Featured Initiatives

The Karsh Institute of Democracy leads and supports a wide range of work to study and strengthen democracy. 

The initiatives featured here represent a selection of that work—projects that illuminate how democracy is lived, tested, and renewed across the nation and the world. From documenting the evolution of state constitutions to examining the local journalism landscape, from fostering dialogue across difference to exploring democracy’s global ideals, these initiatives reflect the Institute’s commitment to connecting scholarship with practice. Each brings together people from across disciplines and sectors to deepen understanding, build trust, and help shape a more vibrant democratic future.

50 Constitutions

The 50 Constitutions Project is a landmark effort to document and digitize the full history of every state constitution in the United States—many for the first time in an accessible format. 

Led by the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School in partnership with the Karsh Institute, the Karsh Center for Law and Democracy at the UVA School of Law, and the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, the project sheds light on the evolving rights, responsibilities, and governing structures that shape American life at the state level. By equipping policymakers, educators, journalists, and citizens with a comprehensive resource on state constitutions, the project deepens understanding of federalism, strengthens civic engagement, and fosters institutional trust. State constitutions have long been engines of democratic innovation, and this initiative provides the tools to learn from that history and to apply its lessons to today’s most pressing political challenges.

America at 250

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Karsh Institute of Democracy is leading a university-wide effort to reflect on the nation’s founding ideals and imagine what the next 250 years could hold. Merging this historic milestone with its own fifth anniversary and the opening of its new building, the Institute will host a yearlong series of innovative programs, special events, and cross-disciplinary initiatives exploring the future of democracy in America and beyond.

The America @ 250 initiative launches with Democracy360, the Institute’s signature biennial convening, held October 15–17, 2025. Democracy360 brings together thought leaders, journalists, policymakers, scholars, artists, and students for three days of bold ideas, spirited dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving—all centered on one vital question: How do we shape a thriving democratic future together?

Elections

Elections are a cornerstone of democracy. They allow citizens to choose leaders, influence policy, and express collective values. The Karsh Institute focuses on elections because they reveal both the strengths and vulnerabilities of democratic systems—how institutions function, how information circulates, how power is contested, and how trust is built or eroded.

In 2024, roughly half the world’s population voted in major elections across at least 70 countries, shaping governments at every level. Explore the Karsh Institute’s research, analysis, and public programs that examine elections as a window into the health and future of democracy. 

Local Journalism

A strong democracy depends on a strong, trusted, and independent press. Yet across the country, local journalism faces profound economic, technological, and cultural challenges that threaten the information ecosystems communities rely on to stay connected and hold power accountable.

To better understand what this looks like in Virginia, the Karsh Institute, in partnership with Virginia Humanities, conducted the Virginia Local News Ecosystem Study—the first comprehensive assessment of the state’s local news landscape. Researchers identified 277 outlets producing news about the Commonwealth, spanning television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and digital platforms. That number includes college and university outlets, which play a vital dual role as both sources of information for their communities and training grounds for the next generation of journalists.

Talking Across Difference

The Karsh Institute’s Talking Across Difference initiative serves as a hub for navigating events, programs, research, classes, and other opportunities at the University of Virginia that foster open dialogue among people with varying backgrounds, opinions, and perspectives. By cultivating curiosity, empathy, and understanding, the Institute helps strengthen the social fabric that sustains democracy.

UVA Press Book Series

Democratic Ideals in Global Perspective—a new book series from UVA Press in partnership with the Karsh Institute—explores how democracy has taken shape around the world, from ancient societies to the present day. Led by UVA professors Jacqueline Arthur-Montagne and Emily Burrill, both faculty members in the Karsh Institute’s Nau Lab, the series brings together global and historical perspectives on democratic ideas, practices, and challenges. Each volume amplifies diverse voices from across disciplines and cultures, illuminating democracy as both a shared aspiration and a constantly evolving human endeavor.