Crisis is an anti-democratic leader’s best friend. Populists in particular will often use the pretext of crisis—an ongoing and imminent threat to culture, security, or stability—in order to win …
Looking beyond Laws: Lessons from Activists in Pawtucket by Micah Rosen @ Brown University
It is easy to think of democracy in terms of laws and policies. If everyone is allowed to participate in a democracy, then even if they do not, how could democracy be threatened? But as my experience …
Ratings don’t only Reflect Democracy, They Affect It by Micah Rosen @ Brown University
It’s hard to have an optimistic conversation about US politics. Recent surveys confirm widespread negativity among the American public. Results from Bright Line Watch (BLW) surveys demonstrate that …
When Corruption is not Enough: Legitimacy and the Case of South Africa. by Micah Rosen @ Brown University
In 1994, South Africa broke a wicked spell of white control, saying its last goodbye to a horrifically undemocratic apartheid political system. But champions of democracy must be careful to turn the …