Park University's Hauptmann Lecture to Explore the Topic of How Diversity Safeguards Democratic Values
Yascha Mounk, a renowned political scientist known for his work on populism and the crisis of liberal democracy, will be the speaker at this year's Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series at Park University. The event, titled "The Great Experiment: How Diversity Protects Democracy," will take place on September 19, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on the University's flagship Parkville Campus.
Kansas City's International Relations Council and American Public Square at Jewell are program partners for this year's lecture series, which was established through the generosity of alumni, colleagues, and friends of Dr. Hauptmann. Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public, with registration for the livestream required by September 18, 2023. A link to the livestream will be emailed to registrants the morning of the lecture.
Mounk, a senior fellow with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute and an associate professor of the practice of international affairs in the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, is also the founder of the publication, Persuasion. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Trinity College Cambridge, England, followed by a Master of Philosophy degree in political thought and intellectual history and a doctorate from Harvard University's Department of Government.
In his talk, Mounk will likely explore the dynamics of populism, free speech, and the future of liberal democracy. While specific details about the exact focus of his lecture were not explicitly given, it is very likely that it will cover themes central to his broader work: challenges facing liberal democracy, the rise of populism, free speech controversies, and political realignments in contemporary Western societies. His recent discussions and writings emphasize how liberal democracy risks erosion without bolder, more heterodox leadership and address misinformation and the broader political realignment.
Mounk will offer ideas on how Western societies can be successful politically while embodying their commitment to equal rights for all. He will also trace the history of democracies denying large members of their population the franchise to avoid core political issues.
Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann, the lecture series' namesake, taught at Park for more than 50 years and launched the University's first graduate degree program in 1982. The lecture series is named in his honour.
The event is part of Park University's 31st annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series. Mounk serves as a contributing editor at The Atlantic.
[1] Mounk, Yascha. The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018. [2] Mounk, Yascha. The Great Experiment: How Diversity Protects Democracy. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023. [3] Mounk, Yascha. Surviving Identity Politics. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021. [4] Mounk, Yascha. The Identity Trap: Exposing the Fractures Within Our Culture and the Ways to Transcend Them. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023.
- Attendees of the event may anticipate discussions on education and self-development as Yascha Mounk, the founder of Persuasion, has written extensively on the future of liberal democracy, free speech controversies, and political realignments, exploring how these issues impact the broader society.
- The upcoming lecture by Yascha Mounk, who is also a Senior Fellow and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, might delve into politics not just in his extensive talks on populism, but also in his published works, such as 'The People vs. Democracy' and 'The Great Experiment: How Diversity Protects Democracy', which delve into the topics of liberal democracy, political realignments, and the importance of diversity in protecting democracy.
