Modern democracy can be understood as a form of life, a set of institutional structures linked to legal-juridical concerns, and a collective imaginary rooted in representational practices. The aim of this conference is to examine the challenges, accomplishments and particularities of democracy as it has surfaced across Africa, Middle East, India, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and in the United States of America.

This free conference, which will be held on will be held on Friday-Saturday, April 17-18, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., will gather a remarkable group of scholars to discuss the various experiences of contemporary democracies and the challenges confronting them in the following panels:

“Emerging Forms of Democratic Life”: Pierre Rosanvallon, Collège de France; Steve Ellner, Universidad de Oriente de Venezuela; Nadia Urbinati; Columbia University.

“Legitimacy, Legality and Democratic Regimes”: Mattias Kumm, New York University School of Law; Andrew Arato, The New School for Social Research; Kendall Thomas, Columbia University School of Law; and John Vanderlippe, The New School for Social Research

“Contesting Democratic Rights”: Catherine Boone, University of Texas-Austin; Jillian Schwedler, University of Massachusetts—Amherst; Carlos Forment, The New School for Social Research and Universidad Nacional de San Martin; and Douglas Chalmers, Columbia University.

“Political Institutions and Democracy”: Yao Yang, Beijing University; Ashok Gurung, The New School for Social Research; Sanjay Ruparelia, The New School for Social Research; and Sanjay G. Reedy, Barnard College, Columbia University

“Reenchantment of Democracy”: Robert Albro, American University; Ruth Marshall, University of Toronto; Jeffrey Goldfarb, The New School for Social Research; and Ronald Kassmir, The New School for Social Research.

“Symbolic and Virtual Boundaries of Democracy”: Faisal Devji, The New School for Social Research; Eiko Ikegami, The New School for Social Research; and Victoria Hattam, The New School for Social Research.

Organized by Professors Andrew Arato and Carlos Forment, the conference will be held in the Machinist Conference Room, 65 Fifth Avenue, mezzanine level. It is being sponsored by The New School for Social Research, Department of Sociology and its Graduate Student Association, India-China Institute, Dean’s Office, and General Studies—Bachelor’s Program.