Special thanks to Carole Biagiotti, Martha Luttrell and to University Relations (Lynne Brown and Alicia Hurley)
NYU Florence students: Lauren Barker, Antonio Corrado, Alexandra Heffern, Fay Koh, Alessandro Harabin and Elena Tinios - Italian student involvement Dena Behnam and Arfa Rehman – graphics Mackenzie Cyr and Levi Leet - social media outreach
The transformation of political parties in the United States and Europe over the last decade and the rising influence of women in politics are both potentially game-changing developments in modern democracies. With respect to parties, there are new uncertainties about the role they play, their impact on governance, and their effectiveness at representing their constituencies. Polarization and the rise of new parties and new movements within parties raise interesting questions: are we witnessing a break with established party structures, or the evolution of ‘old parties’ as they adapt to a new political and social context? For example, in the US, does the GOP need to change-- in substance and image-- and can it succeed in doing so? In the UK, how will the rise of the anti-EU UKIP reshape mainstream politics? And in nations under stress, or deeply divided ideologically, is the capacity to govern-- or even democracy itself-- under threat?
For political parties, is this a time of reformation or renaissance – and is the former a precondition of the latter?At the same time, women are playing an increasingly decisive role in electoral politics. In the United States, the gender gap reelected President Obama, who lost men to Mitt Romney. That, the influence of women in the Congressional leadership, and the possible election of a woman to the Presidency in 2016 signal profound changes in the political landscape. It is happening in Europe too, with more women in the Italian Parliament after the recent election, a trend that has accelerated across the continent. Is politics becoming a more hospitable terrain for women? How are women influencing the policy agenda? What are the challenges and opportunities for women in politics now and in the years ahead? In America, does the Republican Party have to change to reclaim women voters – and is that change necessary, possible, or desirable? On October 11 and 12, 2013, La Pietra will bring a group of exceptional scholars political actors and activists from Europe and the US together to discuss these recent trends on both sides of the Atlantic.
Program
Friday, October 11th
9:30am Conference opening Dale Hemmerdinger, Trustee, New York University 9:45–11:15 Women: From Winning Office to Wielding Power Stanley Greenberg – Democratic Pollster and Political Strategist Paolo Guarino - Political Consultant, Italy Bruce Haynes - Republican Political and Public Affairs Strategist David Muir - Political Strategist, UK Marylouise Oates - Author and Activist Hope Warschaw - Community and Political Activist Moderator: Linda Douglass – Former ABC News Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent, former SVP Communications Atlantic Media and moderator of the Women of Washington series
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30–1:00 Will the Glass Ceiling Finally be Shattered? Nicole Bacharan - Historian, Political Analyst and Radio and Television Consultant Joel Benenson - Pollster and Political Strategist Rob Collins – Republican Political Strategist Linda Douglass - Former ABC News Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent, former SVP Communications Atlantic Media and moderator of the Women of Washington series Sarah Kovner – Democratic Activist Joshua Tucker – Professor of Politics at New York University Hope Warschaw - Community and Political Activist Moderator: Marylouise Oates– Author and Activist
1:00–2:15pm Lunch
2:15–4:00 Transatlantic Trends: Political Party Reform Joel Benenson - Pollster and Political Strategist Marco Cacciotto - Political Consultant, Italy Luigi Curini – Professor of Political Science, University of Milan Tad Devine – Democratic Strategist and Media Consultant Stanley Greenberg – Democratic Pollster and Political Strategist David Muir - Political Strategist, UK Dario Nardella –Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Robert Shrum – Senior Fellow, NYU Wagner School of Public Service, and Former Democratic Strategist Moderator: Joshua Tucker, Professor of Politics at New York University
Saturday, October 12th
9:00–10:30am Does the GOP Have to Change and Can It? Nicole Bacharan – Historian, Political Analyst and Radio and Television Consultant Rob Collins – Republican Political Strategist Tad Devine – Democratic Strategist and Media Consultant Stanley Greenberg – Democratic Pollster and Political Strategist Bruce Haynes - Republican Political and Public Affairs Strategist Dale Hemmerdinger –Trustee, New York University Steve McMahon - Democratic Strategist and Public Affairs Consultant Moderator: Robert Shrum – Senior Fellow, NYU Wagner School of Public Service, and Former Democratic Strategist
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45–12:15 pmBeyond Obama: Where Do the Democrats Go from Here? Joel Benenson - Pollster and Political Strategist Rob Collins – Republican Political Strategist Paolo Guarino - Political Consultant, Italy Sarah Kovner – Democratic Activist Steve McMahon -Democratic Strategist and Public Affairs Consultant Robert Shrum – Senior Fellow, NYU Wagner School of Public Service, and Former Democratic Strategist Moderator: Dale Hemmerdinger, Trustee, New York University
12:15–1:15 Lunch
1:15-2:45 (Closing Session): Polarization - the Future of Parties and Failures of Governance Nicole Bacharan, Joel Benenson, Marco Cacciotto, Rob Collins, Luigi Curini, Tad Devine, Stanley Greenberg, Paolo Guarino, Bruce Haynes, Dale Hemmerdinger, Sarah Kovner, Victor Kovner, Steve McMahon, David Muir, Marylouise Oates, Joshua Tucker, Hope Warschaw Moderator: Robert Shrum – Senior Fellow, NYU Wagner School of Public Service, and Former Democratic Strategist
