On Thursday April 4th and Friday April 5th, Discourse in Democracy hosted Dr. Wilfred McClay of the University of Oklahoma. More than a 150 students and faculty attended his Thursday evening lecture on “The Tocquevillean Moment… and Ours.” The lecture explored the importance of universities and the dangers of social media in the light of Tocqueville’s concerns about pathologies to which democratic societies are prone.
In addition to the lecture itself, Dr. McClay conducted a seminar on “How to Think About Patriotism” attended by 25 undergraduates, graduates students and faculty members. The seminar explored two varieties of universalism and nationalism, and America’s experience with patriotism. He also spoke to a section of Basic Political Institutions (PS 3301) and joined students and faculty for dinner and lunch.
Political science graduate student Damilola Asaye noted that she “particularly enjoyed the seminar as I was able to hear different ideas students had about the speaker’s article and really helped me get a better idea about what patriotism really entails. I like how the department creates a friendly environment for students and gives them the opportunity interact on a regular basis with professors.”
