Tag: Authoritarianism
Clowns, Reverse Boycotts, and Involuntary Walkathons: How Communities are Making Political Violence Backfire
*This article was written by Chief Organizer Maria J. Stephan and was first published on Just Security. The new dystopian Hollywood film, Civil War, has raised the specter of devastating violent conflict...
US Bishops and the January 6th Capitol Attack on Democracy: A Pillars of Support Caselet
Time Period: 2021Location: United StatesMain Actors: US Conference of Catholic BishopsTactics - Declarations by organizations and institutions - Letters of opposition or support - Signed public statements - Newspapers and...
How you can more effectively advance multi-racial democracy
On March 3, 2024, Maria J. Stephan, co-lead of the Horizons Project, discussed her work to strengthen multi-racial democracy in the US and globally to the Forum at All Souls...
Can Multiracial Democracy Survive?
*This article was written by Chief Organizer Maria J. Stephan and was first published on Sojourners. Racial justice and pro-democracy advocates share a common agenda. DEMOCRACIES OFTEN DIE by a...
Understanding Pillars of Support
Horizons has been focusing on how various Pillars of Support, notably faith-based organizations, businesses, unions & professional associations, and veterans/military groups, have contributed to authoritarian systems and how they have...
Good vs. Toxic Polarization
Polarization is generally considered a necessary and healthy aspect of democratic societies. In his writing on social change work, Quaker activist and trainer George Lakey compares polarization to “a blacksmith’s forge,” one...
The Global Far-Right Authoritarian Alliance Threatening US Democracy – And How to Weaken It
*This article was written by Chief Organizer Maria J. Stephan and was first published on Just Security. Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban sparked widespread outrage a year ago with a speech to members of the...
THE PILLARS PROJECT: Veterans and Military Families
What is the connection between democracy and veterans and military families? Upon entering their military service, veterans swore an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United...
THE PILLARS PROJECT: Labor Unions
What is the connection between unions and democracy? Democratic backsliding in the United States is a particular threat to labor unions. The research is clear: democracy is good for labor. Democracies...
THE PILLARS PROJECT: The Faith Community
What is the connection between faith communities and democracy? A flourishing democracy is one of the strongest protections for the free exercise of religion. In turn, faith communities have a...