Democracy is as an American quarterly political journal. As of 2023, its website describes its focus as not being on policy papers but on bigger-picture, outside the box thinking.[1]

Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Premier issue, summer 2006
TypeQuarterly political magazine
FormatMagazine
Owner(s)Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Inc.
EditorMichael Tomasky
Founded2006
Political alignmentProgressive / Liberal
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
ISSN1931-8693
Websitedemocracyjournal.org

Founding

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It was founded as a forum for progressive and liberal ideas by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny in 2006. Modeled after conservative journals like Commentary and The National Interest,[2] the editors put forward Democracy as "a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred" at a "time when American politics has grown profoundly unserious."[3]

Baer told The Hill: "We think that the [Democratic] party is rich in tactics and poor in ideas. What we really need for long-term success is deep, serious thinking about how we’re going to apply long-held progressive values to new challenges."[2] Cherny added: "I had started thinking about where all of the conservative ideas, for better or worse, had come from. Every big idea — Social Security privatization, supply-side economics, preemption, faith-based initiatives — had come out of one of their journals in their intellectual infrastructure."[2]

In an editorial for the Los Angeles Times on July 10, 2006, Baer and Cherny laid out a case for making a break with what they characterized as the "ad hoc approach to politics" they claim the current Democratic Party is engaged in.[4]

Editor

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On March 3, 2009, Michael Tomasky replaced Kenneth Baer as editor when Baer left to become associate director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "About". Democracy Journal. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  2. ^ a b c Kaplan, Jonathan (June 20, 2006). "Hoping to emulate conservative success, Dem young guns launch journal of ideas". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 30, 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
  3. ^ Baer, Kenneth; Andrei Cherny (Summer 2006). "A Message to Our Readers". Democracy. 1 (1). Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
  4. ^ Baer, Kenneth; Andrei Cherny (July 10, 2006). "Wake up, Democrats: Ideas and vision do matter". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
  5. ^ Kiss, Jemima (2009-02-18). "Michael Tomasky joins political journal Democracy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
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