Edwards Hall and online
The 2024 Honors Colloquium, “Democracy in Peril,” will provide a valuable
opportunity for scholars, experts, and the broader community to engage in a thoughtful and informed dialogue on this issue. It can help raise awareness of the challenges facing democracy today and highlight the importance of promoting democratic values and institutions. By understanding the causes and consequences of democratic backsliding, we can work towards building stronger and more resilient democracies that are better equipped to weather the challenges of the 21st century.
The main themes of the colloquium will be:
- U.S. and global trends
- Consequences of democratic erosion
- Role of political polarization and populism
- Impact of future disruptors on democracy: ecological and AI
- Potential solutions
Coordinators: Marc Hutchison, Brian Krueger, Elizabeth Mendenhall, and Ashlea Rundlett
SPECIAL EVENT:
‘Election Security, Election Integrity: An Evening with Adam Kinzinger’ 
“Election Security, Election Integrity: An Evening with Adam Kinzinger,” we Joined Kinzinger with his former congressional colleague James Langevin for a “fireside chat.” The two will discussed the state of American democracy, the vital role of election security and the importance of continuing to build confidence in the integrity of our elections.
Speakers
Watch Virtually- Video links will be available on the day of the event.
Democracy: The End of the Beginning - Zack Beauchamp
September 17, 2024 View on Demand
Tyranny of the Minority—and How to Repair our Democracy - Daniel Ziblatt
September 24, 2024 View on Demand
Race and Democratic Backsliding in the U.S. - Andrew Ifedapo Thompson
October 1, 2024 View on Demand
Global Cases of Democratic Decline - José Cheibub
October 8, 2024 View on Demand
Role of Militaries in Democratic Decline - Risa Brooks
October 22, 2024 View on Demand
Why Disinformation Matters - Naomi Oreskes
October 29, 2024 View on Demand
Democratic Solutions, Dead Ends, and Don’t Knows - Christian Davenport
November 12, 2024 View on Demand
Special Events
Theatre
MACHINAL by Sophie Treadwell and directed by Rachel Walshe
Machinal is a 1928 play by American playwright and journalist Sophie Treadwell. The play is inspired by the real-life case of convicted and executed murderer, Ruth Snyder.
Art Showcase
October 1-December 12, 2024
Democracy In Peril – The Politics of Personality Exhibit in Lippitt Hall.
Hera Gallery Hosts Democracy Postcard Project
At the Hera Gallery in South Kingstown, the Democracy Postcard Project brings together student reflections on democracy, captured on postcards as part of the colloquium theme Democracy in Peril.
Sustaining Democracy: A Humanities Lecture Series
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
The Center for the Humanities is pleased to present “Sustaining Democracy: A Humanities Lecture Series,” a yearlong speaker series that will demonstrate the critical role that the arts and humanities play in sustaining and inspiring democratic engagement.
All events in the series are free and open to the public.
Learn more about the URI Honors Program.