21st CENTURY DEMOCRACY
Resources for understanding and strengthening democracy
In this websection, MIT's School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences draws on the expertise of our faculty and colleagues across the Institute to provide research-based insights and resources for strengthening democracy at home and around the world.
CONTENT AREAS
Research Stories
Informing policy and civic mores
Constitutional Law
Criminal Justice
Economics
Election Administration
Democracy around the World
Governance
Historical Context
Media + Civic Discourse
Politics and Policy
Social Justice
Technology
Voting
Commentaries
Research-informed commentary and analysis
Inside the Classroom + Student Voices
Media Digest
MIT SHASS faculty contributions to the national/international media
Civic Tools
Resources for civic engagement
Recent Features
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY
A Sampler of MIT Research on U.S. Democracy
A distilled selection of key research, news, and media commentaries from the past year on the state of U.S. democracy, from scholars in MIT's humanities and social science fields. What can leaders and We, the People do to sustain our democracy? Prepared for 6 January 2022.
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY
Charles Stewart III on elections in a hyper-partisan era
What can Americans do to protect our democracy? "The 2020 election showed the resilience of the fact-based part of the election administration system — election administrators, judges, and research institutions (including universities) — that have stood for the rule of law in the face of illiberal attacks on election administration. Opponents of fair elections recognize this and have attacked all parts of this fact-based bulwark."
DEMOCRACY | HUMAN RIGHTS
Rt. Hon. David Miliband SM ’90 receives the 2021 Robert A. Muh Alumni Award
His award lecture proposes an "accountability agenda" to restore respect for human rights, democratic norms, and the rights of civilians in combat zones.
MAKING A JUST SOCIETY
Advancing social justice through music and media
It Must Be Now! explores subject matter that includes institutional racism; environmental, economic, gender, and health injustices; police brutality; and abolitionism.
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY
What’s Next? Challenges Ahead for the Biden Administration
A series of essays by MIT SHASS scholars, including: Melissa Nobles, Taylor Fravel, Vipin Narang, Dick Samuels, Elizabeth Wood, Barry Posen, Richard Samuels, and John Tirman.
DEMOCRACY
The permanent struggle for liberty
Daron Acemoglu’s new book examines the battle between state and society, which occasionally produces liberal-democratic freedom.
DEMOCRACY
3Q with historian and Russia expert Elizabeth Wood
How do we understand Russia’s multi-layered interference in the 2016 Elections? MIT historian and Russia expert Elizabeth Wood analyzes Russia’s motives.
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY
3Q: In Song Kim’s LobbyView.org shines a bright light on Washington lobbying
LobbyView.org makes it simple to follow the path of money in politics.
CITIZENSHIP | IMPACT OF LANGUAGE
Applying philosophy for a better democracy
In a new philosophy class, MIT students explore how language affects censorship, dissent, lies, and propaganda.