Beyond the Summit: Reimagining Democracy

Last month Stanford PACS convened over 70 leading philanthropists, leaders, and scholars, to reimagine the structures, systems, and norms that govern US democracy. The day was rich with reflections on the many challenges facing liberal democracy in the US, the cultural forces and institutional constraints that have led to this moment, and the role philanthropy can play in supporting democratic renewal.

Our goal in organizing this convening was to bring together a diversity of perspectives, across ideology, politics, and identity, to advance a shared vision for a democracy that protects the rights of all people. We discussed ideas for revitalizing public and private institutions, electoral reform efforts that will support fair representation and resilient systems, proposals for federal government reforms, the power of collective effort and the need for strengthening state and local government capacity to deliver for people. 

It is evident that philanthropy has an important responsibility in this moment. It can do what government and corporations can’t or won’t do – seed radical innovations that will help deliver political empowerment and economic prosperity to working class people. It is impossible to imagine how we move past this current cycle of distrust, authoritarianism and violence without meaningful improvements in the lives of everyday people. There is no silver bullet to address the interests of a populations as diverse as ours, but philanthropy can provide the patient, unrestricted capital for long-form experiments to organize the varied and sometimes contradictory interests of a vast population. A forward-looking agenda that emphasizes an enduring vision for future generations is critical for any efforts to repair the fractures in our civic culture. 

It is also important to recognize and address the powerful role of emergent technologies and their hold on information flows. Efforts to build healthier community anchors can be undermined by divisive narratives amplified by modern technologies. Philanthropy can play a pivotal role in shaping the design and policies that govern them, but it can also support experimentation to reimagine the delivery of information and narrative movements that drive a shared idea of civic responsibility.

There is consensus that we cannot mitigate democratic backsliding without addressing toxic polarization. But efforts to build greater unity do not have to come at the expense of the fight for dignity and equity for communities that have been historically marginalized and continue to suffer from that legacy. Philanthropy must find a way to bridge these ideas and advance a powerful unifying narrative that recognizes both historical injustices and the current circumstances of working-class Americans. There is common cause to be found across these groups and philanthropy has a responsibility to advance that through radical ideas grounded in democratic ideals.

Beyond The Summit: Strengthening Democracy 2025.
Photography by: Christine Baker