Resource person: Audra Bullard - office@clehighlands.com

Description:

According to a 2024 Pew Research Poll 32% of Americans believe that “rule by a strong leader or the military would be a good way of governing their country.” This corresponds with a 20-year decline in the civil liberties and human rights protections of citizens in countries with democratic institutions as reported by Freedom House in 2024. These reports suggest we are at a crossroads between two systems: liberal democracy, promoted by the United States and its Western allies as the ideal form of government since the end of World War II; and authoritarianism, a form of government with a long pedigree and a bloody history in the twentieth century. But is the relationship between these systems a simple dialectic, or do democracy and dictatorship share a more complicated connection? Join Max Owre as he reviews the themes that will animate a new course to be offered at UNC-CH in Fall 2025.

Max Owre is the Executive Director of Carolina Public Humanities. A graduate of the University of Vermont, he obtained his PhD in modern European history from UNCCH in 2008. Max is a lecturer in the History Department, teaching courses in European, world and colonial history since 2007. Max is a principal organizer, and frequent host and moderator of CPH Events. He also lectures frequently for CPH on various topics in French and European history.

Notes: Cancellation Policy Please let us know immediately if you are unable to attend a class. There is no refund for cancellations within two (2) weeks prior to a scheduled class. Programs that include food, beverage or art materials must be canceled within three (3) weeks prior to receive a refund. CLE reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment has not been met or for circumstances beyond our control, and participants will be notified, a complete refund will be issued. All classes are held in the CLE Lecture Hall at the Peggy Crosby Center unless otherwise noted. In the event information has changed from the published brochure, it will be posted on our website and in our e-blasts. Addresses for “private home” venues will be provided to registrants within 2 days of the program date.

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