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Event Series

Democracy and Its Critics Initiative

 



Over the past decade, democracy has been under siege in Europe and the United States. The disruptions caused by the rise of polarization and radical right forces, triggered by economic instability, demographic shifts, and technological change represent deep challenges to the basic patterns of democratic governance that we have taken for granted for decades. The disruptions bind the transatlantic world together and raise fundamental questions: How should we understand this tumult? What is causing it? What are the responses to it? These questions have given rise to shared and parallel debates about the promise and peril of democracy across Europe and in the United States.

The Democracy and its Critics Initiative was launched by the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies (CES) to focus on both the history and contemporary shape of democracy in Europe, and provide a platform for events, conferences, and research on these pressing issues.

The first event will launch on September 19 with a keynote address by CES Senior Fellow Michael Ignatieff, who will deliver the inaugural Václav Havel Lecture on Human Rights, Civil Society and Democracy.

Later this year, the Center will also host a series entitled “Questions of Fascism and Democracy,” which will be co-chaired by CES Resident Faculty Peter Gordon & CES Director Daniel Ziblatt. The series will host the following speakers:

  • Federico Marcon (Princeton University)
  • William E. Scheuerman (Indiana University)
  • Michelle Lynn Kahn (University of Richmond)
  • Lenka Bustikova (University of Florida)
  • Federico Finchelstein (New York University)

This series is a CES-wide initiative, and we welcome proposals, suggestions, and collaborations from anyone in the CES community. Please contact the Center Directors Daniel Ziblatt and Elaine Papoulias.

Events Calendar

More Bark than Bite? The Far Right and Foreign Policy in Europe European Union Seminar & The Democracy and Its Critics Initiative — More Bark than Bite? The Far Right and Foreign Policy in Europe
September 20, 2024
10:00am - 11:15am
  • Andrew Moravcsik – Professor of Politics and International Affairs & Director of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination and the European Union Program, Princeton University
  • Daniel Ziblatt – Director, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies & Eaton Professor of the Science of Government, Harvard University; Unit Director, Transformations of Democracy, WZB Berlin Social Science Center
  • Moderated by Karl Kaiser – Fellow, Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship, Harvard Kennedy School; Local Affiliate & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
  • Chair Kaija Schilde – Associate Dean of Studies; Jean Monnet Chair in European Security and Defense; Associate Professor of International Relations, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University; Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University and Christoph Mikulaschek – Assistant Professor of Government, Harvard University; Faculty Associate & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
China and the West – Two Paths to the Twentieth Century Seminar on European Development in a Historical Perspective — China and the West – Two Paths to the Twentieth Century
September 23, 2024
3:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Joel Mokyr – Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences & Professor of Economics and History, Northwestern University
  • Moderated by Yuhua Wang – Professor of Government, Harvard University; Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
Defending Democracy and Safeguarding Our Planet: A Dual Imperative The Democracy and Its Critics Initiative & The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability — Defending Democracy and Safeguarding Our Planet: A Dual Imperative
September 24, 2024
4:00pm - 5:15pm
  • Luisa Neubauer – Youth Climate Justice Activist and Lead Organizer, Fridays for Future Germany; Visiting Research Scholar, Center for German and European Studies, Brandeis University; John F. Kennedy Memorial Policy Fellow (Fall 2024), Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
  • Chair George Sarrinikolaou – Executive Director, Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability & Assistant Provost for Climate and Sustainability, Harvard University
Financial Integration and the Geography of Economic Activity Graduate Student Research Workshop — Financial Integration and the Geography of Economic Activity
October 18, 2024
3:00pm - 4:30pm
  • Leonardo D'Amico – Ph.D. Candidate in Economics, Harvard University; Graduate Student Affiliate, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
  • Chair Lauren Bohm – Ph.D. Candidate in History, Harvard University; Graduate Student Affiliate & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University and Adrian Scheibler – Ph.D. Student in Government, Harvard University; Graduate Student Affiliate & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
The Domestic Politics of International Statebuilding: Evidence from Postwar Japan Seminar on European Development in a Historical Perspective — The Domestic Politics of International Statebuilding: Evidence from Postwar Japan
October 28, 2024
3:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Melissa Lee – Klein Family Presidential Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania; Director of the World House Student Fellows Program, Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania
  • Chair Volha Charnysh – Ford Career Development Associate Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Local Affiliate & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
The Organization of Historical States Seminar on European Development in a Historical Perspective — The Organization of Historical States
November 4, 2024
3:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Charles Angelucci – Class of 1957 Career Development Professor and Assistant Professor of Applied Economics, MIT Sloan School of Management
  • Lydia Assouad – Academy Scholar at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies and Assistant Professor of Economics, LSE
  • Matthias Weigand – Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Economics, Harvard University; Graduate Student Affiliate & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
35 Years After the Fall of the Wall – The Values of 1989 and Today's Democractic Challenges Democracy and its Critics Initiative — 35 Years After the Fall of the Wall – The Values of 1989 and Today's Democractic Challenges
November 12, 2024
4:00pm - 5:30pm
  • Axel Klausmeier – Director, Berlin Wall Foundation and Museum; John F. Kennedy Memorial Policy Fellow, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
  • Chair and Discussant Mary Elise Sarotte – Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Distinguished Professor of Historical Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); Local Affiliate, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
The Invention of Cohesion: How Democracy Survives at Scale Seminar on European Development in a Historical Perspective — The Invention of Cohesion: How Democracy Survives at Scale
February 24, 2025
3:00pm - 5:00pm
  • David Stasavage – Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor, Department of Politics, New York University
  • Chair Volha Charnysh – Ford Career Development Associate Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Local Affiliate & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
Europe’s Little Divergence in Agglomeration Economies Seminar on European Development in a Historical Perspective — Europe’s Little Divergence in Agglomeration Economies
April 14, 2025
3:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Gary Cox – William Bennett Munro Professor of Political Science, Stanford University
  • Chair Caterina Chiopris – Academy Scholar, Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, Harvard University; Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
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