CPRT Expert Dialogue: Rising Authoritarianism: How business can recognize and respond to true threats to representative democracy

As hyper-partisanship escalates in the US and beyond, both the left and right are leveling accusations of authoritarianism and even fascism at the other side. Though business leaders may wish they could stay out of the fray, multiple independent sources show the US is facing serious threats to civic institutions, representative democracy, political equality and the rule of law. Given rising trust in business, companies are uniquely positioned to help the country navigate these risks, if they can distinguish true threats and respond effectively.

Please join us for an interactive conversation with two experts on democracy protection to explore:

• How can business leaders distinguish true threats to representative democracy amidst the rhetoric of outrage today? What does the data show?
• What is at risk if current trends toward authoritarianism continue? What are the most promising scenarios for averting these risks and safeguarding US civic institutions?
•  Why and how should business get involved? Can it really make a difference?

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University who writes about fascism, authoritarian leaders, propaganda, and democracy protection. She is the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present and an Advisor to Protect Democracy.

Katherine Venice is Founder of the Ethical Capitalism Group, bringing an investor perspective to reforming capitalism so that it works for Main Street, not just for Wall Street. From 1995 to 2014, she served as an institutional investor with three top-tier global investment management firms.