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Powerlessness and Populism: Does America Need a New Governing Vision?

A forum to explore overhaul of broken government operating structures

Center for Governance and Markets, University of Pittsburgh

Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, Chair


Friday, March 1, 2024, 9am ET

William Pitt Union Lower Lounge 

3959 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260


Registration


This forum will address the broad resentment at government and social institutions and debate the provocative overhaul thesis of the new book by Philip K. Howard, Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society (Rodin 2024). Howard argues that post-1960s governing frameworks disempower Americans in their daily choices, causing public failure and alienation, and must be replaced by simpler frameworks activated by human responsibility.

The half-day forum will have three panels:

  • Powerlessness in Government and Society: Is the problem political or structural?
  • Helping Institutions Flourish Again: How to re-empower responsible cultures
  • Is Change Impossible or Inevitable?: Proposing new public operating visions

Panelists include:

Philip K. Howard, Common Good

Donald Kettl, University of Texas at Austin

Kevin Kosar, American Enterprise Institute

Will Marshall, Progressive Policy Institute

Michael Mazarr, RAND

Megan McArdle, Washington Post

Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, University of Pittsburgh

Sally Satel, American Enterprise Institute

Mene Ukueberuwa, Wall Street Journal

Michael Wear, Center for Christianity and Public Life

Jason Willick, Washington Post

Michele Zanini, Management Lab