By Justin Kempf Are You Even on the Ballot? In 1994 the Libertarian Secretary of State Candidate, Steve Dillon, won 2.17% of the vote. It was a watershed moment for the Libertarian Party in Indiana. Most states make it difficult for minor political parties to even appear on a ballot in an election. Indiana's laws... Continue Reading →
By Justin Kempf Did Voters Just Save American Democracy? Already many on the left have applauded the outcomes of the American Midterm elections because the most catastrophic outcomes did not come to fruition. Many races still remain undetermined so the final repercussions remain unknown. However, it appears the Republicans will have a slight majority in... Continue Reading →
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 →
Emilee Booth Chapman is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford University. Her most recent book is Election Day: How We Vote and What It Means for Democracy. Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. There is this idea on the one hand of this mass collective participation, but on... Continue Reading →
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 →
by Afolabi Adekaiyaoja The Upcoming Election in Nigeria Voters in Nigeria are not much different from voters in any other country. Most voters select between two distinct strategies. The first prioritizes candidate electability. This approach veers toward established politicians such as a former vice-president or well-known national politician with years of experience. This voter wants their... Continue Reading →
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 →
By María Isabel Puerta Riera Biden In a Crossfire The Biden administration has been under fire since reports in early March suggested a change in the direction of the foreign policy toward Venezuela, including exploring the possibility of sanctions relief if the Nicolás Maduro regime agreed to certain conditions. The breakthrough came amid the global response to... Continue Reading →
The Authoritarian Appeal in Backsliding Democracies By Dean Schafer Authoritarian Appeal Why do some authoritarian leaders appear to inspire genuine popular support? In the past decade, authoritarian strongmen have won elections in countries as different as Brazil, Hungary, the Philippines, Turkey, and the United States. Electoral autocracies—countries where elections happen, but serious concerns exist about... Continue Reading →
Brazil is on Edge: The Two Most Important Civil Society Groups in the Brazilian Presidential Election by Dr Valesca Lima What Happened in the Brazilian Election The world's eyes are on Brazil now, as South America's largest democracy went into a polarized general election on October 1. After an election campaign marked by strong speeches and... Continue Reading →
