The State of Democracy
The Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights will sponsor a symposium on "The State of Democracy," Oct. 28-30, on the Grinnell campus. International experts will address the varying global and regional points-of-view of democracy.
"In light of the upcoming election, this public discussion of democracy and democracy promotion will be timely and informative," said Sarah Purcell, director of the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs and symposium organizer. "Our speakers will examine the successes, motivations, failures, and prospects for democracy throughout several of the world's largest regions."
Symposium events include:
- Presentation: Oct. 28, 4:15 p.m. Rosenfield Center 101
- Hans Apel, a former German finance and defense minister, will discuss "The European Union: Divided and Without a Solid Democratic Structure."
- Presentation: Oct. 28, 8:00 p.m.Rosenfield Center 101
B. Ramesh Babu, retired Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Professor of Civics and Politics, University of Bombay, will examine the "Paradigm Shift in U.S.-India Relations: Estranged Democracies to Strategic Engagement." - Presentation: Oct. 29, 4:15 p.m.Rosenfield Center 101
- "The State of Democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Public Opinion Perspective" will be the topic of discussion for Michael Bratton, professor of political science and African Studies at Michigan State University and the founding director of Afrobarometer, an Africa public opinion research site.
- Presentation: Oct. 29, 8:00 p.m.Rosenfield Center 101
- Carlos de la Torre, chair of political studies at FLACSO-Ecuador, will question "Latin American Populism: The Foe or the Essence of Democracy?"
- Scholars' Convocation: Oct. 30, 11:00 a.m. Rosenfield Center 101
The Scholars' Convocation will be presented by Thomas Melia, deputy executive director of Freedom House and adjunct professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Melia will address "Democracy Promotion in a Time of Transition" from his vantage point at Freedom House, an independent organization supporting the expansion of freedom throughout the world. Melia has also directed research at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and held senior posts at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.- Presentation: Oct. 30, 4:15 p.m.Rosenfield Center 101
- Kathryn Stoner-Weiss, senior research scholar and associate director for research at the Center on Democracy at Stanford University, will address "Medvedev's Challenges in Governing Putin's Russia: What the Next U.S. President Should Know."
- Presentation: Oct. 30, 8:00 p.m.Rosenfield Center 101
- "Democracy in the Middle East: What Can It Be Built On?" will be presented by Marina Ottaway, director of the Middle East program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
All symposium events, which are free and open to the public, will be held in the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101, located at 1115 8th Ave. in Grinnell. For more information, contact Sarah Purcell, 641-269-3091.
