Centre for the Study of
Democratic Institutions

Located within the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and established through a generous gift from Gail and Stephen Jarislowsky, the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI) seeks to invigorate academic and public discourse on democracy and, ultimately, contribute to Canada’s progressive leadership in the world.

Democracy is a way of making governments responsible to its citizens. It ensures that power alternates. It resolves differences without resorting to violence. It promotes shared economic prosperity.

With donor support, the Centre aims to create solutions to the most pressing challenges and opportunities we face today. Through a combination of community involvement and academic research, the Centre’s areas of investigation currently include:

• Citizen engagement and participation, including work on why people choose (or refuse) to enter politics
• Monitoring and evaluating the state of democracy around the world, particularly in the unstable democracies of Latin America
• Institutional effectiveness and innovation to enhance the performance of democracy

Help to build civil and sustainable societies by donating to the Centre.