A Special Invitation

Join us in D.C. for a conference on the future of liberalism!

Dear Persuasion Members,

Those of you who are longtime readers know that each summer since our founding, Persuasion has organized what we call the “Persuasion Festival”—a series of virtual talks for community members. In the past three years we’ve discussed Orwell, heard a harrowing firsthand report from Kyiv, debated mental health and the state of discourse on college campuses, and much more.

This year, though, we’re doing something a bit different: inviting you to join us in person. On July 11th and 12th, leading thinkers in the liberal tradition will gather in Washington for a conference on the future of liberalism. The conference, hosted by our editorial partner The UnPopulist, a publication of the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism, will offer the chance to articulate a forward-looking vision for liberalism that can compete with rising illiberal alternatives. 

It won’t be abstract theorizing: we’ll be addressing head-on some of the main critiques of philosophical liberalism, and hosting discussions on how liberal democracies can urgently respond to climate change, advances in artificial intelligence, an increasingly unstable international order, and much else in keeping with fundamental principles. 

The conference will feature many friends of Persuasion’s—our advisors Yevgenia Albats, Francis Fukuyama, and David French, among many others—and we’re hoping to have a sizable group of community members like you joining us.

As a Persuasion supporter, you are our guest and the cost of the ticket is on us. The full lineup and registration can be found here.

Any questions, including about booking a hotel room at the conference if you are planning to come in from out of town, can be directed to conference@ismaglobal.org.

With thanks for being a part of our community, and hoping to see you in July,

David

Executive Director

P.S. Do you know someone who would like to attend, but isn’t yet a paid member of Persuasion’s community? Invite them to join or give them a gift subscription!