Tackling Democracy: Is It the Best Form of Government? (in-person/virtual)

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From all points on the political spectrum come concerns about the future of democracy at home and abroad. What exactly is “democracy”? What are its origins? How has it evolved? Is it the same as a “republic”? Winston Churchill declared that “it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried...” Was he right? UVA’s Professors Barbara Perry, Miller Center, and Melody Barnes, Karsh Institute of Democracy, will discuss these timely questions about democratic government and respond to your queries.

Melody Barnes, Executive Director, Karsh Institute of Democracy; W.L. Lyons Brown Family Director for Policy and Public Engagement, Democracy Initiative; J. Wilson Newman Professor of Governance, Miller Center, University of Virginia

As the founding executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, Melody Barnes guides the organization on an action-oriented path to realizing democracy in both principle and practice.

Barnes is a dedicated public servant with more than 25 years of experience crafting public policy. She served in President Barack Obama's administration as assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. Earlier in her career, Barnes was executive vice president for policy at the Center for American Progress and chief counsel to the late Senator Ted Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Barnes started her career in New York as an associate at Shearman & Sterling.

Barnes earned her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with honors in history and her JD from the University of Michigan. In addition to her role at the Karsh Institute, Barnes is the J. Wilson Newman Professor of Governance at UVA’s Miller Center of Public Affairs, a distinguished fellow at UVA’s School of Law, and co-founder of the domestic-policy strategy firm MB2 Solutions. She serves on several corporate, non-profit, and philanthropic organization boards of directors.

Barbara A. Perry, Gerald L. Baliles Professor of Presidential Studies, Co-Chair, Presidential Oral History Program, Miller Center, University of Virginia

Barbara A. Perry is Gerald L. Baliles Professor of Presidential Studies and Co-Chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. She has authored or edited 17 books on the presidency, Supreme Court, civil rights and liberties, First Ladies, and the Kennedy family. Professor Perry served as a Supreme Court Fellow in 1994-95 and is a Trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society. She is also a member of the White House Historical Association's Board of Directors.

Perry’s specific experiences and achievements are as follows: Director of Presidential Studies, which encompasses the Presidential Oral History and Presidential Recordings Programs, as well as all additional presidential initiatives and Public Programs; supervise five faculty and six staffers; co-chair of Presidential Oral History Program; served on interview teams (10) to complete President George H. W. Bush Oral History; compiled commemorative book, George H. W. Bush Oral History Project; organized conference for Bush 41 Oral History debut; co-edited scholarly book, 41: Inside the Presidency of George H. W. Bush, with Michael Nelson on Bush 41; served on interview teams (80) for President George W. Bush Oral History; organized conference for Bush 43 Oral History debut; co-edited scholarly book, 43: Inside the Presidency of George W. Bush; directed completion and release of Senator Edward M. Kennedy Oral 3 History Project; compiled commemorative book, Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project; authored scholarly book, Edward M. Kennedy: An Oral History; co-edited scholarly book with Michael Nelson and Russell Riley, 42: Inside the Presidency of Bill Clinton; serving on interview team for interviews of President Bill Clinton (4 to date); co-directing Hillary Clinton Oral History Project; co-led, with Sid Milkis, first component of Miller Center’s “The First Year: POTUS 2017,” supervised research on and analysis of topic using 12 variables; co-led, with Sid Milkis, Miller Center’s “Presidency at the Crossroads” research agenda; co-edited with Michael Nelson scholarly book, The Presidency: Facing Constitutional Crossroads; co-directing Barack Obama Presidential Oral History Project; organized and led interviews of 40 officials from 44th presidency; assisted in planning 2023 Miller Center presidency conference. BARBARA A (millercenter.org)

This program is part of the faculty lecture series. On the mornings of home football games, hear from some of UVA’s top minds. Lifetime Learning in the Office of Engagement partners with the Alumni Association in offering these faculty lectures. All talks are free, open to all, and held at 10 am in Alumni Hall when available.

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