Can AI make democracy fairer?
Democracy in ancient Athens looked quite different from democracies today. Instead of elections, most offices—including those in the legislature, governing councils, and magistrates—were filled by citizen volunteers, selected by random lottery. T.....»»
Americans remain hopeful about democracy despite fears of its demise—and are acting on that hope
President Joe Biden will convene world leaders beginning on March 29, 2023, to discuss the state of democracies around the world......»»
Report: The world is becoming increasingly authoritarian, but there is hope
For the first time in two decades, there are more closed autocracies than liberal democracies in the world, but the future is not entirely bleak. This is shown in this year's democracy report from the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem Institute.....»»
Report shines light on what US midterm election results could mean for future of American politics
What the United States midterm election results revealed about the current state of democracy in the country —and the challenges that might lie ahead for both major parties—is examined in a new report led by a politics expert from London's Kingst.....»»
Rationing: A fairer way to fight climate change?
World War II-style rationing could be an effective way to reduce carbon emissions, according to new research from the University of Leeds......»»
Is social media good or bad for social unity?
We tend to talk about social media in sweeping terms: It's either the death knell for democracy or its savior. It's a tool to fight authoritarianism or a weapon to spread strategic misinformation. It polarizes us or pulls us together......»»
Comparing airfares instead of seat size fairer indicator of passenger carbon emissions, says study
Allocating passenger aircraft emissions using airfares rather than travel class would give a more accurate idea of individual contributions, finds a study led by UCL......»»
Can online civic education strengthen democratic values?
A study published in the American Journal of Political Science shows that civic education interventions can work to increase support for democracy, and doing so in the social media context can reach many more people, with potentially much greater ove.....»»
Midterm elections show a silver lining for US democracy: Survey
According to the most recent Bright Line Watch survey, titled "Rebound in Confidence: American Democracy and the 2022 Midterm Elections," which was fielded right after the 2022 November elections, more voters in the United States now trust the integr.....»»
When American democracy is weakened, faith in the U.S. as an ally falters
A new study finds that foreign interference in an American election can reduce faith abroad in the United States as an effective and trustworthy ally, suggesting that Russia's meddling in the 2016 election had some international ramifications......»»
Why aren"t children allowed to vote? An expert debunks the arguments against
Most people think democracy is something that adults do and regard the prospect of children voting as too silly to even contemplate. In the early 20th century, many democracies began (ostensibly) operating with universal suffrage, ensuring voting rig.....»»
Rosin powder can help maintain more constant friction when pitching a baseball
In baseball, even the smallest detail can tip the scales in favor of the batter or the pitcher. A recent publication has highlighted how rosin powder helps maintain a more constant friction when pitching, something that could bring about a fairer pla.....»»
How Silicon Valley looks at the Taiwan miracle (7): Businesses have no faith in the government"s energy policy
Larry Diamond, the co-moderator of a symposium that I took part in at Stanford University's Hoover Research Center, is known for his research on democracy in emerging countries. Once dubbed "Mr Democracy" by Time, Diamond criticized Taiwan for making.....»»
Democracy after COVID-19: Pandemic fatigue fueled political mistrust and conspiracy beliefs
Many of us found it hard to keep up with official restrictions as the COVID-19 pandemic dragged on. We experienced pandemic fatigue. And this fatigue led to widespread political discontent in Western democracies, according to a new study from Aarhus.....»»
Study: Germans more satisfied with democracy as a form of government
Public satisfaction with democracy in Germany has risen over the past two years, while in some cases extreme right-wing attitudes have declined significantly. At the same time, hatred of migrants, women, Muslims and other groups in Germany has increa.....»»
Is the global decline in democracy linked to social media? We combed through the evidence to find out
Here are two common ways of thinking about democracy in the online era. First, the internet is a liberation technology and will usher in an era of global democracy. Second, you can have social media or democracy, but not both......»»
"On the brink of a new civil war": Survey highlights fragility of American democracy, stark partisan divides
A new nationally representative survey released by the University of Notre Dame's Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy reveals areas of grave concern for the state of American democracy, including more than half of Republicans and one-th.....»»
Making Friends with Political Opponents Doesn"t Improve Support for Democracy
Befriending someone in the opposite party does not lessen anti-democratic attitudes, a study finds.....»»
Democracy spreads in waves—but shared cultural history might matter more than geography
Recent events like the war in Ukraine, conflicts over Taiwan and the rise of authoritarian ideology have renewed interest in the foundations of modern democracy......»»
Interventions that reduce partisan vitriol don’t help democracy
Thinking better of your partisan opponents doesn't mean you want them voting. Enlarge / The risk of violence has become a backdrop for protests and polls in the US. (credit: Nathan Howard / Getty Images) It's no secret t.....»»
Partisans willing to upend democracy to help their party win even when polarization is diminished
There has long been an assumption that a connection exists between affective polarization (i.e., partisan dislike of those in the other party) and anti-democratic attitudes. For that reason, policymakers and practitioners have focused on depolarizati.....»»