Keeping the Republic
The Notre Dame Keeping the Republic Conference brings together a group of both prominent senior researchers and early-career scholars dedicated to a broad revitalization of American democracy—not just in the sense of self-government—but rather as a societal commitment to the equal dignity and inclusion of each person and social institutions that encourage broad and open participation. This conference creates an interdisciplinary community of scholars devoted to studying and advancing the democratization of American culture and institutions across political, legal, civic, commercial, social, religious, and educational life. Its creative format blends traditional conference elements, such as paper presentations and panel discussions, but also unconventional ways to inspire future research with data and idea blitzes.
2025 Conference Activities
Featured Speakers
- Research Presentation by Diana C. Mutz, Director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics at the University of Pennsylvania
- Research Presentation by David C. Wilson, Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley
- Panel Discussion with John Dean, former White House Council, and James Robenalt, presidential historian, lawyer, and author
- Special remarks by Robert Pape, Director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats at the University of Chicago
Lightning Talks
In this abbreviated format, participants will be allocated 4 minutes to present a brief finding or research question intended to spark further discussion and research. Lighting talks will be presented in a plenary session to a broad range of scholars.
Themed Panels
In this traditional conference format, participants will be allocated 8 minutes to present a full research project. These panels will be organized by theme. Discussants will moderate each panel.
Poster Session
Presenters will share research projects in the main hall during an informal happy hour. Research posters will share ongoing and completed research findings from junior scholars working on democracy research.
This event is not open to the public and is by invitation only.
Originally published at rooneycenter.nd.edu.