Two decades after transforming a struggling equipment supplier into a radically democratic and resilient (and successful) company, Ricardo Semler wants organizations to become wise.

A Louisiana native, Colette Pichon Battle fights to advance human rights for communities on the frontline of the struggle against climate change.

Jarreth Merz' new film, "An African Election," follows the 2008 presidential elections in Ghana from start to finish.

Alessandra Orofino founded Meu Rio, Rio de Janeiro’s largest mobilization network.

Former Republican member of the U.S. Congress Bob Inglis shares an optimistic message about how conservatives can lead on climate change and other pressing problems -- and how free enterprise (and working together across ideologies) hold the solutions. "The United States was not built by those who waited and wished to look behind them," Inglis s...

Rachel Kleinfeld advises governments, philanthropists and activists on how democracies can make major social change -- even in distressed circumstances.

About this event: The majority of the world’s countries are now governed by democratic regimes. And yet concerns remain that democracy’s spread is stalling and that even within so-called ‘democratic’ nations, the conditions necessary for fair and accountable government find themselves increasingly under threat. Technological advances have had an irrevocable effec...

All around the globe, people are feeling increasingly skeptical and mistrustful of their leaders. According to one global trust barometer, only 52% of survey respondents said that they trusted their government to do the right thing in 2011 and, in 2012, the number plummeted to 43%. As recent surveys reveal, only 18% of Italians believe their...

Could DAOs, or "decentralized autonomous organizations," be the key to building the next great city? Experimental urbanist Scott Fitsimones shares how these mission-driven, blockchain-governed, collectively owned organizations could increase the speed and efficiency of building cities (among many other applications) -- all while pooling decision...

Strategist, technologist and policy expert Katherine Maher is an advocate for free and open societies.

About this event: TEDxHousesofParliament happened on June 22nd and delved into democracy in ways which surprised, delighted and challenged the audience. The day began in the historic Banqueting House on Whitehall, location of the execution of Charles I, and finished in the Palace of Westminster. 23 performers and speakers appeared on the TEDxHousesofParliament St...

About this event: What drives some citizens to deep participation when others are losing faith in our institutions? What can we learn about inclusive decision-making from First Nation peoples? Do we need to reset our democracy with new values and fresh intent? Three fascinating speakers will share their insights regarding community participation in civil society...

About this event: What does Digital Democracy mean to you? We'll be hearing from 4 speakers providing their views on what it means to them. This is a Google only event.

About this event: Centered around the theme of Innovations in Democracy, local speakers Kristin Eberhard and Nikki Fisher will discuss the need for and development of better voter systems and voter access to allow for honest elections and greater citizen engagement. The Salon will feature TED.com videos and commentary by Jefferson Smith to round out this topic — ...

About this event: There is a corruption at the heart of American politics, caused by the dependence of candidates on funding from the tiniest percentage of citizens. That’s the argument at the core of legal scholar Lawrence Lessig’s life long work about Democracy. Fundamentally cross-partisan, and incredibly hopeful, Mr. Lessig conveys a roadmap for a democracy w...

Daily Beast columnist and co-host of the "Democracy-ish" podcast, recovering attorney, playwright, author and exhausted dad Wajahat Ali celebrates the diverse narratives of the United States and advocates for a more inclusive cultural landscape.

Big-picture talks about global politics and the shifting weight of the world.

Since leaving office as US Secretary of State in 2001, Madeleine Albright has continued her distinguished career in foreign affairs as a businesswoman, political adviser and professor.

Summer, 2016: amid populist revolts, clashing resentments and fear, writer Anand Giridharadas doesn't give a talk but reads a letter. It's from those who have won in this era of change, to those who have, or feel, lost. It confesses to ignoring pain until it became anger. It chides an idealistic yet remote elite for its behind-closed-doors world...

What's stopping the American government from recording your phone calls, reading your emails and monitoring your location? Very little, says surveillance and cybersecurity counsel Jennifer Granick. The government collects all kinds of information about you easily, cheaply and without a warrant -- and if you've ever participated in a protest or a...

Ilona Szabó de Carvalho designs solutions for some of the world's biggest challenges -- from reducing violence and reforming drug laws to renewing democracy and fighting polarization.

Join us on Facebook Live for another episode of TED Dialogues, our response to current events, adding insight, context and nuance to the conversations we're having right now. Join us Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 1–2pm on TED's Facebook page. Our speakers are two historians who will try to help us make sense of what's going on in Washington:...

By Yasheng Huang Earlier this year, economist Yasheng Huang (watch his 2011 TED Talk) sparred with Eric X. Li in the pages of Foreign Affairs on a similar topic to today's TED Talk. The TED Blog asked Huang to expand on his argument in his ongoing conversation with Li. Imagine confusing the following two statements from a cancer doctor: 1)...

James Flynn challenges our fundamental assumptions about intelligence.

Was 2017 really the "worst year ever," as some would have us believe? In his analysis of recent data on homicide, war, poverty, pollution and more, psychologist Steven Pinker finds that we're doing better now in every one of them when compared with 30 years ago. But progress isn't inevitable, and it doesn't mean everything gets better for everyo...

As COVID-19 continues to spread, the world is facing two existential threats at once: a public health emergency and an economic crisis. Political theorist Danielle Allen describes how we can ethically and democratically address both problems by scaling up "smart testing," which would track positive cases with peer-to-peer software on people's ce...

A venture capitalist and political scientist, Eric X Li argues that the universality claim of Western democratic systems is going to be "morally challenged" by China.

Former Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow tackles the unintended effects of technology on those already impacted by discrimination and disadvantage.

About this event: On June 14th just under 800 people gathered to hear from 25 speakers and performers on the themes of democracy and representation. From politicians to poets and philsophers to game designers we heard some fascinating ideas worth spreading.

Award-winning journalist and author, Will Potter focuses on the animal rights and environmental movements, and civil liberties in the post-9/11 era.