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.
Pandemic relief efforts helped UVA researchers prove a need for stricter application processes.
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.
As laws, institutional norms, and political pressures collide, effective oversight reinforces the principle that no officeholder is above the law.
Karsh Institute Practitioner Fellow Kat Calvin is creating a website that will demystify the roles of elected officials, helping voters make more informed choices.
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.
How a wave of new rulings, population changes, and partisan clashes are redrawing electoral maps nationwide.
Rejecting rigid party labels, young officials work together to address real needs and restore public trust.