Fox Center 2024-25 Theme: "Democracy: Past, Present, Future"

How do the Humanities help us understand Democracy?

At a time when political unrest seems to simmer below everyday life, the question of democracy and what it means for our country only grows more important. For AY 2024-2025, the Fox Center’s theme "Democracy: Past, Present, Future" invites communities near and far to explore this question and interrogate the democratic values held around the world.  

As history’s lessons have taught us, democracy isn’t simply defined by government structures like policies, elections, and laws. Democracy is also deeply influenced by art, education, and pivotal public discussions where people shape and express their own democratic values. Debate and dissent are key aspects of these processes and humanities research is crucial to keeping this dialogue alive and well.   

As the Fox Center embarks on its first year with an annual theme, we envision being one of many hubs for this dialogue on Emory’s campus and in the greater Atlanta community with a series of exciting programming, such as our Keynote Address on September 18th and a forthcoming event with The Guardian newspaper on voting rights in America. Our theme also encompasses our newest cohort of scholars-in-residence whose rich research explores democracy through interdisciplinary approaches and international perspectives.  

We look forward to welcoming both our Emory community and Atlanta community to attend our events this year and begin their own dialogues around democracy and its impact on their day-to-day lives.