Watch the 2025 Denver Democracy Summit Here

Register for Reminder Emails

• Our Emcees for the Summit

  Lilia Dashevsky, SVP of Public Affairs, CLYDE

  Gabe Lerner, Head of the Democracy Assessment team, International IDEA

• Our Keynote Speakers for the Summit

  Anne Applebaum, Staff Writer, The Atlantic

  George Packer, Staff Writer, The Atlantic

  Heraldo Muñoz, Former Foreign Affairs Minister of Chile

Agenda for January 23, Denver Democracy Summit Day 1

All times are in Mountain Standard Time (MST)

• 9:00 AM | Welcome to the Summit

  Dean of the Korbel School, Fritz Mayer, and University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner will provide opening remarks for the Denver Democracy Summit.

• 9:15 AM | The Status & Future of Democracy

  Moderated by Professor Rachel Sigman, researchers and experts will discuss important trends, challenges, and opportunities facing democracy in 2025 and beyond.

  Panelists:

  Joan Hoey, Editor, The Democracy Index, Economist Intelligence

  Yana Gorokhovskaia, Research Director, Strategy and Design, Freedom House

  Alex Hudson, Senior Adviser, Democracy Assessment, International IDEA

• 9:55 AM | Keynote Conversation: Anne Applebaum

  Join Dean Fritz Mayer for a compelling conversation with Anne Applebaum, Staff Writer at The Atlantic. Anne will share her insights on conflict between democracies and autocracies, as well as other pressing challenges shaping the world today.

• 10:25 AM | Disinformation & Democracy

  Moderated by VP for Technology and Strategy at the Atlantic Council, Graham Brookie, this conversation will dive deep into various issues around disinformation, misinformation, and challenges facing democracies in 2025.

  Panelists:

  Mark Scott, Senior Resident Fellow, Digital Forensic Research Lab’s Democracy & Tech Initiative, The Atlantic Council
  
  Roberta Braga, Founder and Executive Director, Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas

• 11:05 AM | Europe, Ukraine, and Democracy

  Moderated by Professor Rachel Epstein, this panel will discuss how the European continent addresses current conflicts and challenges.

  Panelists:

  Clara Volintiru, Regional Director, Black Sea, German Marshall Fund

  Oxana Shevel, Associate Professor, Political Science & Director, International Relations Program, Tufts University

  Vera Messing, Research Fellow, Center for Policy Studies, Central European University & Visiting Fulbright Fellow, University of Denver

• 11:45 AM | Keynote Conversation: Latin America & Democracy

  Dean Fritz Mayer will interview Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz, Chilean diplomat, political scientist, and Korbel School Alum, in a deep dive on how Latin American democracy and politics are shifting in a time of social change.

• 12:15 | Migration & Democracy

  Moderated by Professor Aaron Schneider, Director of the Institute for Comparative and Regional Studies at the Korbel School, national and global experts will explore how democracies and nations respond to modern migration issues. 

  Panelists:

  Yael Schacher, Director for Americas and Europe, Refugees International
  
  César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, Gregory H. Williams Chair in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, The Ohio State University

  Rebecca Galemba, Professor, Korbel School & Co-Director, Center for Immigration Policy & Research

Agenda for January 24, Denver Democracy Summit Day 2

All times are in Mountain Standard Time (MST)

• 9:00 AM | Keynote Conversation: George Packer

  George Packer, Staff Writer at The Atlantic, will discuss the polarization of America and how our democracy might rise to the occasion.

• 9:40 AM | Mayors on the Front Line

  Heidi Williams, Executive Director of the Metro Mayors Caucus, will moderate a discussion on how mayors and civic leaders help move local communities forward in a time of polarization and change.

• 10:20 AM | Denver Dialogues: The Democracy-Climate Nexus

  Moderated by Professor Naazneen Barma, Director of the Korbel School's Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, this panel will explore the interconnected challenges of climate change and democratic decline. This is a special edition of the Denver Dialogues, an event series in partnership with premier American think tanks to model civil discourse about major issues facing the nation and the world.

  Panelists:

  Vann R. Newkirk II, Senior Editor, The Atlantic & Fellow, Political Reform Program, New America

  Roger Pielke Jr., Senior Fellow, AEI

  Laura Schifter, Senior Fellow, This Is Planet Ed, Energy and Environment Program, Aspen Institute

  Fritz Mayer, Dean, Josef Korbel School

• 11:00 AM | Colorado Democracy in Practice

  Join Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Former Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock, State Senator Lisa Cutter, and Former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams as they discuss what is required to work across the political divide in Colorado.

• 11:40 AM | Soft Power & Democracy Promotion with Aspen Rising Leaders

  Professor Naazneen Barma, Director of the Korbel School's Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, discusses the role of soft power in global democracy promotion with several of the Aspen Strategy Group's Rising Leaders.  

  Panelists:

  Tyra Beaman, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State

  Phillip Davis II, Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State

  Sofia Economopoulos, ASG Rising Leader

  Cedric Habiyaremye, Food Systems Policy Director, Food Systems for the Future

Watch Recordings From the 2024 Denver Democracy Series

Webinar 1: Global Elections Retrospective: How Fares Democracy Around the World?

September 6, 2024 at 9:00 AM MDT

International democracy experts explored critical topics such as global democratic trends, the impact of technology and media, and the role of international organizations in supporting democratic practices. Civil society leaders shared their experiences and strategies in promoting and sustaining democratic values at the grassroots level.

• Panel 1: Experts in Global Elections & Democracy

  Moderated by: Fritz Mayer, Dean, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

  Panelists:

  Dr. Yana Gorokhovskaia, Research Director for Strategy and Design, Freedom House

  Dr. Seema Shah, Head of the Democracy Assessment team, responsible for reports like the Global State of Democracy Report and the Democracy Tracker, International IDEA

  Dr. Aaron Schneider, Professor and Leo Block Chair, Josef Korbel School of International Studies; Director, ICRS; Degree Director, Development

• Panel 2: Democracy in Europe, Mexico, and South Africa

  Moderated by: Naazneen Barma, Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies; Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy

  Panelists:

  David Orlic, Political Commentator & Political Adviser, Founding Partner to Jarvaveckan

  Daniela Arias, Laboratorio Electoral Mexico

  Minjah Jeena, Executive Director, My Vote Counts

Watch Recording Here

Webinar 2: 21st Century Elections: Technology, Disinformation/Misinformation & AI

October 11, 2024 at 9:00 AM MDT

As technology continues to reshape our world, it has altered how elections work — forcing us to confront rampant disinformation and the profound implications of Artificial Intelligence on elections worldwide. With such high stakes for democracy in this year's global elections, hear from professionals who work at the crossroads of technology and politics, sharing insights on protecting electoral integrity and strengthening democratic resilience.

• Panel 1: Organizations

  Moderated by: Fritz Mayer, Dean, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

  Panelists:

  Graham Brookie, Vice President, Atlantic Council

  Alberto Fernández Gibaja, Head of the Digitalization and Democracy Team, International IDEA

  Allie Funk, Lead Technology & Democracy Initiative, Freedom House

• Panel 2: Civil Society

  Moderated by: Lynn Schofield Clark, Professor and Director, Estlow Center

  Panelists:

  Keara Mendez, Director of Advocacy, Center for Tech and Civic Life

  Ognjan Denkovski, Digital Democracy Team, Democracy Reporting International

  Dan Blah, Co-Founder, Reset

Watch Recording Here

Webinar 3: U.S. Election Aftermath: Congressman Crow & International IDEA North American Head Annika Silva-Leander

November 15, 2024 at 9:00 AM MST

Experts and leaders share their reflections on the 2024 US Election and what comes next. Hear how key issues are unfolding in real-time, both locally and nationally, including the potential challenges surrounding the certification and transition process. Gain insights into the hurdles our democracy faces as election results are confirmed and discussed. Leave with a clear understanding of what comes next in the election process and how our democracy moves forward.

• Panel 1: Where Do We Go, Reflections & Discussion on the U.S. and the World

  Moderated by: Fritz Mayer, Dean, Josef Korbel School of International Studies

  Panelists:

  Congressman Jason Crow

• Panel 2: Where Do We Go, International Deep Dive

  Moderated by: Naazneen Barma, Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies; Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy

  Panelists:

  Annika Silva-Leander, Head of North American operations for International IDEA

  Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI)

Watch the Recording

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