In this bonus episode, listeners can hear the full presentation and poetry reading from Irish poet, conflict mediator, and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama, which was excerpted throughout season 1 of The Future of Our Former Democracy. Before jumping in, Colin and George offer a quick reflection on the results of last week’s U.S. presidential election and compare the rise of far-right movements in the U.S. to similar trends in Western Europe, focusing on the electoral dynamics in France, the UK,...

This episode is a special postscript of 'The Future of Our Former Democracy,' focusing on a learning tour organized by More Equitable Democracy to the Republic of Ireland to observe elections in June 2024. Colin and George recount their experiences at the Royal Dublin Society, witnessing the tallying process, and the cultural importance of elections in Ireland. The episode features interviews with Irish citizens including election volunteers, taxi drivers, and elected officials, providing...

In our final episode of the season, George and Colin explore the historic and ongoing dynamics of Northern Ireland's peace process, focusing on the transformative impact of the 1998 Agreement. They discuss the establishment of new power-sharing structures and the adoption of proportional representation. More importantly, they discuss how these structural changes to Northern Ireland’s democracy largely brought an end to 30 years of violent, sectarian, political conflict in the region.  The...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.