• A more democratic system of global governance which reflects the realities of international interdependence, the erosion of U.S. dominance, and the need for multilateral solutions to global problems.
• A more inclusive global economy in which all peoples and nations share in the prosperity generated by markets, growth, and trade, and in which the globalization of commerce is matched by the globalization of social protections.
• New approaches to citizenship and political representation to ensure that immigrants are better incorporated into the societies in which they live in an era marked by rising cross-border movements of people.
• A more active engagement of the American public in U.S. international policy to ensure that the democratic values that underpin our policies at home also guide American actions abroad.

Projects and Partners

Demos collaborates with a range of partners to advance these outcomes, and we have a number of project activities currently underway.

 
1.     Project on Shared Global Prosperity. Demos is conducting research and policy development in the area of trade and development. We are crafting policy ideas for a "win-win" approach in which developing countries are granted open access to U.S. markets and given more help to grow their economies and spur exports, but are pushed to raise labor standards and put in place stronger social protections to foster equitable growth. Our framework also advocates sweeping new steps in the United States to protect workers from the downsides of globalization, drawing on successful models of active labor market policies and social insurance used in Europe. Learn more

2.     CivWorld. Through its CivWorld project, led by Distinguished Senior Fellow Dr. Benjamin Barber, Demos is engaged in an ongoing exploration of how to build a truly democratic global system. This work includes an annual Interdependence Day Forum in which leading thinkers and practitioners from different countries convene to exchange ideas, and a research effort that examines how globalization is challenging traditional conceptions of national sovereignty and how the realities of interdependence must inform the creation of a "new global social contract." CivWorld also has a project on the "art of common space" and a curriculum development project. It works with partners in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere. Learn more

3.     The U.S. in the World. Movement toward a more democratic global system and a more inclusive world economy will not easily happen unless there is a strong consensus among Americans in favor of such change. To this end, Demos' U.S. in the World Initiative (USITW) is helping advocates come together around a shared story of responsible global engagement, create connections across issue areas, and take advantage of cutting-edge communications research to reach broader audiences. Working with a wide range of partners and drawing on the latest public opinion research, USITW develops messaging advice that helps communicators build mainstream public support for new policy approaches. USITW is currently engaged with the Green Group's Action Plan for Climate Change, the Stanley Foundation's Working Group on U.S. and Global Security, Connect US and its grantees, and the Peace and Security Initiative. Learn more

4.     The World Policy Institute. Demos partners closely in all in international work with the World Policy Institute (WPI). Based at the New School until recently, WPI is now an independent policy center under the leadership of Executive Director Michele Wucker and shares office space with Demos at our New York headquarters. WPI's Fellows Program, regular public and private events, research and policy development, media activities, and flagship World Policy Journal provide a forum for solution-focused policy analysis and public debate. Its programs seek to introduce fresh ideas and new voices from around the world on critical shared global issues. A major current focus of WPI's work is the political incorporation of immigrants. It's Citizenship and Security project addresses the ways in which democratic societies are managing the intersection of policies related to security and to the treatment of minorities and immigrants in the post-9/11 world. Additionally, WPI's work on non-citizen voting looks at how to ensure that immigrants have a greater voice in U.S. society and other democratic polities. Learn more

Staff and Contact Information

David Callahan, Program Coordinator

dcallahan@demos.org

Benjamin Barber, Director, CivWorld

bbarber@demos.org

Priscilla Lewis, Director, U.S. in the World

plewis@demos.org

Michele Wucker, Executive Director, World Policy Institute

wucker@worldpolicy.org