Week Eight: Dreams of Digital Democracy—Turning Plans into Reality

We are at the dawn of a new era for our nation’s politics and government. As with any major transformation, this new era will be defined by how we use and/or misuse the new tools available to us. We have never had a greater opportunity to achieve a truly just, well-functioning democracy that serves all people; yet, rather than seeing progress, we find ourselves descending into an increasingly polarized, partisan age. The next generation of our national leaders, in all sectors of our society, have an obligation to ensure that the transition to a digital age brings out the best—not the worst—in us.

•       How do we get from here to there?

•       What can students do, particularly those interested in public service, to move our democracy forward?

•       What are the risks of an increasingly connected society?

•       How can we build structures that serve as checks and balances against these risks?

•       How can we distinguish between short-term fads and long-term structural changes? 

Guest: Rob Collins, Executive Director of the NRSC (2014 Election)

Room: Faculty Dining Room, HKS

***All study groups are off-the-record and not for media coverage***