On March 19-20, 2026, the Clough Center held its annual Spring Symposium. The event convened an array of scholars and students from Boston College and beyond to reflect on Democratic Resilience, the theme of the Clough Center’s programming during the 2025-26 academic year.
The Symposium offered thought-provoking and engaging conversations on questions of democracy, ranging from challenges to freedom of speech to the current status of global democracy, a discussion of democracy in Ireland, and civic education. Also, a team of Clough Center Fellows introduced the latest issue of Clough Journal. Speakers at this year’s event included Steven Levitsky (Harvard), Nadine Strossen (former ACLU President), Daron Acemoglu (Economic Nobel Prize Laureate in 2024), and Ross Douthat (New York Times).
As the first keynote speaker of the Symposium, Steven Levitsky delivered a lecture on “The Surprising Resilience of Global Democracy.” Professor Levitsky’s talk was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Fernando Bizzaro (Political Science, Boston College).
Nadine Strossen participated in a “Fireside Chat: Democratic Resilience and the Freedom of Speech.” Isaiah Sterrett (Clough Center Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Boston College) moderated this panel that explored questions on freedom of speech, democracy, and the Constitution.
Daron Acemoglu, another keynote speaker, spoke on the status of global democracy, drawing on his forthcoming book, What Happened to Liberal Democracy? Remaking a Politics of Shared Prosperity (Penguin, 2026). Acemoglu explained the relationship between economic growth and democracy, as well as potential solutions to challenges that democratic governance faces. Professor Jonathan Laurence, Clough Center Director, chaired this discussion.
The final panel of the Symposium featured Ross Douthat (New York Times), who delivered a keynote speech: “A Crisis of Liberalism, Not a Crisis of Democracy.” This speech offered thought-provoking and engaging reflections on democracy, liberalism, and freedom of speech. The panel was chaired by Professor Laurence.
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