Democracy in
Troubled Times
Democracy in Troubled Times is a campus-wide initiative led by faculty in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in collaboration with the many sponsors and partners listed below. The initiative features a number of speakers and events focused on issues related to democracy in the U.S.
This initiative aims to address the challenges democracy faces in the U.S. and elsewhere, examining both enduring struggles and new challenges. It combines opportunities to learn about the history, theory, and practice of democracy, reflect on old and new challenges facing democracy, and act to strengthen and enrich democratic politics.
As a campus, we are a microcosm of the polarized national and international debates carrying out around us. Indeed, we are facing our own troubled times in striving to uphold the democratic ideals we hold dear as a university on open and critical dialogue, free speech, and the right to peaceful dissent.
We hope this series will contribute to the significant efforts already underway to address these issues across our campus. By shining a light on the challenges of democracy across different contexts, we hope to provide participants with resources to navigate in times of democratic contention.
A wide array of classes will address crucial themes related to the Democracy in Troubled Times Initiative.
A speaker series will bring to campus nationally and internationally renowned scholars and practitioners with distinctive perspectives on the theme of Democracy in Troubled Times.
A broad-based engagement initiative offers diverse opportunities for participants to get involved.
CONSTITUTION DAY LAUNCH EVENT
September 17
11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Integrative Learning Center, Communication Hub (3rd floor)
Launch of Democracy in Troubled Times Initiative
Keynote Speaker: Marc Hetherington
Can We Talk About Politics?
Mobilize, Organize
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Office of the Chancellor • Office of the Provost • Office of Equity and Inclusion • Student Affairs and Campus Life
College of Humanities and Fine Arts • College of Natural Sciences • Isenberg School of Management
Manning College of Information and Computer Science • UMass Libraries • Institute for Social Science Research
Community, Democracy, and Dialogue • UMass Faculty for Open Inquiry and Civil Dialogue • The Migration Working Group
Center for Justice, Law, and Societies
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Amel Ahmed, Director and Associate Professor of Political Science
Cedric de Leon, Professor of Sociology and Labor Studies
Adam Dahl, Associate Professor of Political Science
Saulo DePaula, Associate Dean of Administration and Finance
Kathy Roberts Forde, Associate Dean of Equity and Inculsion and Professor of Journalism
Jennifer Lundquist, Senior Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development and Professor of Sociology
Mikayla Viscione, Associate Director of Events and Projects
Alex Theodoridis, Associate Professor of Political Science
Jesse Rhodes, Professor of Political Science
Dean Robinson, Chair and Professor of Political Science
Karl Rethemeyer, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Public Policy
Libby Sharrow, Associate Professor of Public Policy and History and Director of Faculty Research, Institute for Social Science Research