rapoport is the Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. He formerly served in the Connecticut state legislature and as secretary of the state. He also served as president of Demos and of Common Cause.Additional Information100% Democracy: The Case for Universal VotingRelated EpisodesDanielle Allen on achieving democracy's idealsHow national parties are breaking state politicsE.J. Dionne on empathy and democracy - E.J.'s first appearance on the show in April 2019 

What would American democracy look like if everyone participated? We discuss 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting with co-authors Miles Rapoport, the Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, and E.J. Dionne, Jr. senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post, university professor at Georgetown University, and visiting professor at Harvard University. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/05-17-democracy-matters-episode-104.shtml

Does protest influence political representation? If so, which groups are most likely to benefit from collective action? The Advantage of Disadvantage: Costly Protest and Political Representation for Marginalized Groups (Cambridge UP, 2022) makes a provocative claim: protests are most effective for disadvantaged groups. According to author LaGina Gause, legislators are more responsive to protesters than non-protesters, and after protesting, racial and ethnic minorities, people with low incomes, and other low-resource groups are more likely than white and affluent protesters to gain representation. Gause also demonstrates that online protests are less effective than in-person protests. Drawing on literature from across the social sciences as well as formal theory, a survey of policymakers, quantitative data, and vivid examples of protests throughout U.S. history, The Advantage of Disadvantage provides invaluable insights for scholars and activists seeking to understand how groups gain representation through protesting. LaGina Gause is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego. Her research interests are at the intersection of U.S. political institutions and political behavior with a focus on racial and ethnic politics, inequality, protest, and representation. Before joining the department of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego as an assistant professor, she was a Democracy Postdoctoral Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. She tweets @LaGina_Gause. Host Ursula Hackett is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her Cambridge University Press book America's Voucher Politics: How Elites Learned to Hide the State won the 2021 Education Politics and Policy Best Book Award from the American Political Science Association. Her writing guide Brilliant Essays is published by Macmillan Study Skills. She tweets @UrsulaBHackett. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Does protest influence political representation? If so, which groups are most likely to benefit from collective action? The Advantage of Disadvantage: Costly Protest and Political Representation for Marginalized Groups (Cambridge UP, 2022) makes a provocative claim: protests are most effective for disadvantaged groups. According to author LaGina Gause, legislators are more responsive to protesters than non-protesters, and after protesting, racial and ethnic minorities, people with low incomes, and other low-resource groups are more likely than white and affluent protesters to gain representation. Gause also demonstrates that online protests are less effective than in-person protests. Drawing on literature from across the social sciences as well as formal theory, a survey of policymakers, quantitative data, and vivid examples of protests throughout U.S. history, The Advantage of Disadvantage provides invaluable insights for scholars and activists seeking to understand how groups gain representation through protesting. LaGina Gause is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego. Her research interests are at the intersection of U.S. political institutions and political behavior with a focus on racial and ethnic politics, inequality, protest, and representation. Before joining the department of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego as an assistant professor, she was a Democracy Postdoctoral Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. She tweets @LaGina_Gause. Host Ursula Hackett is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her Cambridge University Press book America's Voucher Politics: How Elites Learned to Hide the State won the 2021 Education Politics and Policy Best Book Award from the American Political Science Association. Her writing guide Brilliant Essays is published by Macmillan Study Skills. She tweets @UrsulaBHackett. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Voting has been a hot topic of discussion in election years, as have been the barriers many Americans face when trying to participate in elections. According to E.J. Dionne Jr. and Miles Rapoport, it is time for the United States to take a major leap forward and recognize voting as both a fundamental civil right and a solemn civic duty required of every eligible U.S. citizen. Americans are required to pay taxes, serve on juries, get their kids vaccinated, get driver's licenses, and sometimes go to war for their country. So why not ask—or require—every American to vote? In 100% Democracy, E.J. Dionne Jr. and Miles Rapoport argue that universal participation in our elections should be a cornerstone of our system. It would be the surest way to protect against voter suppression and the active disenfranchisement of a large share of our citizens. And it would create a system true to the Declaration of Independence's aspirations by calling for a government based on the consent of all of the governed. Join us as E.J. Dionne Jr. and Miles Rapoport discuss their 100% Democracy along with offering their insight on all things voting in the United States. SPEAKERS E.J. Dionne, Jr. Columnist, The Washington Post; Co-Author, 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting Miles Rapoport Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School; Co-Author, 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting In Conversation with Melissa Caen Political Analyst; Attorney In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently hosting all of our live programming via YouTube live stream. This program was recorded live in San Francisco on April 5th, 2022 at the Commonwealth Club of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And finally, Alex is joined by Tamila Karpyc, a former NATO liaison to Ukraine and all around International Security and Democratic Governance expert. Alex and Tamila talk about why its so hard for Ukrainians to not only get into Canada, but gain true refugee status. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have worked on voting issues for 35 years, for same-day registration and for opening up the process to younger people and preregistration, and, you know, nevertheless 35 years later we're still at 60 and 65%. 2020 was the highest turnout election ever and it was at 66%. So, I started to think what is it that could really, really move the needle and change the game.Miles RapoportA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com or a short review of 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting  here.Miles Rapoport is also the Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. He formerly served as secretary of the state of Connecticut.  He is the coauthor of the book 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting with E.J. Dionne.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsWhat is Civic Duty Voting?Why Should We Require Citizens to Vote?Is Voting a Right or a Duty?Australia's System of Civic Duty VotingHow Would it Change How Citizens Think About Themselves?Key Links100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting by Miles Rapoport and E.J. DionneLearn about Miles Rapoport at Harvard UniversityLift Every Voice: The Urgency of Universal Civic Duty Voting Democracy Paradox PodcastShari Davis Elevates Participatory BudgetingLee Drutman Makes the Case for Multiparty Democracy in AmericaMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/demparadox)

Primary elections in Maryland have been delayed until July 19. Last week, a judge in Anne Arundel County Circuit court rejected the lines for new Congressional districts drawn by Democrats in the MD General Assembly. This morning, Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson introduced a new map to a joint hearing of the Senate and House of Delegates. Judge Lynne Battaglia, whose ruling last week called the original map “an extreme partisan gerrymander,” has scheduled a hearing for Friday morning to consider the new district boundaries. There is an assumption that whenever the primaries are held, and in the general election in November, turnout will be light. The turnout in midterm elections tend to hover around 41%, less than in Presidential contests, and this year, the effects of new voting laws may also serve to suppress turnout. In response to Donald Trump's fabrications about his not losing the 2020 election, 19 states have passed laws that make it harder to cast a ballot. But what happens to the foundations of democracy when political leaders are elected by only a fraction of the citizens they serve? Tom's guest today is E.J. Dionne. He has co-authored a persuasive and compelling book that makes the argument for mandatory participation in elections. It's been the law for years in Australia and about two dozen other countries, and it's an idea that has garnered support from many people, including President Barack Obama. E.J. Dionne is a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post,a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a professor at Georgetown University and the author of several books. He's also been a wonderful friend of this show over the years. His co-author is Miles Rapaport, the Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. He's also a former secretary of state of Connecticut. Their book is called 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting.E.J. Dionne joins us on Zoom from Bethesda, Maryland. You are welcome to join us as well…call us at 410.662.8780. email: midday@wypr.org. Tweet us: @MiddayWYPR Co-authors E.J. Dionne and Miles Rapoport will be appearing at an event sponsored by the Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University this afternoon at 4:30pm, and again at an event at Greedy Reads in Remington tonight at 7:00pm. Click the "event" links for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.