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The Future of US Democracy Why Trust the Process? Avoiding Democracy in Massachusetts

  • Termin in der Vergangenheit
  • Donnerstag, 16. April 2026, 18:15 Uhr
  • Heidelberg Center for American Studies, HCA Atrium, Curt und Heidemarie Engelhorn Palais, Hauptstraße 120, 69117 Heidelberg
    • Dr. Daniel Souleles, Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), Department of Business Humanities and Law

For the past few decades, politicians in the Democratic party have held a legislative super majority in the U.S. state (the Commonwealth) of Massachusetts, yet they have largely failed to deliver on longstanding Democratic priorities, such as socialized medicine. Moreover, many major policy advances in Massachusetts have come from the ballot initiative, a sort of direct democracy designed to bypass the legislature. At best the legislature in Massachusetts is reactive, and at worst it seems to actively avoid the preferences of its constituents. This talk draws on several years of fieldwork in Boston at the Massachusetts State House to explain why politicians are acting this way.

Foto, Demonstration in Washington, DC.

Alle Termine der Veranstaltung 'The Future of US Democracy'

Since its establishment over two centuries ago, American democracy has served as a beacon of political participation and societal progress – despite its historical imperfections. However, in recent years, it has faced significant challenges. Political polarization has intensified, the media landscape often spreads misinformation, and key democratic institutions are under pressure. This lecture series, organized by the Heidelberg Center for American Studies of Heidelberg University, examines the current state of American democracy, explores its most pressing challenges, and considers possible paths forward. How can the United States preserve and strengthen its democratic institutions to ensure a fair, responsive, and equitable society?

English