Democracy appears to be a fragile thing. Around the world in recent years, many democracies have backslid and autocracy is on the rise. A diminished trust in government and the perceived gulf between policy and popular opinion resulted in the United States being downgraded from a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy” in 2016. In 2021, an international institute’s report indicated that US democracy is backsliding. Restrictions on voting rights, gerrymandered Congressional districts, abundant misinformation, and other threats combine to erode the degree to which the U.S. government reflects its people. One might credibly believe that this is a moment to despair. But it’s a better one to work on strengthening our democracy. It’s a better moment for activism. We will discuss the history and philosophy of democratic rule. You will learn about the challenges democracy faces today around the world. And, in teams, you will develop projects in conjunction with UMW’s Day On Democracy that emphasize, organize, and encourage civic engagement.