“Democracy” gets thrown around a lot in American politics. Usually, when someone wins, they say democracy worked. When someone loses, they say democracy died. Here’s the twist most civics classes rush ...

Most Americans learn as schoolchildren that our country is the greatest democracy in the world. Democracy is part of our national myth and, as such, the pretext for many of our most consequential and ...

A conversation with Osita Nwanevu about the fatal flaws of our governing system, the need for a more egalitarian political economy, and his new book The Right of the People. There is no shortage of ...

In her latest book “The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies,” political scientist Susan C. Stokes traces the recent erosion of democracies around the world, including the United ...

The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Nwanevu wields ...

I have noted an uptick in various persons reminding me (and you) that the United States is not a democracy. I've heard it from political panels on TV, during interviews with politicians, and most ...

How can we fix American democracy? Preserving our democracy is as urgent a task as ever, but the question is how. Democracy is getting to be one of those words that, at least in our day-to-day ...

Charles Barnes marches through downtown St. Louis carrying an American flag during the 'No Kings' protest on Saturday, June 15, 2025. Demonstrators made their way through downtown demanding the ...