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Past Events Archive

Year of Democracy Featured Events

    • Public

    Teach-Out While In: Conceptualizing & Measuring Democracy

    March 18, 2025 | 11:30AM-1:30PM | Weiser Hall - Room 1010

    Join us for an interactive session exploring how democracy is measured worldwide.

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    We’ll highlight key projects and show how different methods answer questions like “How democratic is the world today?”. The session includes a presentation on definitions, data collection, key takeaways, and a demo where you can explore the data and ask questions.

    • Public

    Mini Conference: Public Perceptions of Democracy

    March 14, 2025 | 10:00–11:30AM | 2435 North Quad

    What are the conditions it takes to sway public opinion? Join us for a two-part mini-conference discussing public opinion on immigration and democracy.

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    What are the conditions it takes to sway public opinion? Join us for a two-part mini-conference discussing public opinion on immigration and democracy. In Part 2, panelists will connect Justov's book to the broader theme of discussing public support for democracy.

    • Public

    Mini Conference: Public Perceptions of Immigration

    March 13, 2025 | 2:30–4:00PM | 2435 North Quad

    What are the conditions it takes to sway public opinion? Join us for a two-part mini-conference discussing public opinion on immigration and democracy.

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    Part 1 will feature Alexander Kustov, presenting his forthcoming book In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular.

    • Public

    Town Hall: Ann Arbor Comprehensive Plan

    March 12, 2025 | 4:00-5:30PM | Weill Hall - Annenberg Auditorium

    Join us to learn from city staff and an elected official about Ann Arbor's Comprehensive Land Use Plan!

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    Ann Arbor is currently drafting its Comprehensive Plan to guide city priorities like housing affordability, adding residential density, A2Zero Living Carbon Neutrality, and repairing past land use policies based on race and income. This event will include a presentation on the goals and current status of the Comprehensive Plan followed by an opportunity to provide your input and ask questions.

    • Public

    After 2024: Elections & Democracy

    February 25, 2025 | 4:00-5:30PM | Weiser Hall, Room 1010

    2024 was described as a “super year” for elections. But did it feel like a “super year” for democracy?

    This roundtable takes stock of what we learned from a year when a whopping 4 billion people – half the world’s population, from America to India to Mexico to South Africa – had the opportunity to vote.

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    2024 was described as a “super year” for elections. But did it feel like a “super year” for democracy?

    This roundtable takes stock of what we learned from a year when a whopping 4 billion people – half the world’s population, from America to India to Mexico to South Africa – had the opportunity to vote.

    • Public

    Climate & Conflict: Measurement Challenges with Forced Migration

    February 20, 2025 | 4:00–6:00PM | Palmer Commons - Atrium 4 North & Forum Hall

    Both climate and conflict contribute to forced migration, but what is this phenomenon and how do we measure it? In this roundtable we will hear from experts from diverse fields, from legal studies to statistics, to learn about forced migration and its measurement challenges in a chaotic time.

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    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of national disasters worldwide. Not only do such events have the potential to directly displace residents, they increase the threat of conflict (especially over scarce resources).

    Both climate and conflict contribute to forced migration, but what is this phenomenon and how do we measure it? In this roundtable we will hear from experts from diverse fields, from legal studies to statistics, to learn about forced migration and its measurement challenges in a chaotic time.

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    • Public

    Dr. Denis Mukwege and the Fight Against Sexual Violence

    December 9, 2024 | 4:00 PM | Joan and Sanford Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium

    World-renowned gynecologist, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege will address the use of sexual violence in war, and also a new campaign focused on critical minerals and the role of responsible business in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


    • Public

    Boston Fed President & CEO Susan M. Collins Returns to the Ford School

    November 20, 2024 | 4:00 PM | Joan and Sanford Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium

    Join us for a conversation with Susan M. Collins about monetary policy, the breadth of the Federal Reserve's work, and her career path. Collins is president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. She is also participant on the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets U.S. monetary policy, and she is a former dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.


  • Post Election Analysis with U-M Faculty Experts

    November 8, 2024 | 11:30 AM | Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium & Virtual

    Join the Ford School for an election debrief and discussion, with whatever results are available. The event will feature distinguished faculty experts: J. Alex Halderman (Engineering), Barbara L. McQuade (Law), Vincent Hutchings (Political Science/Afroamerican and African Studies), Javed Ali (National Security), and Mara Ostfeld (Center for Racial Justice).

  • Webinar: Democracy, the Jury Trial, and the Rule of Law in Ancient Athens

    November 4, 2024 | 12:00 PM | Zoom

    It is well-known that the ancient Greeks invented democracy, but it is seldom appreciated that they also developed a sophisticated form of trial by jury. Hear from Sara Forsdyke, the Josiah Ober Collegiate Professor of Ancient History in U-M’s Department of Classical Studies, as she highlights the similarities and differences between ancient and modern jury trials with a view to understanding why jury trials are important in democracies.