#democracy-critique

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Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

How to Build a More Participatory Democracy With Psychology

Voter turnout is influenced by motivation, ability, and the difficulty of voting, with systemic barriers disproportionately affecting marginalized groups.
#democracy
US politics
fromSlate Magazine
4 weeks ago

This Democracy Expert is Warning that ICE at the Airports is Absolutely a Dry Run for the Midterms

The United States is experiencing a rapid decline in democratic norms and institutions, with significant threats to upcoming elections.
World politics
fromThe Nation
1 month ago

The Rapid and "Unprecedented" Collapse of American Democracy

Democratic processes are declining globally, with 41% of the world's population now living in autocratizing countries, including the United States.
Philosophy
fromMindful
1 day ago

Democracy Does Not Work Without Mindfulness

True democracy requires mindfulness and collaboration beyond political campaigns and divisions.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

How Unmet Psychological Needs Quietly Undermine Democracy

Democracy requires psychological regulation to thrive, as unmet psychological needs can erode democratic life.
Social justice
fromThe Nation
5 days ago

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the Summit for Democracy

Claudia Sheinbaum emphasizes the resilience, generosity, and cultural heritage of the Mexican people in her speech at the Defense of Democracy Summit.
US politics
fromSlate Magazine
4 weeks ago

This Democracy Expert is Warning that ICE at the Airports is Absolutely a Dry Run for the Midterms

The United States is experiencing a rapid decline in democratic norms and institutions, with significant threats to upcoming elections.
World politics
fromThe Nation
1 month ago

The Rapid and "Unprecedented" Collapse of American Democracy

Democratic processes are declining globally, with 41% of the world's population now living in autocratizing countries, including the United States.
Washington DC
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 hours ago

Gunfire at the White House correspondents' dinner is another grim sign of our times | Robert Reich

The White House correspondents' dinner was disrupted by gunfire, highlighting the stark contrast between celebrity and the reality of fear.
#ai
Artificial intelligence
fromFuturism
6 hours ago

Experts Warn of AI Swarms Hijacking Democracy With Fake Citizens

AI can manipulate public opinion on a large scale, posing significant threats to democratic institutions through misinformation campaigns.
Artificial intelligence
fromTheregister
1 week ago

Make bad moves on AI and face voter backlash, govts warned

The UK government must demonstrate AI benefits to the public to mitigate backlash and concerns over job losses and risks associated with the technology.
US Elections
fromwww.theguardian.com
9 hours ago

To win in 2028, Democrats must embrace justice not shy away from it | Steve Philips

Fighting for justice and equality is essential for Democrats to win in the current political climate.
Right-wing politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 day ago

Joy Reid Goes Off On Trump DOJ Over Absolutely Insane' SPLC Indictment

The indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center by Trump's Justice Department is criticized as politically motivated and unfounded.
US politics
fromThe Nation
2 days ago

Why Do the Democrats Keep Expanding the Institutions They Claim to Oppose?

Public outrage over ICE violence has diminished, while deportation operations continue unabated, highlighting a failure to address systemic issues.
fromWIRED
1 day ago

The Online Civil War About 'Michael' Is a Battle Over Truth

Musically, Jackson was in a class all his own. He remains, even in death, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with 13 number one singles and countless awards.
Independent films
fromwww.aljazeera.com
1 day ago

Joy and desire for change as Gaza's Deir el-Balah holds elections

I am very happy today, because this is a truly Palestinian democratic celebration. Many generations have been deprived of it for more than 21 years, and today my daughter is voting for the first time.
World news
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 day ago

Anti-Doug Ford rallies take place across Ontario to protest OSAP, FOI changes | CBC News

Protests against Premier Doug Ford's controversial measures are occurring across Ontario, urging a no-confidence vote for his resignation.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Tories' political domination in Sussex set for its biggest test in decades

The Independent provides crucial reporting on key issues without paywalls, emphasizing the importance of accessible journalism.
SF politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
1 day ago

West Bank scepticism as Palestinians doubt local elections will change much

Voter apathy in West Bank elections stems from frustration with the Palestinian Authority and ongoing Israeli occupation.
World politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
1 day ago

Elections without sovereignty: What Palestine's local vote really represent

Elections in Palestine reflect limited political participation under occupation, highlighting the constraints on governance and the impact of Israeli control.
London politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Taking back power or taking the mickey? The activists liberating' food from big stores

Police arrested activists for alleged conspiracy to commit theft linked to a campaign against inequality involving mass shoplifting from supermarkets.
Left-wing politics
fromAbove the Law
2 days ago

FedSoc Event Meant To Sanewash DHS Abducting People Made Harder By Protesters Making A Big Fuss About Racial Profiling - Above the Law

Politeness in discourse is biased, favoring certain viewpoints while punishing others, as seen in recent campus protests against right-wing speakers.
Social justice
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 days ago

UK rights groups slam authoritarian' conviction of pro-Palestine activists

Convictions of Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham highlight an authoritarian shift in the UK's approach to protest and threaten democratic rights.
SF parents
fromPadailypost
2 days ago

DA ordered to release fundraising records related to Stanford protesters

A judge ordered the release of fundraising records related to DA Jeff Rosen's prosecution of pro-Palestinian protesters at Stanford.
#supreme-court
Law
fromThe Nation
3 days ago

Why the Supreme Court Justices Are Suddenly Casting Shade on Each Other

The Supreme Court justices are publicly expressing their divisions, revealing a significant crisis within the court.
US politics
fromSlate Magazine
5 days ago

A New Supreme Court Leak Shows John Roberts at His Worst

Chief Justice Roberts' lobbying against Obama's climate policy reveals partisan motivations behind the Supreme Court's shadow docket decisions.
US Elections
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

So Stupidly!' Trump Rips Supreme Court Including Justices Nominated by Me' in Scorching CNBC Rant

Trump criticized the Supreme Court for a decision that led to a $165 billion tariff repayment, expressing disappointment over their lack of support.
Portland
fromPortland Mercury
3 days ago

Good Morning, News: Senate Republicans Push ICE Funding, City Councilors Protest NDA Pressure, and More 'Will They Won't They' Ceasefire - Portland Mercury

Portland Public Schools faces a $50 million budget deficit, considering school closures and has received no emergency funding from state legislators.
Media industry
fromIntelligencer
4 days ago

Amy Goodman's Journalism Is More Urgent Now Than Ever

Amy Goodman celebrates 30 years of Democracy Now!, a program airing on 1,500 stations, recognized for impactful journalism and activism.
Europe politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
6 days ago

Who will shape the global agenda the left or far right?

Left-leaning leaders in Barcelona and far-right figures in Milan represent opposing political perspectives on democracy and regulation in Europe.
Medicine
fromThe Nation
6 days ago

We Need to Prepare for the Mammoth Task of De-Trumpification

Rebuilding public health and science after Trump's presidency will require significant resources and a long-term commitment.
Philosophy
fromPsychology Today
5 hours ago

Humanity's Report Card: How Bad Is It, Really?

Humanity's overall grades for thriving are low, with survival odds at 67% and a critical failure in planetary harmony.
NYC politics
fromThe Nation
1 week ago

Mamdani Wants to Show That Democratic Socialism "Can Flourish Anywhere"

Democratic socialism can thrive nationally, focusing on the working class and delivering practical governance, as demonstrated by the mayor's early accomplishments.
#fascism
Podcast
fromThe Nation
1 week ago

Introducing Fighting Fascism, A New Podcast Devoted to Resisting Authoritarianism

Fighting Fascism podcast addresses modern authoritarianism and antifascist strategies through historical context and contemporary discussions with experts.
Right-wing politics
fromLGBTQ Nation
3 days ago

Rightwinger roasted for decrying 12-year-old girls getting abortions - LGBTQ Nation

Brilyn Hollyhand's controversial comments on abortion for minors sparked significant backlash online.
fromwww.aljazeera.com
3 days ago

Solutions, not slogans': Gaza holds first election in 21 years

Residents of Deir el-Balah are eager for tangible solutions rather than political slogans as they prepare for the first municipal elections in over two decades. The scars of Israel's war are evident, and the community seeks effective governance to address their pressing needs.
World news
World politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 days ago

The international right has CPAC. Has the left finally found its answer? | Owen Jones

Progressives gathered in Barcelona to address rising authoritarianism, highlighting the absence of European leaders and the need for a return to social democratic values.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 days ago

St Vincent and Grenadines government pauses constitutional amendment bills after public backlash

The St Vincent and the Grenadines government has delayed constitutional amendments regarding citizenship eligibility for parliament members amid public outcry.
US Elections
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 days ago

Major Prediction Market Reveals US Politicians Were Caught Betting on Their Own Elections

Three U.S. congressional candidates were caught trading on their own elections, violating Kalshi exchange rules.
SF politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

Florida Democrats Condemn Corruption' After Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick Resigns

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned after being indicted for embezzling COVID-19 funds, facing serious legal charges and potential prison time.
Online Community Development
fromTruthout
2 weeks ago

What Do Authoritarians Fear Most? People Who Stick Up for Each Other.

Solidarity among communities is essential for resilience against economic and social pressures exacerbated by conflict and local challenges.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

That is False': Ace Reporter Hammers Senate Dem For Wrongly Using His Reporting At Hearing

Sen. Ruben Gallego misrepresented Trump's comments about Kevin Warsh's commitment to interest rate cuts during a confirmation hearing.
Media industry
fromWIRED
5 days ago

The Internet's Favorite Lawyer Says We're Living Through 'Multiple Watergates per Week'

Devin Stone transitioned from traditional law to YouTube, becoming a prominent legal analyst and educator amidst a complex legal landscape in America.
World news
fromwww.aljazeera.com
4 days ago

Is Bangladesh killing reforms introduced after student-led protests?

Bangladesh's parliament has rolled back key reforms aimed at increasing government accountability, raising concerns about democratic backsliding.
Right-wing politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
5 days ago

Technofacism? Why Palantir's pro-West manifesto' has critics alarmed

Palantir's manifesto advocates for national service, defense participation, and hard power, raising concerns about its implications for democracy and societal values.
World politics
fromwww.dw.com
5 days ago

Amnesty International paints a grim picture

Human rights violations are increasing globally, with perpetrators often unpunished, according to Amnesty International's report for 2025.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

This Is Not a Real Hearing': Congressman Kicks Off Roundtable by Announcing Democrats Are Boycotting

Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee boycotted a roundtable, deeming it not a real hearing due to lack of rules and accountability.
Germany politics
fromenglish.elpais.com
2 weeks ago

All democracies are perishable: Hitler's rise to power as a warning about the present

The book 'Les Irresponsables' by Johann Chapoutot examines the rise of Hitler and its parallels to contemporary authoritarianism.
fromThe Atlantic
1 week ago

Illiberalism Is Not Inevitable

The defeat of Viktor Orbán required not just an ordinary election campaign but the construction of a broad, diverse, and patriotic grassroots social movement, changing politics around the world.
Europe politics
fromwww.dw.com
6 days ago

Is Vietnam becoming more like China?

"It brings the Vietnamese political system closer to the Chinese one, which is dominated by [China's President] Xi Jinping. Given his concentration of power, To Lam may be able to implement his ambitious reforms more quickly, but there is a risk that the established checks and balances will cease to function and that dissenting opinions within the party will be heard less and less."
World politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 days ago

US professors sue university over arrest during pro-Palestine protest

The judicial system would find that Emory failed to protect its students, to protect its staff, to protect the educational mission of the university, said philosophy professor Noelle McAfee, one of the plaintiffs.
Social justice
fromThe Atlantic
2 days ago

Since When Is Looting a Form of Virtue Signaling?

"I think that stealing from a big box store-I'll just state my platform-it's neither very significant as a moral wrong, nor is it significant in any way as protest or direct action."
Social justice
Right-wing politics
fromTruthout
3 weeks ago

No Kings Must Mean No War: Foreign Policy Is Least Democratic Space in Politics

The majority of Iranian Americans oppose the war on Iran, despite media portrayal of pro-monarchy sentiments.
Social justice
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

Why are straight white men overrepresented in positions of power? | Steve Phillips

Addressing inequality requires questioning the overrepresentation of straight white American men in power rather than focusing solely on the underrepresentation of marginalized groups.
fromenglish.elpais.com
1 month ago

The United States loses its status as a liberal democracy: Trump is aiming for a dictatorship'

Almost a quarter of the world experienced democratic backsliding, or a shift towards autocratization, in 2025, and six of the 10 newly regressive countries identified in the research are located in Europe and North America, including G-7 powers such as Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Europe politics
Philosophy
fromThe Nation
1 month ago

In Defense of Being Performative

Democracy requires citizens to actively perform civic engagement; dismissing performative politics misunderstands that democratic participation is inherently performative and essential for democratic survival.
Environment
fromHigh Country News
1 month ago

The essentials of democracy - High Country News

Environmental protections are being dismantled through regulatory actions without public input, while climate change impacts devastate agricultural communities dependent on water resources.
fromFast Company
2 months ago

Our embrace of individuals over institutions isn't serving us well

In the early 20th century, sociologist Max Weber noted that sweeping industrialization would transform how societies worked. As small, informal operations gave way to large, complex organizations with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, leaders would need to rely less on tradition and charisma, and more on organization and rationality. He also foresaw that jobs would need to be broken down into specialized tasks and governed by a system of hierarchy,
History
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Standing Up And Cheering For American-ish Principles - Above the Law

Trump's State of the Union challenge to Democrats about protecting American citizens over illegal aliens was a rhetorical trap that oversimplified complex policy issues requiring nuanced discussion rather than simple yes-or-no responses.
Philosophy
fromApaonline
1 month ago

Why We Need a Formal, Mandatory, and Remunerated "Citizen Lobby"

Post-Cold War optimism about democracy and internet freedom has been undermined by geopolitical tensions, neoliberalism, nationalism, and corporate influence that concentrate power among the already wealthy.
fromThe New Yorker
2 months ago

Democracy Dies in Broad Daylight

Last week- after the Wall Street Journal broke more news about the Trump family's dodgy crypto-business dealings and before the President shared a racist video of the Obamas depicted as dancing apes-the Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos decided that one of his smaller properties, the Washington Post, has proved such a drag on his two-hundred-and-thirty-billion-dollar fortune that prudence required that he obliterate much of its newsroom.
Media industry
Philosophy
fromApaonline
1 month ago

Secrecy, Democracy, Necessity

Executive officials justify secrecy through claims of protecting decision-making integrity and national security, but such necessity arguments alone cannot legitimize secret governance in democracies.
World news
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Stephens: Dissidents are silenced, and the West moves on

Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong pro-democracy media founder, received a 20-year prison sentence after years of activism and escalating Beijing-led crackdowns on Hong Kong freedoms.
Philosophy
fromApaonline
2 months ago

What Accountability-Seeking Protest Can Tell Us About Democracy

Different kinds of political protest pursue distinct aims; accountability-seeking protest aims to hold actors responsible and can reinforce democratic community bonds.
World politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Autocracy is rising in the west. But the global south proves it's not inevitable | Kenneth Roth

Autocrats face growing internal pressure from their populations, while democracy remains valued globally despite Western challenges from far-right movements and disaffected voters.
World news
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

Opinion: Disqualified but not forgotten

An athlete was disqualified for displaying portraits of Ukrainians killed in the war, as the IOC ruled the helmet violated rules against political expression.
Philosophy
Tyranny corrupts all psychic faculties into servants of lawless appetite, with reason producing ideology to rationalize control rather than ceasing to function.
fromFuturism
2 months ago

Democracy Itself Is Falling Apart, Harvard Professor Warns

In the wake of ruthless arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort in Minneapolis, one Harvard political scientist is arguing something many of us have suspected for a long time: the US is moving away from its traditional democratic framework toward a fundamentally different system of governance. In an interview with the media industry publication Status, Harvard political scientist Steven Levitsky made the case that the Trump administration's assault on democratic norms has now become extreme, even by the standards of right-wing dictators.
US politics
World politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Politics Without Politicians by Helene Landemore review power to the people

Randomly selected citizen assemblies replacing electoral politics reduce polarization, deepen civic bonds, and produce more legitimate, deliberative collective decisions.
Philosophy
fromemptywheel
2 months ago

Liberalism Has Failed - emptywheel

Liberalism replaced hereditary elites with a hereditary elite, eroded virtue, and produced elites who despise ordinary people, prompting a return to ordered, virtuous social structures.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

America feels like a country on the brink of an authoritarian takeover | Francine Prose

When we talk about our inability to pay attention, to concentrate, we often mean and blame our phones. It's easy, it's meant to be easy. One flick of our index finger transports us from disaster to disaster, from crisis to crisis, from maddening lie to maddening lie. Each new unauthorized attack and threatened invasion grabs the headlines, until something else takes its place, and meanwhile the government's attempts to terrorize and silence the people of our country continue.
US politics
fromThe Atlantic
2 months ago

American Dissidence

The word that comes to my mind is dissidence. If we want to understand why the whistleblowing, camera-wielding people of Minneapolis have caused the Trump administration-and Donald Trump himself-to flinch, I believe we need some added history, and a bigger map. What we've been watching is part of a long, established tradition-one that might help Americans unlock a different kind of future.
US politics
fromLGBTQ Nation
2 months ago

Political pragmatism is not a moral failing. It may be the only thing that can save us. - LGBTQ Nation

He is not worthy of the presidency. He takes bribes blatantly. And now he's being a racist, blatantly. They were supposed to deport the dangerous criminals. They were not supposed to go after small children, storm schools, bring terror upon, you know, the little kids and the women and children, not just the immigrants in the school. All the children are scared.
US politics
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

How America Chose Not to Hold the Powerful to Account

Since Richard Nixon was forced to resign, powerful people in both political parties have worked assiduously to ensure that their leaders would escape the consequences of their actions. Trump has evaded punishment for crimes both low (campaign-finance violations, for which he was convicted, though he will serve no time thanks to his 2024 victory) and high (his attempted overthrow of the federal government in the aftermath of his 2020 election loss, for which he was spared by the Supreme Court's decision to grant him a kingly immunity).
US politics
US politics
fromThe Nation
2 months ago

Freedoms Under Threat

Independent, progressive journalism holds the powerful accountable, centers marginalized communities, exposes distortions, and relies on reader support to sustain urgent coverage.
US politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

America has reached a tipping point on fascism and on opposition to it | Robert Reich

Recent events in Minneapolis and federal actions have driven lifelong Republicans away, exposing lies and accelerating a slide toward a repressive, fascist police state.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Opinion: Liberty doesn't defend itself right now, it needs our help.

In the United States, we haven't yet seen rifles aimed at large crowds, but we do observe masked federal agents detaining protesters in unmarked vehicles, flashy ICE raids staged like military operations and pardons for political violence all clear warning signs. Ignoring this is the first step toward complacency, which can kill liberty. Fascism is often misunderstood. It is not just political oppression; it is a set of traits, as scholars and observers point out,
US politics
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