SPPAIS Events

 

Democracies around the world are being challenged and undermined by a variety of threats ranging from polarization and populism to intervening foreign actors and authoritarian regimes. Come join faculty from UW’s School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies and experts from Wyoming and around the world to explore the varied challenges to the effective functioning of democratic systems and civic norms. Our speakers will explore possible solutions on how we can restore shared civic and political norms and move beyond what many see as an existential crisis for liberal democracy in the United States and across the globe. All events are free and open to the public. For more information contact series co-organizers: Dr. Andrew Garner (agarner1@uwyo.edu) or Dr. Jean Garrison (garrison@uwyo.edu).

 

On Campus Schedule of Events:

1. Tuesday, September 10^th, 2:45-4 p.m., Skylight Lounge (Wyoming Union Basement), “Governing in a Polarized Environment: Past and Present”

• Cy Rosenblatt, Former Member of Mississippi House of Representatives
• Chris Rothfuss, Wyoming Senate Minority Floor Leader (D-Senate District 9)
• Eric Barlow, Member of the Wyoming Senate (R-Senate District 23)
• Andrew Garner, Professor of Political Science (moderator)

 

2. Monday, September 16^th @ 4:30 p.m., Wyoming Union Family Room, “Book Launch & Discussion for Polarization and Deep Contestation: The Liberal Script in the United States”

• Tanja Börzel (co-editor) holds the Chair for European Integration at the Otto-Suhr-Institute for Political Science and is director of the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script”, Freie Universität Berlin
• Thomas Risse (co-editor) is Senior Professor, Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script”, Freie Universität Berlin
• Stephanie Anderson (co-editor) is Professor of Political Science & Head of the School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies, University of Wyoming
• Jean Garrison (co-editor) is Professor of Political Science and International Studies, University of Wyoming
• Andrew Garner (contributor) is Professor of Political Science, University of Wyoming
• Peter Parolin (contributor) is Associate Professor of English & Dean of the Honors College, University of Wyoming

 

Book pdf available here

         

3. Tuesday, October 15^th @ 4:30 p.m., Wyoming Union Family Room, “From Paper to Pixels: The Evolution and Future of Voting”

• Commissioner Thomas Hicks, Election Assistance Commission
• Ryan Williamson, Assistant Professor of Political Science(moderator)

 

4. Monday, November 4^th @ 4:30 p.m., Wyoming Union Central Ballroom, “Wyoming Political Attitudes: Findings from the Wyoming Election Survey”

• Jim King, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Wyoming
• Ryan Williamson, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Wyoming
• Jason McConnell, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Wyoming
• Andrew Garner, Professor of Political Science, University of Wyoming

 

5. Wednesday, November 6^th, 4:30 p.m., Wyoming Union West Ballroom, “Democratic Crisis Around the Globe”

• Ambassador (ret) Tom Dougherty, Milward L. Simpson Visiting Professor of Political Science and former U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso  
• George Tawakkal, Professor of Political Science, Universitas Brawijaya (Indonesia) 
• Andrew Garner, Professor of Political Science, University of Wyoming
• Tom Seitz, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Wyoming

 

6. Tuesday, November 12^th @ 5:30 p.m., Wyoming Union Family Room, “Book Launch and Discussion for Nationalized Politics: Evaluating Electoral Politics Across Time”

• Ryan Williamson, Assistant Professor of Political Science and book co-author

 

Find the book here 

 

**Special thanks to our campus co-sponsors for specific events including: Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program, Center for Global Studies, Freie Universität Berlin & SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence, and BridgeUWYO, an RSO devoted to de-polarizing American politics.**

 

Statewide Draft Schedule of Events:

1. Monday, September 30^th @ 5:30, “Crisis of Civility and Hope for Civic Engagement”

Location: Heart Mountain Interpretive Center – Mineta-Simpson Institute Lecture Hall (1519 Road 19 located off US 14 between Cody and Powell)

• Ambassador (ret.) Tom Dougherty is the Milward L. Simpson Visiting Professor of Political Science at UW and former US Ambassador to Burkina Faso.  
• Andrew Garner is Professor of Political Science whose expertise focuses on the quality and nature of democracy. 
• Jean Garrison is Professor of Political Science & International Studies whose expertise focuses on U.S. foreign policy, energy security, and civic engagement. 
• Aura Newlin is Executive Director of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, which oversees the Heart Mountain historic site, Interpretive Center, and the Mineta-Simpson Institute. 

 

2. Tuesday, October 1^st @ 5:30 p.m., “Crisis of Democracy Around the World?: From Polarization to Populism and Possible Solutions”

Location: Center for a Vital Community, Sheridan College Broadway Center, 245 Broadway, Sheridan, WY

• Ambassador (ret.) Tom Dougherty is the Milward L. Simpson Visiting Professor of Political Science at UW and former US Ambassador to Burkina Faso.  
• Andrew Garner is Professor of Political Science whose expertise focuses on the quality and nature of democracy. 
• Jean Garrison is Professor of Political Science & International Studies whose expertise focuses on U.S. foreign policy, energy security, and civic engagement. 
• Michael Thomas teaches American government at Sheridan High School, directs its award-winning We the People Program, and is an adjunct at Sheridan College. 

 

3. Monday, October 21^st @ 5:30 p.m., “Crisis of Democracy Around the World?”

Location: UW Casper, 125 College Drive, Union/University Building, UU322, Casper, WY

• Ambassador (ret) Tom Dougherty is the Milward L. Simpson Visiting Professor of Political Science at UW and served as US Ambassador to Burkina Faso.  
• Andrew Garner is Professor of Political Science whose expertise focuses on the quality and nature of democracy.
• Jason McConnell is Assistant Professor of Political Science whose expertise focuses on the US Constitution in particular civil rights and civil liberties.
• Jean Garrison is Professor of Political Science & International Studies whose expertise focuses on US foreign policy, energy security, and civic engagement.

 

4. Wednesday, November 20^th @ 5:30 p.m., “Crisis of Democracy Around the World?”

 

Location: Laramie County Public Library, Cottonwood Room, 2200 Pioneer Ave., Cheyenne, WY 

• Ambassador (ret) Tom Dougherty is the Milward L. Simpson Visiting Professor of Political Science at UW and served as US Ambassador to Burkina Faso.  
• Andrew Garner is Professor of Political Science whose expertise focuses on the quality and nature of democracy.
• Jason McConnell is Assistant Professor of Political Science whose expertise focuses on the US Constitution in particular civil rights and civil liberties.
• Jean Garrison is Professor of Political Science & International Studies whose expertise focuses on US foreign policy, energy security, and civic engagement.

 

**Special thanks to our statewide co-sponsors for specific events including: Heart Mountain Interpretive Center & Mineta-Simpson Institute, Center for a Vital Community at Sheridan College, UW Casper, Laramie County Library, and Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program.**