The Conservative Dilemma

The Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics and the Social Science Research Council’s Media & Democracy hosted The Conservative Dilemma: Digital Surrogate Organizations and the Future of Liberal Democracy on Monday, May 3, 2021 and Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from 12:30pm ET-2:00pm ET.

This two-day conference focused on the causes, effects, and mechanisms by which organizations like QAnon, Breitbart, or r/thedonald--framed collectively as “digital surrogate organizations”--may shape party politics in democracies. The event will featured keynote remarks by Daniel Ziblatt, Eaton Professor of Government at Harvard University, and  Kate Starbird, Associate Professor of Human Centered Design & Engineering at University of Washington. The remarks were followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Conference panels
May 3, 2021 A Deepening Crisis: The Role of "Digital Surrogate Organizations" in Conservative Parties
• Keynote: Daniel Ziblatt, Eaton Professor of the Science of Government, Harvard University
• Deen Freelon, Associate Professor of Journalism, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Camille Francois, Chief Innovation Officer, Graphika
• Curd Knüpfer, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin
• Moderator: Ulrike Klinger, Professor of Political Theory and Digital Democracy, European New School of Digital Studies

May 4, 2021 A Changed Landscape: Conceptual and Institutional Foundations of the Conservative Dilemma
• Keynote: Kate Starbird, Associate Professor of Human Centered Design & Engineering, University of Washington
• Christopher S. Parker, Professor of Political Science, University of Washington
• Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Professor of Education and Sociology, American University
• Jacob S. Hacker, Stanley Resor Professor of Political Science, Yale University
• Moderator: Rachel Blum, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Oklahoma