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The mission of Democracy is to build a vibrant and vital progressivism for the twenty-first century that builds on the movement’s proud history, is true to its central values, and is relevant to present times.

Democracy will publish on a quarterly basis and serve as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred.

We do not seek to publish policy papers; we’ll leave the important details on budget line items and dollar figures to others. Rather, we seek breakthrough thinking on the concepts and approaches that respond to the central transformations of our time: the breakdown of the ladder of upward mobility; the promise and problems of an information-based, globalized economy; new national security threats which cross old boundaries and defy old assumptions from jihadist terrorism and nuclear proliferation to climate change, pandemics, and poverty; and a society where people work and live in new and different ways.

Progressives have been at their best when we are both rigorous in looking at the world as it is and vigorous in introducing creative approaches to remake the world as we believe it should be. Democracy is not interested in either reiterating the conventional wisdom or maintaining unity around outdated orthodoxies. We see our role as upsetting tired assumptions, moving past outdated and obsolete divisions, and stretching the envelope of what is accepted by and of progressives.

Our ambitions are large – as is the scale of the work before us – but we have no doubt that ideas can change the course of our nation. Now is the time to fashion a new progressivism for the twenty-first century, and we welcome all who are willing to join in this conversation.

Read the Editors' introductory letter from Issue 1

 

The Washington Post Cites Warren's Democracy Article

News: The Financial Product Safety Commission, an idea originated in the pages of Democracy by Elizabeth Warren, is on the drawing board at the Obama White House, reports The Washington Post.

Senators Kennedy, Schumer and Durbin Introduce Financial Product Safety Commission Legislation

News: Senators Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer have proposed creating a Financial Product Safety Commission, an idea that originated in Democracy.

Bloggers at the Gate

Matt Bai: The Internet hasn't perfected democracy. But it might.

Reinventing Reform

Elaine Kamarck: How to make sure big reforms work after the political limelight dims.

Wrong on Race

Richard Kahlenberg: Why Barack Obama shouldn't listen to Tom Sugrue.

Passing on Petraeus

Spencer Ackerman: Progressives should avoid claiming the surge in Iraq as a validation of their views. A response to Rachel Kleinfeld.

Michael Tomasky to Become Editor of Democracy

News: Michael Tomasky, a highly respected writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience covering American politics and helping to define and update progressive ideas, will join Democracy: A Journal of Ideas as its Editor.

Obama's America: A TPMCafe Roundtable

Event: All this week tpmcafe.com will feature conversations about Democracy's "Obama's America" symposium, including some of the nation's leading progressive thinkers.

E.J. Dionne, Jr. Named Chair of Editorial Committee for Democracy: A Journal of Ideas

News: E.J. Dionne, Jr. -- noted columnist, author, and public intellectual -- will be joining Democracy: A Journal of Ideas as the Chair of the Editorial Committee.

Left Is Right

Todd Gitlin: Bernard Henri-Levy may criticize the Left, but it is worth saving. A response to Nick Cohen.

The Quiet Warrior

Robert D. Kaplan: A new paradigm for the presidency. A response to Joseph Nye, Jr.

Intellectual Firepower

John Nagl: New threats require new think tanks.

Petraeus the Progressive

Rachel Kleinfeld: The surge in Iraq is a success, and we must claim it as our own.

Democracy Congratulates Louis Caldera For Being Named Head of White House Military Office

News: Louis Caldera, a member of the Democracy: A Journal of Ideas Editorial Committee, has been named the Director of the White House Military Office by President-elect Barack Obama.

Democracy Congratulates UN Ambassador-Designate Susan Rice

News: Democracy congratulates Susan Rice, a member of its Editorial Committee, for her appointment today to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Rice has been a member of Democracy's Editorial Committee since the journal's inception in 2006.

Video of "After the Election" Event Now Available

Event: On November 6th, Democracy brought together a group of America's brightest thinkers to present the first take on what the 2008 election will mean for the new administration's policies, the Democratic Party's trajectory, and the future of progressive governance. You can now view video of the event online.

Shooting Blanks

News: The Utne Reader recently highlighted Jim Kessler's Democracy essay on gun control.

Democracy Podcast: Theda Skocpol on Higher Education Policy

Event: Kenneth Baer speaks to Theda Skocpol about the future of higher education policy.

Democracy Podcast: Joseph Nye on Presidential Leadership

Event: To best confront the challenges of the twenty-first century, what kind of leader should the next president be? Harvard's Joe Nye has an answer, and he shared it in a recent Democracy podcast.