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 Family 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.

Democratize Diplomacy!

By Paul Lachelier - January 17, 2020 Leave a Comment

For all its impact the world can seem distant from our daily issues, a paradox of irrelevance and mounting relevance that calls for democratizing diplomacy.

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 people, not Congress, should vote to impeach or acquit the President

By Ngah Gabriel

The partisan nature of the impeachment process is the stamp of America’s flawed democracy. The people, not Congress should be the ones to impeach or acquit.

A deepening political divide exposed by 2020 State of the Union shows the need for voter’s decisive action

By Ngah Gabriel

Key moments at the start and end of the 2020 State of the Union exposed deepening political divide in America, signal the need for voters’ decisive action.

Trump, the Scorpion and the Frog

By Peter J. Dellolio

A scorpion wanted to get across the river. He asked a frog, “Will you please give me a ride on your back?” The frog replied, “How can I do that? Your sting is fatal!”

Socialism Gaining in Popularity as Iowa Caucus Nears

By Thomas Manning

A new poll by Gallup shows that young Americans are increasingly in favour of socialism as opposed to capitalism. This is taking place as Iowa caucus nears.

Democracy in Crisis in Gabon as another Father-to-Son Transition Looms

By Ngah Gabriel

To demonstrate its commitment to democracy in Africa, the international community must delegitimize father-to-son transfer of power on the continent.

Truth as the best chance to dismantle pack mentality

While it’s always been there, self-interest has upped pack mentality – disinterest in crucial societal issues. Embracing truth is how to undo the dynamic.

Email Interview with the Founder of Democracy Counts

By Steve Schneider

Democracy Counts is a nonpartisan hi-tech startup that has developed election watchdog apps which it will share with volunteer election auditors in 2020.

Social action is the best approach to a stormy 2020, here’s how to be effective

By Julio César Guerrero

The social climate barometer points to a stormy 2020 that can only be confronted through social action, but there are protocols to follow to be effective.

Carlos Ghosn’s Wild Japanese Disappearing Act

By David Anderson, J.D.

His claim is that he’s not fleeing justice as a fugitive but rather escaping a racist and rigged system. It’s hard to know which of those narratives is true. James Bond (or James Bond villain?)

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World welcomes 2020 in traditional new year celebrations

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