Institute Insider

Theda Skocpol, Harvard University, will discuss "Civic Engagement in America: Will the 2008 Election Matter?" on Monday, March 23, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Cowles Auditorium. Pundits and social observers have voiced alarm as fewer and fewer Americans involve themselves in voluntary groups and participatory democracy. Most of the nonprofit groups launched in recent decades are run by professionals who lobby Congress or deliver social services to clients, displacing membership groups and leaving many Americans with fewer opportunities to interact across class lines and become involved in community and public affairs. In the wake of the 2008 election and the innovative Obama campaign, Skocpol will discuss what the prospects are for a sustained revitalization of America's civic democracy. This free event is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance and is open to the public.