Overview: A Critical Conversation on Democracy, Measurement, and Teaching
The Democratic Erosion Consortium (DEC) recently sat down with Mike Albertus, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, for a candid Q&A on his Substack, The Good Society. The discussion centers on how DEC approaches the core questions driving contemporary studies of democracy: how to measure erosion, how to teach about democratic processes and vulnerabilities, and how to identify democratic threats both in the United States and globally. The exchange also highlights DEC’s ongoing work, including updates to the Democratic Erosion Event Dataset (DEED) and a forthcoming US-focused version of the dataset.
Measuring Democratic Erosion: Methods, Challenges, and Innovations
At the heart of DEC’s research is the ambition to quantify democratic erosion in ways that are rigorous, transparent, and useful to educators, policymakers, and the public. In the Q&A, the co-directors explain how DEED serves as a longitudinal resource that tracks events, processes, and policy changes that can undermine democratic norms. The discussion covers methodological choices—what kinds of events to include, how to code threats to civil liberties, electoral integrity, judicial independence, and media freedom, and how to balance granularity with comparability across countries and time. The result is a nuanced toolkit that helps researchers and students identify patterns, rather than merely cataloging dramatic episodes.
Why Measurement Matters
Accurate measurement is essential to recognizing early warning signs of erosion before crises deepen. The DEC team emphasizes that robust datasets enable comparative analysis, cross-country learning, and the development of curricula that prepare citizens to recognize and respond to threats. The Q&A also touches on the importance of documenting both overt assaults on democratic institutions and subtler shifts—such as partisan polarization, governance bottlenecks, and the weakening of checks and balances—that cumulatively undermine democratic resilience.
Teaching Democracy: From Classroom to Real-World Application
Beyond measurement, DEC’s work is about education—arming students, journalists, and policymakers with clear frameworks to analyze democratic health. The directors discuss strategies for teaching complex concepts like democratic erosion, political legitimacy, and the rule of law in accessible ways. The conversation highlights how datasets like DEED can be integrated into teaching modules, simulations, and case studies that illuminate how democracies fail and how communities can defend them. The importance of critical thinking, source evaluation, and interpretive caution is stressed as essential components of any robust civics or political science curriculum.
DEED Updates and the US-Focused Initiative
A key portion of the discussion centers on the latest update to the Democratic Erosion Event Dataset (DEED). DEC researchers outline refinements to coding schemes, enhancements in data coverage, and improvements in documentation to ensure the dataset remains usable for both researchers and educators. The team also reveals plans for a US-focused version of DEED, aimed at capturing domestic threats to democracy with a specificity tailored to the American democratic landscape. This new initiative will complement international comparisons and offer more granular insight into how U.S. political dynamics influence democratic stability across states and localities.
What This Means for the Field
By combining rigorous measurement with practical teaching tools, DEC hopes to advance a more informed public discourse about democracy. The Q&A with Mike Albertus underscores a shared commitment to making data accessible, interpretable, and actionable. As democracy faces persistent challenges—from disinformation to institutional strain—the DEC’s evolving datasets and educational resources position scholars, educators, and practitioners to respond with evidence-based strategies and democratic safeguards.
Where to Read More
Readers can read the full Substack post on The Good Society to explore the discussion in depth, including the nuances of the DEED updates and the rationale behind the US-focused DEED project. DEC invites feedback from the community to refine measurement approaches and educational materials that can strengthen democratic resilience.
