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  • All
  • Talks 317
  • People 75
  • Playlists 24
  • Blog posts 225
  • Pages 10
  • TEDx events 53
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31 - 60 of 704 results

Beth Noveck: Demand a more open-source government

What can governments learn from the open-data revolution? In this stirring talk, Beth Noveck, the former deputy CTO at the White House, shares a vision of practical openness -- connecting bureaucracies to citizens, sharing data, creating a truly participatory democracy. Imagine the "writable society" ...
https://www.ted.com/talks/beth_noveck_demand_a_more_open_source_government

Nicki Beaman Griffin: The fight for the right to vote in the United States

In the United States today, if you are over eighteen, a citizen, and the resident of a state, you can vote (with some exceptions). So, how have voting rights changed since the first election in 1789? Nicki Beaman Griffin outlines the history of the long fight for a more inclusive electorate. [Directed by Darcy Vorhees, narrated by Addison Anders...
https://www.ted.com/talks/nicki_beaman_griffin_the_fight_for_the_right_to_vote_in_the_united_states

Brett Hennig: What if we replaced politicians with randomly selected people?

If you think democracy is broken, here's an idea: let's replace politicians with randomly selected people. Author and activist Brett Hennig presents a compelling case for sortition democracy, or random selection of government officials -- a system with roots in ancient Athens that taps into the wisdom of the crowd and entrusts ordinary people wi...
https://www.ted.com/talks/brett_hennig_what_if_we_replaced_politicians_with_randomly_selected_people

Carole Cadwalladr: Facebook's role in Brexit -- and the threat to democracy

In an unmissable talk, journalist Carole Cadwalladr digs into one of the most perplexing events in recent times: the UK's super-close 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Tracking the result to a barrage of misleading Facebook ads targeted at vulnerable Brexit swing voters -- and linking the same players and tactics to the 2016 US presidential...
https://www.ted.com/talks/carole_cadwalladr_facebook_s_role_in_brexit_and_the_threat_to_democracy

Eric Liu: Why ordinary people need to understand power

Far too many Americans are illiterate in power — what it is, how it operates and why some people have it. As a result, those few who do understand power wield disproportionate influence over everyone else. "We need to make civics sexy again," says civics educator Eric Liu. "As sexy as it was during the American Revolution or the Civil Rights Mov...
https://www.ted.com/talks/eric_liu_why_ordinary_people_need_to_understand_power

George Takei: Why I love a country that once betrayed me

When he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a "security" measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy.
https://www.ted.com/talks/george_takei_why_i_love_a_country_that_once_betrayed_me

George Takei | TED Speaker

The beloved Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek, George Takei is an activist for human rights (and a master of Facebook memes).
Actor and activist
https://www.ted.com/speakers/george_takei

Eric X. Li: A tale of two political systems

It's a standard assumption in the West: As a society progresses, it eventually becomes a capitalist, multi-party democracy. Right? Eric X. Li, a Chinese investor and political scientist, begs to differ. In this provocative, boundary-pushing talk, he asks his audience to consider that there's more than one way to run a successful modern nation.
https://www.ted.com/talks/eric_x_li_a_tale_of_two_political_systems

Playlist: A playbook to understanding power (6 talks)

These talks highlight the reasons we as citizens should understand and challenge the powers that be.
Curated by TED · 6 talks
https://www.ted.com/playlists/a_playbook_to_understanding_power

Amber McReynolds: An election system that puts voters (not politicians) first

From hours-long lines and limited polling locations to confusing and discriminatory registration policies, why is it so hard to vote in the US? Voting rights expert Amber McReynolds offers a proven alternative: a new process, already happening in parts of the country, that could bring accountability, transparency and equity to the outdated and s...
https://www.ted.com/talks/amber_mcreynolds_an_election_system_that_puts_voters_not_politicians_first

Jacob Soboroff: Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays?

Since 1845, Americans have been voting on Tuesdays -- but why? In this humorous talk, Jacob Soboroff shares the history of Election Day and shows how voting on a Tuesday affects voter turnout. [Directed by TED-Ed].
https://www.ted.com/talks/jacob_soboroff_why_do_americans_vote_on_tuesdays

Playlist: The political mind (6 talks)

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).
Curated by TED · 6 talks
https://www.ted.com/playlists/the_political_mind

Patrick Chappatte: A free world needs satire

We need humor like we need the air we breathe, says editorial cartoonist Patrick Chappatte. In a talk illustrated with highlights from a career spent skewering everything from dictators and ideologues to selfies and social media mobs, Chappatte makes a resounding, often hilarious case for the necessity of satire. "Political cartoons were born wi...
https://www.ted.com/talks/patrick_chappatte_a_free_world_needs_satire

Christina Greer: Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained

You vote but then what? Discover how your individual vote contributes to the popular vote and your state's electoral vote in different ways--and see how votes are counted on both state and national levels. [Lesson by Christina Greer, directed by Mark Phillips, narrated by Christina Greer].
https://www.ted.com/talks/christina_greer_does_your_vote_count_the_electoral_college_explained

Rachel Kleinfeld: A path to security for the world's deadliest countries

You are more likely to die violently if you live in a middle-income democracy with high levels of inequality and political polarization than if you live in a country at war, says democracy advisor Rachel Kleinfeld. This historical shift in the nature of violence presents an opportunity for everyday voters to act as a great force for change in th...
https://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_kleinfeld_a_path_to_security_for_the_world_s_deadliest_countries

Dennis E. Shasha: Can you solve the fantasy election riddle?

After much debate, the realm has decided dragon jousting may not be the best way to choose its leaders, and has begun transitioning to democracy. Your company was hired to survey the citizens of the land and predict which candidate will win. There's a lot riding on this: if you get it wrong, heads— well, your head— will quite literally roll. Can...
https://www.ted.com/talks/dennis_e_shasha_can_you_solve_the_fantasy_election_riddle

César Hidalgo: A bold idea to replace politicians

César Hidalgo has a radical suggestion for fixing our broken political system: automate it! In this provocative talk, he outlines a bold idea to bypass politicians by empowering citizens to create personalized AI representatives that participate directly in democratic decisions. Explore a new way to make collective decisions and expand your unde...
https://www.ted.com/talks/cesar_hidalgo_a_bold_idea_to_replace_politicians

Ivan Krastev | TED Speaker

From his home base in Bulgaria, Ivan Krastev thinks about democracy -- and how to reframe it.
Public intellectual
https://www.ted.com/speakers/ivan_krastev

Philippa Neave: The unexpected challenges of a country's first election

How do you teach an entire country how to vote when no one has done it before? It's a huge challenge facing fledgling democracies around the world -- and one of the biggest problems turns out to be a lack of shared language. After all, if you can't describe something, you probably can't understand it. In this eye-opening talk, election expert Ph...
https://www.ted.com/talks/philippa_neave_the_unexpected_challenges_of_a_country_s_first_election

Van Jones: What if a US presidential candidate refuses to concede after an election?

If the 2020 US presidential election is close, the race could drag on in the courts and halls of Congress long after ballots are cast, says lawyer and political commentator Van Jones. Explaining why the customary concession speech is one of the most important safeguards for democracy, Jones exposes shocking legal loopholes that could enable a ca...
https://www.ted.com/talks/van_jones_what_if_a_us_presidential_candidate_refuses_to_concede_after_an_election

Shari Davis: What if you could help decide how the government spends public funds?

What if you could help decide how the government spends public funds in your community? That's the idea behind participatory budgeting, a process that brings local residents and governments together to develop concrete solutions to real problems close to home. In this inspiring call to action, community leader Shari Davis shows how participatory...
https://www.ted.com/talks/shari_davis_what_if_you_could_help_decide_how_the_government_spends_public_funds

Evgeny Morozov: How the Net aids dictatorships

TED Fellow and journalist Evgeny Morozov punctures what he calls "iPod liberalism" -- the assumption that tech innovation always promotes freedom, democracy -- with chilling examples of ways the Internet helps oppressive regimes stifle dissent.
https://www.ted.com/talks/evgeny_morozov_how_the_net_aids_dictatorships

Dambisa Moyo: Is China the new idol for emerging economies?

The developed world holds up the ideals of capitalism, democracy and political rights for all. Those in emerging markets often don't have that luxury. In this powerful talk, economist Dambisa Moyo makes the case that the west can't afford to rest on its laurels and imagine others will blindly follow. Instead, a different model, embodied by China...
https://www.ted.com/talks/dambisa_moyo_is_china_the_new_idol_for_emerging_economies

Rebecca MacKinnon: We can fight terror without sacrificing our rights

Can we fight terror without destroying democracy? Internet freedom activist Rebecca MacKinnon thinks that we'll lose the battle against extremism and demagoguery if we censor the internet and press. In this critical talk, she calls for a doubling-down on strong encryption and appeals to governments to better protect, not silence, the journalists...
https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_mackinnon_we_can_fight_terror_without_sacrificing_our_rights

Peter Paccone: Why is the US Constitution so hard to amend?

When it was ratified in 1789, the US Constitution didn't just institute a government by the people – it provided a way for the people to alter the Constitution itself. And yet, of the nearly 11,000 amendments proposed in the centuries since, only 27 have succeeded as of 2016. Peter Paccone explains why the US Constitution is so hard to change. [...
https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_paccone_why_is_the_us_constitution_so_hard_to_amend

Playlist: Talks to restore your faith in politics (9 talks)

Modern politics turns you off? Here’s how to reconnect — and take charge of your world.
Curated by TED · 9 talks
https://www.ted.com/playlists/talks_to_restore_your_faith_in

Eve Pearlman: How to lead a conversation between people who disagree

In a world deeply divided, how do we have hard conversations with nuance, curiosity, respect? Veteran reporter Eve Pearlman introduces "dialogue journalism": a project where journalists go to the heart of social and political divides to support discussions between people who disagree. See what happened when a group that would have never otherwis...
https://www.ted.com/talks/eve_pearlman_how_to_lead_a_conversation_between_people_who_disagree

Robb Willer | TED Speaker

Robb Willer's political research has investigated various topics, including economic inequality, racial prejudice, masculine overcompensation and Americans' views of climate change.
Social psychologist
https://www.ted.com/speakers/robb_willer

Sasa Vucinic: Why we should invest in a free press

A free press -- papers, magazines, radio, TV, blogs -- is the backbone of any true democracy (and a vital watchdog on business). Sasa Vucinic, a journalist from Belgrade, talks about his new fund, which supports media by selling "free press bonds."
https://www.ted.com/talks/sasa_vucinic_why_we_should_invest_in_a_free_press

Siyanda Mohutsiwa | TED Speaker

When her hashtag #IfAfricaWasABar went viral, Botswana writer Siyanda Mohutsiwa triggered a lighthearted but electrifying discussion of some serious African issues.
Writer
https://www.ted.com/speakers/siyanda_mohutsiwa
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