The Future of Our Former Democracy  – Details, episodes & analysis

American Democracy sucks right now! More specifically, the United States' electoral system is outdated and needs reform to better represent its diverse population. George Cheung and Colin Cole from More Equitable Democracy probe what the U.S. can learn from Northern Ireland's adoption of proportional representation to overcome political divisions and achieve fairer representation. The episode examines the origins of the American electoral system, critiques its current inefficiencies, and makes a case for rethinking democracy by looking at Northern Ireland. Through historical context, personal stories, and expert interviews, the podcast seeks to inspire listeners to consider radical changes that can lead to a more equitable and representative democracy.  Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Dominic Bryan, Queens University Belfast   Paul Donnelly, Dead Center Tours  Daragh Fitzgerald, Historical Walking Tours  Claire Hanna, MP for South Belfast and Mid Down  Gerry Lynch, former Executive Director of the Alliance Party (2007-2011)   Sam McBride, Belfast Telegraph  Music and archival references   For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/    For more information on Larj Media, please visit:   https://www.larjmedia.com/ 

Northern Ireland’s history and politics offer a blueprint for how the US can implement a better electoral system, especially in the wake of rising polarization and political violence. Developed in partnership with Larj Media and More Equitable Democracy.

Colin and George go waaaay back in time to discuss the historical roots of the tension between Ireland and England, through four historical touchpoints - the Ulster Plantations, Cromwell's Conquest, the Battle of the Boyne, and the Great Hunger. Believe it or not, the contemporary subjugation and tragedies faced by the Irish at the hands of the English reach all the way back to Henry VIII, and these historical animosities continue to influence contemporary Northern Irish identities and politics to this day.     Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Dominic Bryan, Queens University Belfast   Paul Donnelly, Dead Center Tours  Daragh Fitzgerald, Historical Walking Tours  Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound   Brain Ephraim, Millmount Museum  Shane Heaney, Millmount Museum     Episode photo gallery  Music and archival  Video: The Difference between the UK, Great Britain & England Explained  Transcript    For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/    For more information on Larj Media, please visit:   https://www.larjmedia.com/ 

Revolution and electoral politics – our favorite! George and Colin discuss Ireland's tumultuous journey towards independence and the partition of Northern Ireland post-World War I, focusing on significant events like the Easter Rising of 1916 and the War of Independence.     With the help of experts, George and Colin discuss key historical milestones such as the 1918 General Election, which saw Sinn Féin's landslide victory, the eventual partition of Ireland into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, their adoption of different electoral systems, and how those systems changes set both regions on divergent paths. The episode also dips into the complexities of naming and identity in Northern Ireland, reflecting deep-rooted political and social divides.     Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Dominic Bryan, Queens University Belfast   Paul Donnelly, Dead Center Tours  Daragh Fitzgerald, Historical Walking Tours  Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound   Erik Stewart, General Post Office    Episode Photo Gallery   Music and archival  Transcript    For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/    For more information on Larj Media, please visit:   https://www.larjmedia.com/ 

In this episode, Heather and Colin walk through how Hitler and the Nazi Party executed their plan to dismantle Germany democracy and, often under-examined, how German democracy was rebuilt after World War II. Most importantly, they explore electoral system design decisions made to prevent a party like the Nazis from ever coming to power again, including the 5% threshold and the so-called "firewall against the far-right" — in German, "die Brandmauer." Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Timothy Ryback, The Atlantic ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Martin Lange, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tour with a Berliner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Jonny Pechstein⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Geschichte für Alle⁠ Dr. Berit Ebert, Bard College Berlin ⁠⁠Professor Thomas Gschwend⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠University of Mannheim⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Nicola Hieke⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism) Brendan MacGurk, Tour Guide (to arrange a private tour, email inquiries to bmacgurk(at)web(dot)de) Professor Doctor Magnus Brechtken, ⁠Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History⁠ By Timothy Ryback: The Atlantic: ⁠How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days⁠ The Atlantic: ⁠The Oligarchs Who Came to Regret Supporting Hitler⁠ Timothy's forthcoming book: 53 Days: How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy, The Atlantic Monthly Press, publishing September 2026. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Music and archival references⁠⁠⁠⁠   For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/⁠⁠⁠ For more information on Larj Media, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.larjmedia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Many people know that the Nazis came to power in 1933 under Germany's democratic system, but fewer people know how they got there in the first place. In this episode, Colin and Heather explore the economic and social conditions that led to the birth of Germany's first democracy — and why it quickly came crashing to an end. Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Brendan MacGurk, Tour Guide (to arrange a private tour, email inquiries to bmacgurk(at)web(dot)de) Hermann "Bobby" Grampp, ⁠Berlin-based historian and music critic⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Martin Lange, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tour with a Berliner⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Finn Ballard, ⁠Finn Ballard Tours⁠ ⁠Nicola Hieke⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus⁠⁠ (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism) Excerpt from the 1998 Broadway revival of "Cabaret" ⁠⁠⁠Music and archival references⁠⁠⁠   For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/⁠⁠ For more information on Larj Media, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.larjmedia.com/⁠⁠⁠ 

George and Colin get into The Troubles - Northern Ireland's turbulent period from the late 1960s to 1998. They discuss the social, political, and sectarian divisions that sparked the Troubles, featuring key events such as Northern Ireland’s civil rights movement, Bloody Sunday, the Abercorn bombing and the killing of three Scottish fusiliers. The narrative explores both the historical and contemporary impacts of segregation and violence in Belfast, the evolution of the IRA, and the contentious policies of internment, British military intervention and direct rule by Westminster during this time. We hear from people who experienced the conflict firsthand, and underscore the importance of the early and bold attempt at power sharing, (the Sunningdale Agreement) in arriving at a historic peace accord years later (the 1998 Agreement) an important step towards lasting peace through power-sharing. The narrative underscores the ongoing struggle for power-sharing and the implications of different electoral systems in conflict resolution.    Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Dominic Bryan, Queens University Belfast   Paul Donnelly, Dead Center Tours  Claire Hanna, MP for South Belfast and Mid Down  Gerry Lynch, former Executive Director of the Alliance Party (2007-2011)   Sam McBride, Belfast Telegraph  Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound    Episode photo gallery  Music and archival  Transcript    For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/    For more information on Larj Media, please visit:   https://www.larjmedia.com/   

George and Colin turn their attention to the US – because believe it or not, parts of the US once used proportional representation! They explore the history and impact of ranked choice voting (RCV) in New York City and its broader implications for electoral reform in the United States and Ireland. After highlighting NYC's adoption of RCV in 2021 and its positive outcomes, including a more diverse city council, George and Colin explore NYC's first-ever use of RCV... all the way back in 1933!      They draw parallels between electoral reforms in the U.S. and Northern Ireland, focusing on their common political landscapes and the systemic challenges faced by their respective minorities. Then for the policy nerds, they dig into gerrymandering and the manipulation of electoral systems, different versions of RCV, and underscore the ongoing potential of proportional representation. They conclude with reflections on modern efforts to revive these electoral reforms, with a case study of Portland, Oregon, and a hopeful vision for the future.    Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound   Jenny Lee, Coalition of Communities of Color    Episode photo gallery  Music and archival  Transcript  Article - Back to the future: What New York’s democracy experiment of the 1930s says about today    For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/    For more information on Larj Media, please visit:   https://www.larjmedia.com/ 

While the United States slips deeper into authoritarianism, Heather Villanueva and Colin Cole from More Equitable Democracy explore how Germany redesigned their elections after World War II to prevent another fascist takeover. As we prepare to rise to our own challenge, how can the U.S. learn from the mistakes and course-corrections of another nation that's been where we are now? Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:   Nicola Hieke, Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism) Martin Lange, ⁠⁠Tour with a Berliner Professor Thomas Gschwend, ⁠⁠University of Mannheim Jonny Pechstein, Geschichte für Alle Brendan MacGurk, Tour Guide (to arrange a private tour, email inquiries to bmacgurk(at)web(dot)de) ⁠Music and archival references⁠   For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: ⁠https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/ For more information on Larj Media, please visit: ⁠https://www.larjmedia.com/⁠ 

After the end of World War II, Germany adopted a new electoral system designed to prevent a faction like the Nazis from taking over government ever again. In our new season, we compare how far-right movements operate in modern-day Germany and the United States to explore hard-learned lessons from German political history and what they might mean for democracy in the U.S..