UNE’s signature President’s Forum examines the state of American democracy

The University of New England’s latest President’s Forum, held Oct. 6 on the Biddeford Campus, convened national and local scholars, students and faculty, professional staff, and engaged community members for a thought-provoking discussion on the endurance of American democracy and the evolution of presidential power.

Hosted by UNE President James Herbert, the event — “Is Trump a Strongman President, and Can Our Democracy Endure?” — brought together William G. Howell, Ph.D., dean of the School of Government and Policy at Johns Hopkins University, and Andrew Rudalevige, Ph.D., Thomas Brackett Reed Professor of Government at Bowdoin College, to engage in a debate the role and status of the modern presidency, the administrative state, and the balance of executive and legislative power in contemporary, and future, American democracy. 

(Left): William G. Howell, Ph.D. (Right): Andrew Rudalevige, Ph.D.

Since its inception in 2018, UNE’s President’s Forum has served as a platform for thoughtful discourse, providing a venue for diverse perspectives on the most pressing issues of our time, ultimately underscoring UNE’s role in fostering the guiding principles of intellectual humility, curiosity, and civility as part of its Marketplace of Ideas initiative.

In opening remarks, Herbert reflected on the fragility of democratic institutions amid deepening polarization and a growing disregard for long-held political norms. He pointed to the erosion of civil discourse as a fundamental threat to democratic life, in which elected officials on both sides of the aisle have described their opposing parties as “anti-American, dangerous, or even evil.”

Following Herbert’s remarks, event moderator Jeanne A.K. Hey, Ph.D., UNE dean emerita and CEO of Hey University, convened the event by introducing opening statements from both panelists.

Drawing from his book, “Trajectory of Power: The Rise of the Strongman Presidency,” Howell explored how decades of growing executive influence have reshaped the balance of power between branches of government, arguing that modern presidents increasingly test the limits of authority, often unrestrained by courts or Congress.

Rudalevige countered that, while recent presidents have expanded their reach, Congress retains the most significant constitutional power — possessing the ability even to fire the president — noting that legislative inaction, rather than diminished authority, may be the greater concern.

(Clockwise, from top left): President Herbert introduces the evening’s panelists; UNE students listen eagerly; UNE Dean Emerita Jeanne Hey, Ph.D., moderates the discussion; a student asks about America’s international reputation; and hundreds fill the seats for UNE’s 10th President’s Forum.

Throughout the evening, the panelists examined whether American institutions are still equipped to check the ambitions of a strong executive and how a divided political culture might reclaim a spirit of shared governance. Discussion further touched on the global implications of U.S. democratic instability, with thoughtful questions from UNE students probing how international allies perceive recent political shifts. 

Herbert closed his remarks by reaffirming UNE’s commitment to convening difficult but necessary conversations. 

“At UNE, we are committed to doing our part to combat this trend,” he said. “We proactively foster discourse on difficult topics from a perspective of intellectual humility, curiosity, and civility. One of these programs is the President’s Forum … (and this) kind of dialogue … has never been more critical.”