Friend,
Around the world, democracy is under siege. Polarization, disinformation, political violence, and declining trust in institutions are threatening the very foundations of democratic governance. Once thought impossible in long-established democracies, the erosion of democratic norms has become a global reality.
Join the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) for our second World Policy Forum on how democracies decline and how they can recover through participation, reform, and resilience.
📅 Thursday, November 20, 2025
🕟 4:30–5:30 PM Eastern Time
📍 Via Zoom
In this discussion, two of America’s leading experts on democracy and reform will explore:
The drivers of democratic decay, polarization, and populism
How structural reforms—such as electoral and party system changes—can revitalize representation
The role of civic education, media literacy, and moral leadership in rebuilding democracy
Lessons from international movements and civil society’s role in defending pluralism
Featured Speakers:
Larry Diamond: Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution & Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, Author of Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency.
Lee Drutman: Senior Fellow, Political Reform Program, New America, Author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop, Co-founder of Fix Our House & Center for Ballot Freedom.
Moderated by:
Dr. Radwan A. Masmoudi: Founder and President at Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID), Senior Advisor for Strategic and Philanthropic Initiatives at MPAC, Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University.
This conversation will shed light on how democratic institutions can be rebuilt through citizen engagement, reform, and moral leadership.
