Political science department hosts discussion on the state of U.S. democracy

The Political Science Department hosted a teach-in and Q&A on Thursday, Feb. 27, addressing whether the United States is heading toward autocracy.

The event brought together professors, students and people from the community to discuss current trends that could threaten American democracy. Topics such as the erosion of democratic norms, executive power concentration and the impact on the news media were at the forefront of the conversation.

At the beginning of the event, department chair Dr. Tracy Roof said that recording was not allowed in order to foster an environment where people felt comfortable asking questions and having difficult discussions. 

Political science professors kicked off the event with a teach-in explaining democratic norms and different regime types so the audience could get a stronger sense of where the U.S. stands currently.

“As an international student, I really appreciated the presentation at the beginning because it gave me a better understanding of what is happening in the U.S. and how it has changed over time,” sophomore Noor Kaifee said. 

The presentation used case studies to put the decline of democracy into context. and wrapped up by explaining how undemocratic practices are manifesting themselves in U.S. society. 

The Q&A followed, led by Roof and professors in the audience chimed in to answer audience questions.

“Having the entire political science department there and being able to ask them questions, especially because they are experts in their field, is really important, especially for students who are interested in politics but not political science majors,” senior Isabel Vintimilla said. 

Audience members from the community asked most of the questions and presenters provided detailed answers with visual aids like graphs and diagrams to show the changes in democracy over time. 

“We had a good turnout,” Roof said. “Ideally we would have liked to see more student attendance but we understand that it was a Thursday night.” 

The department plans to host additional events throughout the semester to address the evolving political landscape and provide opportunities for students to engage with contemporary political challenges.

Contact news writer Jessica Khan at jessica.khan@richmond.edu