Institutions Supporting Democratic Communication Among Citizens

Abstract

Since the earliest years of the republic (or even before if we count the colonial period), democratic practices have been woven into the fabric of our formal and informal structures and institutions. Acknowledging grassroots examples of democratic life is critical, but we haven’t always appreciated the important role of institutions in cultivating opportunities and outlets for democratic life and expression. As we seek to both understand and improve civic life, understanding the roles of institutions in both creating opportunities for robust forms of civic engagement and sustaining those efforts is a critical element of cultivating civic spaces and opportunities.