Events Calendar

Jill Locke is assistant professor of political science at Gustavus Adolphus College. Much of her work on the relationship between American values and the institution of marriage has focused on Alexis de Tocqueville's observations about the unique relationship between marriage and American democracy in the early 19th century. Tocqueville saw the hierarchical nature of Americans' marriages as necessary checks on the potential disorderliness of democratic egalitarianism. Democracy could only work, in Tocqueville's view, if some institutions were not wholly democratic.

Dr. Locke will address the extent to which a Tocquevillean understanding of marriage explains and fails to explain current efforts to link marriage and democratic citizenship and will include a discussion of Americans' distinctive commitment to marriage and what is at stake in current (and simultaneous) efforts to promote marriage among heterosexuals, limit it from gays and lesbians, and secure rights for same-sex couples who wish to marry.

Her lecture is co-sponsored by the History/Politics class on Alexis de Tocqueville.

The University Convocation series is facilitated through the Office of the Chaplain and planned by the students of IDS 202 (Convo: Campus/Community/Cosmos).Funding is provided by the Associated Students of Willamette University.