PAST EVENT:
5/15/2025 French & American Perspectives on Democracy
Presented by
Democracy in an Age of Uncertainty:
French and American Perspectives
with
Justice Stephen Breyer & Christiane Taubira
PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS:
French-American Chamber of Commerce - Philadelphia Chapter
Alliance Française de Philadelphie
Thursday, May 15th, 2025
6:15 PM - 7:45 PM
National Constitution Center
Kirby Auditorium
Philadelphia, PA 19106
This Was a Free and Open to All Hybrid Event!
On May 15th, Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, in partnership with the National Constitution Center, hosted the third edition of the Democracy Series.
The Honorable Stephen G. Breyer, retired Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and National Constitution Center Honorary Co-chair, joined Christiane Taubira, former French Justice Minister, for a powerful conversation on democracy, the rule of law, and constitutional traditions from both French and American perspectives.
Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderated.
Meet the Panel:
Moderator: Jeffrey Rosen
President and CEO, National Constitution Center
Jeffrey Rosen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Constitution Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the U.S. Constitution. He hosts We the People, a weekly podcast of constitutional debate.
He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic. He was previously the legal affairs editor of The New Republic and a staff writer for The New Yorker. He is a New York Times bestselling author.
Rosen is a graduate of Harvard College; Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar; and Yale Law School.
Panelist: Christiane Taubira
Former Minister of Justice (2012-2016), Republic of France
Born in Cayenne, French Guiana, Christiane Taubira is a prominent French politician, writer, and former Minister of Justice (2012–2016) for the Republic of France, where she led major reforms, including the legalization of same-sex marriage.
She served in the National Assembly (1993–2012) and the European Parliament (1994–1999). In 2001, she authored the law recognizing slavery as a crime against humanity.
A committed voice for justice and culture, she is also the author of several acclaimed books.
Panelist: Stephen G. Breyer
Former Associate Justice (1994–2022), U.S. Supreme Court
Stephen Breyer is widely acknowledged as one of the leading thinkers in American constitutional law. A comparative law expert, Harvard Law School professor, and author of numerous books, he is known for his pragmatic and humanistic approach to jurisprudence.
As Honorary Co-Chair of the National Constitution Center, he continues to advocate for civic education and democratic dialogue in the United States.
Event Summary
The main idea of the event was that democracy is always evolving. To function well, it requires active participation from citizens, especially young people. It also depends on shared values such as freedom, equality, and mutual respect.
Key Takeaways:
-
The U.S. and France both face similar challenges in maintaining strong democratic systems in diverse societies.
-
Civic education and critical thinking are essential to sustaining democracy.
-
While democracy is not perfect, it can be strengthened through consistent civic engagement.
-
Issues like immigration and social integration are complex and require thoughtful, compassionate solutions.
-
Core democratic values liberty, equality, and unity must be actively practiced, not just discussed.
Photo Gallery
