Dutch ecologist Frans Vera describes the experience of proposing a new vision for wilderness in Oostvaardersplassen, a region of land reclaimed from the North Sea and eventually turned over to grazing herds as a nature preserve. Reporter Elizabeth Kolbert presents his comment about the challenging process of changing someone’s opinion: “Mostly there’s no trouble as…

In On Democracy, an orderly primer on the history and elements of democratic practice, Robert A. Dahl helps challenge the fatalism or perhaps complacency implied by the large percentage of passive citizens in many western democracies. For one thing, the basic history is alarming: Looking back on the rise and decline of democracy, it is…

In an NPR interview with Jacki Lydon, songwriter Beck explores the changes when he released not a new album but a collection of new sheet music. The songs live a different sort of life, less isolated within the private realm of the composer or expert, with more input from those usually thought of as the…

Comedian Julie Klausner, in her “How Was Your Week?” podcast, suggested in passing that there are some things–some words–that are of use nowhere but in college. In one episode she says “prurient,” then pauses for a confession. “I never learned to pronounce that word, because you shouldn’t,” Ms. Klausner said, preparing for the pivot. “You…

In Anne Applebaum’s NYROB essay* on the ways Communists locked down civil society in Poland shortly after World War II, the general mechanism is described and illustrated by example. First, the general mechanism: …the elimination of all remaining independent social or civic institutions, along with the exclusion from public life of anyone who might still…

A character in an old Cary Grant movie shares a blunt opinion about the academy. You’re a professor and it’s hard to make you understand anything that ain’t in a book… Well, most of what goes on in the world ain’t in a book. (“People Will Talk”)

I have five new postings on the reborn American Democracy Project site at IU South Bend, small entries with links to recent articles and podcasts that give interesting clues to things that influence the quality of democracy.

In a lively and thoughtful video interview, Syrian cartoonist Ali Farzat talks about drawing political cartoons, countering fear, and having his hands broken by militia attempting to intimidate him: “The cartoonist doesn’t only present events but also gives an opinion of them. It is about me, how I think and how I should present my…

A review in The Economist touches on one role of silence in government: “In 1988 General Augusto Pinochet organised a plebiscite that he was confident would grant him another eight years of absolute power. Ricardo Lagos, a hitherto little-known Socialist leader, used a live television programme—the first to feature opposition politicians since Pinochet’s military coup…

I thought I might share here the chalkboard notes from the first day of a new class on Literacy, Social Media, and Active Citizenship. here goes: Chalkboard Notes, Day 1 What do we know about literacy already as we start the course? Literacy involves reading, writing, and interpretation. Visual forms may be a partner or…