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.
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What’s New
25 May 2026
NEW PODCAST! Countering the Threat of Wannabe Fascists with Federico Finchelstein
Host Sanjay Ruparelia speaks with Federico Finchelstein about the history of fascism and the growing threat authoritarian politics pose to democracy today. Drawing on his latest book, The Wannabe Fascists, Finchelstein examines the pillars of fascism while exploring how elements of these movements continue to shape contemporary political leaders around the world. Their conversation traces the relationship between fascism and populism, the erosion of democratic norms, and why modern “wannabe fascists” represent a serious challenge to democratic values in the 21st century.
29 April 2026
NEW LECUTRE! Federico Finchelstein: Fascism at the Gates
Historian and author Federico Finchelstein discusses one of the most urgent questions of our time: how do democracies die from within?
Drawing on comparative analysis spanning Europe, Latin America, Asia, and North America, Finchelstein offers crucial insights into understanding, and stopping, the greatest threat facing democratic societies worldwide.