Global Stage

Global Stage

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Global Stage episodes

  • Forecasting Democracy in MENA Using Machine Learning with Hamid Ait El Caid
    In this episode of Global Stage, Jorge Ruiz, a research associate with the Violence and Transitional Justice Lab at the Kellogg Institute, sits down with Hamid Ait El Caid, who recently completed his PhD in Political Science and International Relations at Corvinus University of Budapest, to discuss the role of artificial intelligence in forecasting democratic development and decline. Drawing on his research presented at the AIM4D Conference at Notre Dame, they explore how traditional time-series methods and machine learning models can help predict democratic trajectories in North Africa and the Middle East, why political instability makes forecasting particularly challenging, and how different models perform across political contexts such as Morocco and Tunisia. They also discuss the potential policy implications of AI-driven forecasting, the importance of human expertise, and the opportunities and limitations of applying artificial intelligence to social science research.
    20 min
  • Can AI Predict the Future of Democracy? with Michael Coppedge and Dmitry Zaytsev

    In this episode of Global Stage, Kellogg doctoral affiliate Vahid Jadidi sits down with Michael Coppedge, Alfred C. DeCrane Jr. Professor of International Studies in the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, and Dmitry Zaytsev, Associate Professor of the Practice at the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society, to discuss the role of artificial intelligence in understanding democratic development and decline. Drawing on the AIM4D Conference at Notre Dame, they explore how AI-driven modeling and forecasting can help identify patterns of democratic resilience and backsliding, how computational approaches complement established democracy measurement projects such as V-Dem, and what these emerging technologies mean for traditional social science research. They also reflect on the opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration and the future of democratization studies in the age of AI.

    23 min
  • Rethinking Democracy and Development with Ben Ross Schneider
    In this episode, doctoral affiliate Eugenia C. Aguirre-Raftacco sits down with Ben Ross Schneider, Ford International Professor of Political Science at MIT and Director of the MIT Chile Program, to discuss democracy, development, and political economy in Latin America. They discuss how institutions, business, and inequality shape political and economic outcomes, as well as the challenges facing democracies in the region. Schneider also reflects on his research and the broader lessons Latin America offers for understanding contemporary democracy and development.
    23 min
  • 'Accountability Shock,' con Guillermo Trejo, Lucía Tiscornia y Juan Albarracín
    En este episodio, los coautores Guillermo Trejo, Lucía Tiscornia y Juan Albarracín conversan sobre su nuevo libro, 'Accountability Shock: Why Transitional Justice Prevents Criminal Wars in New Democracies.' A medida que las democracias de la tercera ola transicionaban de gobiernos autoritarios, algunas enfrentaron los abusos de derechos humanos del pasado mientras que otras no lo hicieron, generando resultados marcadamente distintos en paises como Perú, México, Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina y Brasil. Con base en años de investigación del Violence and Transitional Justice Lab, apoyado por Kellogg, los autores se reúnen con el afiliado doctoral del Kellogg Patrick McQuestion para una conversación exclusiva y una mirada hacia el futuro de los procesos de justicia transicional en el mundo.
    34 min
  • Accountability Shock, with Guillermo Trejo, Lucía Tiscornia, and Juan Albarracín

    In this episode, co-authors Guillermo Trejo, Lucía Tiscornia, and Juan Albarracín discuss their new book, 'Accountability Shock: Why Transitional Justice Prevents Criminal Wars in New Democracies.' As third-wave democracies emerged from authoritarian rule, some confronted past human rights abuses while others didn't — producing markedly different outcomes across Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina, and Brazil. Drawing on years of research from the Kellogg-supported Violent and Transitional Justice Lab, the authors join Kellogg Doctoral Affiliate Patrick McQuestion for a behind-the-scenes conversation and a look at what's next for transitional justice worldwide.

    28 min
  • Contenção de ameaças autoritárias pela sociedade civil: lições do caso brasileiro com Flávia Pellegrino
    Neste episódio de Global Stage, Alejandro González conversa com Flávia Pellegrino sobre o papel da sociedade civil na defesa da democracia e na construção de respostas coletivas diante de ameaças autoritárias. A partir da experiência brasileira, Flávia analisa a formação de coalizões democráticas, a participação da sociedade e a resposta das autoridades eleitorais em contextos de polarização. A conversa também aborda as principais lições que o caso brasileiro oferece para outros países da América Latina que enfrentam desafios semelhantes à integridade eleitoral e à ordem democrática.
    48 min
  • Unpacking Authoritarian Popularity with Amb. Norm Eisen and Hesham Kassem
    In this special edition of Global Stage recorded at the 2026 Global Democracy Conference, doctoral affiliate Patrick McQuestion sits down with Hesham Kassem and Ambassador Norm Eisen to discuss the sociological drivers of autocratic popularity and how to dismantle them. They examine practical strategies for influencing the court of public opinion and creating an emotionally compelling democratic narrative that rivals autocratic appeals. Drawing from real-world insights across Eastern Europe and North Africa the guests highlight key anti-corruption tactics and actionable takeaways, including from the Brookings Institute’s Democracy Playbook.
    23 min
  • Africans' Deepening Support for Democracy with Afrobarometer's Joseph Asunka

    In this special episode from the 2026 Global Democracy Conference, Kellogg PhD Fellow Rasheed Ibrahim interviews Afrobarometer CEO Joseph Asunka on the latest democracy survey results from the continent. Bringing his expertise on the influences driving mass democratic support in Africa, Asunka reflects on the role of corruption, security concerns, unemployment, and more recently health care in countries like Ghana, Mali, Kenya, and South Africa.

    25 min
  • Educar para la democracia: memoria, paz y universidad con Luis Fernando Múnera Congote, SJ
    En este episodio de Global Stage, Alejandro González conversa con el padre Luis Fernando Múnera Congote, SJ, rector de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Colombia, sobre el papel de la educación y las universidades en la defensa de la democracia. A partir de su experiencia en temas de paz, reconciliación y justicia social, el padre Múnera reflexiona sobre la memoria histórica, la justicia transicional, la autonomía universitaria y la importancia de formar ciudadanos comprometidos con sociedades más democráticas.
    21 min
  • Nonviolent Strategy in an Authoritarian Age with  Jhanisse Vaca Daza and Kevin Sheives
    In this special Global Stage episode from the 2026 Global Democracy Conference, Kellogg Doctoral Student Affiliate Patrick McQuestion speaks with human rights activist Jhanisse Vaca Daza and Kevin Sheives of the International Forum for Democratic Studies about how democracies can push back against authoritarianism. Drawing on cases from Bolivia, Venezuela, Ukraine, Iran, and beyond, the conversation explores elections under authoritarian pressure, nonviolent resistance, parallel vote counts, civic mobilization, foreign influence, and the importance of building strong local leadership before moments of democratic transition arrive.
    31 min

About Global Stage

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Global Stage showcases academic and policy-related work on democracy and human development throughout the world, shedding light on cutting-edge research from the social sciences, humanities, and…