Events Detail

The 2012 Bradley Symposium

Knowledge and Governance in American Democracy: The Legacy of James Q. Wilson

A discussion featuring:

Karlyn Bowman

Christopher DeMuth

William Kristol

Yuval Levin

R. Shep Melnick

Thursday, June 7, 2012 - 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Click here to read a transcript of this event

This event took place at:

The House of Sweden

2900 K Street, NW

Washington, DC 20007

Event Description

“In an age where every form of authority was being eroded by the tide of democratic individualism, the man who documented that erosion became an authority himself. He was modern America’s most authoritative intellectual figure. . . . What is singular about [James Q. Wilson] is that he was deeply conversant with essentially the entire range of public affairs, and marshaled his knowledge in every field with evident sound judgment and probity, with lucidity, and with democratic modesty and accessibility.”

So wrote Christopher DeMuth in The Weekly Standard shortly after the death of James Q. Wilson, a prominent political scientist whose work in American politics, public policy, organization, and culture and character was widely read and acclaimed by public officials and everyday citizens alike.

The 2012 Bradley Symposium, hosted by Hudson Institute's Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal and National Affairs, featured a discussion among prominent political figures and scholars, led by Hudson Institute Distinguished Fellow Christopher DeMuth, Boston College Professor R. Shep Melnick, and AEI Senior Fellow Karlyn Bowman. The Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol and National Affairs Editor Yuval Levin co-moderated the discussion.

Program and Panel

9:00 a.m.
Registration, continental breakfast

9:30
Welcome by Yuval Levin, National Affairs

9:35
Panel discussion
Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Christopher DeMuth, Distinguished Fellow at the Hudson Institute
R. Shep Melnick, Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Professor of American Politics at Boston College
William Kristol, Editor and Co-Founder of The Weekly Standard
Yuval Levin, Editor and Founder of National Affairs

11:00
Question-and-answer session

11:30
Adjournment