Report from the conference “Democracy in Crisis: Authoritarian Rule and Its Impact on Human Rights and the Rule of Law”

On October 13–14, the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Warsaw hosted another edition of the international conference “Human Rights and a Just Society,” organized in cooperation with Loyola University Chicago and The John Felice Rome Center (JFRC) of Loyola University Chicago, Rome, Italy.

This year’s conference was held under the title: “Democracy in Crisis: Authoritarian Rule and Its Impact on Human Rights and the Rule of Law.” The central theme focused on the global crisis of democracy and its consequences for human rights and the rule of law.

Over the course of two days, several discussion panels addressed key issues of contemporary politics and civil society, including:

• Understanding Democratic Erosion and Authoritarian Strategies
• How Polish Judges Fought to Keep Their Independence
• Backsliding into Authoritarianism: Manipulating the Media
• Workshop: Social Media and Democracy – Risks and Challenges
• Countering Backsliding – Retaining and Restoring Democracy

The conference was attended by representatives of Loyola University and over 40 of its students. A strong presence was also noted among faculty members and Polish and English-language students from the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies. Panelists and invited guests from Poland and the United States included members of academia, the judiciary, media, and non-governmental organizations: John Kurowski (Conference Chair), Virginia Kendall (U.S. District Court, Illinois), Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram (Chairwoman of the Committee for Clarification of the Mechanisms of Repression against Civil Society Organizations and Social Activists), Dr. Alexandru Grigorescu (Loyola University Chicago), Prof. Maciej Raś (WNPiSM, UW), Dr. John Merchant (Loyola University Chicago), Prof. Agnieszka Bieńczyk-Missala (WNPiSM, UW), Prof. Michał Balcerzak (Nicolaus Copernicus University), Dr Marcin Mrowicki (Centre for Europe, UW), Dr. Wojciech Wilk (PCPM), Dr. Edit Zgut-Przybylska (PAN), Prof. Juliet Sorensen (Loyola University, Chicago), Ivan Godarsky (MEMO98), Eva Cosse (Human Rights Watch), Thodoris Chondrogiannos (Investigative Journalist, Athens), Bill Mahoney (Chicago Council on Global Affairs), Prof. Nicola Di Lauro (JFRC), Mikołaj Rogalewicz (WNPiSM, UW), Dr Aleksandra Jarczewska (WNPiSM, UW).

As in previous years, the event served as an important platform for exchanging ideas and experiences related to the protection of democracy and human rights in the face of contemporary challenges. It also provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on strengthening academic cooperation between Loyola University and the University of Warsaw.