Democracy Playbook 2025: 7 Pillars to Defend Democracy in 2025 and Beyond (Norman Eisen and Jonathan Katz)

This third edition of the Democracy Playbook updates its predecessor 20191 and 20212 publications of evidence-based best practices for reversing democratic backsliding. We have added the research and developments of the eventful past three years—and have done so with an eye toward what is likely to be a challenging 2025. Our aim as before is to help …

Read More

Key takeaways from ‘Democracy’s next act: How to build resilience around the world’ (Stephanie Siemek and Robin J. Lewis)

On December 4, 2024, the Brookings Anti-Corruption, Democracy, and Security (ACDS) project observed its first anniversary with a webinar outlining the challenges facing democracy in 2025 and beyond, as well as strategies for building democratic resilience. Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.), ACDS chair and senior fellow in Governance Studies, led this discussion with Asha Rangappa, Assistant Dean of Admissions …

Read More

Social Contract Theory (Celeste Friend)

Social contract theory, nearly as old as philosophy itself, is the view that persons’ moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. Socrates uses something quite like a social contract argument to explain to Crito why he must remain in prison and …

Read More

Jean Bodin (Mario Turchetti)

Jean Bodin (1529/30–1596) was a lawyer, economist, natural philosopher, historian, and one of the major political theorists of the sixteenth century. There are two reasons why Bodin remains both fascinating and enigmatic: on the one hand, aspects of his life remain shrouded in legend; on the other, misunderstandings about his thought and political positions have …

Read More

How Can We Heal Current Divides? Start by Understanding the Roots of America’s Schism (Stories Change Power)

A thought-provoking conversation with Seth David Radwell, author of “American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation,” which won the International Book Award for Best General Nonfiction last year. In this webinar, we unpacked the divides across the United States, including how historical, cultural, and psychological factors contribute to the …

Read More

Stanford Emerging Technology Review Offers Policymakers New Insights into Implications of Cutting-Edge Tech (Stanford Emerging Technology Review)

The 2025 edition of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review (SETR) report is now available, offering American policymakers a comprehensive overview of how ten frontier technologies, from artificial intelligence to robotics, are transforming the world. Hoover Institution (Stanford, CA) — The 2025 edition of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review (SETR) report is now available, offering American policymakers a comprehensive overview …

Read More

The Professor Banned From Speaking Out: “We Need To Start Preparing

(Dr Bret Weinstein, the Diary of a CEO) Dr Bret Weinstein is an evolutionary biologist and former professor at Evergreen State College. He is the co-host of the podcast, ‘DarkHorse’, and the author of the book, ‘A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century: Evolution and the Challenges of Modern Life’. Watch the Interview

The End of US Democracy Was All Too Predictable (Jason Stanely)

Since Plato’s Republic 2,300 years ago, philosophers have understood the process by which demagogues come to power in free and fair elections, only to overthrow democracy and establish tyrannical rule. The process is straightforward, and we have now just watched it play out. NEW YORK – Like others, since late Tuesday night, my phone has …

Read More

Tackling Climate Change in the Age of Trump (Richard Hass and Carolyn Kissane)

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from the Paris climate agreement, rescinded emissions-reduction targets, and ended climate-related initiatives. But a range of potential initiatives that are consistent with the Trump administration’s priorities could still slow climate change. NEW YORK – There is no denying the reality of global …

Read More