Addressing the challenges facing democracy today
Raghu Rai. Local commuters at Church Gate railway station. Mumbai. 1995
Around the world, democracies confront serious challenges, old and new.
These range from enduring challenges, such as enhancing civic participation, political representation and democratic accountability, to confronting the ramifications of digital technologies, rising social inequalities and shifting power relations in the evolving international order. The Jarislowsky Democracy Chair pursues critical research and collaborative partnerships that advance public understanding and explore practical innovations to meet these imperatives.
Learn how you can be on the frontlines of democracy.
What’s New
24 April 2025
UPCOMING: The World under Capitalism with Branko Milanovic
We live in a world defined by capitalism. Historically, it has delivered general prosperity through a variety of systems, from liberal market economies to progressive social democracies. But capitalism has always had a moral price tag. It often celebrates material success at the expense of growing economic inequalities and generates political instability.
What does it mean to be rich and poor in the twenty-first century? Why have liberal market democracies increasingly become plutocracies? What do western societies owe to migrants arriving at their borders?
Capitalism is an inherently risky system. Ultimately our choices, and how clearly we see them, will determine our futures.
12 March 2025
NEW PODCAST! Leadership, Diplomacy, and Democracy with Lloyd Axworthy
Host Sanjay Ruparelia and the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy sit to discuss Axworthy’s life in politics, which culminated in his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Recorded just a day before the 2025 Ontario general election and eleven days ahead of the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, they also discuss how Canada’s role on the global stage has evolved over the years and the future of Canadian politics.
How can we revitalize civic engagement, empower public institutions and strengthen the prospects of democracy today?
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