Civic Desert

• Cora Schmidt, Political Science, University of Delaware

• Francis O’Malley, Center for Civic Education, University of Delaware
• Scott Abbott, Center for Civic Education, University of Delaware

At a time where democratic backsliding poses a global threat, the resilience of American democracy increasingly depends on the health of its local civic infrastructure. This has become difficult due to an increased number of regions in the United States being labeled as “civic deserts.” Prior research attributes the rise of civic deserts to a complex interplay of geographic location, institutional scarcity, lack of local media, civic disengagement, and socioeconomic factors. Building upon this research, this paper synthesizes articles, interviews, and empirical case studies aimed at revitalizing these neglected spaces in the United States. By analyzing policy frameworks, community-led organizing models, and local media revitalization initiatives, this paper identifies actionable, scalable strategies to mitigate the impact of civic deserts.