The Future of American Democracy

The final event in this year’s Un-monument public conversation series is titled “The Future of American Democracy," and brings together two of the nation’s most renowned thinkers—Danielle S. Allen and Michael Sandel—for a discussion that will challenge and inspire.

Join us for a compelling and timely public conversation at The Embrace, the renowned monument on Boston Common honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, where Sandel and Allen will reflect on the pressing challenges facing America’s democratic institutions and traditions today.

Danielle S. Allen, is one of Harvard’s esteemed “University Professors,” and a prolific political theorist and classicist who has devoted her career in academia and beyond to exploring the foundations of democracy and the question of justice. Her work, including Justice By Means of Democracy and Our Declaration, reimagines key democratic texts and ideals in ways meant to confront our contemporary struggles. A former gubernatorial candidate in Massachusetts, Allen is a tireless advocate for civic engagement and participation. Michael Sandel, a Harvard political philosopher celebrated for his accessible and thought-provoking explorations of justice, ethics, and democracy, is the author of influential works like Democracy’s Discontent and The Tyranny of Merit. His work encourages us to reflect on the moral dimensions of political and civic life, asking fundamental questions about fairness, equality, and the common good.

This conversation comes at a pivotal moment when many Americans feel that the country’s democratic institutions and traditions are under threat. From growing political polarization to rising concerns about voter rights, civic trust, fairness, and governmental accountability, the future of American democracy appears uncertain. Together, these two scholars will bring clarity, urgency, and hope to a conversation that couldn’t be more timely or essential.