By María Isabel Puerta Riera Misinformation Widens the Political Divide The 2016 presidential election introduced new elements into political campaigns through information technology. The Cambridge Analytica scandal was part of a broader scheme to influence the electorate, particularly among those more vulnerable to misinformation. Of course, the role foreign entities played is still largely under debate. Nonetheless, it... Continue Reading →
What Happens When the People Decide?
By Jenna Spinelle When the People Decide From my earliest days in journalism, I’ve always gravitated toward people who zig when everyone else zags, so to speak. The people who go against the grain and aren’t afraid to put forward a bold idea and bring people along for the ride. It’s difficult to find people... Continue Reading →
Democrats Missed an Opportunity
Sole Strategies Director says Democrats overlooked the most impactful ways to shape the Midterms By Amani Wells-Onyioha, Sole Strategies Director An Opportunity Lost? The past decade in America has been one of massive change, upheaval, and political division. Never before in recent history has our very democracy been so challenged. Many progressive voters have been... Continue Reading →
The Fascist Reaction
By María Isabel Puerta Riera What is Fascism Over the past decade we have become more accustomed to hearing the label fascist when describing political adversaries, especially in struggling democracies. Although the displacement of liberal democracies has been on the rise, according to the Varieties of Democracy project, the use of this particular term remains subject to... Continue Reading →
Why Presidential Transitions Matter
By David Marchick, Alexander Tippett, and Valerie Smith Boyd Presidential Transitions in American History Asked what kind of government the Constitutional Convention had created for the new United States, Benjamin Franklin replied, “A republic—if you can keep it.” Franklin’s prescience became evident when, 235 years later, President Trump refused to recognize the outcome of the... Continue Reading →
The Guardrails of a Fragile Democracy
By María Isabel Puerta Riera A Fragile Democracy As we approach the midterm elections, I find myself reflecting on what almost brought the American experiment to its knees just a few years ago. First off I strongly believe historical context matters. We are simply shortsighted unless we consider the long-term causes of democracy's fragility. The... Continue Reading →
Jeremi Suri on America’s Unfinished Fight for Democracy
Jeremi Suri is the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He cohosts the podcast This is Democracy with his son Zachary. His latest book is Civil War By Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy. Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy... Continue Reading →
Our Crisis of Democracy
Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. Our Crisis of Democracy When I went to school, I believed America was more or less always a democracy. The constitution guaranteed a representative form of government and guaranteed many civil liberties long before other nations. Along the way, the United States became an even... Continue Reading →
The Evolving Latino Voter
Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. The Evolving Latino Voter by María Isabel Puerta Riera María is a Political Scientist teaching U. S. Government in Florida. Interested in U. S. and Latin American Politics. The Evolving Latino Voter The 2020 Presidential election brought into the spotlight an unexpected power player: the Venezuelan... Continue Reading →
Lynn Vavreck on the 2020 Election and the Challenge to American Democracy
Lynn Vavreck is the Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics and Public Policy at UCLA. She’s a contributor for The Upshot at The New York Times. She recently coauthored (with John Sides and Chris Tausanovitch) The Bitter End: The 2020 Presidential Campaign and the Challenge to American Democracy. Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.... Continue Reading →