James Madison Center for Civic Engagement: Democracy Matters

The challenges facing democracy around the world are daunting, especially as global conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the erosion of civil liberties, the postponement of elections and the spread of disinformation campaigns. Despite global democratic erosion, Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA, says "the explosion of civic activism globally in traditionally inhospitable places" is good news. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/10-28-democracy-matters-episode-89.shtml

As part of our 9/11 at 20 series, Ryan Powell, JMU Sociology '07 alum shares his experiences from two deployments to Iraq. He says "Strengthening democracy truly is appreciating people with different viewpoints." In 2018, Ryan received an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. He currently works as a Vice President in Business Continuity for City National Bank in Los Angeles, CA. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#powell

Trigger Warning: This episode and associated images contain information regarding violence and hate aimed against Black Americans. In this episode, Stephen C. Poulson, Professor of Sociology at James Madison University, discusses his new book Racism on Campus: A Visual History of Prominent Virginia Colleges and Howard University (New York: Routledge Press, 2021). Racism on Campus provides a systemic exploration of yearbooks as means for capturing institutional norms and changes associated with race relations at universities. It also reveals the role that institutions of higher education play in ordering race relations and perpetuating racism not only on campus, but into wider society. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-29-democracy-matters-episode-87.shtml

As part of our 9/11 at 20 series, Nicolle Johnson shares her experiences from deployments to Iraq. On strengthening democracy, she concludes: "Vote. That's the cornerstone of our democracy and every person should have that vote, and in our democracy it should be the easiest thing you do. I support federal minimum standards for the right to vote." See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#nicolle_johnson

Afghanistan has a rich history of self-determination and has long served as an international crossroads of cultural, economic and political activity. It has also been the target of imperialism, attempted colonization and intervention, particularly in the last hundred year. Dr. Shah Mahmoud Hanifi, Professor of History at James Madison University, shares his expertise on the history of Afghanistan in order to better understand the present moment. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-21-democracy-matters-episode-85.shtml

David Trouille, an Associate Professor of Sociology at James Madison University, discusses his new book, Futbol in the Park: Immigrants, Soccer, and the Creation of Social Ties. Dr. Trouille's ethnographic research helps us understand the nuances and complexities of the Latino immigrant experience and the importance of vibrant public spaces where people can gather and strengthen social ties. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-16-democracy-matters-episode-83.shtml

In this episode, we talk with Jim Biddle who graduated from JMU's College of Business in 2005. After completing ROTC training and commissioning into the Army, he joined the National Guard and deployed twice to Iraq. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#biddle

In this episode, we talk with Lieutenant Colonel Nick Swayne, who served in the Army for 26 years and deployed to Bosnia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In 2001, he assumed the role of leading James Madison University's ROTC program and was a professor of military science. Dr. Swayne is currently the director of JMU's X-Labs. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#swayne

"I was shocked by the speed at which the Taliban was able to retake control...It makes me wonder about political and military decisions that have been made over the last 20 years...It's agonizing to hear about the human rights advocates, military interpreters and even American citizens who were left behind. I appreciate the band aid needed to be ripped off eventually...Did we know all along that the government would immediately collapse without us putting money into those programs? How long did we know that the situation was untenable but remained? Ultimately, I've been battling with the question of what was the point." In this episode, we talk with Aaron Shapiro, JMU Business Administration, '06, who deployed to Afghanistan and served as a Disbursing Officer at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#ashapiro

"There are many ways to serve our democracy. Get informed, get educated, do something that matters to you." In this episode, Major Robert Kennedy, who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, shares his experiences serving in the Army. MAJ Kennedy was recently assigned to the Army G-3/5/7, where he assesses Army Readiness. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#kennedy

For Constitution Day 2021 and to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, we talk with Carolyn Quilloin Coleman who started her activism work as a teenager protesting segregation in Savannah, Georgia. In April 1969, she organized the NAACP-sponsored Youth Mobilization conference in Washington, D.C. The gathering brought together 2,000 young people from 33 states to lobby Congress in support of youth voting rights. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-06-democracy-matters-episode-79.shtml

Lt. Col. Dan Maurer, a JMU alum, Judge Advocate, an Assistant Professor of Law at U.S. Military Academy at Westpoint and a Fellow with the Modern War Institute, discusses September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks and consequences for military justice and civil-military relations. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#maurer

Dr. Terri Rodzevik served in the United States Army Nurse Corps from 2004-2009 with two deployments to Iraq, including to Tikrit and Baghdad. She currently serves in the United States Public Health Service as a Supervisory Research Nurse Practitioner for the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease in Phoenix, AZ and as a Supervisory Nurse Practitioner for the Indian Health Service at Phoenix Indian Medical Center Emergency Department. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#rodzevik

"In an era of high geographic polarization and historically low ticket-splitting, meaning that people know well in advance of an election who they are going to vote for, redistricting and how the lines are drawn matters a great deal. It's almost existential for election outcomes," says redistricting expert David Wasserman, Senior Editor, U.S. House of Representatives for The Cook Political Report. Learn more about why redistricting matters and what's at stake. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/redistricting.shtml

How did the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States impact the criminal legal system? What are the challenges of litigating national security and terrorism cases? How did 9/11 and subsequent national security and terrorism cases impact how the legal system treats citizens and non-citizens convicted of terrorism offenses? Is torture justified under any circumstances? How have national security and terrorism legal cases changed over the last two decades? Leading terrorism and national security legal expert Joshua L. Dratel answers these questions and discusses how the national security state and the war on terrorism have impacted democracy and justice. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#dratel

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United states and explored the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have parterened to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in the Global War on Terror. In this episode, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Curran shares his experiences with the JMU ROTC program and the impact it has, what makes a patriot, as well as the betrayal of the Kurds. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#curran

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 extremist terrorist attacks on the United States driven by Usama bin Ladin. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Philip Zelikow, who served as the executive director of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, better known as the "9/11 Commission." The Commission's landmark report was published in 2004 and provides an authoritative narrative on the attacks and U.S. response to them. The Commission's work and report provide lessons for making sense of collective mass trauma and reimagining more responsive governing institutions. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/08-11-democracy-matters-episode-73.shtml

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and explore the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have partnered to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in the Global War on Terror. In this episode, Marilyn Houde shares her experiences in the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. She discusses how we can learn from local leaders and improve governance through defense, diplomacy and development. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#houde

In this episode we talk with Dr. Jon A. Krosnick from Stanford University about how we can make elections more fair. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/07-27-democracy-matters-episode-71.shtml

In this episode, Terry Kessler shares his experiences, including two tours of duty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Terry attended James Madison University where he was commissioned through ROTC as a Medical Service Officer in 2003. He was also a member of the Virginia Army National Guard from 1997 to 2003. Terry is now working for the Department of Veteran Affairs at the Martinsburg, WV VAMC with Veterans as a Licensed Certified Social Worker. See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/9-11-at-20.shtml#kessler