Friday, March 17th, 2017 The New Nature of Democracy - Munk School Graduate Student Conference

Description

FREE Students with Student Card
$10 General Admission CASH payable at the door

The 2017 Munk Graduate Student Conference
The New Nature of Democracy, is focused on the ever-changing landscape of global democracy and the rise of populist movements. The conference brings together a wide variety of perspectives from academia to practitioners, to explore the challenges that are facing the liberal institutions we so often associate with democracy.
Lunch will be provided for those in attendance and the day will end with a keynote address followed by a reception and networking event.
Populism at the Ballot Box will focus on how elections function in the 21st century. What strategies have made recent populist style campaigns successful? What implications might this have in Canada, and around the globe? This panel will consist of members of the media, democratic strategists, and public opinion researchers who can provide practical insights into how and why populism translates into success at the polls.
Government for the People? will be a round table discussion focusing on the development of populism outside of North America and Western Europe. Is the rise of populism a new phenomenon around the globe, or are these Western movements merely reflections of trends that already exist elsewhere?
The Democratic-Generational Divide will be a panel discussion consisting of graduate students from the Munk School and associated faculties which try to identify where to situate youth within the context of this rise in populism. From identity politics to economic opportunity, there is clearly an ideological divide between the generations. This panel will explore what elements of this divide are unique, what areas are intransigent, and where there may be opportunities to bridge the gap.

Schedule
10:00 – 11:30 am: Government For the People?
12:00 – 1:30 pm: The Democratic-Generational Divide
1:30 – 2:30 pm: Networking Lunch
2:30 – 4:00 pm: Populism at the Ballot Box

Keynote 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Symone D. Sanders is a democratic strategist and CNN Political Commentator who rose to prominence during her tenure as the National Press Secretary for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. At 25, Symone served as the youngest presidential press secretary on record. Ms. Sanders will be discussing her experiences on the 2016 Presidential campaign, engaging with youth on political issues, and offer some insight into the changing nature of the American electorate.
Symone is the immediate past chair of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s Emerging Leaders Committee and former member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice. Through her involvement with CJJ and the FACJJ, Symone worked to raise the profile of young voices in the fight for juvenile justice reform and bring millennial perspectives to policy conversations.
In 2013, Symone Sanders was honored as the youngest recipient to ever receive the Midlands Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. Most recently, she was honored by Fusion as one of 30 women under 30 who will influence the 2016 elections, named one of 16 young Americans shaping the 2016 election by Rolling Stone and one of the most influential African-Americans of 2016 by The Root

Reception 6:00-7:30pm
Following the keynote address, there will be a networking meeting session with food and drinks provided. The reception will offer an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to interact with speakers from the day’s events. Confirmation of attendance is required to attend the reception.