The paradox of Chinese politics May 28, 2021 What should we make of a political system that is often repressive and not accountable to its people in elections, and yet can also be responsive to public opinion? That is the paradox of China’s political system in the twenty-first century. Read More
Russia beyond Putin April 26, 2021 Weak Strongman aims to improve our great national debate about Russia by drawing on a host of fascinating new research that views Russia in comparative perspective. Read More
How discrimination haunts Western democracy February 16, 2021 As right-wing nationalism and authoritarian populism gain momentum across the world, liberals, and even some conservatives, worry that democratic principles are under threat. Read More
Our (Un)Civil War November 09, 2020 To say that our nation is politically divided between Democrats and Republicans could not be more of an understatement. How did we get to this point, and is there anything that ordinary citizens can do to reduce or manage the rift? Read More
Conservatism is always evolving November 02, 2020 For two hundred years, conservatism has defied its reputation as a backward-looking creed by confronting and adapting to liberal modernity. By doing so, the Right has won long periods of power and effectively become the dominant tradition in politics. Read More
The fight for the Right: Conservatives have always argued with each over who owns their tradition October 28, 2020 The political era through which Americans and Europeans are living is dominated at present by the right. But which right is that? Read More
Why are Blacks Democrats? October 15, 2020 Black Americans are by far the most unified racial group in American electoral politics, with 80 to 90 percent identifying as Democrats—a surprising figure given that nearly a third now also identify as ideologically conservative, up from less than 10 percent in the 1970s. Read More
COVID and experts: A microcosm of democracy today October 09, 2020 The COVID pandemic has spotlighted one of the most polarizing features of American democracy: the growing importance of experts in making policy decisions. Government decisions to lock down households and businesses, close schools and beaches, and require citizens to wear masks have been driven by expert advice. Read More
Books for understanding the US presidential election October 06, 2020 Need help riding out the November nail-biter? Delve into this list of books for understanding today’s politics as voters across the United States cast early ballots and prepare to head to polls. Read More
Do we have the government we need for the problem of the century? June 16, 2020 Orlando might be America’s tourist epicenter, and it’s working mightily to reopen. But it’s one thing to open the doors. It’s quite another to convince people to travel and walk through. Read More
Why protests matter in American democracy June 02, 2020 As protests continue nationwide in honor of George Floyd and to express outrage with systemic racism, it remains to be seen how the current civil unrest will shape democracy long term, and impact voting in the fall. Read More
Look to the past to see where our democracy is headed June 02, 2020 When we think about the history of democracy we need to first recognize one thing; the Greeks gave us the word demokratia, but they did not invent the practice. Read More
Political incompetence, revolutionary reactions, and present danger April 08, 2020 Are we headed for a new set of momentous revolutions like the iconic French and Russian ones of 1789 and 1917? What causes major revolutions? Can we learn something by looking at not just the French and Russian ones but the twentieth century events such as the Mexican revolution of 1910 or the Iranian one of 1979? Read More
Should an old man engage in politics? April 07, 2020 Around noon on March 5, 2020, Elizabeth Warren suspended her campaign for president of the United States, leaving Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders to run (essentially) a two-man race for the Democratic nomination. Read More
The short, sad, and expensive life of mayors on the presidential campaign trail March 06, 2020 Mike Bloomberg and Pete Buttigieg each made a big bet on the 2020 presidential campaign. The voters, each believed, thought they could step past partisan bickering to with a pledge to deliver programs that worked better. Who better to do that than a mayor with proven experience? Read More