Iowa City Foreign Relations Council Presents: Propaganda and Disinformation -- Social Media, Podcasts, AI, and Cable News
Recorded: September 11, 2026
Runtime: 01:40:36
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Iowa City Foreign Relations Council Presents: Democratic Backsliding - What is It, How Does It Impact Elections, How Can It Be S
As the 2026 US midterms approach, this panel examines democratic backsliding worldwide and its direct and indirect effects on electoral integrity, voter participation, and political norms--at home and abroad. Expert panelists will define backsliding, identify common tactics and warning signs, compare cross-national case studies, and discuss strategies for preventing and reversing democratic erosion that can distort elections and undermine public trust. Attendees will gain a clear, comparative understanding of what democratic backsliding looks like in practice, how it alters the conduct and outcomes of elections globally, and concrete strategies--particularly at the local level--to defend and restore democratic processes.Gerardo Berthin is president of Freedom House. Berthin has nearly three decades of experience working on democratic governance, anti-corruption, human rights, and civil society strengthening. He has worked in over 50 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe.Seongjoon Ahn is an Assistant Professor of Political Science specializing in American Politics, Democracy, and Public Opinion. His research mainly explores American public opinion on democracy at both the national- and state-levels but often extends to other advanced democracies. Before coming to the University of Iowa, he earned a PhD in Political Science at the University of Illinois, an MA in the Social Sciences at the University of Chicago, and a BA in Political Science and International Relations at Korea University.Wayde Marsh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He studies American elections and voting behavior, polarization, public opinion, and local political economy.
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