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June 6, 2025

💊 The power of social models for teaching democratic politics

Titus Alexander

Our models of higher education have polarising effects. Titus Alexander argues that we need to learn from Nordic models of adult education and recognise teaching as a form of scholarship to help citizens renew democracy

December 6, 2024

💊 Trump's re-election can help us make democracy work better

Titus Alexander

Trump may have scored a resounding win, but can he deliver the changes Americans voted for? Titus Alexander argues that the new political order challenges political science to help citizens make democracy work better.

October 30, 2024

💊 The power of a good example: social models offer the best future for political science

Titus Alexander

Academic political science is a cottage industry compared with tendentious large-scale social experiments conducted by big businesses, governments and election strategists. Titus Alexander argues that political scientists need to recognise the power of institutions as social models and real-time experiments to help people solve problems and meet their needs better.

July 23, 2024

💊 Opportunities and potential pitfalls of AI-supported democracy

Henrik Skaug Sætra

Democracy is facing serious challenges. Some are contemplating whether artificial intelligence (AI) could help revitalise it. AI is, after all, heralded as the solution to a broad range of social and political challenges. Henrik Skaug Sætra argues that AI does indeed offer some hope, but also serious potential pitfalls

May 15, 2023

💊 Local government in the US: lessons for a decentralising UK

Joanie Willett

Local elections have just taken place in the UK. Yet despite decades of devolution deals, and various iterations of 'Levelling Up', UK local government remains economically unequal and centralised. The US, by contrast is highly decentralised. Joanie Willett says we can learn from the US about the importance of capacity building, a vibrant civil society, and encouraging people to feel invested in their towns’ future

May 4, 2023

💊 Neighbourhood democracy – why we urgently need new models

Mark McKergow

Conventional democracy does not serve the community or neighbourhood level well. We must find alternative ways to facilitate inclusive action, support those seeking to make a difference (often with tiny resources), and build co-operation. Mark McKergow and Jenny Clarke set out key features of neighbourhood democracy, and suggest relevant practices as inspiration

April 14, 2023

💊 Nonviolent resistance can facilitate a transition from autocracy to democracy

Justin Kempf

Many political scientists have analysed democratic backsliding. Justin Kempf shows how some are helping activists refine their strategies and tactics to challenge autocrats and the basis of their rule. This provides an example of how political science can do much more than just conducting analysis and providing simple diagnoses

April 13, 2023

💊 How institutional imagination can animate high-energy democracy

Mary Murphy

Mary Murphy argues that the recovery of democracy is contingent upon enabling participation and recovering trust though a high-energy democracy. We need political and institutional imagination to develop political institutions capable of addressing ecosocial challenges – including sustainability and equality

April 3, 2023

💊 A case for democracy’s digital playground

Petr Špecián

Petr Špecián argues that democracy would benefit from experimenting with alternative institutional designs in simulated digital worlds. By providing a ‘playground’ with well-calibrated stakes, such an approach could accelerate innovation and help navigate democracy through the challenges of the 21st century

March 28, 2023

💊 Misinformation, democracy, and the peace journalism solution

Steven Youngblood

Mis- and disinformation are an existential threat to democracy. Steven Youngblood shows how the principles of peace journalism can combat its corrosive effects

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💊 The power of social models for teaching democratic politics

💊 Trump's re-election can help us make democracy work better

💊 The power of a good example: social models offer the best future for political science

💊 Opportunities and potential pitfalls of AI-supported democracy

💊 Local government in the US: lessons for a decentralising UK

💊 Neighbourhood democracy – why we urgently need new models

💊 Nonviolent resistance can facilitate a transition from autocracy to democracy

💊 How institutional imagination can animate high-energy democracy

💊 A case for democracy’s digital playground

💊 Misinformation, democracy, and the peace journalism solution

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