Polarization of Politics in America: Finding the Center

James R. Langevin Symposium


The event examined the polarization of 21st century American politics, bringing experts and political professionals from both sides of the aisle together for a robust discussion on recent and ongoing attempts at bipartisanship.


Participants

The Honorable James R. Langevin served as a member of Congress from 2001 to 2023, representing Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District. A senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he served his entire tenure in Congress, Langevin was chair of the Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, later called the Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems Subcommittee, a post he held starting in 2011. An expert on national security, Langevin helped shape the focus of the Department of Defense, paving the way for a heightened emphasis on harnessing emerging technologies. In 2003, he was a founding member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. An expert in cybersecurity policy, he founded and co-chaired the House Cybersecurity Caucus and served on the Center for Strategic and International Studies Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th presidency. Langevin was recently appointed to and serves on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, created by Congress to develop an overarching strategy to protect the country against cyberattacks of significant consequence.

Reince Priebus, Former White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump; Former Chair of the Republican National Committee

Hon. Steve Israel, U.S. Congressman, 2001–17; Former Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; Director, Cornell University Institute of Politics and Global Affairs


The James R. Langevin Symposium Series is a biannual event hosted by the University of Rhode Island College of Arts and Sciences to explore the topics of national security and U.S. civics and democracy.