Democratic Values and Civic Participation in Europe and Beyond
A Conference of the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence
March 10-11, 2025
Florida International University - Modesto A. Maidique Campus - 11200 SW 8th Street - Miami, FL 33199
Monday, March 10 | 5:00 PM–6:30 PM | Keynote Address | FIU MMC | MARC Pavilion
Tuesday, March 11 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Conference | FIU MMC | SIPA II – Room 260
The year 2024 was a “super election” year. In many European elections, including those for the European Parliament, as well as in the United States, governments changed, sparking a broader debate about democratic values and civic participation. This conference explores issues of inclusion and diversity, with a focus on democratic governance and resilience, and political participation by individuals and civic groups. What challenges do established democracies face in this regard, and how can they be addressed collectively? What can be done to combat apathy and polarization, which are fueled by misinformation and slow consensus-building in increasingly diverse societies? These questions have emerged prominently in both the U.S. and the EU, but they also require reflection on the broader geopolitical contexts in which democratic backsliding and polarization are taking place.
This two-day conference is free and open to FIU students and the public.
Monday, March 10, 2025 | MARC Building – MARC Pavilion
5:00 p.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Markus Thiel, Ph.D.
Professor, Politics & International Relations
Director, Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence
Florida International University
5:15-6:30 p.m. | Keynote Address: The European Parliament’s Role in Upholding Transatlantic Democratic Values
Walter Goetz, Ph.D.
Head of the Office
European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington D.C.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | SIPA II – Room 260
9:00 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Agatha Caraballo, Ph.D.
Founding Director of the Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership
Teaching Professor, Department of Public Policy & Administration
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
Click here for conference participant bios.
Co-sponsors
European & Eurasian Studies Program
Dorothea Green Lecture Series
Ruth K. & Shepard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series
Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership
Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center
Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab
iWitness: IPC Institute of Visual Journalism
Department of Politics & International Relations
Václav Havel Program for Human Rights & Democracy
#EUintheUS
Made possible through generous support from the European Commission.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for them.