The Heights

Scholars at Clough Center Talk Warn of Looming “Sudden Decline” in U.S. Democracy

Alexa Allers and Nathan Yarnell • October 11, 2025

Jonathan Laurence warned that democracy in the United States will decline gradually and then suddenly, in line with current trends in democratic countries.

“Democracy Is Not Fixed”: Park Discusses Democracy’s Global Decline

Henry Lopez and Toni Idowu • October 9, 2025

Although globalization has historically allowed democracy to succeed in the creation of the current world order, it is also the reason why it is currently failing globally, according to Myung-Lim Park.

Democracy on the Decline: Former National Security Advisor Examines the State of American Democracy

Aidan Gravina • March 23, 2025

It seems strange to imagine a United States where democracy is no longer its rallying cry—a United States where protests against taxation without representation are confined to the history books rather than reenacted in the streets and universities. But according to Philip Gordon, the United States might already be there.

Newton Residents Discuss the State of Democracy Under Trump

Sophia Gallon • February 24, 2025

Norton organized the meeting for residents who possibly felt similar to her—concerned and fearful for America’s future.

BC Alum and U.S. Senator Ed Markey’s Inauguration Absence Was Undemocratic

Nick Voll • February 2, 2025

Just two days later, President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States of America. BC’s most visible alumnus was noticeably absent from the ceremonies, presumably mourning the demise of his once proud basketball program. Markey, along with several other members of the Massachusetts delegation, including U.S. Representatives Bill Keating and Ayanna Pressley, consciously decided not to attend Trump’s inauguration.

Landemore Calls for a New System of Democracy That Empowers Individuals

Jake Jansen • October 10, 2024

Modern democracies are broken, but there is a way to fix them, according to Hélène Landemore. “I have good news and bad news,” Landemore said. “Bad news is electoral politics, it seems to me,...

On Voice, Vitriol, and Visions: A Lorikeet Among the Eagles

Andrew Lim • October 22, 2023

The day before I wrote this—on Oct. 14—Australia went to the polls. Whether at the primary school a few blocks from my Melbourne home, 10,000 miles away via postal ballot, or the one Antarctic polling place at the far reaches of the earth, Australian citizens across the globe cast their ballots.