Royal Roads hosting expert panel on resisting the “bro-ligarchy”
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Register for Resisting the Bro-ligarchy: Politics, Polarization and Populism.
Social media platforms were designed to bring us closer together. Instead, society is more polarized than ever. Are the platforms that were designed to foster connection creating an existential threat to democracy?
As a wave of populist, anti-democratic heads of state are elected around the world, we can’t help but wonder how Silicon Valley social media billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are shaping the conversation. In the case of our neighbours to the south, the newly re-instated Trump administration is outwardly revealing its ties to the “bro-ligarchy.”
On March 11, 2025, join a panel of experts for a discussion the impact of social media has on political polarization and the rise of populism. The speakers will examine how platforms designed to connect people may be contributing to democratic challenges. Panelists will also offer strategies for resisting these forces and protecting vulnerable communities.
This event is particularly timely as Canada approaches its federal election, raising questions about the influence of the so-called "bro-ligarchy" on political discourse and democratic processes.
Panelists include:
Daniel Drache, professor emeritus of political science at York University and senior research fellow at the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies.
Jaigris Hodson, associate professor, Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University and Canada Research Chair for Digital Communication for the Public Interest.
Thomas Homer-Dixon, founder and executive director of the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University.
Victoria O’Meara, lecturer of digital media in the School of Arts, Media and Communication at the University of Leicester.
Shauneen Pete, faculty, Interdisciplinary Studies and chair of the Emerging Indigenous Scholars Circle at Royal Roads University.
The event will be moderated by Philip Steenkamp, president and vice-chancellor of Royal Roads University.
Registration is free, and viewers can attend in-person at RRU’s Dogwood Auditorium or online via Zoom.