Acclaimed historian Carwardine to speak at W & J Symposium on Democracy
Acclaimed Welsh historian Richard Carwardine, who won the prestigious Lincoln Prize in 2004 for his biography “Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power,” said, half-joking, he will happily endure Southwestern Pennsylvania’s dreary February weather, in exchange for the opportunity to participate in Washington & Jefferson College’s inaugural Symposium on Democracy.
Carwardine is a featured speaker at the symposium – which runs today through Friday – and he will present a lecture on “The Foundation of American Democracy: 1776-1865,” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Olin Fine Arts Center.
He will discuss the role presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, for whom the college was named, played in establishing democracy in America.
Carwardine also will participate in a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in Rossin Campus Center’s Allen Ballroom, where he will discuss his recent book, “Lincoln’s Sense of Humor,” in which he explains how Abraham Lincoln used storytelling, jokes and laughter as tools during his presidency.
“I had a very nice invitation from (W&J president) John Knapp, whom I’ve gotten to know over the years, and he asked if I’d be willing to give a keynote address. I thought (the symposium) was very timely, and I was happy to accept,” said Carwardine, who specializes in politics and religion in the United States between 1776 and the Civil War. He has a particular interest in the life of Abraham Lincoln.
During a telephone interview, Carwardine discussed the history of democracy in the United States, and threats democracy faces around the world today.
“We’ve watched American politics for the last couple of years from the other side of the Atlantic with some concern, I have to say, just as we’ve watched events in our own part of the world, including Brexit and other populist movements…and we aren’t being alarmists in thinking that democracies are vulnerable,” said Carwardine. “There’s no reason to think democracies will survive unless they are properly fed and nurtured.”
He noted “Freedom in the World 2018,” the most recent report on political rights and civil liberties issued by Freedom House, which finds 2017 was the 12th consecutive year of decline in global freedom.
According to the report, seventy-one countries, including Turkey, Venezuela and Poland, suffered net declines in political rights and civil liberties in 2017, with only 35 registering gains in democratic standards.
Carwardine cited economic and social inequalities and immigration as among the issues that have led to the success of populist parties and politicians around the world.
The United States, said Carwardine, is in a better position than other countries, such as Turkey and Poland, to handle threats to democracy because of its system of checks and balances, method of elections and free press.
“Democracy and Constitutionalism depend on a commitment to values and norms, not just on systems and procedures, and those can be eroded,” said Carwardine.
Carwardine pointed out democracy broke down early in America’s history (“There was a Civil War,” he said), and has faced challenges, including the Great Depression, since then. Today, gerrymandering of political districts, the increasing gap between the rich and poor, cost of running for political office and efforts to delegitimize truth, can weaken democracy, he said.
He said healthy democracies “seek a common ground,” and pointed to Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who, Carwardine said, “sought to maximize common ground” and “gave the sense that the presidency was working on behalf of all the people in the face of massively complex problems.”
Carwardine, who became interested in the United States after he took an undergraduate course on American history, slavery and secession at Oxford University, has ties to the United States. His family is related to John L. Lewis, a Welsh-American who served as president of United Mine Workers of America from 1920-1960.
Carwardine said he remains “moderately optimistic of the United States.”
“America is exceptional,” said Carwardine, “but it’s not immune to forces that affect other societies.”
All Symposium on Democracy events are free to the public. For more information, visit the Washington & Jefferson College website at washjeff.edu.