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New Georgetown Initiative Fosters Research and Dialogue on Democracy in the United States and Around the World
Launching in fall 2025, the Georgetown Democracy Initiative will empower the generation of new, actionable knowledge about democracy in the United States and around the globe by supporting research, teaching, and programming across Georgetown University.
Co-directed by Diana Kapiszewski, associate professor of government and director of the Center for Latin American Studies, and Hans Noel, associate professor of government, the university-wide initiative will serve as a platform to disseminate knowledge and contribute to the development of strategies to address democracy’s erosion.
A Critical Moment for Engagement on Democracy
Democracy faces unprecedented challenges globally. Democratically elected leaders–drawing on ideologies that span the political spectrum–betray democracy’s central values and flout its core practices, hollowing out democratic institutions and inhibiting democratic governance. Citizenries are deeply divided, discourse is stifled, and democratic citizenship is profoundly undermined.
As a Catholic and Jesuit university committed to advancing the common good and building connections between research and practice, Georgetown University is uniquely situated to guide and contribute to conversations about democracy’s futures at home and around the globe. The Georgetown Democracy Initiative is a university-wide effort supported by the Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement.
Getting Involved
In fall 2025, the Georgetown Democracy Initiative is providing several opportunities for faculty and students to engage in research on democracy.
Undergraduate and graduate students can apply to become Democracy Fellows who assist with research projects and provide administrative support to the initiative. Learn more about the role and apply for student fellowships here.
Additionally, the initiative is supporting grants for faculty and students to conduct research focused on democracy in the United States and around the world. Applications are due October 20, 2025. Please visit the Democracy Research Grants page for information regarding eligibility and proposal criteria.