Bush Institute Special Series
Democracy Talks
At the Bush Center, we’re concerned about the challenges to the health of democracies around the world. Populism is on the rise. Media and other independent institutions are under pressure. Human rights violations are ignored. Isolationism and authoritarianism are growing. And now democracies are faced with containing a pandemic while at the same time cherishing their longstanding freedoms.
Becoming – and Remaining – a Democracy Isn’t Easy
Video · Jun 23, 2022
Strengthening America's Democracy
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., serves as Vice Chair of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. In this <em>Democracy Talks</em> conversation, she explains why America should stand against the rise of anti-democratic forces around the world.
Video · Jun 23, 2022
Abraham Lincoln: A Poet of Democracy Who Inspired Freedom’s Spread
John Avlon, Senior Political Analyst at CNN, discusses Abraham Lincoln's influence on the spread of democracy. He also reminds us that self-government requires vigorous citizenship.
Jun 23, 2022
Safeguards Keep our Elections and Democracy Secure
Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico’s Secretary of State, outlines how states follow painstaking, transparent steps before and after each election to keep them reliable and secure.
Jun 23, 2022
A Vibrant Culture Smooths a Transition to Democracy
Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia from 2006 to 2016, shares how Estonia’s independent culture made its transition to democracy easier than some nations after the Soviet Union collapsed.
Jun 23, 2022
How to Reverse Central America’s Authoritarian Trends
Luis Guillermo Solis, former President of Costa Rica from 2014 to 2018, describes how authoritarian trends are at work in nations like Nicaragua and El Salvador. He likewise details his concerns about democracy across Latin America.
Jun 23, 2022
Challenging Information Autocracies
Hungarian social psychologist and political scientist Peter Kreko directs the Political Capital Institute in Budapest. He explains the recent rise of information autocracies and how autocrats use information instead of violence or oppression to control their people.
Jun 23, 2022
We Need a Global Fight for Freedom
Leopoldo Lopez, former Venezuelan political prisoner, considers the challenges to democracy in Latin America and shares his belief that democracy must deliver for its people.
Video · Jun 23, 2022
Democracy Makes the World More Secure and Prosperous
Damon Wilson, President and CEO of the bipartisan National Endowment for Democracy (NED); Daniel Twining, President of the International Republican Institute; and Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute, explore how nations can best make transitions to freedom.
Video · Jun 23, 2022
Ukrainians Always Come Back
Marie Yovanovitch, a distinguished career American diplomat, reflects on the distinct cultural differences between Russia and Ukraine and how Ukrainians have pursued a path to democracy and freedom while the Russians have not.
Jun 23, 2022
When It Comes to Democratic Transitions, the Middle East Is a Desert
One thing is clear: As long as authoritarian leaders remain in power, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere, the countries they run will never have any hope or opportunity to move in a more democratic direction.
Jun 23, 2022
Be Patient with Central America's Faltering Transition to Democracy
Matthew Rooney, Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships at the Bush Institute, describes the heroic efforts by the people of Central America and how the international community must remain patient in their efforts to transition to democracy.
Jun 23, 2022
Strengthening Democracy Around the World and at Home
In this edition of <em>Democracy Talks</em>, William McKenzie, Chris Walsh, and David J. Kramer explore the key elements needed to create, sustain, and strengthen democracy.
Preserving Freedom of Expression
Mar 22, 2022
Facebook’s Oversight Board’s Work – And Other Free Speech Challenges
Michael McConnell, the Richard and Frances Mallery Professor at Stanford Law School, explains the work of the Facebook Oversight Board and discusses the relationship between the First Amendment and disinformation.
Mar 22, 2022
The Internet Expands Freedom of Expression — If We Keep the Net Free
Adrian Shahbaz, Director of Technology and Democracy at Freedom House, explains how authoritarian governments in China and elsewhere are limiting their citizens’ access to the internet. What’s more, he warns, they are attempting to rewrite global rules governing the internet.
Mar 22, 2022
Debating Free Speech on College Campuses
Jamal Greene, Dwight Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, and Greg Lukianoff, President and CEO of Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, explore the freedom of expression and the evolution of First Amendment rights on college campuses.
Mar 22, 2022
Colleges Need to be Places Where All Ideas are on the Table
Jacqueline Pfeffer Merrill, Director of the Campus Free Expression Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, reports on how self-censorship happens on campuses, and argues that colleges should be a place for free expression and ideas.
Mar 22, 2022
Autocracy’s Opening When People Don’t Know the Facts
Margaret Sullivan, <em>Washington Post</em> media columnist, examines journalism's role in a democracy, the decline of local journalism, and the rise of social media platforms considered as news sources.
Mar 22, 2022
Democracy Backslides When A Free Press is Considered an Enemy of the People
Sofia Menchu is a Guatemalan journalist and reporter for Reuters. She discusses challenges to freedom of the press in her home country, Guatemala, and calls upon her government and other Central American governments to respect freedom of expression.
Mar 22, 2022
Journalists are on the Front Line of Central America’s Fight for Democracy
Threats and attacks against the press in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have been steadily escalating. Jenny Villatoro, Associate of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, argues journalists must remain resolute in their work and committed to preserving their democracy.
Mar 22, 2022
Washington Should Magnify Dissenting Voices in Afghanistan and Burma
Natalie Gonnella-Platts, Director of the Women's Initiative at the Bush Institute, and Chris Walsh, Deputy Director of the Human Freedom and Women's Initiatives at the Bush Institute, argue it's up to the United States and other democracies to help uplift the voices in Burma and Afghanistan.
Mar 22, 2022
How to Protect and Enhance Freedom of Expression
In the seventh installment of <em>Democracy Talks</em>, Lindsay Lloyd, Bill McKenzie, and Chris Walsh look at freedom of expression in three ways: the rise of the internet as a vehicle for expression, the state of free speech on college campuses, and the challenges that face freedom of the press in the United States and elsewhere.
Democratic Stability Requires Religious Freedom
Nov 30, 2021
Why — and How — Democracies Must Promote Religious Freedom
Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, discusses global trends in religious freedom, including the threats religious extremists pose.
Nov 30, 2021
The Church Has Left the Building
Pastor Richie Butler speaks about the meaning of religious freedom and how it has been central to the work of Black churchgoers.
Nov 30, 2021
Getting Religious Freedom Right Leads to Democratic Stability
Peter Wehner, a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. and E.J. Dionne Jr., a <em>Washington Post</em> Syndicated Columnist, 
 address the relationship between religious freedom and democratic stability.
Nov 30, 2021
The Complicated Task of Reclaiming Religion from Extremists
Nina Shea, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and Rabbi David Saperstein share their expertise in trends affecting religious freedom, the greatest threats to this liberty, and how democratic as well as religious leaders might best respond.
Video · Nov 30, 2021
China’s Persecution of Uyghur Muslims is an Attack on Freedom and Democracy
Rushan Abbas and Ziba Murat, both of whom are United States citizens, speak about the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims and contend that the United States and other democracies need to uphold religious freedom and human rights as a model for nations to follow as China attempts to expand its reach around the world.
Nov 30, 2021
Marginalizing Religion Undermines our Democratic Foundations
Bishop Robert Barron delves into the impact of new technological developments on religious freedom and how people of faith balance their commitment to the Divine with their obligation to the common good.
Nov 30, 2021
Making Interfaith Collaboration a Top Five Issue
Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), details how interfaith collaborations occur – and why they expand religious freedom.
Nov 30, 2021
Understanding What the Constitution Says – and Doesn’t Say – about Religious Freedom
Robert P. George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, where he directs the James Madison Program for American Ideals and Institutions. In this interview, he explains what he perceives as the true meaning of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment’s protection of religious liberty.
Nov 30, 2021
Being Muslim and French and Being French and Muslim
Hakim El Karoui leads Brunswick’s Paris office and is a Senior Fellow at Institute Montaigne. He discusses France's experience with secularism and ways to integrate Muslims into French society.
Nov 30, 2021
The Rise of the Nones
“In God We Trust,” the national motto, appears on every American coin and dollar bill. But what does it mean for the character of the country if that no longer holds true?
Nov 30, 2021
Religious Freedom Can Teach Us About Strengthening American Democracy
Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, the Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow at the Bush Institute, details how protections for religious belief offer a crucial lesson for strengthening American democracy and addressing growing societal rifts.
Nov 30, 2021
Chasing a Greater Appreciation of Religious Pluralism
Chris Walsh, Human Freedom and Women's Initiative's Senior Program Manager at the Bush Institute, writes that democracies must maintain generously spaced guardrails to protect religious pluralism.
Nov 30, 2021
Effective Leadership Needed to Get Religious Freedom Right
In the sixth installment of <em>Democracy Talks,</em> Lindsay Lloyd, Bill McKenzie, and Chris Walsh argue that the health of democracies around the world depend upon getting the basics of religious freedom right.
Expanding Community Engagement, Civil Dialogue, and Civic Renewal
Jun 5, 2024
Entertainment or journalism?
Jan 25, 2024
Look to points of light for solutions to divisions
Jul 8, 2021
Pluralism Lets Us Live Together with Profound Differences
David French, Senior Editor at <em>The Dispatch</em>, shares that pluralism is the antidote to greater fracturing and how he draws hope for the future from how America’s founding principles have guided the nation through times of conflict.
Jul 8, 2021
“Trust Brokers” Strengthen Communities
Frederick Riley, Executive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project, details how “trust brokers” repair the breakdown in social trust by creating connections in their communities.
Jul 8, 2021
Creating a Sense of Us
James and Deborah Fallows discuss the role of libraries in expanding community engagement, the impact of immigrants in revitalizing communities, and how some communities are rebounding from the decline in local journalism.
Jul 8, 2021
Becoming Owners of Our Nation, Community, and Neighborhood
Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation, and Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, share ways to make community engagement innovative and civic education relevant. They also emphasize closing the digital divide.
Video · Jul 8, 2021
Be Intentional About Community Engagement and Civil Dialogue
Carol Guess, Interim President of the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, shares her belief about individuals and organizations being intentional about discussing national and local issues in a civil, respectful way.
Jul 8, 2021
Identifying a Community’s Key Assets
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez shares how elected leaders can help their communities create a common story.
Jul 8, 2021
Big Citizenship Can Move A Nation Toward Good
John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic and CEO of the COVID-Collaborative, says that “big citizenship” involves all of us working toward a greater good.
Jul 8, 2021
Building Civic Muscle Among Young Americans
Manu Meel, CEO of BridgeUSA, and Valerian Sikhuashvili, Director of Academic Programs at the Alexander Hamilton Society, discuss engaging young Americans in strengthening our democracy and civics education.
Jul 8, 2021
Creating Civil Dialogue in the Classroom
Keith Hennessey, a Lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the David M. Rubinstein Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute, details how he works to explicitly create respect and charity in his classroom discussions and debates.
Jul 8, 2021
Three Ways to Expand Civic Engagement, Community Renewal, and Civil Dialogue
Recommendations on how to restore our democracy through civic engagement.
Jul 8, 2021
Sports, Community, and Civic Renewal
Natalie Gonnella-Platts, Bush Institute Women's Initiative Director, and Chris Walsh, Bush Institute Senior Program Manager for the Women's Initiative and Human Freedom Initiative, explore how sports give people a sense of camaraderie and community.
Jul 8, 2021
Inclusive ‘Placemaking’ Leads to Civic Renewal
Cullum Clark, Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative Director, describes how cities can benefit from mixed-use neighborhoods and civic engagement.
Jul 8, 2021
Veterans are a Key Part of Renewing our Communities
Amy Bushatz, George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Graduate and Executive Editor of <em>Military.com</em>, emphasizes that civic engagement includes all - especially our Nation's veterans
Navigating the Intersection of Democracy, Identity, and Immigration
Feb 23, 2021
Individual Rights Define the American Identity
Niall Ferguson, the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a Senior Faculty Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, discusses becoming an American, the definition of the American identity, and how a dynamic market economy assimilates immigrants.
Feb 23, 2021
Creating Unity in a Diverse Society
Yuval Levin, Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and Editor of National Affairs, contends that America's founding ideals can create unity amidst our pluralism.
Feb 23, 2021
Pluralism is the Lifeblood of a Genuine Democracy
Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies in the University of Oxford, the Isaiah Berlin Professorial Fellow at St. Antony’s College, Oxford, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, explains why democracies thrive when they have a sense of community, identity, and belonging that are open to all, provided that all live by the society's rules, laws, and values.
Feb 23, 2021
The Complicated Journey of Becoming an American
Luma Simms, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, describes learning how to describe her identity, what the American identity should include, and how she synthesizes each day her American self and her Iraqi self.
Feb 23, 2021
Becoming a Welcoming Society
Luisa del Rosal, Executive Director of SMU’s John Goodwin Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs and founding Executive Director of the Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center at SMU, discusses her journey in becoming a U.S. citizen. She also explains how universities, businesses, and nonprofits can help immigrants become part of the American mainstream.
Feb 23, 2021
Religious Identity's Role in Immigration
Nury Turkel, a Uyghur Muslim who serves on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, reports how religious persecution drives migration around the world. He also explains how immigrants and refugees can become advocates for democracy and human rights back home.
Feb 23, 2021
How Gender and Technology Impact Migration
Caroline Brettell, University Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at SMU and Chair of Southern Methodist University's Anthropology Department, discusses gender roles in migration. She also reports on the contribution that civic associations make to the integration of immigrants into American life.
Feb 23, 2021
America's Democratic Identity Binds Together a Diverse Nation
Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, a Professor in the Practice of International Affairs at Georgetown University and the Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow at the Bush Institute, writes that, despite Americans' divided identities, our shared "American democratic identity" unites us under longstanding democratic values, institutions, and processes.
Video · Feb 23, 2021
Making “We” as Big as It Can Be
Sanjay Ramabhadran, a partner in VERSA Infrastructure, Anurima Bhargava, a Commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Gita Pullapilly, a Hollywood screenwriter, director, and producer, describe how their identities as immigrants or the children of immigrants were shaped. They also discuss how the American identity is always being expanded and refined.
Feb 23, 2021
Schools as the Gateway into American Life
Dr. Juliet Garcia, former President of the University of Texas at Brownsville, and Anne Wicks, the Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education Reform at the Bush Institute, discuss the strategies and resources needed to integrate immigrant students into American life -- and why meeting this goal is fundamental to the stability of America's democracy.
Feb 23, 2021
Creating a Common Narrative in a Diverse Democracy
Recommendations for how free societies can navigate the intersection of democracy, identity, and immigration. 
Feb 23, 2021
Religious Institutions Create a Point of Contact for Immigrants
Extending the right hand of fellowship is the most important role religious institutions can play as our nation continues to define and refine its immigration policies.
Technology Meets Democracy
Dec 8, 2020
Democracy Talks: The Long Struggle for Women’s Rights
This Democracy Talks conversation focuses on the challenges facing democracies today, including the struggle for a more equitable system that better represents our country’s founding ideals. 
Oct 13, 2020
Using Technologies to Stand for Freedom in Hong Kong
Joshua Wong, a leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, discusses the challenges to political and personal freedom in Hong Kong.
Oct 13, 2020
New Technologies Can Strengthen Democracies
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who served as Denmark's Prime Minister and as NATO's Secretary General, discusses disinformation campaigns, media literacy, and the race to develop 5G networks.
Oct 13, 2020
Responding to the Warfare of the 21st Century
GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio discusses disinformation campaigns and cyber warfare as a national security issue, how well the United States is responding to them, and how information warfare is impacting other regions of the world.
Oct 13, 2020
Technology Creates Opportunities for Democracies
Jigsaw Policy Director Scott Carpenter explains how the technology community is responding to the challenges that disinformation campaigns, deepfakes, and manipulated images present democracies.
Oct 13, 2020
Discerning Truth in Today's Information Ecosystem
Renee DiResta of the Stanford Internet Observatory — and 2017 Presidential Leadership Scholar — reports on how disinformation campaigns work and how consumers can fight back against disinformation.
Oct 13, 2020
Homeland Security Secretaries Discuss Securing the Homeland in an Internet Age
Former Homeland Security Secretaries Jeh Johnson and Michael Chertoff discuss the impact of technology upon elections, preserving free speech in an internet age, and the reality of cyber threats.
Oct 13, 2020
China’s Emergence as a Disinformation Force
Sarah Cook, Senior Research Analyst for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House, and Libby Liu, former President of Radio Free Asia and former CEO of the Open Technology Fund, explain China's disinformation work.
Oct 13, 2020
Cyberworld’s Impact upon Democratic Stability
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., draws upon her experience as a legislator and former CIA officer to explain cyberattacks and the impact of new technologies upon democracies.
Oct 13, 2020
Deepfakes are a Different Kind of Threat to Democracy
Glenn Gaffney, a former CIA officer who headed the agency's science and technology division, discusses the rise of deepfake videos and the need for tools to discern the truth in what we are seeing.
Oct 13, 2020
How the United States Can Prevail in the Digital Eco-System
Lindsay Lloyd, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of the Bush Institute's Human Freedom Initiative, and Chris Walsh, Senior Program Manager in the Human Freedom Initiative, prescribe how the U.S. can prevail in the Information Age.
Oct 13, 2020
Don't Do Our Enemies' Work for Them
Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, the Kelly and David Phiel Fellow at the Bush Institute, writes that a cyberattack on American democracy is a threat to all Americans, not just to one group, party, or person.
Oct 13, 2020
Media Literacy Helps Consumers Discern Fact from Fiction
William McKenzie, the Bush Institute's Senior Editorial Advisor, details how being "media literate" can help consumers of news be foot-soldiers in the battle for truth.
Oct 13, 2020
Technology Strengthens Democracies’ Literal Health – If Enough Trust Exists
Victor Cha, Senior Fellow in the George W. Bush Institute 's Human Freedom Initiative, reports on how technology has helped nations with enough societal trust to combat the pandemic.
Nativism, Isolationism, and Protectionism
Jul 21, 2020
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Populism, Nativism, Isolationism, and Protectionism
Condoleezza Rice explains the rise of nativism, populism, isolationism, and protectionism across the world and their impact on democracies.
Jul 21, 2020
Dangerous “Isms” Challenge Democracies in our Hemisphere and Beyond
Former Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza, the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative's Laura Collins, and Florida International University's David Kramer discuss the destabilizing forces of nativism, protectionism, and isolationism.
Jul 21, 2020
Democracy Mobilizes the Better Angels of Our Nature
Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., discusses the deeper roots of populism; the threat that nativism, protectionism, and isolationism present democracies; and why America’s policy towards China should be a contest of ideas about how the world should operate.
Jul 21, 2020
No Nation is an Island
Author and historian Anne Applebaum describes how democracy has not been the norm throughout history, cautions that we must watch the rise of foreign authoritarianism through propaganda campaigns, and recalls that no society, even a large one like the United States, operates as an island.
Jul 21, 2020
Europe's 21st Century Challenge is Defining "The People"
Bulgarian political scientist Ivan Krastev comments on what he considers the driving forces behind the rise of populism, extreme nationalism, and identity politics across the European continent.
Jul 21, 2020
Opposing Populism and Nativism in Venezuela – At a Cost
Venezuelan dissident Rodrigo Diamanti explains the importance of protecting a free press from the reach of authoritarians; the way in which a populist dictator came to power in his home country; and how nativism, isolationism, populism, and protectionism are the symptoms of a disease that can destroy a democracy if left unchecked.
Jul 21, 2020
Emerging Democracies Combat Isolationism, Nationalism, and Identity Issues
Myo Myint Aung, executive director of the Open Society Foundation in Myanmar and a 2017 Bush Institute Liberty and Leadership Scholar, discusses the role of national, religious, and cultural identity in a democracy; the threat excessive nationalism poses to democratic stability; and why isolationism, particularly in the United States and Europe, can undermine global relations.
Jul 21, 2020
Making Democracy Deliver for All is the Antidote to the Dangers of Populism
Lindsay Lloyd, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of the George W. Bush Institute's Human Freedom Initiative, details how the answer to the dangers of populism is ensuring all people can realize the promises of democracy.
Jul 21, 2020
This is What Democracy Looks Like
Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow Nicole Bibbins Sedaca writes that the current protests in the United States are not a sign of democratic weakness. Remarkably, the Georgetown University professor contends, they could prove to be a strong boost for American democracy and a notable show of the strength and importance of democracy.
Jul 21, 2020
Press Freedom is Democracy’s Canary in the Coal Mine
The Bush Institute's Chris Walsh points to the experience of countries like Venezuela to show why protecting freedom of the press is central to protecting all freedoms.
Expanding Freedom, Rule of Law, and Human Rights
May 5, 2020
North Koreans Living in the South are Developing a Political Voice
Melanie Kirkpatrick, author of <em>Escape From North Korea: The Untold Story of Asia’s Underground Railroad</em> and a member of the Bush Institute's Human Freedom Advisory Council, explains the significance of North Korean refugees developing a political voice in South Korea.
May 5, 2020
Closing the Generational Divide on Supporting Democracy
Bush Institute Human Freedom Fellow Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, a Georgetown professor, reports on why grappling with the generational divide over supporting democracy will be essential for the health of American democracy and democratic development globally.
May 5, 2020
Democracy Talks: Joseph Kim, North Korean Refugee
Bush Institute Expert-in-Residence Joseph Kim, a North Korean refugee, discusses his experience living under an authoritarian regime, the denial of human rights in his native country, and why he believes human rights matter in all nations. 
 
Apr 28, 2020
Democracy Talks: Senator Mitt Romney
Senator Mitt Romney, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, explains why America should play a leading role in global affairs, especially as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apr 28, 2020
Democracy Talks: Mustafa Akyol, Author and Journalist
Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol discusses his home country's struggles with democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Apr 28, 2020
Democracy Talks: Robert Kagan, Brookings Institution
Robert Kagan believes the era of the strongman is back. Part of the antidote, he believes, is that people in democratic societies should remember the benefits of liberal democracy.
Apr 28, 2020
America’s Support for Democracy Abroad Differs from Russian, Chinese Actions
It is a false parallel to equate U.S. support for political and personal freedoms with efforts by Russia and other adversaries to influence the course of politics in third countries.
Apr 28, 2020
Democracy Talks: A Conversation with Wai Wai Nu
Wai Wai Nu, a Rohingya activist and 2015 Bush Institute Liberty and Leadership Scholar, describes the challenges to democracy and human rights in Burma, her home country.
Apr 28, 2020
Democracy Talks: Andrew Wilson, Center for International Private Enterprise
Why democracies come under challenge when they fail to deliver economic opportunities for their citizens — and why American businesses succeed in nations that embrace democracy, the rule of law, and a competitive environment.
Apr 28, 2020
Democracy Talks: Laura Rosenberger, Alliance for Securing Democracy
Laura Rosenberger discusses the ways in which Vladimir Putin particularly is trying to undermine America’s democracy and how America’s support for democracy and human rights abroad differs from the actions of Russia and China in the affairs of other nations.
Apr 28, 2020
Our Own Shortcomings Shouldn't Keep America from Supporting Democracy
The Bush Institute's Chris Walsh details why America must accept itself as a flawed champion of liberal democratic values at home and abroad.
Apr 28, 2020
Democracy Talks: Michael Abramowitz, Freedom House
Michael Abramowitz discusses the impact of populist movements on democracies, the challenges democracies with struggling economies face, and the tension in the world between the desire for freedom and security.
Apr 14, 2020
Democracy Talks: COVID-19, Authoritarianism, and Democracy
The first in a series of discussions on freedom on democracy around the world features Laura Rosenberger, Mustafa Akyol, Michael Abramowitz, and Andrew Wilson. The four experts on democracy and authoritarianism discuss the impact the coronavirus is having on political freedom and democratic institutions around the world.
The Cause of Freedom in Latin America
Video · Nov 1, 2022
Populism, Polarization, and Post-Truth in Latin America
Felipe Calderón, who served as President of Mexico from 2006-2012, addresses the importance of leaders promoting fundamentals such as the rule of law, the right to free and fair elections, and practicing democracy daily.
Video · Nov 1, 2022
Young Venezuelans Deserve to Live Free
Exiled Venezuelan dissident Rafaela Requesens speaks out for the next generation of Venezuelans. And she calls upon the international community to denounce the human rights abuses of Nicolás Maduro's government.
Nov 1, 2022
Can Democracy in Latin America Survive the Populist Temptation?
A growing indifference in Latin America towards democracy has manifested itself in the form of populism, writes Jessica Ludwig, Director of Freedom and Democracy at the Bush Institute.
Nov 1, 2022
Championing Freedom in Cuba
Cuban democracy activist Rosa María Payá and <span style="font-style: normal">Washington Post</span> journalist David E. Hoffman detail the decline of democracy in Latin America and why the cause of freedom in Cuba matters.
Nov 1, 2022
Russia and Latin America After February 24
David J. Kramer, Executive Director at the Bush Institute, explores the relationship between Russia and Latin America.
Nov 1, 2022
Be Careful What You Wish For: The Risks of De-Globalization in the Americas
The globalization process began and took on its most concrete form in the Americas. Now, reversal of that process represents a sharp turn, writes Matthew Rooney, Director of Institute Outreach and Strategic Partnerships at the Bush Institute.
Video · Nov 1, 2022
Strengthening Economic Connections Across Latin America
Greater trading relationships would strengthen Latin American economies. In turn, the United States would benefit, says Antonio Garza, former United States Ambassador to Mexico.
Nov 1, 2022
How Latin America Understands China
Parsifal D’Sola, Founder and Executive Director of the Andres Bello Foundation, explains how the Chinese government’s promotion of itself as a great power makes it hard for some Latin American leaders to see Beijing as an authoritarian power.
Nov 1, 2022
Democracy’s Digital Battlefront in Venezuela
Nicolás Maduro’s regime underscores how freedom of expression is a powerful tool in the generational struggle for liberty, write Chris Walsh, the Bush Institute’s Deputy Director of Freedom and Democracy, and Rodrigo Diamanti, a Venezuelan dissident who heads A World Without Censorship.
Nov 1, 2022
Safety for Women is Key to Central America’s Stability
Gender-based violence affects one in three women worldwide, making it an urgent and important policy challenge. Violence against women and girls is often excluded from conversations on the nexus of Central American democracy.
Nov 1, 2022
Attacks on Press Freedom are an Attack on the Idea of Democracy
William McKenzie, Senior Editorial Advisor at the Bush Institute, writes about the barriers journalists face in Latin American countries and the importance of independent reporting for a democratic society.