Democracy’s Challenges

Democracy’s Challenges is the culmination of the NYU Law Democracy Project’s “100 Ideas in 100 Days series.” This anthology brings together an unparalleled range of scholars, political strategists, policymakers, and global thinkers on the urgent question of what's next for democracy?

Crossing ideological, political, and geographical boundaries, Democracy’s Challenges includes over 100 brief, deeply informed, and often visionary essays written by over 100 contributors, ranging from prominent scholars to influential political and public figures like Anita Dunn, Robert George, Samuel Moyn, Larry Diamond, Randall Kennedy, Jake Sullivan, and Mark Cuban.

Together, the same essays address the central topics of American governance and politics, but provide an international perspective with contributions from scholars and other experts on issues confronting democracies around the globe. The authors of these essays offer original perspectives on a host of issues that are often mired In conventional wisdom or polarized political conflict, including the rise of executive power, the failures of legislatures, and the controversies over the role of courts; the effects of wealth inequality and revolutionary technologies; the role of experts; the function and health of political parties and civil society; civic education and participation; and the sources of popular distrust of democratic institutions. Democracy’s Challenges will provoke thought and inspire a fresh debate about the potential or the limits of reform.