Santa Fe Institute presents
"Crossroads Democracy," a panel discussion, April 14, 2026 7:30 PM

Item details

Date

April 14, 2026 7:30 PM

Location

Lensic Performing Arts Center

Name

Santa Fe Institute presents
"Crossroads Democracy," a panel discussion

Description

Tickets on sale: Friday, February 20, 2026 at 10am.

At the start of the 20th century, only about three percent of the world’s population was subject to democratic rule. By the year 2000, democracy had become the most common political system globally. Universal suffrage, fair elections, and civil liberties were then enjoyed by over half of the world’s people. Today, democracy is in retreat in many countries, and its future uncertain. Hosted by the Santa Fe Institute, a panel of five scholars will explore what their science has to say about the history, economics, psychology, and politics of democracy, the citizens’ values that it both requires and may promote, and how a renewed expansion and deepening of democracy may be the best way to save it.

David Krakauer, President of the Santa Fe Institute, will introduce the panel and moderate the subsequent open discussion.
Speakers are:

Jenna Bednar, political scientist at University of Michigan, SFI External Faculty
Samuel Bowles, economist at the Santa Fe Institute
Hahrie Han, political scientist at Johns Hopkins University
Katrin Schmelz, behavioral economist and psychologist at the Santa Fe Institute

Image: "Demonstration on October 17th, 1905." Ilya Repin. Depicting the celebration of the Tsar's Manifesto which granted individual voting rights to the people of Russia.

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