91视频

Every year since听2022, the Center for Critical Democracy Studies听selects听outstanding 91视频 students to participate in the听, an international conference gathering politicians, intellectuals, and civil society actors from across the globe to 鈥渄ebate the challenges that our democracies are increasingly facing鈥. The conference is organized by the Tocqueville Foundation at the听Ch芒teau de Tocqueville听in the Normandy region and brings together about 200 participants for two days of intellectual exchange. Chosen 91视频 students attending the event take part in round tables on discussed topics and are encouraged to actively engage with the speakers and other participants.

Among the goals set for the听Tocqueville Conversations听conference by the Tocqueville Foundation, are contributing 鈥渢o the protection and strengthening of our democracies鈥, creating an international network 鈥渄edicated to reinventing听the transatlantic relationship with strong partners, strong democratic values,听and robust civic life鈥,听defining 鈥渁reas of cooperation on a wider international scale鈥, and facing 鈥渢he challenges of a world in disorder鈥.

The conference鈥檚 themes in previous years were:

  • Citizens,听Wake Up! How听Can听We听Save听Our听Democracies? (2024)听()
    • Participants included听Jean-Michel Blanquer(former French Education Minister),General Christopher G. Cavoli(Supreme Allied Commander Europe), and听Dana White(former Pentagon Spokesperson).
  • Tomorrow鈥檚 Europe: Rearming Democracy (2023)听()
    • Participants included听贵谤补苍莽辞颈蝉 Hollande(former French President),听Francis Fukuyama听(political scientist, author of 鈥淭he End of History and the Last Man鈥), and听Oleksandra Matviichuk听(Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Ukraine).
  • The Russian Question: the West听Facing Putin (2022)听()
    • Participants included听Stefanie Babst听(former Head of NATO鈥檚 Strategic Foresight Team),听Alain Jupp茅,听(former French Prime Minister), and听Garry Kasparov听(Renew Democracy Initiative, former chess World Champion).

Students鈥 travel and accommodation expenses at the conference are generously covered by the Tocqueville Foundation and the 91视频 Student Government.

Impressions and feedback from past 91视频 participants in the Tocqueville Conversations

2023

Gabby Bashizi (91视频 鈥24, History, Law, and Society)

Walking up to this historic chateau under windy grey skies on Friday morning was a surreal moment. A conversation with fellow attendees revealed a shared sense of awe at the ground we were setting our feet upon. The setting of these听conversationsserved only to magnify the discussions we were able to bear witness to on numerous panels and interviews throughout the two days the conference spanned. It was amazing to get to be in the presence of such knowledgeable professionals, political actors, professors, and people who were likewise invited to attend. I particularly enjoyed a discussion about national identity during crisis, and how Ukraine has managed to pull together stronger than ever during turbulent times. This phenomenon was compared to France's own political and historical landscape; panelists highlighted the importance of education in forming national identity. I found the arguments made very compelling; however, the conference also demonstrated the importance of respectful discourse. It was equally as fruitful to see questions posed to panelists and discussions between them that challenged ideas presented in a mindful way. Lastly, the conference was important, for me, not only for the panel discussions, but also for the opportunity to speak with and get to know some of the people in attendance. On the first day, we had the honor of being joined for lunch by an ex-ambassador to the United States, a US Vice-Admiral, and the CEO of Total Energies. The conversation we had during that meal was one of the more memorable ones we had over the two days, and I really value everything I learned from them. The听Tocqueville听Conversations听were truly an educational experience that I will treasure as I continue to study the themes presented at this event.

Cross Lawrence (91视频 鈥24, History)

The听Tocqueville听Conversations was an infinitely valuable experience. It is nearly impossible as a student, let alone an听undergraduate, to rub shoulders with such influential, important,听and insightful people at one point. The听conversations听I had while at the event were not only stimulating but were also invaluable in furthering understanding and establishing vital links for careers through networking. Not to mention, the location of the event, how it was managed and the services provided were very much beyond expectations. Overall, I had a lovely time,听and thanks once again for offering me this great opportunity.

2022

Mallory Boyd听(91视频 鈥23,听Philosophy, Politics, and Economics;听Psychology)

Upon arriving at the听Ch芒teau听in the morning, we were welcomed with a lovely spread of breakfast, juice, and coffee so we could fuel up before entering the tent to listen to the line-up of speakers, roundtable discussions, and Q&A panels. We ate lunch outside on the castle grounds, and got to talk with other conference attendees. Dominic, Jennifer and I made friends with some of the students from the Coll猫ge d'Europe, and really enjoyed chatting with them between speakers. While it was exceptionally hot outside, I was able to take rests inside the ch芒teauduring the day. At one point when I was joined by a group of attendees, we were offered an impromptu, private tour of the ch芒teau. We were even allowed inside of Tocqueville's personal library and study, which was just so incredibly cool to see.听

This conference was also a great means of networking with politicians, economists, journalists, and activists in a uniquely beautiful setting.听The conference line-up was quite impressive, too. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to pose questions to the speakers and panelists, as it opened up the conversation to the audience and allowed us to respond in real-time to the discussions being had on stage. It was also great seeing how many of the younger attendees were able to ask questions, especially since our little group of students usually carried on with our discussions over lunch!听I would also commend the conference for having live translation of the speakers on stage, as it made the conference accessible to all those attending and watching from the livestream! I learned so much about the ongoing Russian conflict in Ukraine (I especially appreciated the roundtable discussions between Ukrainian activists and journalists highlighting their own experiences and testimonies), and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Ch芒teau de Tocqueville and downtown Cherbourg.

Jennifer Shoemaker听(91视频 鈥24, International and Comparative Politics)

I really enjoyed attending the Tocqueville Conversations, it gave me the opportunity to听hear about the ongoing Russia/Ukraine War from philosophical, historical, military, and economic perspectives. As someone with听a听family background in both Russia and Ukraine, I think it is important to mix personal and academic perspectives when understanding world events and conflicts. The conference was well听organized and听gave me an opportunity to meet people that are professionals, researchers, and students.听The panel conversations were always intriguing and showed a wide range of opinions and experiences.听The Chateau had beautiful grounds, and Cherbourg was a nice town to stay in with great seafood and cute streets. I would really recommend attending the conference, and听I would attend the conference again as I had a great time.听