Backsliding, Populism, and Strategies for Democratic Defense: A Conversation with Laura Gamboa and Kurt Weyland
The US Election and its Consequences for Democracy with Political Scientists Dave Campbell and Christina Wolbrecht
International Threats, Misinformation, and Antidemocratic Forces, with Political Scientists María Isabel Puerta Riera and Steven Lloyd Wilson
Kellogg & the Democracy Initiatives
With its 40-year history of excellence in the study of global democracy, the Kellogg Institute for International Studies is a pillar of both the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative and the Democracy, Governance, Institutions and Rights program of the Keough School of Global Affairs.
About
With its 40-year history of excellence in the study of global democracy, the Kellogg Institute for International Studies is a pillar of both the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative and the Democracy, Governance, Institutions and Rights program of the Keough School of Global Affairs.
As part of its 2023-2033 Strategic Framework, the University established the campus-wide Notre Dame Democracy Initiative to address the increasing challenges to the state of democracy at home and abroad. The Initiative seeks to establish the university as a leader in the study of democracy both in the US and worldwide, as a convenor for conversations about and actions to preserve democracy, and as a model for the formation of civically engaged citizens and public servants. Bridging research, education, and policy work across campus, the Initiative also extends beyond campus to policymakers and federal agencies in Washington, DC.
These university goals parallel one of four core research programs established by the Keough School of Global Affairs through its Strategic Plan 2030. This Democracy, Governance, Institutions and Rights program seeks to examine local and global threats to democracy and explore how best to build and support effective states, expand political participation, strengthen the rule of law, improve the protection of human and civil rights, and enhance cooperation across national borders.
In the name of promoting global democracy as part of the Keough School and the University of Notre Dame, the Kellogg Institute is leading efforts to build on its strong academic foundation. The institute is hiring new faculty with democracy expertise (including two junior faculty members to be brought on in 2024-25), promoting two visiting fellowships annually to scholars working on global democracy, and funding five PhD students for the study of democracy, starting with one scholarship in 2025.
Kellogg is also leading efforts on campus to engage students and faculty on campus and abroad in discussions about global democracy with conferences and other events, including “Global Democracy at Risk: Why it Matters and What Can Be Done,” “Four Decades of the Third Wave of Democratization in Latin America,” “The 40th Anniversary of Argentina's Democracy,” and “Dinner and Dialogue with the OAS Secretary for Strengthening Democracy” in the 2023-24 academic year.
These events lead up to the Global Democracy Conference, May 20-22, 2024, on the campus of Notre Dame. Planned as an annual event, the conference will be comprised of roundtable discussions about topics related to the state of democracy in the world, featuring public scholars, journalists, religious and business leaders, and policymakers; academic panels showcasing new research initiatives at Notre Dame and other top research universities; and meetings of leaders in civil society, religion, business, and politics to envision how to confront challenges to democracy.
Global Democracy Series
Introducing “Voices from the 2024 Global Democracy Conference,” a special series from Global Stage featuring panelists and students who participated in the inaugural GDC, hosted by the Kellogg Institute between May 20-22, 2024.
In this introductory episode, Kellogg Institute Director Aníbal Pérez-Liñán is interviewed by doctoral affiliates and Global Stage co-organizers Isabel Güiza-Gómez and Patrick McQuestion on his take-aways from the conference proceedings. Pérez-Liñán describes the motivation behind organizing this international conference, reflects on some key moments and debates, and describes plans for the next GDC in 2025.
Episode: 1
Hosts: Isabel Güiza-Gómez and Patrick McQuestion
Length: 11:40
The Return of Military Coups in Africa: A Conversation with Joseph Asunka and Rachel Riedl
This episode of our special Global Democracy Series features a conversation between Rachel Riedl, professor of international studies at Cornell University, and Joseph Asunka, chief executive officer at Afrobarometer, along with Kellogg PhD Fellow Rasheed Ibrahim on the recent military coups in Sub-Saharan Africa. They analyze the potential long-term consequences of these coups, the role of the military in democratic governance, the decline in citizens' commitment to democracy, and the structural constraints that limit the military's effectiveness in addressing security challenges.
Episode: 2
Host: Rasheed Ibrahim
Length: 26:47
In this third episode of the Global Democracy Series, political scientists Laura Gamboa (University of Utah) and Kurt Weyland (University of Texas at Austin) reflect on the current state of democracy worldwide with Kellogg Institute Doctoral Affiliate Benjamin Francis. The speakers highlight some growing threats to democracy, such as the deleterious effects of economic crises, populism, and moral dilemmas to restraining anti-democratic behavior. They emphasize the importance of strategic decision-making to limit backsliding, as well as various institutional and extra-institutional strategies for protecting democracy.
Episode: 3
Length: 27:35
Host: Benjamin Francis
Interviewed by Kellogg PhD Fellow Bill Kakenmaster, political scientists Christina Wolbrecht and Dave Campbell discuss democracy and the political landscape of the United States. The 2024 US presidential election is a crucial moment for democracy, with growing trends of election denialism and the potential for undermining democratic norms. The conversation highlights the significance of inclusivity in politics, with a focus on the impact of women in leadership roles on adolescents' attitudes towards democracy. Speakers discuss the ongoing debate on who belongs and whose voice gets heard, as well as the importance of adapting to changing demographics.
Episode: 4
Length: 34:25
Host: Bill Kakenmaster
Interviewed by former Kellogg International Scholar Benjamín Rascón Grácia, political scientists María Isabel Puerta Riera (Valencia College) and Steven Lloyd Wilson (Brandeis University) discuss the manipulation of democratic processes through misinformation and disinformation in foreign and domestic contexts. They highlight the role of social media in spreading false information, the challenges of combating misinformation in the digital age, and the need for transparency, accountability, and critical thinking on social media platforms. They also emphasize the importance of government intervention to regulate social media and protect vulnerable groups from hate speech and discrimination.
Episode: 5
Length: 33:08
Host: Benjamín Rascón Grácia
GDC 2024 Videos
GDC Opening Keynote
Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Former Pre-Candidate for Presidency of Nicaragua and Former Political Prisoner Hewlett Visiting Fellow for Public Policy, Kellogg Institute
New Ideas: Understanding International Support for Anti-Democratic Movements
- A. James McAdams, University of Notre Dame (Chair)
- Joshua Eisenman, University of Notre Dame
- María Isabel Puerta Riera, Valencia College
- Oliver Stuenkel, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), São Paulo, Brazil
- Steven Wilson, Brandeis University
State of the World: The US Election and Its Consequences for Democracy
- Anne Thompson, NBC News (Chair)
- David Campbell, University of Notre Dame
- Frank Langfitt, National Public Radio
- Christina Wolbrecht, University of Notre Dame
The Path Forward Artificial Intelligence and Democracy
- Justin Kempf, Democracy Paradox (Chair)
- Giorleny Altamirano Rayo, US State Department
- Lisa Schirch, University of Notre Dame
- Dmitry Zaytsev, University of Notre Dame
New Ideas: Measuring the State of Democracy
- Luis Schiumerini, University of Notre Dame (Chair)
- Michael Coppedge, University of Notre Dame
- Brigitte Seim, University of North Carolina-Chapel HIll
- Patrick McQuestion (PhD student in Peace Studies and Political Science), University of Notre Dame
The Role of the Military in Defense of Democracy: Insights from the Portuguese Experience
Helena Carreiras, Former Minister of Defense, Portugal
State of the World: Four Decades of Democracy in Latin America
- Benjamin Garcia-Holgado, University of Delaware (Chair)
- Francisco Guerrero, OAS Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy
- Wendy Hunter, University of Texas at Austin
- Scott Mainwaring, University of Notre Dame
New Ideas: Inequality, Human Development, and Democracy
- Clark Gibson, University of California at San Diego (Chair)
- Michael Camilleri, USAID
- Helena Hofbauer Balmori, Ford Foundation
- Evelyne Huber, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- James Long, University of Washington
State of the World: Africa and the Return of the Military Coup
- Jaimie Bleck, University of Notre Dame (Chair)
- Joseph Asunka, Afrobarometer
- Rachel Riedl, Cornell University
- Naunihal Singh, US Naval War College
The Path Forward: Defending Democracy
- Aníbal Pérez-Liñán, University of Notre Dame (Chair)
- Laura Gamboa, University of Utah
- Jennifer McCoy, Georgia State University
- Zerxes Spencer, National Endowment for Democracy
- Kurt Weyland, University of Texas at Austin
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Organization of American States
- Luis Almagro, Secretary General, Organization of American States
- R. Scott Appleby, Marilyn Keough Dean, Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
Democracy Events
IN THE NEWS
Learn what exciting developments are happening at the Kellogg Institute as part of the University's new Democracy Initiative.
