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SCHEDULE & TOPICS

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October 7: Federalism in America 1776–2026

As America marks 250 years since its founding, what can the core values and tensions embedded in that founding teach us about federalism today? Scholars will trace the evolution of the relationship between states and the federal government, from the founders' original debates to its modern practice, and offer insights on the future of federalism in America's systems of self-governance.

Speaker:

• Jonathan Gienapp, Professor of History and Law and the Nehal and Jenny Fan Raj Civics Faculty Fellow in Undergraduate Teaching

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October 14: Global Democracy and Elections in Comparative Perspective

We are experiencing a persistent, multi-decade global decline in democratic governance. In some notable cases, though, like Hungary and Brazil, there has been democratic rebounding. What are the important lessons from these cases for global democracy, and how might they be instructive for democratic resilience and reimagination here in the United States?

Speakers:

• Alberto Díaz-Cayeros, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Co-Director of the Democracy Action Lab
• Anna Grzymala-Busse, Michelle and Kevin Douglas Professor of International Studies and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and, by courtesy, at the Hoover Institution

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October 21: Money, Parties, and Politics

Money is reshaping the political process in ways that are challenging democratic accountability and political equality, core tenants of democratic governance. Beyond the more well-known Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, there are many nuanced policies and practices reshaping the behaviors of citizens, parties, and politicians. How can we better understand how money is shaping our political system today and what reforms are viable to ensure accountability and citizen voice?

Speakers:

• Brandice Canes-Wrone, Professor of Political Science, Maurice R. Greenberg Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and Director of the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions
• Didi Kuo, Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and manager of the Program on American Democracy in Comparative Perspective at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law

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October 28: Voting Rights and Electoral Reforms

Over the past few years we’ve seen substantial changes to the electoral system, from rolling back the Voting Rights Act and proposed changes to voting through the Save America Act to unprecedented mid-decade redistricting across the country. What are the implications of these shifts from a legal perspective? How might they influence the upcoming midterm elections? What other electoral reforms are on the horizon and how can We the People ensure they are working for the people?

Speaker:

• Nate Persily, James B. McClatchy Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and the Co-Director of the Stanford Law AI Initiative

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November 4: Midterm Reflections

Stanford scholars offer their reflections on the initial outcomes of the midterm election: what the preliminary results tell us about the electorate, the state of our democratic institutions, and what we might anticipate for the next two years.

Speakers:

• Ben Ginsberg, Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution
• Pamela S. Karlan, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law and Co-Director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at Stanford Law School

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November 11: Reimagining Civil and Public Service in Our Democracy

On Veterans Day, we close our annual series with an honoring of public and civil service, from the military to public office to community service. Notable members of our Stanford community reflect on their own experiences as public servants, why civic engagement—in its myriad forms—is meaningful to sustaining democratic societies, and how each of us can renew our civic commitments.

Speakers:

• Ira Lit, Professor, Graduate School of Education and Peter E. Haas Faculty Director of the Haas Center for Public Service
• Lerone A. Martin, Martin Luther King, Jr., Centennial Professor in Religious Studies and Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute

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SERIES HOSTS:

Larry Diamond is William L. Clayton Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), and a Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education at Stanford. His research focuses on global trends affecting freedom and democracy, and US and international policies to advance democracy and counter authoritarian influence. He was the founding co-editor of the Journal of Democracy, now housed at the Stanford Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. His most recent books include Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, American Complacency; The Troubling State of India’s Democracy; and Electoral Reform in the United States: Proposals for Combating Polarization & Extremism.

Debra Satz serves as Stanford University’s Vernon R. and Lysbeth Warren Anderson Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, and is Professor of Philosophy, Political Science, and the Marta Sutton Weeks Professor of Ethics in Society. Her research focuses on the meaning of equality and the role of markets in a democratic society, on which she is widely published, including Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy and Why Some Things Should Not be for Sale: The Moral Limits of Markets. She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received the Walter J. Gores Award, Stanford’s highest teaching honor. Satz currently serves as Faculty Director of the Stanford Democracy Hub, is Senior Advisor to the ePluribus Stanford Initiative, and co-leads the widely-attended “Democracy and Disagreement” course.

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