democracy

A Letter From Brazil: Where a Great Democracy Invention Is Making a Comeback

A Senator Reflects on the Birth, Decline, and Coming Resurgence of Participatory Budgeting

What are the obstacles and opportunities facing democracy today? Zócalo is publishing a series of letters to highlight how the world’s democratic ideals are faring in practice. From Brazil: Senator Humberto Costa writes about the efforts to re-mobilize one of his nation’s signature democratic ideas: participatory budgeting.

One of the world’s great democratic innovations is about to make a big comeback in the place where it was invented: my country, Brazil.

And the story of that innovation’s rise, fall, and revitalization offers lessons for the world.

Participatory budgeting was a creation of Brazil, first …

by Humberto Costa |

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A Letter From Switzerland: Where the People Have the Veto

How Giving Voters the Power to Cancel Laws Changes Lawmaking for the Better

by Stephan Kyburz |

What are the obstacles and opportunities facing democracy today? Zócalo is publishing a series of letters to highlight how the world’s democratic ideals are faring in practice. From Switzerland: Political economist Stephan …

Mark Baldassare in a black suit and tie staring slightly to the left with a small smile.

Public Policy Institute of California’s Mark Baldassare

You Can Find Me by the Water

Mark Baldassare is survey director at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he previously served as president and CEO. Before joining a panel for the Zócalo event “Is This …

John Matsusaka in a black suit staring slightly to the left with a smile.

Direct Democracy Expert John Matsusaka

The United States Used to Be the Democracy Pioneer

John Matsusaka is professor of finance and business economics at the University of Southern California as well as the executive director of the Initiative and Referendum Institute. He is the …

Shirley Weber in a patterned shirt looking slightly to the left with a smile and with arms almost crossed.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber

I’m Probably the Calmest Person in the Room

Shirley Weber is the Secretary of State of California.  She was previously a member of the California State Assembly for the 79th Assembly District. Before joining us as a panelist for …

Nathan Gardels wearing a black sweater and black-rimmed glasses stares slightly to the left with his mouth open slightly to smile.

Berggruen Institute Co-Founder Nathan Gardels

If You’re Not Participating in the Process, You’re Going to Get Screwed by It

Nathan Gardels is the editor-in-chief of Noēma magazine and the co-founder of the Berggruen Institute. Before moderating the Zócalo event “Is This What Direct Democracy Looks Like?”—presented in partnership with the …


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