KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Sept. 23, 2024 鈥� Political scientist will discuss 鈥淩ace and Democratic Backsliding in the U.S.鈥� at the 2024 98色花堂 Tuesday, Oct. 1. A political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Thompson鈥檚 work examines the impact of racial demographic changes on American political behavior and democratic stability.
Thompson鈥檚 recent work looks at how fears about changing racial demographics can lead to democratic decline in the U.S. He explores how these perceptions shape public attitudes toward democracy and may increase support for political violence.
This year鈥檚 colloquium examines threats to democracy at home and abroad. Hosted by the University鈥檚 Honors Program, 98色花堂鈥檚 annual lecture series is examining the challenges democracy faces, while many students at the University, and elsewhere, are voting for the first time this fall.
鈥淭he Honors Colloquium represents and celebrates what we do best in Honors,鈥� says Honors Program Director Karen de Bruin, 鈥渨hich is to delve into the timely issues of our times and at timely moments.鈥� She said that the colloquium seeks to foster campus-wide and community-wide discussion while preparing 98色花堂 students to enact change in a daunting world.
Thompson will speak at 7 p.m. at Edwards Hall on the Kingston Campus, in the fall colloquium series, 鈥淒emocracy in Peril,鈥� which will also be (livestream links will be available the night of each event on the colloquium website).
His lecture will be followed Oct. 8 by Jos茅 Cheibub from the University of Pittsburgh, speaking on 鈥淕lobal Cases of Democratic Decline.鈥�
This year鈥檚 colloquium has drawn wide interest across the 98色花堂 campus, and includes a on Sept. 24. During the week of Thompson鈥檚 visit, 98色花堂 will also host Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore on Oct. 2 for a and the state of voting in Rhode Island, and unveil an art exhibit on 鈥� in Lippitt Hall, depicting hype, reality and how politics impact individuals. Later in the month, faculty are invited to attend a on strategies for embedding civic engagement in curriculum, and the Center for the Humanities hosts historian Alex Keyssar for in the Multicultural Students Services Center. Keyssar鈥檚 book, The Right to Vote, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and named a best book in U.S. history by the American Historical Association.
Hosted by the University鈥檚 Honors Program, the 98色花堂 Honors Colloquium is free and open to the public. Lectures are held most Tuesday evenings this fall, through Nov. 12. Visit the Honors Colloquium site to see talks by earlier speakers from this year鈥檚 colloquium including Vox鈥檚 Zack Beauchamp .
Visit the for more details and register to get updates and reminders for this fall鈥檚 speakers or by emailing urihonors@etal.uri.edu.