Top seeds squaring off for the 'best of the rest' in Democracy Madness

In a recent assessment of the state of democracy in the United States, researchers report the nation has moved from being a “full democracy” to being an “illiberal or mixed democracy.” In particular, they find declines in “toleration of peaceful protest, not using government agencies to punish political opponents, and fair electoral district boundaries.”

As leaders across various branches of government undermine the guardrails around various democratic norms, scholars and civic leaders are considering where and how to respond. The scale of the challenges facing Americans committed to a pluralistic, democratic society are national and global. However, responding to attacks on democracy does not need to be limited to a national or global scale. Researchers and movement leaders remind us that citizens and organizations can engage in some of the most influential work in defense of democracy at local and community levels.