Pathways to Research Preeminence: Democracy
The UVA Democracy focus area will facilitate a deeper understanding of democratic principles, and examine the broad issues, challenges and opportunities facing democracies today. Our approach will be capacious, comprehensive and multidisciplinary, and rely upon research, teaching and engagement in public affairs. We will focus on the principles and philosophy of democracy, as well as the means to create and the prospects for: inclusive and responsible citizenship predicated upon liberty, equality, and tolerance; trusted, effective, and accountable governing institutions; economic policies that provide equal opportunity and mobility for all; fact-based civil discourse and communications media; and resilient democratic governance in world affairs.
The Karsh Institute of Democracy, launched in 2021, will take full advantage of UVA’s position as one of the nation’s top public universities and its unique historical link to the nation’s founding to serve as a nonpartisan catalyst for action. It will accelerate collaboration among and augment the work of several schools and centers already dedicated to the study of democracy at UVA.
Listed below are some of the initiatives each of our schools have that are focused on Democracy:
- School of Nursing: Health disparity/inequality
- College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: Democracy Initiative (Race, Religion, and Democracy), Corruption, Authoritarianism, and the Rule of Law; Transnational-migration, global capitalism, and disease; forced migration due to war; global commodity and supply chains; development for urban and rural ethnic Tibetans; Social Justice and Inequality
- Frank Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy: Democratic policy making process; national & international security policy; leadership; immigration, refugee and migrant policy; education policy, social entrepreneurship, congressional effectiveness
- Darden School of Business: Ethics/business and society, Leadership, Entrepreneurship
- McIntire School of Commerce -Strategic leadership and corporate governance; Investments, particularly alternative investing; Real estate; Innovation and entrepreneurship
- School of Architecture: Inclusion and Equity
- School of Medicine: Health in the community including local to global: health disparities, access to care, social determinants of health and health care
- School of Engineering & Applied Science: Trust and fairness in digital systems and technology
- Curry School of Education & Human Development: Human development; educational equity and opportunity; inclusion and diversity; health and education disparities; youth development, civic engagement, and leadership; promoting knowledge of democracy and democratic actions
- School of Law: Constitution Law, Legal interpretation of history, democratic institutions