Co-Sponsored by the Bridging Divides Initiative and the Bobst Center for Peace and Justice

Featured Speaker:

Kristina Wilfore

Lecturer at George Washington University, Global Democracy Advisor at Reset.Tech and co-founder of #ShePersisted

This lecture explores the intersection of gendered disinformation, online extremism, and the erosion of democratic values, focusing on the increasing abuse and harassment faced by women in politics. It highlights the role of gendered disinformation campaigns in undermining women's credibility, discouraging their political careers, and inciting violence, both in the United States and globally. 

Kristina Wilfore is a seasoned international development and elections professional having worked against authoritarian regimes around the world for organizations such as the National Democratic Institute, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, and USAID grantees - designing and implementing large-scale election integrity, conflict mitigation, civil society and disinformation defense programs. She is co-founder of #ShePersisted, a global, feminist initiative to tackle gendered disinformation and online attacks against women in politics and Global Democracy Advisor to Reset.tech. 

View this article for more information about Kristina's work.

Lecture Series: Conflict, Violence, and Democratic Politics in the US and Abroad

Democracies around the world are facing challenges of radicalization and ideological polarization. Harassment and threats against elected officials, hateful rhetoric and violence against minorities, and the normalization of extremism by once mainstream actors have become commonplace. What are the causes and consequences of these conflict dynamics, and how are democracies responding to them? This lecture series brings together policy practitioners and academics to discuss and debate these questions.