The “Democracy Defenders in Exile” series is supported by the University of Notre Dame’s Democracy Catalyst Grant; the Keough School of Global Affairs; the Kellogg Institute for International Studies; the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, the Law School’s Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic (Fall 2025); and the College of Arts and Letters’ Teaching Beyond the Classroom mid-size grant, the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, and the O'Brien Notre Dame International Security Center  (Spring 2026).

The series brings together democracy advocates working on China and the world. Each session follows a Q&A format led by students enrolled in the Political Science seminar “Democracy Defenders in Exile” or the College Seminar “Global Struggles for Democracy.” The series will be offered regularly, with the strongest student essays and memos published on this website and top selections compiled into an edited volume.