Democracy in Crisis: Four Elections
As we approach an election that promises far reaching ramifications, we will look back at previous periods of tumult in American democracy. We find ourselves in a volatile moment in which globalization and the rise of the information economy have created great wealth but have also swept out the financial underpinnings of working class communities. A portion of the population feels unmoored and this coupled with a rise of nativist sentiment, violence between police and the public, and inflammatory political rhetoric has been testing our democracy.
Following a reception, a panel discussion will explore the legacies of four previous presidential elections and the question of what this history suggests for our country’s current trajectory. Our panelists, led by Ted Widmer, will discuss the election of 1860, which took place as the country approached disunion; the election of 1928 on the heels of the first Red Scare; the election of 1952 in the midst of McCarthyism; and the election of 1968, which was marred by assassinations, protests, and war.
Panelists:
- Carol Bundy, author
- Michael A. Cohen, Boston Globe columnist and author
- Lisa McGirr, Professor of History, Harvard University
- James T. Patterson, Ford Foundation Professor of History emeritus, Brown University
- Ted Widmer, Senior Fellow, Watson Institute, Brown University
This event is open only to MHS Fellows and Members. There is a pre-talk reception at 5:30 pm. The panel discussion will begin at 6:00 pm.