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Democracy and politics
Focusing our work on democracy and politics throughout the world
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Featured Programmes and projects Latest news Voices blog Publications Research updates People
Focus on democracy and politics
From democracy and its alternatives to political ideologies and representation

We think a lot about the system of democracy, and its alternatives. Much of our work is also on politics – from competing ideologies and ideas, to governments being influenced by the support (or lack of support) of their people. Explore issues ranging across nationalism, populism, and other political ideologies; to political systems and parties; to elections, voting rights and representation.

FEATURED

Maya Tudor
News
14 July 2023

New book on nationalism by Maya Tudor

Different varieties of nationalism can lead to violence and discrimination, to civil rights and freedoms, and to a whole range of outcomes in between. Maya Tudor's new book explores how nationalism can vary.

Democracy and politics
Canary Wharf in London
Project

Banklash: Banks, popular backlash, and the post-crisis politics of financial regulation

Banklash is a multi-year research project, seeking to understand how banks and the rules that govern them have become objects of democratic political contestation since the financial crisis in the late 2000s.

Democracy and politics
Business and capitalism
...
Australia
France
Germany
Switzerland
United Kingdom (UK)
United States of America (USA)
Close-up macro photo of the front cover of a report
Publication
28 October 2024

Strengthening democracy by reducing threats to women in politics: Local evidence, shared solutions

Violence, abuse, and harassment against politically-active women is an escalating global issue. Comprehensive solutions involving governments, political parties, civil society, and social media regulation are essential to address this growing problem and protect women in politics.

Hannah PhillipsAmna BaigPrakriti BhattaraiIsatou M BokumJaclyn CorinEma GrajcarováRosario Grimà Algora
Democracy and politics
Inclusion
...
United Kingdom (UK)
United Nations flags
Publication
08 March 2024

Strengthening democracy by reducing threats to women in politics

Growing violence against politically active women poses a threat to representative democracy. This report addresses the measurement and mitigation of online violence against women politicians.

Hannah PhillipsAgostina BergiaRosario Grimà Algora
Inclusion
Democracy and politics
Photo of flags leading up to the United Nations building
Blog
08 March 2024

Strengthening democracy by reducing threats to women in politics

Hannah Phillips publishes a new report on threats to women in politics around the world, with Agostina Bergia and Rosario Grimà Algora, with recommendations on what we can do about it.

Hannah Phillips
Hannah Phillips
Democracy and politics

PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS

    • The flags of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe countries near headquarters of OSCE in Vienna, Austria
      Project

      International Perspectives on Conservatism

    • Manchester skyline
      Programme

      Home Win and Place-Based Renewal

    • Canary Wharf in London
      Project

      Banklash: Banks, popular backlash, and the post-crisis politics of financial regulation

    • Russian tanks in South Ossetia (source: Yana Amelina, Wikimedia)
      Project

      Establishing State Legitimacy and Effectiveness in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Societies

    • Jonathan Wolff
      Programme

      Alfred Landecker Programme

    LATEST NEWS

    SEE ALL LATEST NEWS
    Close-up macro photo of the front cover of a report
    News
    28 October 2024

    New report aims to strengthen democracy by reducing threats towards women in politics

    A new report fills some of the knowledge gaps across the world about the challenges and potential solution for threats towards women who are politically active.

    Democracy and politics
    Inclusion
    ...
    United Kingdom (UK)
    Pakistan
    Europe
    Photo of Calum Miller and Keir Mather in London
    News
    15 July 2024

    Blavatnik School faculty and alumnus elected to UK Parliament

    One of the Blavatnik School’s first Political Leadership Scholars, Keir Mather and former Chief Operating Officer and Senior Fellow in Public Management, Calum Miller, were sworn into the UK Parliament last week, after winning seats for the Labour Party in Selby and Ainsty and the Liberal Democrats in Bicester and Woodstock respectively.

    The School
    Democracy and politics
    ...
    United Kingdom (UK)
    Photo of Padraig Rice
    News
    09 June 2024

    Pádraig Rice elected as a member of Cork City Council

    Pádraig Rice has been elected as a member of Cork City Council for the Social Democrats in Ireland.

    Democracy and politics
    Ireland

    VOICES BLOG

    SEE ALL VOICES
    Opinion and insight from around the school
    Badge depicting Africa
    Blog
    09 May 2025

    Democracy or delivery: what does Africa need?

    Elizabeth Osei, Master of Public Policy student and community development expert, explores the complex relationship between democratic ideals and effective governance in Africa, drawing on recent developments in Burkina Faso.

    Elizabeth Dansoa Osei
    Elizabeth Dansoa Osei
    Democracy and politics
    Africa
    Photo of Japan's Parliament House
    Blog
    22 April 2025

    “The wall of 1.03 million yen”: a test for Japan’s “deliberative” democracy

    Master of Public Policy students Shinnosuke Tominaga and Mayuka Murota explore the fierce debate around raising income tax thresholds for workers and the implications for the state of Japan’s democracy.

    Shinnosuke Tominaga
    Mayuka Murota
    Shinnosuke Tominaga
    Mayuka Murota
    Democracy and politics
    Japan
    Syrian flag
    Blog
    01 April 2025

    A window into Syria’s caretaker government

    Fareed Fakhoury, an alumnus from the Master of Public Policy course and researcher on Syrian affairs, provides a data-driven analysis of the demographics and capacity of those currently holding power in the interim government. His assessments were first published by Karam Shaar Advisory, a consultancy specialising in the political economy of Syria. 

    Fareed Fakhoury
    Fareed Fakhoury
    Democracy and politics
    Syria

    PUBLICATIONS

      • Close-up macro photo of the front cover of a report
        Publication
        28 October 2024

        Strengthening democracy by reducing threats to women in politics: Local evidence, shared solutions

        Violence, abuse, and harassment against politically-active women is an escalating global issue. Comprehensive solutions involving governments, political parties, civil society, and social media regulation are essential to address this growing problem and protect women in politics.

        Hannah PhillipsAmna BaigPrakriti BhattaraiIsatou M BokumJaclyn CorinEma GrajcarováRosario Grimà Algora
        Democracy and politics
        Inclusion
        ...
        United Kingdom (UK)
      • United Nations flags
        Publication
        08 March 2024

        Strengthening democracy by reducing threats to women in politics

        Growing violence against politically active women poses a threat to representative democracy. This report addresses the measurement and mitigation of online violence against women politicians.

        Hannah PhillipsAgostina BergiaRosario Grimà Algora
        Inclusion
        Democracy and politics
      • Publication
        03 March 2022

        Insights from resilient cities

        The project examining the levelling-up of Britain’s regions seeks to help address the problem of profound spatial inequality in the UK by drawing lessons from international success stories of cities that bounced back from decline.

        Ian TaylorSusanne Frick
        Economy
        Public sector
        ...
        Democracy and politics
        Home Win and Place-Based Renewal
        Health, education and public services
        United Kingdom (UK)
      • Publication
        13 April 2021

        Resist, reform or re-run: short- and long-term reflections on Scotland and independence referendums

        Ciaran Martin, Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations, delves into the constitutional issues related to a Scottish independence referendum, drawing on direct personal experience from the 2014 referendum and the negotiations preceding it.

        Ciaran Martin
        Democracy and politics
        Law
        ...
        Health, education and public services
        United Kingdom (UK)
      • Publication
        30 September 2020

        The gap within: impact of separate-gender polling stations on turnout

        Muhammad Khudadad ChatthaShruti Lakhtakia
        Democracy and politics
        Inclusion
        ...
        Pakistan
      • Publication
        25 September 2020

        Economic, social and political fragmentation: linking knowledge-biased growth, identity, populism and protectionism

        Dennis SnowerSteven J Bosworth
        Education
        Inclusion
        ...
        Democracy and politics
        Social Macroeconomics
      • Publication
        15 September 2020

        Ripe for reform: UK scrutiny of international trade agreements

        Anna SandsEmily Jones
        Democracy and politics
        Trade
        ...
        Global Economic Governance Programme
        United Kingdom (UK)
      • Publication
        15 January 2019

        Diverging identities: a model of class formation

        Paul Collier
        Economy
        Democracy and politics
        ...
        Social Macroeconomics
      • Publication
        04 October 2018

        Diverging identities: a model of class formation

        Paul Collier
        Inclusion
        Democracy and politics
        ...
        Economic growth and equality
      • Publication
        01 May 2017

        Brexit and the limits of financial power in the UK

        Scott JamesLucia Quaglia
        Democracy and politics
        Business and capitalism
        ...
        Global Economic Governance Programme
        Economic growth and equality
        Global governance
        United Kingdom (UK)
      • Publication
        01 June 2015

        How nationalism can promote democracy

        Maya Tudor
        Democracy and politics
        Global governance
        ...
        India
        Indonesia
        Malaysia
        Myanmar
        Pakistan
        South Asia

      RESEARCH UPDATES

      SEE ALL RESEARCH UPDATES
      Maya Tudor
      Research update

      Maya Tudor co-authors article in Annual Review of Political Science

      Democracy and politics
      Global governance
      Tom Simpson headshot
      Research update

      Tom Simpson's report included in UK government proposals to strengthen free speech at universities

      A Policy Exchange report on academic freedom co-authored by Tom Simpson, Associate Professor or Philosophy and Public Policy, is widely cited in a UK government policy paper.

      Democracy and politics
      United Kingdom (UK)
      Emily Jones
      Research update

      Emily Jones provides evidence to UK Parliament on improving trade governance

      Democracy and politics
      Trade
      ...
      Global Economic Governance Programme
      United Kingdom (UK)
      Research update

      Postdoctoral fellow co-authors piece about the impact of intra-party unity on voters' perceptions

      Democracy and politics
      Europe
      ...
      United Kingdom (UK)

      PEOPLE

      See all people
      Pepper Culpepper
      Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Blavatnik Chair in Government and Public Policy
      James Conran
      Departmental Lecturer in Public Policy
      Thomas Hale
      Professor in Public Policy (Global Public Policy)
      Emily Jones
      Professor of Practice in Public Policy
      Julien Labonne
      Associate Professor in Economics and Public Policy
      Anna Petherick
      Associate Professor in Public Policy and Director of the Lemann Foundation Programme
      Tom Simpson
      Associate Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy
      Yeling Tan
      Professor of Public Policy
      Maya Tudor
      Professor of Politics and Public Policy
      Jonathan Wolff
      Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy and Public Policy
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