Noema Magazine’s Post

Forget it, or cultivate the past? Citizens remember events that both threatened and bolstered #democracy. They build narratives about those past events which feed their personal belief systems and shape their self-conception. But does historical memory also impact today’s politics? International IDEA’s expert Emily Bloom explains how historical memory is always in flux, and why it is a double-edged sword for #democracy. See her #DemocracyTracker blog ‘The past is the…present? How interpretations of the past are shaping democracy in Europe’.  ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3AteoM9

💡 I recently got the chance to explore the complex ways interpretations of history have impacts on democracy in the present-day in a blog post. ❌  Historical memory is susceptible to strategic manipulation. 👉 In Albania, it is not unusual for public officials to seek to discredit political opponents with accusations of personal or family ties to the former Communist dictatorship. 👉 At its ugliest, historical memory can be weaponised by governments, who attempt to reshape the collective representation of the past via a tightly controlled information environment.  ↔    Highly divergent views of a country’s history can contribute to tensions between different communities. 👉 In Bosnia and Herzegovina, secessionist calls from the Republika Srpska leadership intensified following a UN resolution commemorating the Srebrenica massacre. 🗃     At the same time, historical memory plays a critical role in ensuring access to justice for victims of past discrimination or rights abuses. 👉 Norway’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that the policy of forced assimilation of Sámi people and minorities resulted in losses of linguistic and cultural heritage of minority groups. Why should we pay attention to interpretations of history today? 👉 https://bit.ly/3AteoM9

#TheNewPress #Democracy #Unchained #How #to #Rebuild #Government #for #the #People #Essays2020 : "#The #New #Press #amplifies #progressive #voices for a #more inclusive, just, and equitable world. As a #nonprofit #public-#interest #publisher, we leverage books, diverse voices, and media engagement to facilitate social change, enrich public discourse, and defend democratic values." "#Democracy #Unchained is about making American democracy work to solve problems that have long impaired our system of governance. The book is the #collective #work #of #thirty of the most perceptive #writers, #practitioners, #scientists, #educators, and #journalists #writing #today, who are committed to moving the political conversation from the present anger and angst to the positive and constructive change necessary #to #achieve #the #full #promise #of #a #durable #democracy that works for everyone and protects our common future. #Including #essays by Yascha Mounk on #populism, Chisun Lee on #money #and #politics, Ras Baraka on #building #democracy from the ground up, and Bill McKibben on #climate, #Democracy #Unchained #is #the #articulation #of #faith #in #democracy and will be required reading for all who are working to make democracy a reality."

𝗔 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 Excerpts: "It was part of Madison’s genius, supported by Alexander Hamilton and the other founders, to have forged a species of popular rule that carefully modulated the passions of the masses in such a way that protected individual liberty in the face of the imperatives of democracy. Hence the Electoral College, which is a primary mechanism for preserving federalism. Hence, too, two senators to every state: why should Wyoming, say, be swamped by the ethos of California? Such expedients are not bugs but features of a dispensation whose aim is to preserve a canvas for individual liberty. You may have noticed that the loudest voices among Democrats chanting about 'our democracy' aren’t much interested in preserving individual liberty. They’re interested instead in the acquisition and retention of power, on the one hand, and the exercise of social control, on the other." "There is a sense, then, in which [Erwin] Chemerinsky and like-minded critics are right about the Constitution being 'antidemocratic.' It is antidemocratic in the sense that it is pro-republic. Which is to say that the Constitution is primarily about circumscribing the coercive power of the government. 𝗔𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝟱𝟭, '𝗜𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱; 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.' 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆." by Roger Kimball Source: https://lnkd.in/dqzk-68Z (Democracy in America: An Introduction, October 2024) The New Criterion

Voting Systems: A Global Perspective: Across the world, diverse voting systems shape democratic processes. From first-past-the-post to proportional representation, each method has its unique strengths and challenges. However, one constant remains: those who lose often voice the loudest complaints. This pattern raises important questions: Are these criticisms valid, exposing genuine flaws in the systems? Or do they stem from disappointment and a desire to shift blame? As professionals in governance, policy, or political science, it's crucial to examine voting systems objectively. We must consider: Transparency and fairness Representation of diverse voices Simplicity vs. accuracy trade-offs By fostering open dialogue and continuous improvement, we can work towards more robust democratic processes that inspire confidence in winners and losers alike. What's your take on this global phenomenon? Share your thoughts below. #VotingSystems #Democracy #GlobalPerspectives #DemocracyDefense #DemocraticValues #PoliticalEngagement #CivicResponsibility #GlobalDemocracy #DemocraticNorms #DemocraticInstitutions #DemocraticRevitalization #CivilDiscourse #PublicTrust #DemocraticPrinciples #Liberalism #PoliticalAccountability #Authoritarianism #DemocracyMatters #DemocraticProcess #Citizenship #PoliticalParticipation #HumanRights #FreeSpeech U.S. Department of State United Nations European Commission World Humanity Commission UK Parliament

Exploring the Intersection of Academia and Politics. As academics, we are uniquely positioned at the crossroads of knowledge and governance. Our insights can shape policies, drive societal change, and foster a more informed democracy. In this dynamic landscape, we dissect political discontent, decode motivations, and advocate for evidence-based decision-making. By bridging theory with practical solutions, we contribute to innovative policymaking. Challenges abound—perceptions of detachment, and navigating biases—but our commitment remains unwavering. Let’s collaborate across disciplines, engage in open dialogue, and champion data-driven governance. Together, we can build a resilient, just society. #Academia #Politics #EvidenceBasedPolicy #Collaboration #ResilientDemocracy #Objectivity #Integrity #EvidenceBasedPolicy #InformedGovernance #SoundScience #UnbiasedFacts #TrustInScience #ExpertInsights #BeyondPartisanship #UnifyingTruth #AccuracyMatters #FactsNotPropaganda #TruthNotTribalism #ScienceNotPolitics #KnowledgeForGood UK Research and Innovation United Nations U.S. Department of State UK Parliament Labour Party (UK) The Conservative Party p

In my latest blog post, Defenders of Democracy, I share a list of writers who are providing information and hope for upholding and strengthening U.S. democracy in the coming years. https://lnkd.in/gTUXYR8d

European #democracy has embraced deliberative processes to address societal #challenges. However, obstacles include fears of power shifts, a lack of innovative thinking, and divergent views on #citizen participation. To address this, the paper suggests expanding #participatory tools with joint efforts from the European #Commission, #Parliament, and #Council. https://lnkd.in/eVpfZ4EH

Share your voice! CFP #medialiteracy #medialiteracyed #medialiteracyeducation #edtech #technologyeducation #digitalliteracy