The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy strives to reinvigorate and reimagine the study of constitutional democracy in the twenty-first century – and to provide a vibrant forum to reflect on democracy from multiple perspectives.

By taking an international and interdisciplinary approach, we seek to foster original research and thoughtful reflection on the promise and challenges of constitutional government in the United States and around the world. The Center also aims to make available unparalleled and life-changing educational opportunities to students at Boston College and to create a nurturing and vibrant intellectual environment for the entire academic community. We contribute to BC’s collective engagement with the world by supporting civic internships, research and fieldwork on the many facets of democratic systems.

Approaching its fifteenth year of life, the Center’s role is especially critical today. On the one hand, the number of democracies binding themselves to a written statute has grown considerably in recent generations. More than half of the world’s population lives under democratic regimes. On the other hand, the 21st century has proven to be rocky terrain for constitutional democracy. The alarming incidence of coups d’état and the degradation of democratic institutions and norms in many countries give reason to wonder about the general trajectory.

The “war on terror” after 9/11 heightened sensitivity to the link between national security and the spread of democracy abroad. That period also reintroduced debates about the reach and duration of emergency powers in democratic contexts. The delicate balance of personal liberty and public interest was tested again during lockdowns and travel restrictions in response to Covid-19. The years of pandemic also brought into relief other urgent issues such as racial inequalities and widening social divisions. After decades of debate over spreading democracy worldwide, events at home turn our attention to the performance and resilience of US democracy itself. 

Constitutional democracy is much more than just elections and the sum of its branches of government. To get beyond a logic of simple majority rule requires the mutual respect of political opponents and a willingness to find common ground. It takes breathing room for civil society and religious communities, space for social movements, and a protected role for news media.

These are some of the areas of research and public debate that will animate programming at the Clough Center in the coming years, and I invite you join our discussions – online and in person.

Jonathan Laurence

Director, Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy
Professor, Political Science