How Can We Reverse Democratic Backsliding?

How Can We Reverse Democratic Backsliding?

A workshop/conference co-hosted by the Canadian International Council, McGill University and Toronto Metropolitan University

29-30 September 2022 McGill University

Thomson House Ballroom

3650 McTavish St Montreal, Quebec

H3A 1Y2

Thursday, 29 September

9:00 Opening remarks and welcome

● Erik Kuhonta, Director, McGill Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID)

● Ben Rowswell, President, Canadian International Council

● Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair, Toronto Metropolitan University

9:15 Panel #1: Electoral Processes and Political Parties

● Amel Ahmed, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts

● Erik Kuhonta, Director, ISID

10:45 Break

11:00 Panel #2: Business and Politics of Corruption

● Manuel Balan, Associate Dean of Arts, McGill University

● Antoinette Handley, Professor and Chair of Political Science, University of Toronto

12:30 Lunch

● Remarks by Frank Priess, Deputy Head, European and International Cooperation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation

● Introduced by Norbert Eschborn, Director, KAS Canada

14:00 Panel #3: Political, Social, and Economic Roots of Backsliding

● Max Cameron, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia

● Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair, TMU

15:30 Break

16:00 Keynote address

● Charles Taylor, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, McGill University

● Introduced by Sanjay Ruparelia, Jarislowsky Democracy Chair, TMU

17:15 Reception

Friday, 30 September

11:00 Welcome

11:15 Initiatives for Democratic Solidarity: Disinformation

● Chair: Rohinton Medhora, Centre for International Governance Innovation

● Presenter: Ulrike Klinger, European New School for Digital Studies (by video)

12:15 Luncheon address

● Michael Ignatieff, Professor of History, Central European University (by video)

● Introduced by Ben Rowswell, President, CIC

13:30 Initiatives for Democratic Solidarity: Anti-Corruption

● Chair: Susan Cote-Freeman, Transparency International Canada

● Presenter: Jon Allen, Transparency International Canada

14:30 Initiatives for Democratic Solidarity: Migration

● Chair: Christopher Neal, CIC Montreal

● Presenter: Craig Damian Smith, Toronto Metropolitan University

15:30 Break

15:45 Initiatives for Democratic Solidarity: Managing the Polycrisis in Low-income Countries

● Chair: Arif Lalani, CIGI Fellow

● Presenter: Jean-François Tardif, CIC

16:45 Democratic Solidarity as a Response to Democratic Backsliding

● Erik Kuhonta, Director, ISID

● Ben Rowswell, President, CIC

17:30 End of conference

Host or Publisher The Canadian International Council, Montreal Branch