Anti/Democracy Mini-Symposium

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

School of Education 
Center for Urban Education 
4303 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM 

Join us for a discussion on the growing challenges to democratic ideals in an age of populism, polarization, mis/mal/dis information, and rising authoritarianism. This event will explore the interplay between democratic values and anti-democratic forces, highlighting historical and contemporary movements that both support and erode the democratic project.

Registration Link

Schedule

TimeEvent
9:30 AM - 10:00 AMContinental Breakfast
10:00 AM - 10:30 AMWelcome Remarks and Introductions
Randall Halle, European Studies Center
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Roundtable I

Provocation on Mis/Mal/Dis Information

Moderators:

  • Müge Finkel, GSPIA, Ford Institute for Human Security
  • Paul Adams, Department of Political Science

Presenters:

  • Jennifer Keating, Department of English
  • Elena Bruni, LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome, Italy, Former Distinguished Fulbright Professor, Department of Communication
  • Samuel Woolley, Department of Communication
  • Gabriella Lukacs, Department of Anthropology
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMLunch (Wesley W. Posvar, Room 4130)
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Roundtable II

Academic Panel

Moderator:

  • Michael Kenney, GSPIA, Ridgway Center for International Security Studies

Presenters:

  • Paul Johnson, Department of Communication, "Translational Problems and Opportunities: Overlaying European Political Thought onto US Populism"
  • Courtney Blackington, Department of Political Science, "Conspiracy Theory Communication Framing and Support for Anti-Democratic Behavior"
  • Ian Delabie, Department of Political Science,  "Let them eat cake: Local Socio-Economic Marginalization and Populist Reactions In France"
2:30 PM - 2:45 PMCoffee Break
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM

Roundtable III

Provocation on Populism

  • Randall Halle, European Studies Center
  • Erica Edwards, European Studies Center

Presenters:

  • Cas Mudde, University of Georgia, School of Public and International Affairs
  • Nina Sajić, Institute of Political Science at the University of Banja Luka
  • Jae-Jae Spoon, Department of Political Science
  • Lucas Riddle, Department of German
4:15 PM 4:30 PMClosing Remarks
Randall Halle, European Studies Center

Co Sponsors:

  • Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
  • Department of Political Science
  • Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
  • European Studies Center
  • University Center for International Studies

With the support of the  Eurasmus+ Programme of the European Union