July 10, 2025. 12 PM EST
Introducing The Civic Forum / Overview of Democratic Backsliding with Rory Truex
In this week's session, Rory will introduce The Civic Forum and provide a short lecture on how democracies erode, a process political scientists call "democratic backsliding."
The Civic Forum: Engaging Discussions on Democracy and Activism
July 17, 2025. 12 PM EST
Race, Black History, and the MAGA Movement with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
In this week's session, we will hear from Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, a professor in Princeton's African American Studies department, a recipient of both the MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Fellowship and the Guggenheim Fellowship. Keeanga will speak on structural racial inequality in the United States and the role of race and Black History in the MAGA movement.
July 24, 2025. 12 PM EST
Russian Politics, the War in Ukraine, and U.S.-Russia Relations with Mark Beissinger
In this week's session, Rory will speak with Mark Beissinger, one of the country's leading experts on Russia, revolutions, and social movements. Mark will provide an overview of U.S.-Russia relations, focusing on the war in Ukraine and the influence of Russia on American domestic politics.
July 31, 2025. 12 PM EST
Strongmen with Ruth Ben-Ghiat
This week Rory will speak with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at NYU and specialist on fascist regimes. Ruth will discuss themes from her bestselling book, Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, and how they inform the unfolding politics of the Trump administration.
August 7, 2025. 12 PM EST
Effective Opposition and Civic Engagement with Erica Chenoweth
In this week's session, Rory will speak with Erica Chenoweth, a professor in the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and one the country's leading experts on social movements and nonviolent resistance. Erica will speak about the state of the American pro-democracy movement and lessons for effective opposition.
August 14, 2025. 12 PM EST
The Orban Model: Destroying Democracy by Law with Kim Lane Scheppele
This week we will hear from Kim Lane Scheppele, a professor in the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Kim is an expert on constitutional law and will put the American experience in comparative perspective, focusing her discussion on the erosion of democracy in Hungary under Viktor Orban. She will draw on insights from her new book, Destroying Democracy by Law.
August 21, 2025. 12 PM EST
How Can We Improve Representation? Lessons from Run For Something with Amanda Litman
This week Rory will speak with Amanda Litman, the co-founder and president of Run for Something, which recruits and supports young, diverse progressives running for down-ballot office. Amanda will speak about barriers to effective representation in our democracy and ways they can be removed. She will also speak on the themes of authenticity and leadership outlined in her new book, When We Are in Charge.
September 4, 2025. 12 PM EST
Tracking Democratic Erosion in the United States with John Carey, Gretchen Helmke, and Brendan Nyhan
This week's discussion will feature John Carey, Gretchen Helmke, and Brendan Nyhan, professors of political science and directors of the Bright Line Watch initiative, which assesses the state of American democracy over time. Their remarks will focus on the state of democratic erosion and key findings from the Bright Line Watch project.
September 11, 2025. 12 PM EST
Do Americans Support Authoritarian Government? with Kevin Arceneaux
In this week's session, Rory will speak with Kevin Arceneaux of Sciences Po. Vin is a political psychologist and one of the leading scholars of how Americans think about democracy. His remarks will focus on how American voters view nondemocratic behavior and whether they are prone to political violence.
September 18, 2025. 12 PM EST
The Backsliders: Exploring Patterns in the Fall of Democracy with Adam Przeworski and Susan Stokes
In the last session of the summer, Rory will be joined by Adam Przeworski and Susan Stokes, two of the field's leading scholars of democracy, authoritarianism and democratic backsliding. Adam and Sue will discuss patterns in democratic collapse throughout the world, drawing on insights from Sue's new book, "The Backsliders."
The Civic Forum is a weekly webinar featuring short lectures and discussions of democracy, authoritarianism and activism from leading scholars and practitioners. It is hosted by Rory Truex, Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Upcoming Events
July 10, 2025. 12 PM EST
Introducing The Civic Forum / Overview of Democratic Backsliding
With Rory Truex
Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
July 17, 2025. 12 PM EST
Race, Black History, and the MAGA Movement
With Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University
July 24, 2025. 12 PM EST
Russian Politics, the War in Ukraine,
and U.S.-Russia Relations
With Mark Beissinger
Henry W. Putnam Professor of Politics, Princeton University
July 31, 2025. 12 PM EST
Strongmen
With Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Professor of History and Italian Studies,
New York University
August 7, 2025. 12 PM EST
Effective Opposition and Civic Engagement
With Erica Chenoweth
Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment, Harvard University
August 14, 2025. 12 PM EST
The Orban Model:
Destroying Democracy by Law
With Kim Lane Schepple
Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs, Princeton University
August 21, 2025. 12 PM EST
How Can We Improve Representation? Lessons from Run For Something
With Amanda Litman
Co-Founder + President, Run for Something
September 4, 2025. 12 PM EST
Tracking Democratic Erosion in the United States
With John Carey, Brendan Nyhan, and Gretchen Helmke
Co-Directors, Bright Line Watch
September 11, 2025. 12 PM EST
Do Americans Support Authoritarian Government?
With Kevin Arceneaux
Professor of Political Science, Sciences Po
