The State of American Democracy With Professor Wendy Schiller

Brown’s Volunteer Immersion Program will kick off with an all-alumni community event featuring Wendy Schiller ADE’02, Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence in Political Science.

In this talk, Professor Schiller will present a comprehensive view of American politics and the state of democracy. From local school boards, to state governments, to the White House, 2022 will prove to be a significant turning point in where our nation is headed. From all vantage points, it seems that the pillars of democracy, including freedom of speech, worship, press, and assembly, are under attack, and this presentation will address what it will take to safeguard them in a world that is changing at lightning speed.

Using a combination of facts, figures, and narrative stories, Schiller will argue that current commentary about the decline of democracy, equality, and participation overlooks some of the significant ways that American society has become more democratic, more inclusive, and more participatory in the past 30 years. She will also discuss how the technological revolution has made life better for people in the U.S. and abroad while at the same time presenting serious challenges to the rule of law and self-government. How will we have to adapt to balance these tradeoffs as technology continues to reshape work life, education, health care, social interactions, protest movements, and elections?

Wendy J. Schiller Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence in Political Science, International & Public Affairs, and Director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy, Brown University. She obtained her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Rochester. Among books Professor Schiller has authored or co-authored are Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment (Princeton University Press), Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government (Cengage), The Contemporary Congress (Rowman & Littlefield) and Partners and Rivals: Representation in U.S. Senate Delegations (Princeton University Press). Her forthcoming book, with Kaitlin N. Sidorsky, is entitled Inequality Across State Lines: How Policymakers Have Failed Domestic Violence Victims in the United States (Cambridge University Press 2022). She has also published articles in the American Journal of Political Science, The Forum, Journal of Politics, Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, Legislative Studies Quarterly, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, and Studies in American Political Development. Schiller also provides political commentary to local, national, and international media outlets as well as on Twitter @profwschiller.

This event is part of the Volunteer Immersion Program and is co-sponsored by the following alumni groups:

• The Brown Alumni Association

• Club Co-sponsors: Club of Chicago, Club of Westchester County, Club of Fairfield County, Club of Orange County, Club of San Diego, Club of Boston, Club of Utah, Club of Baltimore, Club of Rhode Island, Brown University Club in New York, Pembroke Club, Club of Silicon Valley, Club of Utah, Club of Hawaii, Club of Oregon

• Affinity & Shared Interests Groups Co-sponsors: Brown Women’s Network, Inman Page Black Alumni Council, Brown University Latino Alumni Council, Brown Alumni Pride Association, Brown Alumni Entrepreneurship Group, Asian/Asian American Alumni Alliance

• Class Co-sponsors: Association of Class Leaders, Class of 1962, Class of 1966, Class of 1975, Class of 1976, Class of 1980, Class of 1982, Class of 1986, Class of 1987, Class of 1991, Class of 1993, Class of 1998, Class of 2000, Class of 2001, Class of 2002, Class of 2008