KU discussion series to address 'The Future of Democratic Governance'
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Public Affairs & Administration (SPAA) and the Institute for Policy & Social Research (IPSR) will launch a new series ahead of the 2024 presidential election to welcome public policy experts and their thoughts on “The Future of Democratic Governance.”
The free hybrid series will open with “The Challenge to Democracy: Is the Field of Public Administration Ready to Meet It?” The lecture, provided by Alasdair Roberts, professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Centennial Room of the Kansas Union and will be livestreamed.
Participants should register to attend the lecture, and in-person attendees are asked to do so by Jan. 31. For any questions or access needs, contact Ann Ermey by email or 785-864-7901.
Roberts writes on problems of governance and public policy and is the author of the recently published “Superstates: Empires of the Twenty-First Century.” His upcoming book, “The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century,” is set to be released in 2024.
In his event abstract, Roberts proposed that the next 30 years would bring about a large-scale test in governance and that the liberal-democratic model may not have the advantage.
“Scholars and practitioners in public administration ought to be thinking more deliberately about how to improve the resilience of the liberal-democratic model,” Roberts wrote. “The first step is acknowledging our commitment to democracy as a universal human right.”
Christopher Koliba, the Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, Policy, and Governance, organized the discussion series.
“Given the anticipated tumult of the 2024 presidential election in the U.S. and its aftermath, and other trends indicating that ‘democratic backsliding’ is a very real possibility for established democracies, we are pleased to offer a new hybrid discussion series relating to the future of democratic governance that is free and accessible to the public administration and policy studies communities,” he said. “We believe this series will help to fill a space for critical discussion of the major threats facing democracies. These discussions will serve as spaces for people to express concerns and consider responses in relation to the political currents shaping the present and our common future.”
The second speaker will be Charles Stewart, scholar of election administration, with more details to follow.
To learn more about the discussion series contact Koliba by email.