Ideas change everything

Democracy

A collection of TED Talks (and more) on the topic of Democracy.

Video playlists about Democracy

10 talks to spark your democratic spirit

Dive into a collection of 10 inspiring TED talks curated to ignite your democratic spirit. From actionable strategies for political change to the power of citizen engagement, these talks will empower you to become an active participant in shaping our collective future. Presented by Visit Philadelphia in partnership with: Highmark Health, Bank of America and Comcast NBCUniversal.

TED Talks on democracy

Democracy is an ever-evolving work in progress — and it's far from finished. Explore powerful ideas from leaders imagining, building and sustaining a brighter democratic future. (Made possible with the support of Visit Philadelphia)

The political mind

How do politics affect psychology, influence behavior and create polarization? A quest to demystify what the political does to society and the mind (and vice versa).

A crash course on voting and the US political system

The Electoral College, gerrymandering — and more! These talks answer your questions and simplify the confusing landscape of the US political system. (For more voting information specific to your location, please visit https://www.vote.org)

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Talks about Democracy

Bradley Tusk

Why you should be able to vote on your phone

Greg Lukianoff

Let's get real about free speech

Carole Cadwalladr and Chris Anderson

Can big tech and privacy coexist?

Carole Cadwalladr

This is what a digital coup looks like

Cara Hunter

How a deepfake almost ruined my political career

Ketakandriana Rafitoson

Democracy is being tested. Citizen assemblies can help

Leopoldo Lopez

How to defend democracy — and fight autocracy

Lawrence Lessig

How AI could hack democracy

Eli Pariser

The arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov — and why you should care

Sam Wang

Can math help repair democracy?

Spencer J. Cox

How to disagree with respect — not hate

Isaac Saul

3 ideas for communicating across the political divide

Bret Stephens and Yordanos Eyoel

Democracy requires disagreement. Here's how to do it better

Justin Trudeau

Leadership lessons from the prime minister of Canada

Ian Bassin

How to spot authoritarianism — and choose democracy

adrienne maree brown and Baratunde Thurston

How to imagine a better future for democracy

See all talks on Democracy

Exclusive articles about Democracy

You — yes, you — can use your skills, ideas and energy to help fix democracy

“Lobbying” doesn’t have to be a dirty word; instead, it means using your talents and abilities to improve the world, says civic advocate Alberto Alemanno.

Posted Jan 2019

How to turn a cause into a law

US activist Amanda Nguyen has continually defied the odds to pass bipartisan legislation in today’s divided times. She tells us how she did it -- and how you can do it, too.

Posted Nov 2017

To challenge those in power, use stories as a weapon

In a democracy, power resides with the people. Here’s actionable advice on how you can get your share, from civics educator Eric Liu.

Posted Mar 2017