Democracy

UC Berkeley scholars say the economy, sexism and conspiracies fueled Trump’s reelection

November 6, 2024

Former President Donald Trump has decisively won reelection to the White House, a political outcome that began reverberating around the globe in the hours after the polls closed Tuesday. After polling for weeks had shown a too-close-to-call race that might take days to conclude, Trump’s clear win struck many as a shock.

Analysts will likely spend years working to fully understand the forces that drove his return to power. But on the day after, top UC Berkeley scholars offer a sharp and sometimes unsettling assessment of the dynamics at play. Some cite Trump’s appeal to white voters...

UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies hosts 2024 election night watch party

November 6, 2024

IGS watch party

To create a space for students to gather and discuss the high-stakes presidential election and key ballot measures, the Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) hosted an election night watch party on Tuesday with live coverage of the 2024 general election. The event provided information about the race for the presidency, control of the U.S. House and...

Political scientists launch the Berkeley Center for American Democracy

October 8, 2024

Americans are feeling pessimistic about their political landscape. Polls show that US voters’ top concern involves political extremism and threats to democracy, eclipsing perennial issues like immigration and the economy. Last year, the Pew Research Center...

Berkeley Talks: Adam Gopnik on what it takes to keep liberal democracies alive

June 14, 2024

In Berkeley Talks episode 202, New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik discusses liberalism — what it means, why we need it and the endless dedication it requires to maintain.

 A Thousand Small Sanities by Adam Gopnik and a black/white image of Adam Gopnik resting his chin on hand, looking into cameraLiberal democracy, he said at a UC Berkeley event in April, depends on two pillars: free and fair elections and the...