Democracy at the Crossroads: Beyond Party Lines

Has Behavioral Grooves turned into a political podcast?

Not really (ok, maybe kinda it has – but for just a few weeks, we promise ). With the 2024 election days away, however, it’s felt nearly unavoidable for many people, including us. Attending the Norms Behavioral Change Conference (NoBeC), titled, Democracy Under Threat, sparked some essential thoughts and insights that we feel compelled to share.

Democracy relies on fragile social norms that are under serious threat right now. From startling statistics about the rise of autocracies worldwide to the surge in misinformation, it’s clear that a renewed commitment to democratic norms is needed now more than ever. So, here’s a crucial question for all of us to consider: Is party loyalty more important than the stability of our democracy?

Join us to rethink democracy—not just as a system but as a collective responsibility – bound together by shared beliefs. Your voice matters, your vote is essential, and together, we can help fortify democracy. If you don’t have a plan for where and when you’re going to vote, put one together. Get a friend to vote with you. You may feel disenfranchised or fatigued or angry or sad…just make sure you vote. And put a happy spin on your voting experience: celebrate the fact that we can vote by baking an election cake (or election pie or even election cookies) to bring to the polls! Democracy is fragile, please treat it with respect.

Special Thanks to: Kaushik Basu, Diana Mutz, Gretchen Helmke, Horacio Larreguy, Christoph Abelé, Julia Maimone, Eric Grönlund, Nikos Nikiforos, Cesar Nuñez, Kjersti Thorbjørnsrud, and Ryan Enos for their participation in NoBeC and their fascinating research!