THINK Debate: Democracy in America 2020

“Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.” Alexis de Tocqueville

It has been nearly two centuries since de Tocqueville published his classic analysis of Democracy in America, reporting on the experiment in self-governance that was underway in the former British colonies in North America.  For a time, American democracy was widely seen as a model to be emulated. In the aftermath of the tumultuous 2020 presidential election, it is time to take stock. What is the state of American democracy today? Is America capable of democratic self-rule? What are the social and cultural conditions upon which the survival of American democracy will depend?

Speakers

• Nancy Abudu, Deputy Director from Voting Rights Project and Southern Poverty Law Centre
• David Runciman, Professor of Politics from Cambridge University

Reading List

The key readings for the this THINK debate are:

• The Vox "The emergency is happerning right now"
• The Guardian "Donald Trump's plot against democracy could break America Apart"
• The Vox "RBG, minority rule, and our looming legitimacy crisis"
  
• Financial Times "Will America tear itself apart? The Supreme Court, 2020 elections and a looming constitutional crisis"
• The New York Times 'End Minority Rule'

Join us on Wednesday 4 November at 7pm for our second virtual THINK Debate of term.

Join Zoom webinar