Democracy at Risk

The federal takeover of DC was just the beginning. National Guard troops are mobilizing to more Democratic cities while immigration raids create widespread terror. As protests become pretext for more troops, democracy continues to erode.

On World Refugee Day, the US stands at a crossroads: once a global leader in refugee protection, it now faces rising rights violations, legal erosion, and harsh immigration policies that threaten both vulnerable communities and democratic principles. 

Recently, German security forces uncovered a right wing coup attempt and prevented a violent storming of parliament in Berlin. How great is the danger posed by right-wing extremists in Germany and what must happen politically to protect democracy in Germany?

The ultraconservative extreme right in Brazil is creating moral panic by pushing fake news about “gender ideology”. The fear of anything but heteronormativity plays a central role in the ascension of authoritarian leaders and democratic backsliding.

Anti-Asian racism has increased dramatically during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Dahye Yim, Ngoc Bui, and Jee Hei Park write about its history, struggles for equality, and interview two Asian women about their experiences.

"Algorithmic misogynoir in content moderation practice" from Brandeis Marshall, offers an intersectional perspective by exploring the discrimination specifically faced by Black women in the United States.

"The state of content moderation for the LGBTIQA+ community and the role of the EU Digital Services Act" by researcher Christina Dinar, focuses on the challenges faced by the queer community in Europe and offers detailed recommendations for the forthcoming EU Digital Services Act.

In both the US and Germany, the growing shortage of affordable housing is increasingly reaching into the middle class and impacting broad swaths of society—increasing the pressure on policymakers to implement solutions.