Populist strongmen threaten to turn democracies into dictatorships all over the world today, just as they did in the fascist era a century ago. This is not a new phenomenon, but it now has a new twist. But anti-democratic movements have always called forth a pro-democracy resistance. New research shows that non-violent resistance movements are more successful than violent ones. When democracy has taken root in a country, it is surprisingly hardy and resilient. Dr. Weston will lead the participants through various topics and opening the sessions up to lively discussions. The suggested readings (encouraged but not required) are Strongmen: From Mussolini to Trump, How Democracies Die, Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know, and Democracy’s Resilience to Populism’s Threat: Countering Global Alarmism.
This 4-part course series will be offered as a hybrid event. In-person and virtual (using Microsoft Teams) learning are available. Tiered Ticket Pricing is below:
Tiered Enrollment Pricing:
- Adults (including alumni): $12 per content hour
- Total package for 4 sessions =$48
- Students (vlog and individuals age <19) = $6 per content hour
- Total package for 4 sessions =$24
Number of in-person participants will be capped at 30
Speakers Biography
Dr. Beau Weston - Dr. Weston, Van Winkle Professor of Sociology where he has taught since 1990. His training at Yale University was in political sociology and the sociology of religion (which has a surprisingly strong bearing on the followers of authoritarian strongmen). In addition, he has long been involved in the civic and political life of Danville and Boyle County.
Class Session Description
Strongmen
October 30, 7:00-8:00p
Developing the argument of Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Strongmen: From Mussolini to Present
Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s Strongmen: Mussolini to Present is a guidebook for answering the question “How do authoritarian governments take root?” The book and Dr. Weston’s discussion will examine the ongoing authoritarian turn in American politics. Discussion will examine the political tendencies, as well as dictatorships, of Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Muammar Gaddafi, and Augusto Pinochet, among others.
How Democracies Dies
November 6, 7:00-8:00p
Is it possible to fight back? Discussion will use Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt’s book How Democracies Die and the erosion of norms in US politics. The session will include the challenges and threats of modern democracy and how there may be lessons learned from other democracies, such as Latin American countries.
Civil Resistance
November 13, 7:00-8:00p
Erica Chenoweth is one of the world’s leading scholars on civil resistance. Dr. Weston will discuss their book Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know and define what civil resistance is, how it can be successful, and why it sometimes fails. The session will also include discussion on the long-term impacts of civil resistance.
Democracy’s Resilience
November 20, 7:00-8:00p
Dr. Weston will utilize Kurt Weyland’s Democracy’s Resilience to Populism’s Threat: Countering Global Alarmism compares democracies that did succumb to authoritarian strongmen, to the several similar countries that successfully resisted them. Join the class to deliberate that how democracy can remain resilient in the threat of populist governments.