Democratic Backsliding & Solutions

This syllabus supplement offers curated articles intended to be combined with traditional casebooks in a law or higher ed classroom.

Bringing together expert analysis that traces this erosion, assesses the risks for democratic governance, and outlines pathways to rebuild or even reinvent these safeguards.

Our democratic institutions are under strain, but one thing must be true if any reform is to take hold: government must deliver, and that delivery must be felt by all people.

America’s civil service, built for a bygone era, urgently needs bold, comprehensive reform to build a government capable of delivering for the 21st century.

Domestic policy experts offer principles for reinvention meant to inform the work of policymakers, advocates, and governance rebuilders as they redesign federal institutions.

Georgian Dream is crushing Georgia's civil society, courts, and opposition to entrench one-party rule and Russian influence; only targeted U.S. and EU sanctions can stop it.

Lost amidst the discussion of the Supreme Court's Callais decision is its treatment of partisan gerrymandering as a legitimate objective.

Research shows that, more than military strikes or sanctions, authoritarians fear support for independent media, anti-censorship tech, and civil society.

Hungary's anti-corruption win offers U.S. democracy advocates lessons, but success requires a credible messenger and a concrete plan.

The attempt to condition states' counterterrorism funding on changes to election rules is unlawful and likely to be challenged in court.

Without robust safeguards, ramping up gold production in South Sudan could fuel corruption, money laundering, and conflict.

Steps should be taken to strengthen grand juries by giving courts and defense counsel more tools to act as a much-needed check on prosecutors.