Susan McWilliams, professor of politics at Pomona College, will present “Redeeming Democracy in America” on Monday, May 7, at 2:30 p.m. in Jonasson Hall, located in the lower level of Melrose Hall at Linfield College.
McWilliams will address the belief in American politics that the practice of democracy is declining due to angry citizens disparaging government, distrusting each other, avoiding civic life and professing a hatred of politics and politicians of all stripes. She will discuss what it will take to redeem democracy and restore hope in the American political system.
McWilliams received her B.A. in Russian and political science from Amherst College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in politics from Princeton University. She received the Wig Distinguished Professor Award in 2009 at Pomona College, and recently completed a book manuscript, “Traveling Back: Political Theory in an Age of Globalization.” She is also working on a volume that explores the political thought of James Baldwin. She is the co-editor, with Patrick Deneen, of two recently released books, “The Democratic Soul” and “Redeeming Democracy in America.” These volumes compile many of the essays written by her father, Wilson Carey McWilliams, who was one of the most prominent political theorists of his generation.
The lecture is sponsored by the Linfield Political Science Department, the Jack Miller Center and the Dean’s Speaker Fund. It is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nick Buccola, assistant professor of political science, at 503-883-2246 or nbuccol@linfield.edu.
