Stories

ANKARA
NEWS: Two Turkish Cities Are Finalists for 'European Capital of Democracy'
Ankara and Denizli Join Brussels and Tirana on Short List
ADDIS ABABA
NEWSLETTER: The Planetocracy Is Coming, So Wear Your White Hats
Also: Impact Investing Against Democracy; Sub-Saharan Local Covenant; Cat-Mayor-Martyr
compiled by Joe Mathews with Google Gemini
WATCHING
COLUMN One Local Place After Another
A Prize-Winning Film Gets Local Geography Wrong—And Grabs Tax Credits
by Joe Mathews, using Google Gemini
SACRAMENTO
COLUMN Plutarch, Newsom, and The Nature of Horse Races
The Ancient Struggle for Democratic Leadership Is Internal
Local Citizens' Panel in Latvia
Community Resilience, Active Citizenship and Solidarity: Recommendations...
The EU for Global National Citizen’s Panel in Riga, Latvia took place on 27 November 2025, hosted by Latvian...
TRINCOMALEE (SRI LANKA)
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES When Faith and Politics Mix
A Land Dispute on Sri Lanka's East Coast Involves Buddhist Monks, Raises Tensions, Pressures President
Illustration by Andi Lanuza
TORONTO
READINGS Why Millions Can Deliberate
It Just Requires an Economy That Supports Mass Participation
SACRAMENTO
COLUMN Why Democracy Needs Bureaucracy
Why Deliberative Processes Must Get Dirty
Credit Chad Davis, https://chaddavis.photography/sets/ice-in-minneapolis/ and CC 4.0
MINNEAPOLIS
ZÓCALO When Spectacular Cruelty Meets Authentic Community
Historian of Democracy Shows How His City’s Organizing Empowered Its Response to ICE
Photo by Edward Watts
ROME
ZÓCALO When the World's Most Powerful Republic Attacked Its Citizens
A Vengeful Leader Shocked Romans By Using Their Own Army Against Them
Banner image by Asia Democracy Chronicles
BHOPAL
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES Bhopal's Neverending Toxic Tale
40 Years After Union Carbide Caused Thousands of Death, Facility Still Poses Health Risks
ILOCOS NORTE
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES Transition Without Justice
Burdens of Renewable Energy Shift From Governments to Local Communities