What Universities Owe Democracy

In What Universities Owe Democracy, Ronald J. Daniels explores the essential roles that higher education institutions play in supporting and strengthening liberal democracy. Drawing on insights from multiple disciplines, he identifies four key functions of universities—social mobility, citizenship education, stewardship of facts, and fostering diversity—and discusses how they can be more effectively fulfilled. With reflections from his extensive experience leading universities, Daniels offers practical recommendations for how higher education can better serve democratic values in challenging times.