Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How can universities help sustain democracy in an age of political polarization, declining trust in institutions, and growing authoritarian pressures?
In this special lecture and scholarly roundtable hosted by Central European University (CEU), leading scholars and university leaders explore the vital relationship between higher education and democratic society.
Drawing on themes from What Universities Owe Democracy, Ron Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University, examines the civic responsibilities of universities and their role in defending academic freedom, critical inquiry, and institutional autonomy.
Joining the discussion are Michael Ignatieff, former President and Rector of CEU, and Cornelia Woll, Professor of International Political Economy and former President of the Hertie School. The conversation is moderated by CEU Interim President and Rector Carsten Q. Schneider.
The discussion reflects on recent global democratic challenges, the rise of illiberalism, attacks on academic freedom, and how universities can actively promote democratic values and open societies.
Speakers:
• Ron Daniels – President, Johns Hopkins University
• Michael Ignatieff – Historian, Author, Former President & Rector of CEU
• Cornelia Woll – Professor of International Political Economy, Hertie School
Moderator:
• Carsten Q. Schneider – Interim President and Rector, Central European University
📍 Recorded at Central European University (CEU), Vienna
Topics covered:
Democracy and higher education
Academic freedom
Universities and civic responsibility
Open societies
Political polarization
Authoritarianism and illiberalism
Trust in institutions
The future of democracy
Subscribe for more conversations on democracy, public policy, history, and global affairs from Central European University.
Central European University is an institution of advanced research and teaching, dedicated to socially and morally responsible intellectual inquiry.
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#Democracy #AcademicFreedom #seeuatceu
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youtube.com/CentralEuropeanUniversityChannel
How can universities help sustain democracy in an age of political polarization, declining trust in institutions, and growing authoritarian pressures?
In this special lecture and scholarly roundtable hosted by Central European University (CEU), leading scholars and university leaders explore the vital relationship between higher education and democratic society.
Drawing on themes from What Universities Owe Democracy, Ron Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University, examines the civic responsibilities of universities and their role in defending academic freedom, critical inquiry, and institutional autonomy.
Joining the discussion are Michael Ignatieff, former President and Rector of CEU, and Cornelia Woll, Professor of International Political Economy and former President of the Hertie School. The conversation is moderated by CEU Interim President and Rector Carsten Q. Schneider.
The discussion reflects on recent global democratic challenges, the rise of illiberalism, attacks on academic freedom, and how universities can actively promote democratic values and open societies.
Speakers:
• Ron Daniels – President, Johns Hopkins University
• Michael Ignatieff – Historian, Author, Former President & Rector of CEU
• Cornelia Woll – Professor of International Political Economy, Hertie School
Moderator:
• Carsten Q. Schneider – Interim President and Rector, Central European University
📍 Recorded at Central European University (CEU), Vienna
Topics covered:
Democracy and higher education
Academic freedom
Universities and civic responsibility
Open societies
Political polarization
Authoritarianism and illiberalism
Trust in institutions
The future of democracy
Subscribe for more conversations on democracy, public policy, history, and global affairs from Central European University.
Central European University is an institution of advanced research and teaching, dedicated to socially and morally responsible intellectual inquiry.
More from CEU:
Home https://www.ceu.edu/
Facebook facebook.com/WeAreCEU
Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/weareceu.bsky.social
Instagram instagram.com/weareceu
LinkedIn linkedin.com/school/central-european-university
Threads threads.net/@weareceu
#Democracy #AcademicFreedom #seeuatceu
Subscribe for more videos:
youtube.com/CentralEuropeanUniversityChannel
