Between free expression and the values of a diverse society lies a contested space that shapes accountability and democratic participation.
The Karsh Institute of Democracy is leading a yearlong effort to connect the nation’s founding ideals to the challenges and responsibilities of democracy today.
An award-winning book by UVA historian Justene Hill Edwards, with support from UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, chronicles African Americans’ economic aspirations and a bank’s tragic collapse during Reconstruction.
In an event co-sponsored by the Karsh Institute, Cornel West and Robert P. George say to find the truth, you must admit you might be wrong.
news.virginia.edu
The University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy will host Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi as part of its “Congress as a Cornerstone of American Democracy” series.
augustafreepress.com
Cornel West and Robert P. George, well-known scholars, philosophers, and public intellectuals, come to UVA for a conversation on civic friendship, intellectual humility, and truth-seeking across political divides, in an event co-sponsored by the Karsh Institute.
news.virginia.edu
"The events of the Haitian Revolution reshaped the history of North America," writes Karsh Institute Academic Director Laurent Dubois in "The Atlantic."
www.theatlantic.com
Three Longwood University seniors had a unique opportunity to participate in Declaration Next, a two-day summit hosted by the Karsh Institute that brought together college students from across Virginia to draft a “Declaration for the Future of American Democracy.”
www.longwood.edu
As laws, institutional norms, and political pressures collide, effective oversight reinforces the principle that no officeholder is above the law.
Throughout 2025, the Karsh Institute convened authors of notable new books—leaders across policy, history, law, and journalism—for conversations that examined the forces shaping democracy today.
Karsh Institute Practitioner Fellow Kat Calvin is creating a website that will demystify the roles of elected officials, helping voters make more informed choices.