2023 Denver Democracy Summit

The Center on American Politics, the Estlow International Center for Journalism and New Media, and the Josef Korbel School of International Studies kicked off the 2023 Denver Democracy Summit with New York Times opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie for a vital discussion about the history and current health of American democracy. 

Speaker: Jamelle Bouie, NYT Columnist

Moderator: Seth Masket, Professor and Director, Center on American Politics

Hear from Korbel School Dean Fritz Mayer about the 2023 Denver Democracy Summit theme: Democracy Renewed & Reimagined, and how the Josef Korbel School of International Studies is working to catalyze public discourse and research to respond to the challenges facing democracies around the world and build a stronger, more democratic future.

Speaker: Naheed Farid is a Human Rights Defender, Afghanistan Parliamentarian in-exile, Chairperson of the House Standing Committee for Women Affairs, a Professional Specialist at Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs-APL, and Advisory Board Member of the US-Afghanistan Democratic Peace and Prosperity Council. Elected to Parliament in 2010 as the youngest-ever elected politician and lawmaker in Afghanistan, Naheed has worked tirelessly to engage Afghan youth and women in the nation's political process. She is a George Washington University Alumni, Forbes Magazine Awardee, a Model Citizen of Grassroot-Diplomat Magazine, and an Italian Distinctive Brave-Knight Medalist.

Moderator: Micheline Ishay, Professor; Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

In recent years, there has been a visible decline in democracy and freedom across the world. Populist leaders have risen to power on anti-democratic and exclusionary agendas, populations have become more polarized and increasingly skeptical of the ability of democratic institutions to meet contemporary policy challenges, and a resurgence of military coups threatens the rights, freedoms, and security of people in some of the world’s most vulnerable areas. This panel of experts will provide an overview of the current wave of democratic backsliding: when it began, where it is happening, how it is impacting populations, where democracy is proving more resilient, and what can be done to address it.

Speakers: 

• Staffan I Lindberg, Director, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
• Adrian Shahbaz, Vice President of Research and Analysis, Freedom House

Moderator: Rachel Sigman, Assistant Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Technology can be a tool for strengthening democratic participation and spreading democratic values, but it can also be a vehicle for spreading misinformation and bias and tightening autocratic rule. Panelists will discuss the governance of emerging technology and what systems and institutions can best enhance the prospect for the democratic use and operation of technology as it appears on the world stage.

Speakers: 

• Ethan Chumley, Director of Critical Institution Security, Microsoft Democracy Forward Initiative
• Swati Srivastava, Visiting Scholar, Harvard Institute for Rebooting Social Media

Moderator: Deborah Avant, Sié Chéou-Kang Chair for International Security and Diplomacy, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Elections are the gateway to democracy and the foundation for solid democratic systems. This panel will discuss efforts to protect election integrity in the United States and throughout the world, and strategies for expanding voter participation and access for future generations.

Speakers:

• Amber Faye McReynolds, Governor for the U.S. Postal Service
• Jena Griswold, CO Secretary of State
• Seema Shah, Head of International IDEA's Democracy Assessment Unit
• Tim Sisk, Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Moderator: Matthew Kaminski, Editor-in-Chief, Politico

Societies around the world face an array of complex challenges posed by a changing climate, rising inequality, and evolving threats to security and human rights. Drawing on findings from the V-Dem Institute’s Case for Democracy Report, this session will explore how democracies have performed in addressing these challenges, how they compare to authoritarian governments, and the types of reforms that could strengthen democratic responses to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Speaker: Staffan I Lindberg, Director, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

Moderator: Rachel Sigman, Assistant Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Climate change is a global crisis with clear scientific steps to reduce worsening impact. However, the ability of democracies worldwide to address and respond to the challenge is mixed. This expert panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities for democracies around the world as they strive towards controlling greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining stability in the face of extreme environmental stress.

Speakers: 

• Ann Florini, Fellow at the New America Political Reform Program
• Daniel Lindvall, Uppsala University
• Fritz Mayer, Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies
• David Orr, Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics Emeritus

Moderator: Jonathan Moyer, Assistant Professor; Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova and U.S. Senator for CO Michael Bennet discuss the war in Ukraine, the role of the United States, and what the conflict could mean for democracy around the world.

Moderator: Rachel Epstein, Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Building and sustaining democracies is a generational challenge. Three Aspen Institute Rising Leaders will discuss their perspectives on how we renew and reimagine democracy today to ensure strong and stable democracies for the future.

Speakers:

• Mari Manoogian, Political Director at The Next 50 and former State Representative, Michigan
• Philippe Nassif, Associate Vice President, The Cohen Group
• Anand Raghuraman, Director, Global Public Policy, MasterCard

Moderator: Ryan Heath, Global Technology Correspondent, Axios

Independent local journalism plays a unique role in U.S. democracy. In the best cases, local journalists shed light on solutions, explain complicated issues and opposing viewpoints, and connect us to our neighbors by spotlighting their humanity. Public media and nonprofit digital startups are taking on new roles to fill news gaps and combat disinformation – especially in rural areas and underserved communities. This panel will discuss building healthier local news and information ecosystems – at scale and nonpartisan civic institutions to hold space for a more functional, inclusive, and trustworthy public square – online and offline.

Speakers: 

• Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro,CEO, National Trust for Local News
• Corey Hutchins, Colorado Media Project/Inside the News
• Arun Venkataraman, Global Strategy Lead, Google News Initiative

Moderator: Jim Brady, Vice President of Journalism for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

This special session of the Denver Dialogues will examine the future of democracy and how to navigate the current and foreseen challenges and threats to the world democratic order. The Denver Dialogues is a series hosted by the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy and the Korbel School in partnership with the American Enterprise Institute, Aspen Institute, Hoover Institution, and New America. Representatives from each think tank will engage and model robust and constructive conversation on the democratic challenges we face and potential paths forward to revitalize democracy.

Speakers:

• Elmira Bayrasli, Future Security Fellow, New America
• Ambassador Enrique Berruga, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Mexico
• Dalibor Rohac, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Moderator: Naazneen Barma, Associate Professor and Director of the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Justice Melissa Hart and Attorney General Phil Weiser will talk about the important role the judiciary must play in a strong democracy.

Speakers: 

• Melissa Hart, CO Supreme Court Justice
• Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General

Moderator: Ryan Heath, Global Technology Correspondent, Axios