Democracy’s Challenges: 100 Ideas
2026
HKS Authors
See citation below for complete author information.
Kissinger Professor of the Practice of Statecraft and World Order
Abstract
A vibrant democracy rests on a foundation of social cohesion—a shared sense of trust, belonging, and national purpose. To restore that foundation in the United States, we should create a program of universal national service for all young Americans. One in which all high school graduates have an opportunity to participate—and all are strongly encouraged to do so.
Citation
Sullivan, Jake. "The Case for Universal National Service: Restitching America’s Social Fabric." Democracy’s Challenges: 100 Ideas. Ed. Bob Bauer, Samuel Issacharoff, Richard Pildes, and Rosa Po. New York: NYU Press, 2026, 34-36.