Liberty Bell. Courtesy photo
SFWAF News:
The Santa Fe World Affairs Forum with co-sponsorship from the Santa Fe Community College is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its 2026 symposium “Democracy in Danger” to be held Thursday April 30 and Friday May 1, in the college’s Lecture Hall (rm 216).
This two-day annual event will focus on the elements, values of and dangers to democratic governance in the US and abroad. We will begin by exploring democracy from its origins in ancient Greece and Rome then turn in more depth to an exploration of contemporary democracies. We will include the role of the military in democracies and democracy building as well as the importance of civil society as foundations for democratic government.
On the foreign affairs side, we will include a talk on Venezuela and Latin America and also a conversation on Iran – countries singled out by the Trump administration, as well as the pernicious effect of foreign disinformation on the formation of public opinion and the ballot box in the social media age, and how it can be handled.
We plan to conclude the symposium with a panel on the importance of free and fair elections and the crucial importance of voting with particular emphasis on the upcoming US midterms.
Speakers and panelists will be from New Mexico and Washington, DC.
Check in opens at 9 am on both Thursday and Friday and the desk will be in the corridor in front of the Lecture Hall. Please note: the front row is reserved for physically challenged.
Registration and Payment:
SFWAF Members and affiliates both days: $100; Non-members: $125. Thursday only: $80; Friday only $70. College and university students both days: $60.
The symposium fee includes continental breakfasts, buffet lunches, coffee and tea service both days.
Email sfwaforum@outlook.com by Friday, April 20. Space is limited and registration and seating is first come, first serve.
Payment and registration can be made by credit card through our Paypal account: https://www.sfwaf.org/payment/.
Alternatively, you may register by check made out to SFWAF and mailed to us at Santa Fe World Affairs Forum, PO Box 31965, Santa Fe, NM 87594 by April 20 at the latest. Please include your name, names of all registrants and your contact information. Please also email sfwaforum@outlook.com by April 20 if you mail a check.
Note on Paypal special instructions or on your check that this is for the 2026 symposium and also make sure to include first and last names of the registrants.
Payment for this program is nonrefundable after April 20, 2025. We strongly prefer that payment be made by Paypal or check postmarked by April 20, 2026 to facilitate check-in and catering needs. We do not accept cash. If you are mailing a check please also email us at sfwaforum@outlook.com to be sure we know you plan to attend.
Location
SFCC LECTURE HALL RM #216 is in the main Administration building, on the ground (main) floor across the hall from the Planetarium. The college is located at 6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87508. Enter through the building’s West Entrance. Take the elevator or stairs to the main floor, then the corridor to the left. At its end turn right).