Democracy & Governance Research Team Receives Research Grant for Education on Risks to Electoral Integrity Project
Our program is excited to announce that Democracy and Governance Senior Fellow Jeff Fischer along with his research assistants D&G students Tala Alahmar and Jonathan Mendoza, have been selected to receive a research grant for their Education on Risks to Electoral Integrity (EREI) Project. This grant, awarded through Georgetown University’s Initiative on Pedagogy and Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), will allow the research team to develop an AI toolkit for students to employ in studying elections and forecasting risks to electoral integrity revealed by their research. This toolkit is intended as a learning mechanism for the students to understand the risks to electoral integrity in an era when such integrity is under threat from many directions.
Georgetown University’s Democracy & Governance MA Program Joins the Summit for Democracy Youth Democracy Cohort
We are excited to announce our membership to the Youth Democracy Cohort as part of the Summit for Democracy. The Cohort is designed with principles of diversity and inclusion to promote youth political and civic engagement in communities across the world, as well as to support the understanding of and engagement with democratic principles.
The Democracy & Governance MA Program will work with members across the world, engaging in meaningful academic discussions and practical efforts to advance youth participation in democracy and the objectives of the Cohort. The Program looks to add academic and practitioner perspective to this work while elevating the efforts of the Cohort’s members.
We are excited to announce our membership to the Youth Democracy Cohort as part of the Summit for Democracy. The Cohort is designed with principles of diversity and inclusion to promote youth political and civic engagement in communities across the world, as well as to support the understanding of and engagement with democratic principles.
The Democracy & Governance MA Program will work with members across the world, engaging in meaningful academic discussions and practical efforts to advance youth participation in democracy and the objectives of the Cohort. The Program looks to add academic and practitioner perspective to this work while elevating the efforts of the Cohort’s members.
“Our unique graduate program develops students to be at the forefront of democracy assistance,” shared Director of the Democracy & Governance Program Elton Skendaj, PhD. “With this new partnership, we aim to bring creative, academic approaches to the cohort and apply best practices from the cohort into our work in the United States and across the globe.” DG was first introduced to the Youth Democracy Cohort through the Summit for Democracy, where, as a member of the Partners for Democracy, the Program held a panel discussion with four students on the Next Generation of Democracy Practitioners and Academics: Perspectives from Young Leaders and Up-and-Comers in the Field. You can watch the panel discussion on the DG website.
Democracy and Governance Partners With Global Democracy Coalition (GDC)
In Case You Missed It:
Last month, the Democracy and Governance (DG) program at Georgetown University officially partnered with the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC). Georgetown is the only academic institution currently serving as a partner. The Global Democracy Coalition was established in October 2021 by International IDEA and other democracy assistance organizations as an informal group to engage with the first Summit for Democracy in December 2021. GDC is now under the coordination of both IDEA and Counterpart International .
Our partnership with GDC will allow DG enhanced access and communication with a global pool of democracy assistance organizations, as well as engagement with the efforts and initiatives of its members. This includes participation in the group’s pledges to undertake democracy assistance activities, of which DG is making two:
1) DG will expand our education programming in democracy and governance to include continued outreach to prospective students and collaboration with other universities on curriculum development.
2) As part of the Stories of Democracy Project and in collaboration with IDEA, DG will develop an oral history archive from individuals who administered, assisted, or observed elections in the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, a period when democracy was in ascendency.
The Global Democracy Coalition organized its 2023 Forum February 28th-March 1st, which brought together its international partners in Washington, D.C. to engage on relevant issues to democracy assistance. Center for Democracy and Civil Society Senior Fellow Jeff Fischer represented the Democracy and Governance program and our inaugural participation.
For questions about the Democracy and Governance program at Georgetown University or our new partnership, please email us at democracystudies@georgetown.edu .
Democracy and Governance Announces Bulgaria Exchange to Study Politics in a Democracy Under Stress
The M.A. Democracy & Governance program at Georgetown University will participate in the 1 st Bulgaria Exchange, organized with the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC) at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). The aim of this week-long exchange is to promote a discussion on the current challenges to democratic governments by looking at Bulgaria, a democracy under stress. Bulgaria, a country that transitioned from its communist past to a democratic state, is an interesting case study in part for its EU and NATO membership, aspiration to join the eurozone and Schengen, history of clientelistic networks among political and economic elites, and significant pro- Russian elements within the public.
By introducing international participants to representatives from academia, civil society, and the public and private sectors in Bulgaria, we hope to (1) raise awareness about some of the key challenges to young democracies in Eastern Europe through the case study of Bulgaria within the Balkan region; (2) foster dialogue between participants; and (3) enable a better understanding of threats and challenges to Bulgarian democracy and highlight existing resilience efforts to strengthen these.
During the exchange, students may meet with journalists, members of foreign service and civil society, entrepreneurs, and university faculty. An experience unique to the Democracy & Governance program, students will build upon their academic, professional, and personal experiences to engage in discussions with speakers, guests, and their peers. As part of the cultural exchange, scheduled activities include meals in local restaurants and touring the capital, Sofia. Students are encouraged to learn more about their Blagoevgrad environment and both local and national tourism to heighten their experience.
For questions about the Democracy and Governance program at Georgetown University or our opportunities for student engagement, please email us at democracystudies@georgetown.edu.
