Events

The Future of Democratic Governance Series

The Future of Democratic Governance Series features scholars who address democratic governance from different lenses. View webinars from past events in the series and check back for details on upcoming installments.

People, Politicians and the Press in an Era of Political Norm Violation

Ashley Muddiman, associate professor of communications studies at the University of Kansas, explores political incivility, its impact on democracy, and how it influences public engagement as the U.S. enters a second Trump presidency.
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The Challenge to Democracy: Is the Field of Public Administration Ready to Meet It?

Alasdair Roberts, professor of public policy at University of Massachusetts Amherst, discusses whether the liberal-democratic model of government, or the authoritarian alternative, will perform better over the next thirty years when conditions confronting leaders will be exceptionally challenging. From February 2024.
Roberts next to title slide for talk

Miracle or Tragedy? Anticipating the Challenges of Administering the 2024 Election

Charles Stewart III, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science, MIT, and Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
Charles Stewart III video next to title slide for talk

"We Don't Know What We've Got 'Til It's Gone: Standards for Taking Democracy Seriously"

Christopher Koliba, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor, School of Public Affairs & Administration at KU and director of the Center for Democratic Governance, explores the core concepts of liberalism and appeals to practitioners across fields, including in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering, to consider how to center democracy in their work.
Koliba next to title slide

Where is American Public Administration Headed after the Chevron Decision?

Associate Professor Ben Merriman makes the case that the overturning of Chevron is part of a larger legal pattern that weakens federal agencies, makes politicians more powerful, and erodes the foundations of modern federal administration. Learn more from Merriman about democratic governance and the Chevron ruling.
Ben Merriman delivers the speech

The 2024 Presidential Election as a Stress Test for American Democracy

Christopher Koliba, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor, School of Public Affairs & Administration at KU and director of the Center for Democratic Governance, hosted a panel at the recent National Academy of Public Administration relating to how the 2024 elections posed as a stress test to our democracy. Sara Mogulescu, Jodi Sandfort, and Paul Verkuil discussed the implications of the 2024 election on democratic institutions and the public service.
Panel members