Mike Berkowitz

How to ensure the US remains a democratic country | Mike Berkowitz (2021)

Mike Berkowitz, Rob Wiblin

Mike Berkowitz of Third Plateau and the Democracy Funders Network outlines a multi-decade strategy to counter "illiberal democracy" by shifting philanthropic focus from partisan battles to cross-ideological coalitions protecting voting rights and local institutions. He advocates for specific structural reforms, including independent redistricting and nonpartisan primaries, while urging donors to fund neutral organizations like Protect Democracy and the American Journalism Project to bolster civic engagement. This approach prioritizes state-level action and social cohesion to prevent the erosion of democratic norms before irreversible authoritarian trends take hold.