Organizations and Democratic Practice

Overview
Themes

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ORGANIZATIONS AND DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE

Successful democracies depend not only on governmental units, but also nongovernmental organizations and practices that enable citizens to organize, that allow political opposition to form and challenge incumbent governments, and that foster innovation and societal well-being. Modern authoritarian systems commonly have official elections, but these elections can occur in worlds in which electoral opposition is suppressed, the media is censored, and dissidents punished. An important component of the theme of organizations and democratic practice will be to support work that relates directly to the health of elections, including on election administration, the media, and free speech. Additionally, this theme will encompass organizations that provide alternatives to the state for information and innovation, such as universities, philanthropic organizations, and corporations, in terms of understanding their functioning within the context of a democratic society.

Key questions include:

In what ways have freedoms of speech, expression, and assembly and other individual liberties been curtailed or expanded across US history? How has individual autonomy and freedom to make social, political, and economic choices evolved, and how have these influences impacted public trust and the efficacy of American institutions?
What are the most effective policies and practices for ensuring integrity of and participation in American elections and other forms of democratic self-governance?
How have developments in the media shaped public discourse and the political system? What are the sources of the decline in trust in media sources? How might different types of media organizations rebuild this trust?
How has political polarization shaped corporate and economic governance?
What role do universities have in creating and sustaining a healthy democracy? What are a set of best practices for universities in promoting an informed citizenry that understands the values of democratic institutions?