UEA Lasdun Lecture: Broken Democracy? Lessons from the American Election

A recent poll suggests that 72% of Americans believe the US used to be a good example of democracy but has not been for the past few years.

In this special live event, recorded at the University of East Anglia's Norwich campus in England, a group of experts on the US come together to discuss the recent election, the political and historical context, the result, and what it all means for the state of American democracy today and in the future.

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Special guest for this episode:

• Prof. Rebecca Fraser, Professor of American History & Culture, School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies. Her research is primarily concerned with the ways in which discourses of gender, race and sexuality were articulated and interacted in the context of nineteenth century America.
• Prof. Toby James, Professor of Politics & Public Policy, School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies. Toby’s research focuses on the electoral integrity and democracy, the policy process and political leadership.
• Dr. Suzanne Doyle, Lecturer in International Relations, School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies. Suzanne's research focuses on the US-UK nuclear relationship. Her wider research interests include nuclear history, transatlantic relations, US and British defence policy, security studies and the Cold War.
• Dr. Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics, School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies. She specialises in the history of the US Constitution and the Supreme Court, with a particular focus on the period since 1945 and on the rights contained in the Bill of Rights

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Highlights from this episode:

• The importance of understanding the diverse definitions of democracy in the U.S. context.
• Voter ID laws and their impact on voter accessibility are critical to election fairness.
• Historical precedents of women candidates highlight ongoing challenges in American politics.
• The influence of social media and misinformation on voter behavior is increasingly significant.
• Economic factors are central to voters' decisions, overshadowing issues of race and gender.
• Trump's presidency poses existential questions about the future of American democracy.

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And if you like this episode, you might also love:

Will America Ever Elect a Woman for President?

Should Donald Trump Be Allowed to Run for President?

What is a Primary and a Caucus?

Who is Ron DeSantis?

How Are Presidents Elected?

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