Books in the Brown Democracy Medal series

As more and more communities turn to participatory budgeting as a means of engaging citizens, prioritizing civic projects, and allocating local, state, and federal funding, this cogent volume will offer guidance and inspiration to others who want to transform democracy in the United States and elsewhere.

Joan C. Tronto argues that we need to rethink American democracy, as well as our own fundamental values and commitments, from a caring perspective.

The Laurence and Lynne Brown Democracy Medal is an initiative of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Pennsylvania State University. It annually recognizes outstanding individuals, groups, and organizations that produce exceptional innovations to further democracy in the United States or around the world.In this book, Albert W. Dzur argues that some of the most innovative and important work in democracy is taking place face-to-face and isbeing led by professionals who bring those involved into the decision making process. These "e;democratic professionals"e; create a culture that leads to better decisions and overcomes what he calls "e;civic lethargy."e; He focuses on how this democratic professionalism manifests itself in the operation of a wide range of public institutions, including schools and local government, as well as in the reform of our criminal justice system, from juries to prisons.

Jane Suiter is Director of the Institute for Future Media and Journalism and an Associate Professor in the School of Communications at Dublin City University. She studies participation and political engagement in the public sphere, including direct democracy and other modes of engaging the public in decision-making processes such as citizens' assemblies and journalism.

Why American Elections Are Flawed (and How to Fix Them) describes several major challenges observed during the 2016 U.S. elections. Pippa Norris outlines the core concept and measure of electoral integrity, the key yardstick used by the Electoral Integrity Project to evaluate free and fair elections.

The Laurence and Lynne Brown Democracy Medal is an initiative of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Pennsylvania State University. It annually recognizes outstanding individuals, groups, and organizations that produce exceptional innovations to further democracy in the United States or around the world.Micah Altman and Michael P...