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

Lerna Ekmekcioglu at a lectern behind a MacBook wearing a black jacket and white shirt delivering a talk at an event

Centering feminism: Investigating marginalized women and potential empowerment

Lerna Ekmekcioglu, MIT’s McMillan-Stewart Associate Professor of History and the director of MIT’s Women’s and Gender Studies program, researches a more inclusive feminism. 

MIDTERM ELECTION 2022

Democracy in the balance?

detail,We the People

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. 

U.S. Flag with firework reflections

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."

Rt. Hon. David Miliband SM ’90

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.

portrait of Terri Lyne Carrington

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.

US Constitution image

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.

portrait of Daron Acemoglu

DEMOCRACY

The permanent struggle for liberty
   

Daron Acemoglu’s new book examines the battle between state and society, which occasionally produces liberal-democratic freedom.

Elizabeth Wood

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.

MIT Philosopher Justin Khoo

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.