Justice by Means of Democracy: Democratizing Power to Rebalance the Economy

Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor, Harvard University

Abstract: Danielle Allen argues that an important lever for tackling inequality is to analyze distributions of power in political and economic institutions. Reforms aimed to better support political equality should also deliver more egalitarian economic outcomes. Allen will review the theoretical framework, and introduce a few key examples of potential reforms that exemplify the approach. 

Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Founder and Chairperson of Partners In Democracy. She is a professor of political philosophy, public policy, and ethics as well as a distinguished author and mom. Danielle currently concentrates on democracy renovation: studying how to reconnect people to their civic power, experience, and responsibility via civic education and how to redesign our political institutions to improve their responsiveness, increase the accountability of officeholders, and reward the participation of ordinary citizens. Her most recent book, Justice by Means of Democracy, provides the foundation for this work. Her forthcoming book, The Radical Duke, a biography of an 18th century British political reformer, is due out with Liveright/Norton in 2026.