Centre for Democratic Engagement Inaugural Symposium: "Democratic Engagement in the Age of Brexit"

Programme

9.00-9.30 – Registration and Welcome

9.30-10.30 – Panel 1: The Challenges of Integrating Direct, Participatory and Representative Modes of democracy
POLIS lead: Cristina Leston-Bandeira
With: Andy Mycock (Huddersfield University), Alan Renwick (Constitution Unit - UCL), Olivier Rozenberg (Sciences Po, Paris), Heather Blakey (Union organiser).

10.30-11.30 – Panel 2: Information and Political Knowledge in a “Post-Truth” Era
POLIS lead: Richard Hayton
With: Peter Allen (Bath), Stephen Coleman (Media and Comms, Leeds), Charles Dannreuther (Leeds), Lata Narayanaswamy (Leeds).

11.30-11.45 – Break with refreshments

11.45-12.45 – Panel 3: Populism from Below? Grassroots Activism and Radical Democracy
POLIS lead: Jonathan Dean
With: Penny Andrews (Sheffield/Leeds), Giorgos Katsambekis (Loughborough), Bice Maiguashca (Exeter).

12.45-2.00 – Buffet lunch

2.00-3.30 – Practitioners Roundtable: how institutions and civil society address the challenges of democratic engagement
Chair: Cristina Leston-Bandeira
With: Sarah Allan (Head of Engagement, Involve); Kevin Davies (Head of Public Engagement, Welsh National Assembly), Anne-Marie Griffiths (Clerk of the Petitions Committee, House of Commons), Sarah Robinson (Assistant Director, Hope for the Future).

3.30-3.45 - Break with refreshments

3.45-4.45 – Panel 4: Nationalism and the Far-Right in an Age of Brexit
POLIS lead: Will Allchorn (Leeds)
With: Neema Begum (Bristol), Jocelyn Evans (Leeds), Matthew Feldman (Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right), Mette Wiggen (Leeds).

4.45- 6.00 – Close, followed by drinks at LS6