Join us in August as our virtual Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau series continues with a program on American politics.
Carolyn Long, an associate professor at WSU-Vancouver, will present “Have You No Sense of Decency: Shame in American Politics” on Thursday, Aug. 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.
From the use of pillories and stocks in colonial America to the rise of “cancel culture,” use of shame as a weapon has a long history in the United States. And it has been used to mixed effect in the political arena when used to target politicians and their supporters.
Long will examine the rise of shamelessness in American politics and the use of shame against those with whom we disagree. When shame is used to demonize others, does it contribute to political polarization? Are shame and shamelessness equally destructive to our politics and society? Can shame be used effectively in politics without demonizing the person being shamed? And if this is the case, how can we fix this and improve our political discourse?
Long is an associate professor at Washington State University Vancouver’s School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs. Her research focuses on American politics, policy, and law. She is the author of Mapp v. Ohio: Guarding Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures, and Religious Freedom and Indian Rights: The Case of Oregon v. Smith, and the recipient of two Fulbright Scholar Awards. She was the Democratic nominee for the Third Congressional District in 2018 and 2020.
The program is offered in connection with a larger, community-wide effort in the Wenatchee Valley called Our Shared Democracy. Several community groups have partnered to offer a series of community events that celebrate key features of our democracy: respect for basic human rights, a multi-party political system paired with political tolerance, a democratic voting system, democratic governance, and citizen participation.
View the Our Shared Democracy calendar of upcoming events.opens PDF file
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