Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation

We’re excited to announce the opening of two Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation fellowships! The Allen Lab seeks applicants who have engaged in research and/or policy work relevant to the Lab’s key themes. Click here to learn more and apply ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ePgzUkww

Happy Election Day from the Ash Center 🗳️🇺🇸 Our staff, faculty, and furry friends have been showing up to the polls with pride. For any last-minute voting and election-related questions, check out the Harvard Votes Challenge website to learn more! #HVC https://lnkd.in/eWH3vFui

Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center selects fellows in a highly competitive process that brings scholars, practitioners, and political leaders to the School for term appointments with a host of opportunities to pursue independent research projects, enhance their professional skills, and network with their peers. Apply for the Center’s fellowship openings: Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation fellowship, and Reimagining Democracy Visiting fellowship! Learn more here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eKwMgWDP

In a new case written by Ash Center's Jeeyang Rhee Baum and Gautam Nair, the faculty leads examine Brazil’s Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato in Portuguese), the largest public corruption investigation in history, which resulted in the indictment and conviction of approximately 359 business executives, government officials, and political leaders from the nation's ruling elite. The case invites students to confront the challenges democracy faces in combating deep-rooted corruption and to weigh the trade-offs of a large-scale anti-corruption effort. It also examines the broader economic, political, and societal impacts on a nation struggling to break free from the “middle-income trap” that often hinders the progress of developing countries. Learn more about the case here⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eEGXNKTY

In case you missed our conversation last week titled "Why AAPI Votes Matter: 2024 Election and Beyond," check out the recording of the discussion below to learn more about the patterns around the AAPI vote and why it's so important Watch the recording here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/gXUSZHKh

“Xi Jinping’s decision to extend his rule pushes leadership succession into a very uncertain and unpredictable future," declared Tony Saich as the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China nears. Read more from the event below ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eAZJRVzp

Surveys show that trust in one another and key institutions, such as government, media, and the courts, has reached historic lows in the U.S. At the same time, hyper-partisan polarization has escalated rapidly over the past 40 years, while participation in large-scale civic institutions and volunteering rates have declined. A host of new campus initiatives offer promising pathways for higher education to reassert its vital role in strengthening democracy by engaging students’ civic learning and supporting their development as civic actors. On October 18, you’re invited to join a webinar highlighting these innovative efforts, with moderator Danielle Allen and panelists John Bridgeland, Cecilia Muñoz, Rajiv Vinnakota, and Jenna Storey. Register for the event here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eYRJ48JM

NEXT WEEK: The Ash Center invites you to a discussion with representatives of the NBA, NFL Votes, the co-founder of Vet the Vote, and the Deputy Secretary of State of Georgia to discuss how these partnerships are succeeding at supporting voter participation and fair and secure elections. Speakers include Mannone Butler, Jordan Fuchs, Ellen Gustafson, Scott Pioli, and Tova Wang (Moderator). Register here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eQupGTY3

Excellent work by Hardy Merriman on HOPE (Harnessing Our Power To End Political Violence). You can download his simple and powerful nonviolent action guide for countering political violence in democracies at https://lnkd.in/eue7hkNn. Podcast and interview from Non Violent Action Lab below. https://lnkd.in/eFYfb94Z #resistance #resilience #education Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation

Election administrators are on the front line of ensuring our elections are safe and fair this November. There is no one for who this is truer than for the Secretaries of State in the “swing states.” The vote margins in these states are expected to be small, and some people are already questioning the election’s integrity. Many Americans are concerned about what will happen when voting begins and what is being done to prepare. The Ash Center invites you to a discussion on October 1st at 12 PM with heads of elections, including Jocelyn Benson, Karen Brinson Bell, PMP, CERA, Adrian Fontes, and Al Schmidt, to hear about what they’ve been doing to ensure the election process is smooth and can be trusted. Register here: https://lnkd.in/esgEmkNp