Past Stanfield Conversations
2021 Stanfield Conversation:
"Democracy on Edge"
The inaugural conversation took place Thursday, September 23, 2021 and featured Professor Charles Taylor, an internationally celebrated Canadian political philosopher whose wide-ranging work has bridged philosophical theory and political action, and Professor Simone Chambers, a leading international specialist in democracy studies. The moderator was Dalhousie alum and former host of CBC’s Power & Politics, Vassy Kapelos. The discussion of “Democracy on Edge” laid the foundation for future Stanfield Conversations, delving into both urgent contemporary challenges and perennial dilemmas facing democracies world-wide.
2022 Stanfield Conversation:
"Technology, Media Fragmentation, and the Crisis of Democracy in America"
The second Stanfield Conversation focussed on “Technology, Media Fragmentation, and the Crisis of Democracy in America.” The event took place on Thursday, October 20, 2022, and featured leading political scientists and communications specialists Dr. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Dr. Ron Deibert, and Dr. Elizabeth Dubois. The moderator of the 2022 Conversation was the host of CBC Nova Scotia's Information Morning and Dalhousie alum, Portia Clark.
2023 Conversation:
"Can democracies meet the challenge of climate change?"
The third Stanfield Conversation focussed on the topic, "Can Democracies meet the Challenge of Climate Change?" The event took place on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 and featured three of Canada's leading experts in climate policy and politics: Megan Leslie, Naheed Nenshi, and Dr. Mark Jaccard. The moderator of the 2023 Conversation was host of CBC Mainland Nova Scotia's afternoon show Mainstreet on Radio One and Dalhousie alum, Jeff Douglas.
2024 Conversation:
"The US Election and Democracy's Global Fate"
The fourth Stanfield Conversation focussed on the topic, "The US Election and Democracy's Global Fate". The event took place on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 (just two weeks after the US presidential vote) and featured speakers: Globe and Mail international affairs columnist Doug Saunders and Canada Research Chair in Racial Inequality in Democratic Societies and Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University Dr. Debra Thompson. The moderator of the 2024 Conversation was Piya Chattopadhyay, the host of CBC’s The Sunday Magazine.
Thank you to CBC for sponsoring the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Stanfield Conversations.