(Illustration by iStock/teddyandmia)
Democracy is under threat in many parts of the world. Economic inequality has given rise to calls for a new economy in which the fruits of economic activity and power are shared more equally and democratically. Within the social sector, nonprofit organizations and philanthropists are facing demands for greater inclusion, power-sharing, and more democratic governance.
This year’s Frontiers of Social Innovation convening, “The Role of Social Innovation in Democracy,” will gather international leaders from nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, academia, research, business, and government to debate and discuss the role that social innovation plays in creating a more just and democratic society.
This reading list covers topics related to each panel, including global threats to democracy, workplace power, capitalism, civic engagement, and more. There’s still time to register for this online event and take part in what promises to be a thought-provoking and inspiring dialogue.
* * *
DAY 1
What Is Democracy?
Are you enjoying this article? Read more like this, plus SSIR's full archive of content, when you subscribe.
March 14, 2023 at 9:05 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Johanna Mair, academic editor of Stanford Social Innovation Review and professor of organization, strategy, and leadership at the Hertie School, will be joined by Xavier de Souza Briggs, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and author of Democracy as Problem Solving: Civic Capacity in Communities Across the Globe; Liz McKenna, assistant professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School; and Claudia Chwalisz, CEO of DemocracyNext, to discuss what it means to have a true democracy.
- People Power by Doran Schrantz, Michelle Oyakawa & Liz McKenna
- Excerpt from Prisms of the People by Hahrie Han, Liz McKenna & Michelle Oyakawa
- How We Achieve a Multiracial Democracy by Angela Glover Blackwell (Subscriber-only article. Subscribe to SSIR here.)
Global Threats to Democracy
March 14, 2023 at 10 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Larry Diamond, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University; Joseph Wong, author of From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia; and other panelists will examine global trends and region-specific challenges to democracies around the world.
- Democracy’s Arc: From Resurgent to Imperiled by Larry Diamond
- Excerpt from Renovating Democracy: Governing in the Age of Globalization and Digital Capitalism by Nathan Gardels & Nicolas Berggruen
- Case Study: Waterborne Democracy for Rural India by Puja Changoiwala (Subscriber-only article. Subscribe to SSIR here.)
On the Frontlines of Democracy: The United States
March 14, 2023 at 10:55 a.m. Pacific
Speaker: Kendra Davenport Cotton, activist, community organizer, and CEO of The New Georgia Project, will share how she and her team empowered and registered thousands of Black, Latinx, and other disenfranchised voters, and how the organization will use its success in Georgia to extend its work to other Southern states.
- Revitalizing People-Based Government by Alexander Hertel-Fernandez & Carlos Guillermo Smith
- More Seats at the Table by Katey Lauer & Stephen Smith
- Funding grassroots groups fighting for change year-round by Kendra Davenport Cotton
Democratizing Work
March 14, 2023 at 12:10 p.m. Pacific
Speakers: Isabelle Ferreras, professor of sociology at University of Louvain (Belgium), co-creator of the #DemocratizingWork Global Initiative, and coauthor of Democratize Work: The Case for Reorganizing the Economy; Sarita Gupta, vice president of US Programs at the Ford Foundation; and other panelists will discuss what it takes to create a more democratic workplace.
- Workplace Power by Andrea Dehlendorf & Michelle Miller
- It’s Time to Put Employee Ownership on the Inclusiveness Agenda by James Boomgard
- The Case for Investing in Employee Ownership by Marjorie Kelly & Karen Kahn
What Is the Role of 501(C)(4) Nonprofits in a Democracy?
March 14, 2023 at 1:05 p.m. Pacific
Speakers: Ben Jealous, incoming executive director of the Sierra Club; Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective; and Nina Ozlu Tunceli, executive director of Americans for the Arts Action Fund; all of whom have 501(C)(4) organizations, will discuss why they were created, what role they play, and what lessons they have for other nonprofits who are interested in doing the same.
- When Philanthropy Meets Advocacy by Patrick Guerriero & Susan Wolf Ditkoff
- Building Indigenous Power and Investing in Indigenous Self-Determination by Nick Tilsen
- This Is What Democracy Looks Like: Five Lessons for Nonprofit Advocacy by Will von Geldern
DAY 2
Debate: Is Capitalism Compatible With Democracy?
March 15, 2023 at 9:05 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Bhaskar Sunkara, author of The Socialist Manifesto, founding editor of Jacobin, and former vice-chair of Democratic Socialists of America, and Matthew Bishop, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, author of Philanthrocapitalism, and former global business editor of The Economist, will debate dueling economic philosophies. Eric Nee, editor in chief of Stanford Social Innovation Review, will moderate what is sure to be an inspiring and spirited discussion.
- False Dichotomies by Matthew Bishop & Michael Green
- Philanthrocapitalism Is Not Social Change Philanthropy by Kavita Ramdas
- America is a failing state. And establishment politics can’t solve the crisis by Bhaskar Sunkara
- Democratizing Capital by Angie Kim (Subscriber-only article. Subscribe to SSIR here.)
The Power of Political Innovation
March 15, 2023 at 10 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Johanna Mair, academic editor of Stanford Social Innovation Review and professor of organization, strategy, and leadership at the Hertie School, will be joined by Yordanos Eyoel, founder and CEO of Keseb; Caroline Weimann, founder of JoinPolitics; Christiana Bukalo, cofounder of Statefree; and Anthony Ubani, pioneer executive director of #FixPolitics Initiative to discuss the growing field of political innovation.
- The Emerging Field of Political Innovation by Johanna Mair, Josefa Kindt & Sébastien Mena
- Public Trust Reboot: Unleashing the Millennial Civic Spirit by Yordanos Eyoel
- Healing Our Health System, One Vote at a Time by Alister Martin & Aliya Bhatia
On the Frontlines of Democracy: Brazil
March 15, 2023 at 10:55 a.m. Pacific
Speaker: Gabriel Marmentini, executive director of Politize! Brazil, will discuss threats to democracy in Brazil and the role of political activists in sustaining Brazil’s democracy.
- Make Local Advocacy Stronger by Connecting It to the Bigger Story by Jim Shultz
- Civic Mobilization Infrastructure in an Age of Existential Threats by Alessandra Orofino, Manoela Miklos & Miguel Lago (Subscriber-only article. Subscribe to SSIR here.)
The Role of Philanthropy in Democracy
March 15, 2023 at 12:10 p.m. Pacific
Speakers: Lukas Haynes, founder of Leveraged Philanthropy, and former CEO of the David Rockefeller Fund, will join Bryan Maygers, deputy editor, digital of Stanford Social Innovation Review, for a conversation about efforts philanthropists have been taking to preserve and rebuild a vibrant democratic society and its institutions.
- Philanthropy to Protect US Democracy by Lukas Haynes
Democratizing Philanthropy
March 15, 2023 at 1:05 p.m. Pacific
Speaker: Hear from Vu Le, one of philanthropy’s most outspoken critics, the author of the blog NonprofitAF, and the former executive director of RVC, a Seattle nonprofit that works to promote social justice by supporting leaders, organizations, and communities of color.
- Democracy is Dying. Philanthropy Needs to Stop Its Toxic Intellectualizing. by Vu Le
- Overcoming the Racial Bias in Philanthropic Funding by Cheryl Dorsey, Peter Kim, Cora Daniels, Lyell Sakaue & Britt Savage
- Inclusive Philanthropy by The Faculty of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
DAY 3
Debate: Is Big Philanthropy Undemocratic?
March 16, 2023 at 9:05 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Rob Reich, professor of political science and codirector of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society at Stanford University, and a soon-to-be-announced speaker will debate the role of big philanthropy in a true democracy.
- How Can Philanthropy Help Rehabilitate US Democracy? by Mohit Mookim, Rob Reich, Nadia Roumani & Ayushi Vig
- Up for Debate: Should Foundations Increase Their Payouts During Big Crises?
- How Civil Society Saved the 2020 Census by Arturo Vargas, Gary D. Bass & Karen K. Narasaki (Subscriber-only article. Subscribe to SSIR here.)
The Importance of Organizing Young People
March 16, 2023 at 10 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, Hemakshi Meghani, cofounder of the Indian School of Democracy; Grace Williams, founder and director of Citizens Tasmania; and Shawon Jackson, founder and CEO of Vocal Justice, will discuss the importance of engaging with and organizing young people to create social change.
- We See You: Why America Must Invest in Young Adults of Color by Angela Glover Blackwell
- Strengthening the Daily Practice of Democracy by Dan Cardinali
Building a Vibrant Civil Society
March 16, 2023 at 12:10 p.m. Pacific
Speaker: Jonathan Reckford, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity International; Suzanne McCormick, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA; and Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America, will discuss the impact that nonprofit organizations can have in engaging citizens and building bridges to help reunite communities.
- Place-Based Strategies for Reviving America by Seth D. Kaplan (Subscriber-only article. Subscribe to SSIR here.)
- The Relational Work of Systems Change by Katherine Milligan, Juanita Zerda & John Kania
- We Know That Bridging Deep Differences Is Possible. Our Organizations Do It Every Day. by Sister Donna Markham, Suzanne McCormick, Eboo Patel & Jonathan Reckford
The Role of Social Innovation in a Healthy Democracy
March 16, 2023 at 1:10 p.m. Pacific
Speakers: Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green; Gillian Caldwell, chief climate officer and deputy assistant administrator at USAID; and Rajiv Vinnakota, president of Institute for Citizens and Scholars, will explore the role that social innovation can play in creating a vibrant democracy.
- Can Social Innovation Rise to Meet the Moment? by Cheryl Dorsey
- Building Power for an Inclusive, Multiracial Democracy by Ana Marie Argilagos
Support SSIR’s coverage of cross-sector solutions to global challenges.
Help us further the reach of innovative ideas. Donate today.
Read more stories by SSIR Editors.