Progressive/Conservative Summit to tackle difficult political climate, discussions

Americans' political positions are bitterly divided, driven apart by identity politics, partisan news coverage and algorithm-driven social media echo chambers. Meaningful, well-reasoned political discussion can be hard to find in this political climate.

With that difficulty in mind, the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley will provide substantive conversations about history, political thought and policy without the partisan rhetoric at its annual Progressive/Conservative Summit on April 13-14. 

The two-day event will cover a wide variety of topics presented by authors, journalists and academics from various fields. Topics will range from the culture wars and identity liberalism to teaching empathy in a post-truth, pro-feelings age.

Presenters will include Mark Lilla, a contributor to the New York Review of Books and humanities professor at Columbia University; Patrick Deneen, associate professor of constitutional studies at Notre Dame and author of Why Liberalism Failed; Molly Worthen, op-ed columnist at the New York Times and assistant professor of history at UNC-Chapel Hill; and many others.

Progressive/Conservative Summit 2018

April 13, 6 - 8:15 p.m. and April 14, 8:15 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Loosemore Auditorium, GVSU Pew Grand Rapids Campus

401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

This event is LIB 100/201 approved. 

Event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are requested at gvsu.edu/hc

"The big aim of the program is to share knowledge with the hope of improving understanding, not necessarily finding one side that can 'beat' the other. We want to help people explore a variety of viewpoints," said Scott St. Louis, program manager at the Hauenstein Center. 

Progressive/Conservative Summit 2018 is presented in partnership with the Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation, the Progressive Women's Alliance of West Michigan and the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. 

For more information, visit gvsu.edu/hc.