Helen Edison Lecture Series presents Professor Sheri Berman: Democracy, Universities, and the Struggle for Civic Trust

Democracy, Universities, and the Struggle for Civic Trust - A Conversation with Sherri Berman

At a moment when democratic institutions across the globe are facing renewed pressure, the Helen Edison Lecture Series is honored to welcome Professor Sheri Berman—one of today’s leading scholars of democracy, populism, and political instability—for a timely conversation about the problems facing democracy in the United States and other parts of the world today.

A professor of political science at Barnard College and a widely published public intellectual, Berman has spent her career studying the conditions under which democracies flourish, stagnate, or fracture. Her work traces the historical rise of authoritarian movements in Europe, the weakening of democratic norms, and the social and political consequences of polarization, inequality, and institutional distrust. Through influential books including Democracy and Dictatorship in Europe and her forthcoming work on neoliberalism and democratic decline, Berman has become an essential voice in contemporary debates about democratic resilience.

Drawing from both historical precedent and contemporary political analysis, Berman will explore what democratic societies require in order to sustain legitimacy and public trust, why institutions become vulnerable during periods of polarization, and what role universities must play in preserving civic discourse, critical inquiry, and democratic citizenship. Her perspective is particularly resonant given recent national debates surrounding academic freedom and the political scrutiny facing institutions such as Columbia and Barnard. 

Founded through a visionary endowment from philanthropist Helen Edison, the Helen Edison Lecture Series at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies has spent more than three decades bringing influential leaders, scholars, journalists, authors, and artists to the university. The series fosters dialogue on the most pressing issues of our time, encouraging civic reflection, bridging divides, and strengthening democratic society.

The Guggenheim Theatre

UC San Diego Park & Market

Friday, November 13, 2026

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.