Paul Lachelier articles

Paul Lachelier is the founder and director of Learning Life, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit lab devoted to innovating education and citizen engagement. Learning Life’s flagship program, the Citizen Diplomacy Initiative is developing a family-to-family form of citizen diplomacy to help democratize diplomacy. Paul holds a B.A. in sociology from Georgetown University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before founding Learning Life in 2012, he taught at Stetson, Harvard, Tufts and the University of Wisconsin. Paul’s writing and programmatic work focus on the intersection of democracy, culture and education. His writings have appeared in academic journals as well as popular media including the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, and Albuquerque Journal, and truthout.org. More at paullachelier.info.

Three Equalizers in an Unequal World

By Paul Lachelier - August 14, 2019 Leave a Comment

Despite growing inequality worldwide, ordinary people have three specific, significant and actionable forms of equalizing power: time, one vote and numbers.

The English Psycho and Brexit: A Psychological Profile

By David Anderson, J.D.

It is a psychological fact that in chaotic times people frequently allow narcissists and psychopaths to rise to the top of organizations, often faster than they do normally. Clinically, Trump and Boris Johnson tick nearly all the boxes.

A Modest Proposal to Save and Improve the Electoral College

By M D Mitchell

There is currently a debate in the US about eliminating the Electoral College and replacing it with a National Popular Vote. There are also ardent defenders of both arguments. There are valid arguments on both sides.

The Sources Of British Democracy Are Being Poisoned

By Paul Narraway

In the continuing mess that is Brexit, some very foul smells are arising from the pile of awfulness that it is. To date, there is no solid agreement on what to do and which direction to go in.

When Anger Is A Gift: Puerto Rico Rising

By Aydasara Ortega

The multitudinous and persistent demonstrations that call for the governor’s resignation show that democracy and dignity walk together. Puerto Rico demands loud and clear: “Ricky resign!”

Podcast: A Conversation About Conversation

By Jenna Spinelle

Why is it so hard for people to talk to each other? There are a lot of easy answers we can point to, like social media and political polarization, but there’s another explanation that goes a bit deeper.

Revisiting Political Party Funding Disclosure In Zimbabwe

By Farai Chirimumimba

Zimbabwe is one of very few democracies in the world that don’t register political parties and regulate private funding of political parties and candidates. Most countries have laws that make it mandatory.

Behind Populist Authoritarianism: Brazil and Other Recent Hellscapes

By David Anderson, J.D.

Brazil is a country whose citizenry rarely enjoy good governance. They were doing well in recent years despite the fact their politicians seemed to be regularly impeached, locked up or otherwise disgraced.

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