Events in the past decade seem to indicate that democracy in many parts of the world is in peril. In the United States, voter ID laws and extra legal tactics work to suppress voter turnout and political actors make decisions based on what might effect their re-election rather than what is best for their country. American distrust of government, and a growing sense of white resentment have widened divisions among an already fractured electorate, while racism and xenophobia seem to be growing. Moreover, Russian hackers appear to have weaponized racism in a way that affected the outcome of the US elections.
The Arab Uprisings of the early 2000s heralded increased hopes that democratic governance would spread in the Middle East and North Africa. Instead, Europe has watched efforts to welcome Middle Eastern refugees turn into a refugee crisis. This crisis in turn has provided fodder for the rise of right-wing populist parties, opposed to extending the benefits of citizenship to people fleeing military conflict and economic hardship in their home countries. Undocumented immigrants in the US, who have paid taxes, worked hard, and did all the things citizens are urged to do are being separated from their families and deported at record rates. Learn more
This event is part of the Inaugural Year series, exploring the theme Democracy and Education. What does Democracy and Education mean to you? Share your thoughts—written or video—with us on social media using the hashtag #SLCDemocracyEducation. See what others are saying at slc.edu/democracy.