P&RR

Protesters rally against voter ID laws in Washington, D.C., warning that documentation requirements—like those proposed in the SAVE Act—threaten voting rights. Photo by Victoria Pickering (CC BY-NC-ND)

How the SAVE Act Threatens Voting Rights in the U.S.

The SAVE Act could block millions from voting through strict ID rules—despite no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting in the…

6 Min Read

The Thinking Line

Why Is Studying Philosophy Still Vital in the Age of AI?

As intelligence becomes increasingly subject to computational procedures, the enduring task of philosophy is to preserve the conditions of human…

7 Min Read

When political identity adopts the symbols of faith, allegiance becomes sacred and opposition heretical.

The Thinking Line

Why Political Identity Feels Like Moral Faith Today

As political identity turns into personal faith, democratic disagreement becomes sacrilege. Can we relearn how to argue without needing to…

7 Min Read

Members of the American Life League, a conservative Catholic organization, protest comedian Bill Maher for allegedly promoting anti-religious speech. The call to 'Stop Hate Speech'—here used against secular criticism—illustrates how the term has become a tool claimed across ideological lines, shaped less by content than by contested moral frameworks.

The Thinking Line

Who Defines Hate Speech? Law, Platforms, and Political Power

What counts as “hate speech” today is shaped as much by the speaker’s identity and the context of expression as…

8 Min Read

Visualizing Normative AI: When algorithms don't just calculate but prescribe, democracy must reckon with code as a silent legislator.

The Thinking Line

Can Democracy Survive Normative Artificial Intelligence?

As AI systems define norms without consent or debate, democracy faces a silent erosion from within its own infrastructure.

7 Min Read

Carl Schmitt en Plettenberg, en 1978.Wolfgang Haut

The Thinking Line

The Return of the Enemy: Carl Schmitt in 2025

As friend and enemy reemerge as political categories, Schmitt’s ghost haunts today’s democracies.

7 Min Read

The Thinking Line

Why ‘Ideology’ Has Become a Weapon Once Again

Once a tool for unmasking domination, “ideology” now serves to shut down debate. As claims to neutrality mask positions of…

7 Min Read

In this photo, Cuban exiles and supporters march through downtown Ottawa, Canada, protesting the Cuban government's repression of the historic July 2021 demonstrations. The protest denounced mass arrests, censorship, and especially the nationwide internet shutdowns used by Cuban authorities to silence dissent and prevent the spread of images and information.

The Politics Brief

Internet Shutdowns as a Tool of Authoritarian Repression

An analysis of internet shutdowns as instruments of state repression, digital censorship, and the erosion of civil liberties worldwide.

9 Min Read

Laureates

How Group Empathy Can Transform Politics and Society

Winner of the 2022 Merze Tate – Elinor Ostrom Outstanding Book Award.

5 Min Read

Enslaved People _Cover-of-the-book-Patchwork-Freedoms_Law-Slavery-and-Race-beyond-Cubas-Plantations-by-Adriana-Chira

Laureates

Patchwork Freedoms: How Enslaved People Won Their Rights

How did enslaved and free people of African descent navigate oppressive legal systems to carve out spaces of autonomy?

4 Min Read

cover of The Creole Archipelago: Race and Borders in the Colonial Caribbean

Laureates

Rethinking Colonial Caribbean History

Winner of the 2022 James A. Rawley Prize in Atlantic History

7 Min Read

Colonialism-Cover of the book Ruling Emancipated Slaves and Indigenous Subjects

Laureates

3 Ways Colonialism Shaped Modern Inequality

About Ruling Emancipated Slaves and Indigenous Subjects, winner of the 2023 Merze Tate – Elinor Ostrom Outstanding Book Award.

4 Min Read

Cover of the book Resisting-Change-in-Suburbia

Laureates

Asian Immigration and the Myth of Suburban Stability

About Resisting Change in Suburbia: Asian Immigrants and Frontier Nostalgia in L.A., winner of the 2023 Lawrence W. Levine Award.

2 Min Read

Cover of the Book Laboratories against Democracy-National Politics

Laureates

How U.S. States Became Battlegrounds for National Politics

About Laboratories Against Democracy: How National Parties Transformed State Politics, winner of the 2023 Merze Tate – Elinor Ostrom Outstanding…

4 Min Read

Cover of the book Winners and Losers. The Psychology of Foreign Trade

Laureates

Why Public Opinion on Trade Is Not Just About Economics

About Winners and Losers: The Psychology of Foreign Trade, winner of the 2022 Merze Tate – Elinor Ostrom Outstanding Book…

5 Min Read

Cover-of-The-Matter-of-Black-Living-The-Aesthetic-Experiment-of-Racial-Data-1880–1930

Laureates

The Limits of Data: Race, Representation, and Experimentation

About The Matter of Black Living: The Aesthetic Experiment of Racial Data, 1880–1930, winner of the 2022 William Sanders Scarborough…

3 Min Read

ccCover-of-the-book-Deaths-Futurity_-The-Visual-Life-of-Black-Power_Black-Death

Laureates

The Politics of Black Death

About Death’s Futurity, winner of the 2024 Modern Language Association William Sanders Scarborough Prize.

4 Min Read

Cover of Takkara K. Brunson's Black Women, Citizenship, and the Making of Modern Cuba (University Press of Florida, 2021), about the role Afro-Cuban women played in shaping modern Cuban identity.

Laureates

How Afro-Cuban Women Shaped Modern Cuba

About Black Women, Citizenship, and the Making of Modern Cuba, winner of the 2022 Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Prize.

3 Min Read

Cover of the book_Police, Provocation, Politics: Counterinsurgency in Istanbulb (policing)

Laureates

Policing Dissent: Counterinsurgency in Istanbul

About Police, Provocation, Politics: Counterinsurgency in Istanbul, winner of the 2023 Anthony Leeds Prize.

3 Min Read

Laureates

Sharia, Custom, and Power: Lawfare in Postwar Chechnya

About State-Building as Lawfare: Custom, Sharia, and State Law in Postwar Chechnya, winner of the 2024 Wayne S. Vucinich Book…

3 Min Read

Cover of the book The Silver Women: How Black Women’s Labor Made the Panama Canal

Laureates

West Indian Women and the Hidden History of the Panama Canal

About The Silver Women: How Black Women’s Labor Made the Panama Canal, winner of the 2024 Wesley-Logan Prize in African…

3 Min Read

Cover of the book Freedom's Captives in Colombia

Laureates

Unveiling the Paradoxes of Emancipation in Colombia

Winner of the 2022 Wesley-Logan Prize in African Diaspora History

3 Min Read

The image shows soldiers moving quickly up a sandy hill, appearing to be in a tactical operation. The uniforms suggest they belong to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), aligning with ongoing tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict.

The Politics Brief

Israel-Iran Conflict: Escalation, Nuclear Strategy, Global Impact

Israel and Iran's escalating rivalry, fueled by decades of ideological and geopolitical conflict, has reached new levels of hostility.

9 Min Read

Portrait of Henry Christophe: A Haitian King’s Rise and Legacy

Laureates

Henry Christophe: Haiti’s Revolutionary King

Winner of the 2024 Frederick Douglass Book Prize

3 Min Read

The image shows military personnel patrolling an urban area as part of counterterrorism measures. The soldiers, equipped with tactical gear such as backpacks and communication devices, are walking through a public square. In the background, civilians can be seen near a historic building, illustrating the visible presence of security forces in high-traffic locations to deter potential terrorist threats.

The Politics Brief

2024 UN Report: Counterterrorism vs. Human Rights

The 2024 UN report on counter-terrorism measures examines the growing use of non-criminal actions, like detention without trial and revocation…

8 Min Read

Supporters of Donald Trump gather outside the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 insurrection, waving American and Trump campaign flags alongside a United States Space Force flag, reflecting a moment tied to the contested vision for the future of the United States under Trump's influence.

The Politics Brief

The Future of the United States Under Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s return to the presidency is expected to redefine the United States through policies that could weaken democratic institutions,…

19 Min Read

This image shows the interaction between humans and industrial robots in the workplace. It reflects the increasing automation in production and the potential employment displacement that artificial intelligence integration brings to the labor market.

The Politics Brief

AI’s Impact on Healthcare, Employment, and Economic Growth

Artificial Intelligence is transforming key industries by driving economic growth, increasing productivity, and fostering innovation. However, these advancements come with…

10 Min Read

Young child interacting with a humanoid robot adorned with flowers in a busy indoor marketplace, illustrating the integration of artificial intelligence in everyday life.

The Politics Brief

Artificial Intelligence 2024: Trends, Impacts, Implications

The Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2024 offers a comprehensive analysis of the latest developments in AI, highlighting key trends, technological…

16 Min Read

Democracy is in danger: the Freedom in the World 2024 report classifies 84 countries and territories as 'Free' (in green), 59 as 'Partly Free' (in yellow), and 67 as 'Not Free' (in purple).

The Politics Brief

Democracy in 2024: Elections, Autocratization, and Freedom

With nearly 3 billion voters engaged in the largest electoral cycle in history, 2024 is critical for global democracy. Reports…

11 Min Read

Close-up of a young fern unfurling, symbolizing growth and biodiversity within a lush, green ecosystem.

The Politics Brief

Living Planet 2024: Biodiversity in Crisis

The Living Planet Report 2024 reveals a staggering 73% decline in global wildlife populations over the past 50 years. As…

8 Min Read

The image depicts an anonymous figure wearing a "Guy Fawkes" mask, a symbol associated with protest movements and digital activism. In the context of content moderation, this image might be sensitive due to its connections with demonstrations and activities that could be regulated on digital platforms. The combination of the mask with an urban autumn setting adds a layer of ambiguity, which might influence moderation decisions depending on the context of use and the platform's policies.

The Politics Brief

Localized Content Moderation: A Human Rights Approach

Adopting a human-centered, localized approach to content moderation is crucial for effectively regulating online hate speech.

12 Min Read

The Citizens United decision has substantially amplified the power of wealthy donors in American politics.

The Politics Brief

Citizens United: Impact of Wealthy Donors and Dark Money

The effectiveness of legislative efforts to curb dark money, the role of media in exposing or concealing financial influences, and…

14 Min Read

Frederick Douglass embodies the power of slave narratives in shaping American history and identity.

Political History

Slave Narratives: Shaping American Literature and Identity

Slave narratives, weaving resilience and resistance into the fabric of American identity, illuminate the path from bondage to collective liberation.

11 Min Read

Vibrant street mural depicting a colorful, abstract urban slum, symbolizing the complex layers and hidden narratives of urban precarity.

Culture & Politics

Urban Precarity: Art’s Political Lens

Artistic portrayals of marginalized cityscapes challenge perceptions, reshaping the global understanding of urban precarity.

15 Min Read

Digital artwork illustrating AI bias as binary code waves in a vast ocean separating islands of diverse individuals, symbolizing the segregation and interconnectedness in data-driven societies. This image underscores the urgent need to navigate AI bias for an inclusive future.

Technology

AI Bias: Navigating Ethics and Policy in Digital Age

Exploring the critical intersection of advanced technology and societal prejudices, AI Bias reshapes our understanding and future of ethical AI…

11 Min Read

The Rassemblement National emphasizes Christian heritage as central to France's identity and values. Blandine Le Cain

Politics & Religion

Christian Heritage: Shaping Europe’s Populist Discourse

In a Europe at the crossroads, populist movements champion Christian heritage, crafting a narrative that prioritizes cultural legacy over the…

8 Min Read

At the crossroads of local and national politics, local populist movements in Western Europe resonate with the demands of citizens who call for the defunding and reduction of politicians' power, as symbolically suggested by this cap with the slogan 'DEFUND THE POLITICIANS.' Photo by Gilbert Mercier.

Analysis & Theories

Populist Localism: Europe’s New Political Wave

Populist localism silently molds Western Europe's political landscape, navigating the tension between local identity and democratic principles.

10 Min Read

Pop art illustration of a porcupine upholding libertarian ethics by grasping the Torch of Liberty, symbolizing freedom and individualism. The graphic is divided by a vertical line, with one side depicting vertical stripes in teal, yellow, and light blue, and the other showing the porcupine in stark black, white, and gold tones. The image conveys a strong message of self-ownership and non-aggression principle through its bold lines and contrasting colors.

Environment & Animals

Libertarian Ethics: A New Dawn for Animal Rights

Reexamining animal rights through a libertarian lens, this article unveils a novel ethical framework, balancing individual liberty with animal welfare.

16 Min Read

A young girl is peering through white threads, presumably of a loom, in a room with a weathered teal wall. Her expression is solemn, and she holds the threads with her hands, indicating her involvement in labor as a child weaver. This image encapsulates the harrowing realities of modern slavery within the carpet weaving industry in Lahore's district. Her youthful appearance and the setting suggest her role is not by choice but due to the coercive conditions of child labor, a form of modern slavery.

Human Rights

Confronting Modern Slavery: Global Challenge and Action

Modern slavery's persistence mirrors deep global disparities, questioning our commitment to justice and human rights.

19 Min Read

Governments have been known to employ agents provocateurs to infiltrate and influence protest movements, often to disrupt or discredit the agenda of the demonstrators.

Freedom of Expression

Agents Provocateurs: Eroding Democracy & Free Speech

In the core of liberal democracies, agents provocateurs stealthily infiltrate political groups and social movements, posing a profound threat to…

13 Min Read

Horizontal portrait of Plato, with the left half in black and white marble-like style, and the right in vibrant colors with abstract animal forms, representing Interspecies Dialogues.

Environment & Animals

Revisiting Plato: A Modern Take on Interspecies Dialogues

By learning from Plato and engaging with modern thinkers like Rancière and Latour, we can move towards a future that…

19 Min Read

Elon Musk at TED 2022, discussing the future of Twitter and speech boundaries.

Freedom of Expression

Exploring Speech Boundaries: A Modern Quest

In a world where words wield power, understanding the boundaries of speech is more crucial than ever.

14 Min Read

The image you've uploaded is a political cartoon depicting the concept of "Civilizational Populism." It shows Uncle Sam standing on a pedestal labeled with the phrase "America for Americans," pointing towards a crowd of diverse immigrants. In the background, we see the Statue of Liberty and a building labeled "Depot for Immigrants," which suggests the setting might be a port of entry such as Ellis Island. The cartoon appears to comment on the attitudes towards immigration and the tension between welcoming new arrivals and protecting the interests of existing citizens. The style of the cartoon is reminiscent of late 19th to early 20th-century American political cartoons, which often used caricature and satire to comment on social and political issues of the time.

Analysis & Theories

The Surge of Civilizational Populism

Amidst global shifts, Civilizational Populism emerges as a defining force, challenging traditional politics and reshaping our understanding of cultural and…

12 Min Read

Illustration showing the juxtaposition of ancient civilizations and the digital age. Ancient ruins stand alongside modern cityscapes, with AI bots as statues in a public square. Floating above are digital clouds that rain down information, both truths and falsehoods. Citizens below, equipped with magnifying glasses, attempt to discern the genuine from the deceptive. The horizon is marked by a setting sun, casting long shadows, symbolizing the fading line between reality and disinformation in the era of AI.

Technology

AI Bots & Truth: Navigating Democracy’s Digital Challenge

Our democracies, built on the bedrock of informed choice and trust, are at a pivotal juncture. The choices we make…

11 Min Read

Anti-fascist movements march in London in 2018. Photo by Janusz Kaliszczak.

Political History

British Anti-Fascist Movements: A Retrospect

Anti-fascist movements in Britain reshaped political landscapes, intertwining the fight against fascism with enduring struggles for racial equality.

14 Min Read

Human Rights

Guarding Digital Human Rights in the Tech Era

Amidst the technological revolution, digital human rights stand at a crucial juncture, facing threats from data exploitation and algorithmic control.

15 Min Read

An artistically rendered phoenix, symbolizing resilience and rebirth, majestically rises from the ashes of burnt book pages against a dark background, visually embodying the theme of 'Intellectual Freedom'.

Freedom of Expression

Intellectual Freedom: The Power of Books Against Censorship

Championing intellectual freedom, literature stands as a defiant bulwark against censorship, embodying the indomitable human spirit in the quest for…

13 Min Read

Photo of a bustling anti-racism protest inside the York University student center. Students from diverse backgrounds gather en masse, filling the multi-level atrium. They stand attentively, some with backpacks on, facing a central point of interest, possibly a speaker or focal event. Banners drape over the railings of the upper floors, with messages promoting equality and denouncing racism. The image captures a moment of peaceful yet powerful advocacy, symbolizing a collective quest for expression and equity in an academic setting.

Freedom of Expression

Expression and Equity: University Dynamics in Canada

In Canadian universities, 'Expression and Equity' are not just concepts, but the pillars shaping a future of inclusive dialogue and…

16 Min Read

Designer Vivienne Westwood leads a crowd of over 50,000 activists through the streets of London, England, rallying for climate change action in anticipation of COP21 in Paris, France. The urgency of climate law reform is palpable as the mass of determined faces marches forward in solidarity. Photo by Matthew Kirby.

Environment & Animals

Climate Law: Judiciary’s Role in a Democratic Theatre

Courts are increasingly pivotal in shaping climate law, balancing judicial intervention with democratic integrity to address the urgent environmental crisis.

11 Min Read

Technology

AI Governance: Ethical & Democratic Imperatives

AI's rapid development sparks urgent ethical and democratic debates across diverse sectors.

13 Min Read