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Engage in Scholarly Discourse

Events & Programs / Discussion-Based Events

Engage in Scholarly Discourse

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Experience academic environments where current and aspiring scholars share ideas and engage in meaningful discourse. Join us at academic events — from seminars and symposia to conferences and colloquia — to participate in discussions about the ideas and challenges shaping the good society.

Explore Upcoming Events

Discussion Colloquia invite faculty and graduate students to discuss and debate foundational texts and contemporary scholarship on the nature of free societies.

Social Trust and the Future of Democracy

February 7–May 2, 2023
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Social Trust and the Future of Democracy

Zoom · Event date: February 7–May 2, 2023 · Event time:2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies invites graduate students to apply for “Social Trust and the Future of Democracy,” a series of four online discussions exploring how declining social trust could impact democracy’s future. You may apply for one or more sessions.

Please note that accepted applicants are asked to acquire the reading materials on their own, whether through their institution’s library or by purchasing books. Participants receive a $125 honorarium plus a $50 stipend per session to purchase books.

Reading List

February 7 – “Social Trust and Institutions” 

March 7 – “Social Trust and Economic Growth” 

April 4 – “Diversity and Social Trust” 

May 2 – “Polarization and Social Trust” 

Schedule

One Tuesday per month, February–May 2023, from 2 to 4 PM Eastern Time.

Polarization, Pluralism, and Democracy

March 2–June 1, 2023
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Polarization, Pluralism, and Democracy

Zoom · Event date: March 2–June 1, 2023 · Event time:2:00–4:00 p.m. ET

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies invites graduate students to apply for “Polarization, Pluralism, and Democracy,” a series of four online discussions exploring the rise of polarization in America, how polarization threatens to undermine American democracy, and what can be done to address those threats. You may apply for one or more sessions.

Please note that accepted applicants are asked to acquire the reading materials on their own, whether through their institution’s library or by purchasing books. Participants will receive a $125 honorarium plus a $50 stipend per session to purchase books.

Reading List and Schedule

Discussions take place the first Thursday of each month, March–June 2023, from 2–4 p.m. ET

March 2 – “Social Media”

  • Settle, Jaime E. Frenemies: How Social Media Polarizes America. Cambridge University Press, 2018.
    • Chapter 3: The END Framework of Political Interaction of Social Media
    • Chapter 4: How Do END Interactions on the News Feed Psychologically Polarize Users?
  • Barberá, Pablo. “Social Media, Echo Chambers, and Political Polarization.” Social Media and Democracy. Nathaniel Persily and Joshua A. Tucker, Eds. Cambridge University Press, 2020, 34–55.
  • Hwang, Tim. “Dealing With Disinformation: Evaluating the Case for Amendment of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.” Social Media and Democracy. Nathaniel Persily and Joshua A. Tucker, Eds. Cambridge University Press, 2020, 252–285.
  • Villasenor, John. The Supreme Court and Social Media Platform Liability. Brookings.
  • Gorwa, Robert and Timothy Garton Ash. “Democratic Transparency in the Platform Society.” Social Media and Democracy. Nathaniel Persily and Joshua A. Tucker, Eds. Cambridge University Press, 2020, 286–312.

April 6 – “Populism’s Rise”

May 4 – “Race and Polarization”

June 1 – “Polarization, Pluralism, and Democracy”

A Responsible Singularity: Tech Ethics and Unpredictable Change

March 10–12, 2023
Washington, DC metro area
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A Responsible Singularity: Tech Ethics and Unpredictable Change

Washington, DC metro area · Event date: March 10–12, 2023

“Singularity” can mean many things in different fields, but for those who work in technology, a singularity is a moment of extraordinarily punctuated technological change so severe that society afterward is entirely different than it was before. Contenders for technological singularities in the past include the discovery of fire, the invention of agriculture, and the advent of heavy industry, but for the next several decades many experts are looking toward artificial intelligence. Importantly, though, the results of technological singularities are impossible to predetermine or control, and no one knows whether the change will yield more liberty or more tyranny. With the hope that the next generations of Classical Liberal scholars can help inform and influence technological development toward more peace, prosperity, and individual liberty, the IHS and Liberty Fund will be hosting an “Advanced Topics” discussion colloquium for late-stage graduate students. The conference will be moderated by an expert in the field and hosted at a date as yet to be determined, in the Washington, DC area.

The IHS will pay for all lodging and meals at the event as well as a travel stipend and $500 honoraria for your time and efforts.

Race and Contemporary Political Life

March 22–June 21, 2023
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Race and Contemporary Political Life

Zoom · Event date: March 22–June 21, 2023 · Event time:2–4 pm ET

The Institute for Humane Studies is inviting applications to “Race and Contemporary Political Life,” an online discussion series. This series will include discussions ranging from the contemporary framing of debates over race in both academic and political spheres to current and near-future developments in both discrimination and civil liberation. While the Classical Liberal tradition has always broadly supported equal rights without regard to race, we all face the hurdles of contemporary political polarization, the lack of a common language of or approach to racialized discourse, and the potential to blind ourselves from the discriminatory impacts of new technologies. This series will attempt to reposition Classical Liberalism on the forefront of these issues, seeking a way forward in our political lives that accomplishes equal justice for all both today and tomorrow.

Please note that participants are expected to acquire their own readings and will receive an honoraria of $125 plus a $30 book stipend per session.

March 22 – “Contemporary Conversations on Race” 

April 19 – “Race as a Source of Modern Folklore” 

May 24 – “Recentering Abolition” 

June 21 – “The Future of Equity” 

Classical Liberalism vs. Doomsday Weapons

March 23–June 22, 2023
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Classical Liberalism vs. Doomsday Weapons

Zoom · Event date: March 23–June 22, 2023 · Event time:2–4 p.m. ET

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies is inviting applications to “Classical Liberalism vs. Doomsday Weapons,” an online discussion series. Few things — if anything at all in our history — threatens human prosperity like the continued existence of “doomsday” nuclear weapons. They are in many ways the ultimate man-made threat to individual life, liberty, rights, and freedom itself, allowing powerful states to cement their existence and dictate much of the course of recent history. In this series, discussants will debate the value and danger of doomsday weapons, explore paths to abolition and destruction of stockpiles, and consider potential or likely future threats at dramatic scales.

Please note that participants are expected to acquire their own readings and will receive an honorarium of $125 plus a $30 book stipend per session.

Schedule

One Thursday a month from, March 23–June 22, 2023, from 2_4 p.m. ET

Reading List

March 23

April 27

May 25

June 22

Immigration and Executive Power

April 4–25, 2023
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Immigration and Executive Power

Zoom · Event date: April 4–25, 2023 · Event time:2–4 PM ET

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies invites graduate students to apply for “Immigration and Executive Power,” a series of four discussions about the history, evolution, and limits of executive power over U.S. immigration. Using the book “The President and Immigration Law” by Drs. Adam Cox and Cristina M. Rodríguez, as well as selected articles, participants will explore the legal and political issues at play in the use of executive power for immigration action.

Please note that participants are expected to acquire their own readings and will receive an honoraria of $125 plus a $50 book stipend per session. As the primary reading for this series is a recent publication, participants are encouraged to acquire their copy as soon as possible upon registration.

Reading List

  • April 4 – “History of the Modern Immigration System”
  • April 11 – “Obama and Trump Era Immigration Action”
  • April 18 – “Legislative Supremacy”
  • April 25 – “Proposals for the Role of Executive Power”

Schedule

Four consecutive Tuesdays, April 4–25, from 2 to 4 PM Eastern Time.

Race, Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship

April 19–July 19, 2023
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Race, Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship

Zoom · Event date: April 19–July 19, 2023 · Event time:2–4 PM ET

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies is inviting applications to “Race, Ethnicity, and Entrepreneurship.” This multidisciplinary series of online roundtable discussions will explore the barriers to entrepreneurial activity faced by different racial and ethnic groups.

Understanding these barriers requires zooming in on the characteristic experiences of racial and ethnic minorities. This includes the history of racially motivated legislation, regulation, and enforcement policies, and their ongoing effects. This discussion series will dig into that history, as well as contemporary analogs, to explore entrepreneurial activity and the barriers to it for groups such as Black, Indigenous, and Asian Americans.

Please note that participants are expected to acquire their own readings and will receive an honorarium of $125 plus a $30 book stipend per session.

Schedule

Discussions will take place one Wednesday per month, April–July 2023, from 2 to 4 PM Eastern Time.

  • Session 1: April 19
  • Session 2: May 31
  • Session 3: June 21
  • Session 4: July 19

Advanced Topics in Liberty: Examining the New History of Capitalism and Its Critics

April 21–23, 2023
Washington, DC metro area
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Advanced Topics in Liberty: Examining the New History of Capitalism and Its Critics

Washington, DC metro area · Event date: April 21–23, 2023

The “New History of Capitalism” is among the more recent and (for many Classical Liberals, at least) controversial trends in academia. In order to foster productive and interdisciplinary engagement with the field, its major practitioners, and some of its most important works, IHS and Liberty Fund will be hosting an Advanced Topics discussion colloquium in the Spring of 2023. An audience of late-stage graduate students will discuss the origins and impacts of capitalism as presented by leading scholars within “The New History of Capitalism,” as well as some leading criticisms of the field. The conference will be moderated by an expert in the field and hosted at a date to be determined in the Washington, D.C. area.

The IHS will pay for all lodging and meals at the event as well as a travel stipend and $500 honoraria for your time and efforts.

Sources of NIMBYism

April 26–July 26, 2023
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Sources of NIMBYism

Zoom · Event date: April 26–July 26, 2023 · Event time:2:00–4:00 pm ET

Overview

One of the biggest barriers to affordable housing is the NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) movement, which routinely stifles construction in America’s most expensive cities. In this four-part online discussion series, we will explore and assess the underlying motivations of NIMBYs. This will go beyond economic concerns by investigating the psychological and cultural drivers of aversion to migration and dynamism, such as worries about the environment, social justice, and neighborhood character.

Please note that participants are expected to acquire their own readings and IHS will provide a $750 honorarium for your full participation in the series.

Schedule
Discussions will take place one Wednesday per month, April–July 2023, from 2 to 4 PM Eastern Time.

  • Session 1: April 26
  • Session 2: May 24
  • Session 3: June 28
  • Session 4: July 26

Information, Narratives, and Race

May 30–August 29, 2023
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Information, Narratives, and Race

Zoom · Event date: May 30–August 29, 2023 · Event time:2–4 PM ET

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies is inviting applications to “Information, Narratives, and Race,” an online discussion series. This series will focus on the importance of both the flow of information and the construction of social and historical narratives, specifically as it relates to racialized politics in America. From the early days of Atlantic-wide slavery, marginalized and enslaved peoples have relied on their acute abilities to transmit information unnoticed by the enslavers; yet in modern times, information has been weaponized in entirely different ways. Through this series of discussions, faculty and graduate students will probe the intersections of information and race in America to better understand the origins of racialized political polarization, the ideological divisions within and between constructed racial groups, and chart a path forward for synthesis.

Please note that participants are expected to acquire their own readings and will receive an honorarium of $125, plus a $30 book stipend per session.

 

Reading List & Schedule

Discussions take place on the last Tuesday of each month, from May to August, at 2–4 PM Eastern Time.

 

May 30 – Blackness and Freedom

 

June 27 – The Edges of Blackness: Ye, Conservatism, and Color

 

July 25 – Race in the Age of “Alternative Facts”

 

August 29 – The Future of Being Black in America

Immigration and Citizenship

June 1–22, 2023
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Immigration and Citizenship

Zoom · Event date: June 1–22, 2023 · Event time:2–4 PM ET

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies is accepting applications to “Immigration and Citizenship,” a series of four discussions about the nature, power, and moral limits of citizenship. Using the selected articles and book excerpts, participants will explore how the idea of citizenship influences questions of the permissibility of immigration, and the moral status of immigrants. 

Please note that participants are expected to acquire their own readings and will receive an honoraria of $125 plus a $50 book stipend per session. As readings for this colloquium may take time to ship or to locate for purchase, participants are encouraged to acquire their copy as soon as possible upon registration.

Reading List

Session 1: The Idea of Citizenship in the United States

  • Joppke, Christian. Citizen and Immigration. Cambridge, UK: Polity, 2011. “The Concept of Citizenship”. Chapter 1, pgs 1-33.
  • Motomura, Hiroshi. Americans in Waiting: The Lost Story of Immigration and Citizenship in the United States. Oxford University Press, 2007. 
  • “Introduction”, pgs 3-14.
  • “Contract and Classical Immigration Law”. Chapter 1, pgs 15-37.

Session 2: Examining Citizenship through the Lens of Status

  • Joppke, Christian. Citizen and Immigration. Cambridge, UK: Polity, 2011. “Status”. Chapter 2, pgs 34-72.
  • Motomura, Hiroshi. Americans in Waiting: The Lost Story of Immigration and Citizenship in the United States. Oxford University Press, 2007. 
  • “All Persons Within a Territorial Jurisdiction”. Chapter 3, pgs 63-79

Session 3: Rights, Opportunities, and Affiliations

  • Joppke, Christian. Citizen and Immigration. Cambridge, UK: Polity, 2011. “Rights”. Chapter 3, pgs 73-110.
  • Motomura, Hiroshi. Americans in Waiting: The Lost Story of Immigration and Citizenship in the United States. Oxford University Press, 2007. 
  • “Alienage and the Ties That Bind”. Chapter 4, pgs 80-95.
  • “The Most Tender Connections”. Chapter 5, pgs 96-114.

Session 4: Citizenship, Non-Citizenship, and Identity

  • Joppke, Christian. Citizen and Immigration. Cambridge, UK: Polity, 2011.  “Identity”. Chapter 4, pgs 111-144.
  • Motomura, Hiroshi. Americans in Waiting: The Lost Story of Immigration and Citizenship in the United States. Oxford University Press, 2007. 
  • “Transition at a Crossroads”. Chapter 7, pgs 136-150.
  • “The Meaning of Transition”. Chapter 8, pgs 151-167.

Schedule 

Four consecutive Thursdays, June 1–22, from 2 to 4 PM Eastern Time.

Crime Dramas and Criminal Justice

June 14-July 26
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Crime Dramas and Criminal Justice

Zoom · Event date: June 14-July 26 · Event time:4 - 6 PM ET

Overview:

The Institute for Humane Studies is inviting applications for “Crime Dramas and Criminal Justice.” Television crime dramas dominate the ratings and are the closest many Americans will get to seeing the criminal justice system in action. This means that the way crime dramas present policing not only shapes public perceptions of real world police, but also can have implications for criminal justice reform. This multidisciplinary series of online roundtable discussions will explore the impact television’s fictional cop shows have, as well as look at the biases and misrepresentations in the way they present the criminal justice system.

Participants will be provided with the readings for each discussion and will receive an honorarium of $500 for full attendance.

Schedule

Discussions will take place once per month, June–July 2023, from 4:00-6:00 PM Eastern Time.

  • Session 1: June 14
  • Session 2: June 28
  • Session 3: July 12
  • Session 4: July 26

Collaborate with academics on current research topics through moderated panel discussions and breakout sessions.

Trust and Diversity

April 12, 2023
Chicago, IL
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Trust and Diversity

Chicago, IL · Event date: April 12, 2023 · Event time:2:30–7:00 PM CT

Overview

At a time when bold ideas and clear thinking are needed to sustain diverse societies, we’re convening an interdisciplinary group of scholars to explore how diversity interacts with social, political, and institutional trust in liberal democracies.  

Share your expertise and tackle pressing questions with other scholars attending the Midwest Political Science Association’s (MPSA) annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois. 

The symposium takes place in the downtown area at the Royal Sonesta River North on April 12, 2023, the day before the MPSA meetings start, beginning with opening remarks at 3:15 PM CT and concluding with a networking reception at 6:00 PM CT.

Please come prepared to share your ideas for future academic research or public-facing work, such as op-eds, on trust and diversity. For your full participation, IHS will provide a stipend to offset travel costs.

If you have research interests in this area, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

Keynote Speaker
Jay Van Bavel, New York University

Panelists

Schedule

Wednesday, April 12

*All times are listed in Central Time

2:30–3:15 p.m. | Registration with Coffee

3:15–3:30 p.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks

3:30–4:15 p.m. | Keynote Address

4:15–4:30 p.m. | Coffee Break

4:30–5:50 p.m. | Panel with Q&A

5:50–6:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks

6:00–7:00 p.m. | Cocktail Hour

AI and the Future of Work

August 3, 2023
Boston, MA
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AI and the Future of Work

Boston, MA · Event date: August 3, 2023 · Event time:2:00-6:30 PM ET

Overview:

Large language models and generative AI raise interesting and immediate issues not just for creators, computer scientists, and ethicists, but also increasingly for entrepreneurs, managers, and business leaders. Share your expertise and discuss the latest research on artificial intelligence and the future of work with scholars at this Academic Research Symposium on August 3, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. This program precedes the Academy of Management (AOM) Annual Meeting.

The symposium will begin with opening remarks at 2:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, August 3, and conclude with a networking reception ending at 6:30 PM.

Please come prepared to share your ideas for future academic research or public-facing work, such as op-eds, on artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of work. For your full participation, IHS will provide a stipend to offset travel costs.

If you have research interests in this area, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

Downstream Effects of Covid-19 Restrictions on Immigration

August 11–12, 2023
CA
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Downstream Effects of Covid-19 Restrictions on Immigration

CA · Event date: August 11–12, 2023

Overview

In the post-Covid world, the downstream effects of Covid-era immigration policy are already making an impact in labor, education, health and numerous other sectors. This program is open to scholars in economics, sociology, law, and other related disciplines. We invite scholars researching immigration issues to discuss their work, collaborate with cross-disciplinary participants, and benefit from time with our panelists as well as our keynote, Dr. Giovanni Peri.

Share your expertise and discuss the future of immigration in the post-Covid world with other scholars at this Academic Research Symposium on August 11–12, 2023, in Northern California (exact location to be determined). 

The symposium will begin with opening remarks at 5:00 PM Pacific Time on Friday, August 11, and conclude with a networking reception at 5:00 PM PT on Saturday, August 12.

Please come prepared to share your ideas for future academic research or public-facing work, such as op-eds, on post-Covid impacts on immigration. For your full participation, IHS offers a hotel room onsite at the event for the nights of August 11 and 12, as well as a travel stipend to help offset the costs of travel to the event.

If you have research interests in this area, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

Keynote Speaker

Giovanni Peri, University of California-Davis

Schedule

*All times are listed in Pacific Time

Friday, August 11

4:30–5:00 p.m. | Registration with Coffee

5:00–5:15 p.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks

5:15–6:45 p.m. | Panel One

6:45–7:30 p.m. | Dinner

7:30–8:30 p.m. | Keynote Address

8:30–10:00 p.m. | Evening Social

Saturday, August 12

10:30–11:00 a.m. | Coffee Service

11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Panel Two

12:30–1:45 p.m. | Luncheon

1:45–3:15 p.m. | Panel Three

3:15–3:45 p.m. | Coffee Break

3:45–4:45 p.m. | Breakout Discussions

4:45–5:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks

5:00–6:30 p.m. | Cocktail Hour

IHS attends multiple conferences a year across a variety of academic disciplines. Catch up with IHS staff, learn about our support, and participate in an IHS-sponsored conference event.

American Economic Association (AEA)

Academy of Management (AOM)

American Philosophical Association-East (APA)

American Political Science Association (APSA)

American Sociological Association (ASA)

Association of Private Enterprise Education (APEE)

Association of American Law Schools (AALS)

International Studies Association (ISA)

Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA)

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Society (PPE)

Public Choice Society (PCS)

Southern Economic Association (SEA)

Southern Political Science Association (SPSA)

Western Economic Association (WEA)

Western Political Science Association (WPSA)

Participate in conversations around cutting-edge scholarship and fresh perspectives on liberalism from some of the brightest minds in the academy and beyond.

Motivations for Migration with Justin Gest

April 28, 2023
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Motivations for Migration with Justin Gest

Zoom · Event date: April 28, 2023 · Event time:12–1 PM ET

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies is pleased to announce this online webinar Friday, April 28 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM Eastern. Join us for a conversation with Justin Gest, associate professor of policy and government at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government about his research on the reasons why people choose to migrate, as well as the social and political implications of migration.

Dr. Gest suggests that there are a variety of factors that motivate people to migrate. Economic factors, such as the desire for higher wages or better job opportunities, are often cited as the primary motivation for migration. However, social and political factors, such as conflict, persecution, and discrimination, also play a significant role in driving people to migrate. He also highlights the role that social networks and personal connections play in the migration process. People are more likely to migrate to areas where they have family or friends who can help them navigate the challenges of settling into a new community.

IHS Community Engagement Strategist, Jeanne Hoffman, will host the conversation, which will be followed by Q&A.

Here is the timeline for our application process:

  1. Apply for a position 
  2. An HR team member will review your application submission  
  3. If selected for consideration, you will speak with a recruiter 
  4. If your experience and skills match the role, you will interview with the hiring manager
  5. If you are a potential fit for the position, you will interview with additional staff members
  6. If you are the candidate chosen, we will extend a job offer

 

All candidates will be notified regarding the status of their application within two to three weeks of submission. As new positions often become available, we encourage you to visit our site frequently for additional opportunities that align with your interests and skills.