Efforts to make democracy count are underway across Harvard Kennedy School. Many faculty members and programs focus on increasing citizen participation, strengthening democratic institutions, training leaders to be more responsive to their citizens, and improving transparency and accuracy in the media and the public sphere.

A button for the 'Harvard Votes' campaign sitting on a stack of 'I Will Vote' posters.

Engaged Citizens

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ARCHON FUNG

Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government studies public participation, deliberation, and transparency

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HARVARD VOTES CHALLENGE

increases voter registration on campus

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KHALIL MUHAMMAD

Professor of History, Race and Public Policy examines the intersections of race, democracy, inequality, and criminal justice in modern U.S. history

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JANE MANSBRIDGE

Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values studies representation, democratic deliberation, and everyday activism

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GETTING AND KEEPING DEMOCRACY

class taught by Tarek Masoud

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Media and the Public Sphere

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THE POLITICS OF THE PRESS

class taught by Nancy Gibbs

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ARTHUR APPLBAUM

Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values studies political legitimacy and civil disobedience

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DISSENT AND DISOBEDIENCE IN DEMOCRACIES

class taught by Arthur Applbaum

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JULIA MINSON

Associate Professor of Public Policy studies how people engage with opinions, judgments, and decisions that are different from their own

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MATTHEW BAUM

Marvin Kalb Professor of Global Communications examines the role of the mass media and public opinion in contemporary America

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THOMAS PATTERSON

Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press studies the media and elections

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DEMOCRACY, POLITICS, AND INSTITUTION

class taught by Thomas Patterson

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JOAN DONOVAN

Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy studies how social movements, political parties, governments, and corporations shape media narratives

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MEDIA MANIPULATION AND DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS

class taught by Joan Donovan

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CHRISTOPHER ROBICHAUD

Senior Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy studies the role of truth and knowledge in democracies

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IGNORANCE, LIES, HOGWASH, AND HUMBUG: THE VALUE OF TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE IN DEMOCRACIES

class taught by Christopher Robichaud

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Responsive Leaders

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THE BLOOMBERG HARVARD CITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

trains mayors and senior city leaders from across the country and around the world to be more responsive to citizens’ needs

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THE LEGISLATIVE NEGOTIATION PROJECT

teaches legislators to work together effectively across the aisle

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PIPPA NORRIS

Paul F. McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics focuses on democracy, public opinion and elections, political communications, and gender politics

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THE RISE OF AUTHORITARIAN POPULISM

class taught by Pippa Norris

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ARTHUR BROOKS

Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership builds dialogue across the ideological spectrum

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DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP SKILLS: MANAGING SELF AND OTHERS

class taught by Arthur Brooks, Archon Fung, Timothy O’Brien, and Robert Wilkinson

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High Quality Institutions

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ALEX KEYSSAR

Matthew W. Stirling Jr. Professor of History and Social Policy studies the history of voting and elections

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HISTORY OF THE U.S. FOR POLICYMAKERS, ACTIVISTS, AND CITIZENS

class taught by Alex Keyssar

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BENJAMIN SCHNEER

Assistant Professor of Public Policy studies political representation in the United States

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HOW DECISION MAKERS TRANSLATE PUBLIC OPINION INTO POLICY ACTION

class taught by Benjamin Schneer

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TAREK MASOUD

Professor of Public Policy and Sultan of Oman Professor of International Relations focuses on political development in Arabic-speaking and Muslim-majority countries

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POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY

class taught by Tarek Masoud, Matthew Baum, Quinton Mayne, and Thomas Patterson

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DEFENDING DIGITAL DEMOCRACY PROJECT

develops strategies and tools to protect democratic processes from cyber attacks

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THE INITIATIVE ON DEMOCRACY IN HARD PLACES

studies the practices and behaviors that can strengthen democracy around the world