Sage Launches Collection of Social Science Resources on Global Democracy

NISO Member News

May 28, 2024

Sage has launched a free-to-read hub of social and behavioral science resources to foster evidence-based discussions about democracy and the 2024 elections inside and outside the classroom. The democracy and elections hub contains a curated selection of freely available resources, making evidence-based research accessible to students, librarians, faculty, researchers, and policymakers.   

"In a year where half the world's population will have exercised their democratic right to vote, the importance of social and behavioral science has never been more crucial.” said Ziyad Marar, Sage’s president of global publishing. “The word 'democracy' itself derives from 'demos,' meaning 'the people,' underscoring the primacy of understanding voters, voting, politics, and politicians. In this era of charged and polarized political debate, these resources—along with the ability to discern evidence-based information from misinformation—are essential in strengthening democracy and ensuring an informed and engaged electorate.”   

The collection will help educators stimulate critical thinking on key subjects shaping politics in a significant election year, where many countries, including South Africa, Mexico, India, Pakistan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States are heading to the polls. It contains articles, reports, videos, and more, grouping resources into four subject areas. Examples include: 

• Democracy  

  • “Seeing democracy like a city”   

  • “Can Teacher Education Save Democracy?”   

  • “Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: A Conceptual Framework”  

• Elections   

  • “Inside Campaigns: Elections through the Eyes of Political Professionals”   

  • “Fair Elections and Democracy: Research about Voting”  

  • “Election Fraud Report: Will doubts about electoral integrity impair the 2024 election?”  

• Teaching and Politics  

  • “Making Statistics Accessible and Relevant in Politics and IR”   

  • “Civic Education in a Time of Democratic Crisis”   

  • “Tips for teaching World Politics”  

• International Politics  

  • “World Politics in the 21st Century: The New Cold War?”   

  • “Exploring Identity and Politics: Northeast India’s Muslim ‘Othering’”  

  • “Do internet and mobile usage affect the democracy-economic growth nexus in Africa?”  

Explore the free resources available on the democracy and elections hub now.   

Social Science Space, a Sage-supported community site, has also curated free-to-access content on U.S. and U.K. elections from across the community featuring blogs, webinars, and podcasts.  

About This Organization

Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, 24-year-old Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely.  

Our guaranteed independence means we’re free to: 

• Do more – supporting an equitable academic future, furthering disciplines that drive social change, and helping social and behavioral science make an impact 

• Work together – building lasting relationships, championing diverse perspectives, and co-creating resources to transform teaching and learning 

• Think long-term – experimenting, taking risks, and investing in new ideas