Upcoming Events

Democracy.

Headlines tell us that it is under attack, under threat, and in decline. Why is that happening? What can we do about it? Scientia's 2024-25 lecture series examines the political, social, and ethical challenges facing representative government and societies where everyone is supposed to have a voice.

Fall 2024 Lecture Schedule

October 24, 2024, 4pm | Fondren Library, Kyle Morrow Room

Speakers

Philip Kortum, Professor of Psychological Sciences

Title: "The role of usable systems in making your vote count"

Abstract:

When people talk about election integrity, the conversation tends to be centered around the security of the voting system hardware and software. However, in recent history, there have not been any documented cases where failures in the software or hardware security have led to altered election outcomes. On the other hand, there are numerous examples where the usability of the voting system has had a direct impact on the likely outcomes of an election. This lecture will describe some of the perceptual and cognitive issues that are associated with casting a vote, and talk about the usability of voting processes, ballots, and voting machines.

Bob Stein, Lena Gohlman Professor of Political Science

Title: "Free and Fair Elections: Voter Confidence and Election Laws"

Abstract:

Modern democracies pride themselves on enacting and implementing laws and procedures to assure fair and efficient elections and ballot secrecy. At a moment in time in which many are questioning the parameters, rules, and institutions of the American republic, what will it take to build trust in the conduct and outcome of elections amongst the American election? This lecture will explore the origins of declining trust and confidence in American elections and recent efforts to restore confidence in American elections. Original data will be presented on efforts to craft public information messaging and campaigns.

November 19, 2024, 4pm | Fondren Library, Kyle Morrow Room

Speakers

Peter C. Caldwell, Samuel G. McCann Professor of History; Founding and Current Director, Program in Politics, Law & Social Thought

Title: "Democracy and Dictatorship: Of Fuzzy Distinctions, Political Passions, Militant Democracy, and Power"

Abstract:

We often distinguish between democracies and dictatorships. That distinction raises issues for today's world, in which parties use democratic forms to implement dictatorships.

First, while propagandistic claims by absolute dictatorships to be democracies may be swept aside, at the same time democracies can certainly be more or less authoritarian, whether by denying rights or by outright fraud: at what point does a democracy become a dictatorship?
Second, should anti-democratic parties be restrained by force? Restraining the people contradicts the principle of democracy that it is the people who should make a decision.
Third and related: to restrain an anti-democratic party that represents a massive part of the people requires extreme coercion: is militant democracy even possible when a real threat emerges?

All of which leads us to pose that classic question of Germany's first democracy: is a democracy by its very nature defenseless against itself?

Christian J. Emden, Frances Moody Newman Professor; Professor of German Intellectual History and Political Thought; Founding Director, Program in Politics, Law & Social Thought

Title: "Democracy is Not Community"

Abstract:

Over the past forty years or so, demands for more “community” have become a prominent feature in much political theory and public debate on both sides of the political divide. Liberal democracy, or so the argument goes, has become detached from the concrete interests of citizens and thus given rise to a bureaucratic state. Community might be what we desire from political life, and it is tempting to hope that a return to community can correct this disillusionment with liberal constitutional democracy. Instead, I argue that community is not at all compatible with the normative demands of democracy. The language of “community” contributes to democratic backsliding by legitimizing a critique of liberal constitutional democracy in favor of another political regime – sometimes intentionally, sometimes unwittingly. The idea that democracy is concerned with community, or even that democracy is community, misunderstands the critical function and value of liberal constitutional democracy.