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.
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Engaged Citizens
ARCHON FUNG
Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government studies public participation, deliberation, and transparency
HARVARD VOTES CHALLENGE
increases voter registration on campus
KHALIL MUHAMMAD
Professor of History, Race and Public Policy examines the intersections of race, democracy, inequality, and criminal justice in modern U.S. history
JANE MANSBRIDGE
Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values studies representation, democratic deliberation, and everyday activism
GETTING AND KEEPING DEMOCRACY
class taught by Tarek Masoud
Media and the Public Sphere
THE POLITICS OF THE PRESS
class taught by Nancy Gibbs
ARTHUR APPLBAUM
Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values studies political legitimacy and civil disobedience
DISSENT AND DISOBEDIENCE IN DEMOCRACIES
class taught by Arthur Applbaum
JULIA MINSON
Associate Professor of Public Policy studies how people engage with opinions, judgments, and decisions that are different from their own
MATTHEW BAUM
Marvin Kalb Professor of Global Communications examines the role of the mass media and public opinion in contemporary America
THOMAS PATTERSON
Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press studies the media and elections
DEMOCRACY, POLITICS, AND INSTITUTION
class taught by Thomas Patterson
JOAN DONOVAN
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy studies how social movements, political parties, governments, and corporations shape media narratives
MEDIA MANIPULATION AND DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS
class taught by Joan Donovan
CHRISTOPHER ROBICHAUD
Senior Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy studies the role of truth and knowledge in democracies
IGNORANCE, LIES, HOGWASH, AND HUMBUG: THE VALUE OF TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE IN DEMOCRACIES
class taught by Christopher Robichaud
Responsive Leaders
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
THE LEGISLATIVE NEGOTIATION PROJECT
teaches legislators to work together effectively across the aisle
PIPPA NORRIS
Paul F. McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics focuses on democracy, public opinion and elections, political communications, and gender politics
THE RISE OF AUTHORITARIAN POPULISM
class taught by Pippa Norris
ARTHUR BROOKS
Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership builds dialogue across the ideological spectrum
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP SKILLS: MANAGING SELF AND OTHERS
class taught by Arthur Brooks, Archon Fung, Timothy O’Brien, and Robert Wilkinson
High Quality Institutions
ALEX KEYSSAR
Matthew W. Stirling Jr. Professor of History and Social Policy studies the history of voting and elections
HISTORY OF THE U.S. FOR POLICYMAKERS, ACTIVISTS, AND CITIZENS
class taught by Alex Keyssar
BENJAMIN SCHNEER
Assistant Professor of Public Policy studies political representation in the United States
HOW DECISION MAKERS TRANSLATE PUBLIC OPINION INTO POLICY ACTION
class taught by Benjamin Schneer
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
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY
class taught by Tarek Masoud, Matthew Baum, Quinton Mayne, and Thomas Patterson
DEFENDING DIGITAL DEMOCRACY PROJECT
develops strategies and tools to protect democratic processes from cyber attacks
THE INITIATIVE ON DEMOCRACY IN HARD PLACES
studies the practices and behaviors that can strengthen democracy around the world
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