The Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series hosts Drs. Michelle Williams and Jacob Shively, as they present, “Radicalism, ISIS and National Security,†on March 31. The lecture will take place at the Museum of Commerce on 201 E. Zaragoza St. in downtown Pensacola. The series is free and open to the public, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and the lecture at 6 p.m.
Williams and Shively are both professors in the Department of Government at the University of West Florida. After a few opening remarks, the pair will engage in a town hall-style discussion about the nature of radicalism, the growth and threat of ISIS and the challenges of radical politics for national security.
An expert in far-right and extremist parties, Williams will share insights about the appeal of groups like ISIS. Shively’s research focuses on U.S. foreign policy and national security strategies. He will outline ISIS’ evolution and current prospects as well as challenges the United States government, and its partners, face in addressing ISIS’ movements.
Williams serves as the University of West Florida Department of Government chair, director of the international studies program and professor of political science. Her courses focus on world elections, parties and politics, democracy and democratization, radicalism and extremism in politics, race and ethnicity, international relations, and social science research methods. Her research interests include far-right parties, nationalism and ethnic politics, political parties and party systems, political institutions, European politics, and scholarship of teaching and learning with emphasis on information literacy. In addition to several published works, Williams has authored two books, “The Multicultural Dilemma: Migration, Ethnic Politics and State Intermediation†and “The Impact of Radical Right-wing Parties in West European Democracies.†She received a bachelor’s degree in political science and English from Wake Forest University, a master’s in political science from Villanova University, and a doctorate in comparative politics and international relations from the University of Colorado.
Shively’s research and instruction focuses on international relations, with a current emphasis on U.S. foreign policy, security issues and grand strategy. He serves as an assistant professor in the government department and the faculty advisor for the World Affairs and Model United Nations organizations at UWF. Shively teaches international politics, causes of war, American foreign policy, religion and international politics, and the international relations seminar. Currently, he has a book manuscript under review, entitled “Hope, Change, Realism: Analyzing Obama’s Grand Strategy.†Shively received a bachelor’s in political science, with a minor in Spanish history, from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and a doctorate in political science from Indiana University.
Williams and Shively are the third installment in the four-part Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series. The series promotes the value of liberal arts in contemporary life by showcasing outstanding teacher scholars who serve the community as UWF faculty, as well as scholars of national prominence who illustrate the essential role of the liberal arts in building and sustaining contemporary culture.
The final lecture, “Creativity and Connection: The Humanism of Technology,†will take place on April 21, featuring Grammy-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. For more information, visit the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series website.
