2006 – 2007 Topical Conferences

Throughout 2006 and 2007 Virginia colleges and universities, joined by national and international partners hosted topical conferences focusing on different aspects of successful democratic systems. Papers, presentations and proceedings from the Democracy Conference Series will be published by the Jamestown 400th Federal Commission in written and electronic format under the title, "The Jamestown Commentaries on the Foundations and Future of Democracy."

• International Youth Democracy Summit, August 7-12, 2006.  Sponsored by the University of Virginia and its Center for Politics in partnership with Presidential Classroom, an assemblage of youth leaders from around the world engaged in discussions on the future of democracy and considered how best to engage a new generation of young people in the vital business of self-government. www.IYDS.net.

• Sustaining Democracy in the Global Age, January 25-27, 2007  Hosted by Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College, this conference examined democratic development from a contemporary global perspective. It addressed issues related to advanced technology, telecommunications, economic globalization, terrorism and other threats to security, and a wide range of multinational and international concerns. www.longwood.edu/democracy.

• America’s 400th Anniversary: Voices From Within The Veil, February 22-23, 2007  Norfolk State University, one of Virginia’s historically black institutions, assembled noted scholars, community leaders and political practitioners to consider the contrasting democratic images and oligarchic realities of early Jamestown and the larger subject of evolving concepts of democracy, political participation, and civil rights. The conference addressed the recurring challenges within democratic systems posed by racial and ethnic differences and the imperative of protecting minority rights within a republican framework. www.nsu.edu/jamestown2007

• Markets and Democracy, Sponsored by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, this conference assembled scholars and practitioners to consider the interrelation between political and economic freedoms and the importance of competitive markets and private property in successful democratic systems.  The conference was held in conjunction with the Mercatus Center’s annual retreat for Congressional chiefs of staff. www.mercatus.org/events

• Foundations of Democracy, March 22-24, 2007  Hosted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), the conference  illuminated the classical origins and forms of democracy in ancient Greece and the Roman Republic, explored Enlightenment-era thought about the relationship between man and the state, considered the philosophical underpinnings of American republicanism, and explored the relevance of these foundations to the emergence and maturation of democratic systems in the 21st century. www.vt.edu

• Democracy and the Rule of Law, April 11-12, 2007  The University of Richmond, American Inns of Court, and John Marshall Foundation, together with counterparts in the English legal community, are sponsoring this conference to explore the antecedents of the American legal system, the indispensable role of the rule of law in successful democracies, and current international judicial and legal issues. For more information. www.law.richmond.edu

• Democracies in Partnership, 400 Years of Transatlantic Engagement, April 18-19, 2007  Old Dominion University and NATO’s Allied Command Transformation examined the historical Euro-Atlantic relationship and contemporary issues facing the Transatlantic Alliance. Major themes included shared and differing strategic cultures, shifts in the balance of power, and challenges and opportunities posed by globalization, technological advances, democracy movements, and other modern developments. www.ODU.edu

• Democracy and Diversity in the 21st Century, April 19, 2007  Richmond Region 2007, the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, and other regional partners convened cultural leaders to examine how democratic concepts are shaping global affairs related to diversity and broad-based inclusion in a spectrum of business, political, governmental, religious, and cultural arenas and institutions. www.richmondregion2007.com/signature-events.htm