Roundtable discussions on the election and misinformation

Oct. 3, 2024

Roundtable discussions on the election and misinformation

What: Experts on American politics will discuss the U.S. election, misinformation and challenges to democracy in a series of roundtable discussions hosted by the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy.
When: 6-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, 24 and 29
Where: Locations vary, and some events include online availability. Registration links are available below.

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy will hold three roundtable discussions before the presidential election.

Part of the Arizona Policy Lab Roundtable Series, the discussions will feature American politics and global democracy experts focusing on key issues surrounding the 2024 U.S. election, including local and international challenges to democracy. The final event will address critical topics related to misinformation, and will include perspectives from industry and academic experts.

The three roundtables are among various School of Government and Public Policy Election Events – supported by the Melody S. Robidoux Fund – for students, faculty and the public.

"Our three events covering local and global contexts for the election, as well as the key topic of misinformation, were selected as a means of providing our communities with some important materials to help them navigate what promises to be a confusing and contentious election season," said Alex Braithwaite, director of the School of Government and Public Policy in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. "These topics also provide us with a great opportunity to showcase the breadth of election-related faculty expertise in the SGPP."

More information about each event is available below.

U.S. Democracy Under Threat? Examining the 2024 Election in an Era of Global Democratic Backsliding
Oct. 10, 6-7:30 p.m., Manuel Pacheco Integrated Learning Center, Room 150, and online
Register for the event

This is a significant year for elections globally, with over 50 countries holding national elections. Despite the increase in multiparty elections since the 1990s, democracy advocates are concerned about growing illiberal conditions. In countries like France and the Netherlands, questions have arisen about right-wing parties' commitment to democratic norms. This roundtable addresses two key topics: the stability of democracy globally in the post-pandemic era and the United States' standing amid challenges to its election processes.

Suzanne Dovi, Paulette Kurzer, Paul Schuler and Chad Westerland – all faculty members in the School of Government and Public Policy – will speak.

Forecasting the Issues and Candidates that Will Define the 2024 Election
Oct. 24, 6-7:30 p.m., Manuel Pacheco Integrated Learning Center, Room 150, and online
Register for the event

Arizona is expected to be a key swing state in the upcoming U.S. election, with a competitive Senate seat and several tight congressional races. While Democrats made gains in the 2020 and 2022 elections, it's unclear if 2024 will follow the same pattern. Key questions include how Arizona voters differ from the national electorate in their concerns and partisanship, and how the abortion referendum might influence the outcome.

With data from the Arizona Voter Project and the Arizona Policy Lab, three experts from the School of Government and Public Policy – Samara Klar, Lisa Sanchez and Chris Weber – will lend their insights.

The Politics of Misinformation – Perspectives from Industry and Academia
Oct. 29, 6-7:30 p.m., Student Union Memorial Center, Kiva Room
Register for the event

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears, misinformation is a major concern for voters and platforms. This panel will examine how false information spreads through social media and messaging platforms, distorting political discourse. Attendees will hear about the challenges of balancing privacy, free speech, transparency and content moderation. The panelists will discuss efforts to combat misinformation, including fact checking, regulatory frameworks and media literacy. Attendees will learn how misinformation is shaping the political landscape and what strategies can mitigate its impact.

Courtney Cooper, an instructor in the School of Government and Public Policy and global policy director at WhatsApp, and Sahana Udupa, professor of media anthropology and Berkman Klein fellow at Harvard University, will share their expertise on digital media and misinformation. Yotam Shmargad, associate professor in the U of A School of Government and Public Policy, will moderate the discussion.

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Media contact:
Paul Schuler
School of Government and Public Policy
520-621-7600
pschuler@arizona.edu

The University of Arizona, a land-grant institution with two independently accredited medical schools, ranks among the nation's top universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. Established in 1885, the university is widely recognized as student-centric and has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. As a leading Research 1 institution, the University of Arizona ranks in the top 20 among all public universities with $955 million in annual research expenditures according to the National Science Foundation. The university advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships as a member of the Association of American Universities, the 71 leading public and private research universities in the U.S. and Canada. It benefits the state of Arizona with an estimated economic impact of $4.1 billion annually.