Through the
Global Lens:
Empowering Citizens
for Democracy
Columbia Global is working hard to foster modern democracy across the world
This year witnessed the largest wave of democratic participation in human history, as more than 2 billion people around the world cast their votes in pivotal elections. From small towns to major cities, people voiced their hopes and concerns for the future. It is a year that will be remembered not only for the promise of democracy but also for the challenges it faced.
In this edition of Through The Global Lens, we are showcasing the Columbia students, faculty, and researchers who – with Columbia Global’s support – are working to foster modern democracy. Their work investigates how nations and communities can enhance governance, ensure fair elections, and encourage broad civic participation.
Technology in Governance: Navigating Big Tech, Misinformation, and Digital Governance
Can technology save democracy? From holding Big Tech accountable to fighting misinformation and exposing corruption, the work aims to protect democratic values and empower citizens around the globe.
Taming the Tech Giant: Have you ever wondered how technology might be influencing your vote? Columbia World Projects is bringing together experts from around the world to discuss how Big Tech can be held accountable – while still fostering innovation and protecting democratic values. Learn more about Digital Governance for Democratic Renewal.
The Power of Psychological Targeting in Democracy: Intimate aspects of our psychology can shape decisions — from what we buy to how we vote. At the Santiago Global Center, we’re exploring how data is used to shape decisions and how we can reclaim control over the data that defines us. Learn more about the Implications of Psychological Targeting.
Balancing Control and Innovation: Technology is not just influencing democracy in the West. We looked East at how China balances state control with the need for technological advancement. Discover more about Governing Digital China.
Fighting Fake News: As misinformation spreads and AI-generated content blurs the line between fact and fiction, protecting the truth has become a critical challenge. Columbia World Projects (CWP) hosted leaders from various sectors to discuss how we can combat fake news in this new landscape, focusing on preserving reliable reporting to safeguard democracy. Watch Journalism and Democracy in the Age of AI.
Impact Spotlight: A Young Leader Defends Democracy: At 17, Luis V. Villaherrera, a former CWP Obama Scholar, saw people dying in El Salvador’s public hospitals, victims of a corrupt democracy. He built an open-source tool to expose government financial records, empowering Salvadorians to fight for the truth. Despite threats of police intimidation and hacking, Luis continues his work. Read more about Luis’s story.
Citizen Participation and Education: Empowering Voices for a Stronger Democracy
How can people get more involved in shaping the policies that affect their lives?
Bringing Citizens to the Table: Imagine sitting down with government officials and helping craft policies. That's the idea behind citizens' assemblies. As Thomas Asher from Columbia World Projects puts it, "We're at a crucial moment where our government is trying to figure out how to truly involve the public in big decisions. It's up to us - universities, non-profits, and everyday citizens - to step up and help make this happen." Our work began with a closed-door event focused on engaging U.S. federal officials in these discussions. Now, we're opening the conversation to a broader audience. Through a webinar series, Columbia World Projects is bringing together voices from around the world to explore how citizens' assemblies can strengthen democracy. Learn more about The Transformative Potential of Citizens' Assemblies for Federal Engagement and explore the Democracy Beyond Elections Public Webinar series.
Strengthening ‘We the People’: Feel like your vote doesn't count? A new initiative from Columbia World Projects is exploring innovative ways to generate new thinking and solutions to enhance democratic institutions’ responsiveness. The focus is on political parties, deliberative instruments, and civic associations as key links between the state and its people. Discover our work on Renewing Democratic Participation.
Empowering Young Minds in Colombia: In Colombia, Andrés Sáenz Peñas, one of our Obama Scholars, is teaching kids how to spot fake news and think critically about the information they receive. As Peñas says, “Thinking critically and not falling into the trap of sharing false information are our tools to avoid worsening a political crisis that needs anything but one more lie." Read more about Andrés Sáenz Peñas.
Nurturing Future Leaders in Paris: Across the ocean in Paris, one of our former Obama Scholars, Alice Barbe, is running Académie des Futurs Leaders at the Paris Global Center, which helps passionate activists turn their social justice work into real political change. The result is next-generation political leaders who understand the issues from the ground up. Learn more and listen to From Activism to Political Leadership: Paving the Way with Alice Barbe.
Empowering Student Councils in Chile: The Santiago Global Center is working on a guidebook to help turn student councils into models of democratic engagement, giving young people a real taste of how to lead and make decisions that affect their communities. Learn about the Civic Education Manual for Schools in Chile.
Local to Global: Connecting Insights Across Regions
At Columbia Global, we're examining global diplomacy and democracy through a series of innovative initiatives that bridge regional perspectives with global implications:
Inside Diplomatic Talks: Imagine being able to listen in during high-level diplomatic talks. That is what it felt like at our Istanbul Global Center where top diplomats, scholars, and policymakers gathered to unpack Turkey's evolving role on the world stage. Discover more in the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Lecture Series. The World Watches America: How will America's choice for its 47th president impact the world, alliances, and democracy worldwide? Adam Tooze, the chair of the Committee on Global Thought led experts from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America in a pre-election discussion about Global Perspectives on the U.S. Election. Now, with the election results in, Tooze has reconvened for a post-election analysis alongside Columbia Global Center directors from Brazil, Turkey, and Tunisia to lead a conversation on post-election global perspectives.
Diplomatic Crossroads: With domestic policies in the U.S. and China driving international shifts, understanding these connections is more important than ever. At the Beijing Global Center, we're working to explore these complexities and bring forward new insights into what this means for the future of global politics. Learn more about the Global Impact of American Politics.
Protection and Preservation: Safeguarding Democracy and Electoral Integrity
From election security to corporate influence, Columbia Global is addressing critical threats to democracy worldwide.
Building Safer Elections in Kenya: The Nairobi Global Center brought together experts from Kenyan universities and Columbia University to tackle election-related violence head-on. Experts shared practical solutions that are already making a difference: Early warning systems that can help prevent violence before it starts, new approaches to law enforcement that put communities first, and restorative justice practices that heal divisions instead of deepening them. Explore Security Measures and Intervention Strategies.
Learning from Africa's Democratic Champions: Sometimes the best way forward is to learn from those who've led the way. The Nairobi Global Center spotlighted one such leader: Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, a Columbia alumnus who's spent decades championing democracy across Africa. "The future...depends on the empowerment of young leaders. We must invest in their education, mentorship, and access to historical knowledge." – Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim. Learn more about Enhancing Good Governance.
Checking Corporate Power in American Democracy: When companies become too powerful, democracy can suffer. Columbia World Projects investigated how concentrated corporate influence undermined democratic principles, distorted governance, and silenced the voices of everyday citizens. Discover more about Anti-monopoly and American Democracy.
Still curious? Continue reading.
