Vox Announces Media Partnership With Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism for Their Inaugural Conference: “Liberalism for the 21st Century”

Today, Vox announced a media partnership with the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism (ISMA) for their inaugural conference, “Liberalism for the 21st Century.” This gathering of global thinkers in Washington, DC, provides a cross-partisan, forward-looking vision in defense of the core principles of liberal democracy. 

Vox is partnering in support of the panel “Liberalism Beyond the West.” Vox’s senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp will moderate the discussion with Iranian dissident and author Azar Nafisi, expert on Turkey Henri Barkey, and journalist and historian Anne Applebaum. The panel will highlight perspectives from beyond the West, making the case for liberalism’s universal value and indispensable role in preserving the conditions for human freedom and flourishing globally.

“Vox is deeply committed to providing robust coverage of one of the most important stories of our time — the rise of threats to liberal democracy across the globe,” said Elbert Ventura, Vox’s executive editor. “We are thrilled to partner with the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism in support of these vital conversations, especially in a year of consequential elections both here and abroad.” 

“Democratic societies built on liberal values have delivered unprecedented peace and prosperity to humanity over the last 250 years and are yet facing a challenge by rising illiberal nationalism and populist promises,” notes Shikha Dalmia, founder of ISMA and conference organizer. “The stakes of the moment demand that those committed to the defense of the liberal tradition not only insist that it has better answers for the issues confronting the world in the present century, but also articulate what’s at stake if these illiberal ideologies are not defeated.” 

The one-and-a-half-day conference will include an opening keynote address by Russian journalist and political scientist Yevgenia Albats and feature conversations with a host of thinkers, including Francis Fukuyama, Azar Nafisi, David Miliband, Jonathan Rauch, David French and more. 

The conference has a limited number of seats available to the general public. A full lineup and registration are available via the ISMA website: https://www.ismaglobal.org/conference.