By Hardy Merriman and Maria J. Stephan When business leaders hear concerns about democratic backsliding, they tend to dismiss it as alarmist. But the facts suggest that many in the business … [Read more...] about The Greatest Risk for Business Is Inaction
Authoritarianism
Understanding Pillars of Support
In both the United States and abroad, political leaders have undermined democratic institutions and norms as part of a nearly two-decade global trend of rising authoritarianism. To challenge these … [Read more...] about Understanding Pillars of Support
The Pillars of Support Project
The complexity of the problem has hampered efforts to coordinate action against authoritarianism. Yet such coordination is crucial. Research shows that the most effective social movements … [Read more...] about The Pillars of Support Project
Lessons from Around the World: Engaging ‘Pillars of Support’ to Uphold and Expand Democracy
*This article was written by Chief Organizer Maria J. Stephan and was first published on Just Security. Efforts in the United States to build a broad, cross-partisan, and cross-ideological … [Read more...] about Lessons from Around the World: Engaging ‘Pillars of Support’ to Uphold and Expand Democracy
THE PILLARS PROJECT: Professional Associations
What is the connection between professional associations and democracy? The research is clear: democracy is good for labor. Democracies not only provide more robust protections for freedom of … [Read more...] about THE PILLARS PROJECT: Professional Associations
The VISTA: September 2026
One unifying national event in September was the outpouring of collective grief at the passing of Dolly Parton. Read What Dolly Can Teach Us About Trust, by Julie Sweetland, “through six decades of … [Read more...] about The VISTA: September 2026
