The University of Southern Maine Forum on American Democracy series will continue on February 4 with a discussion on pluralism – this time focusing on how it influences civic life in a local context.
Following broader conversations with Eboo Patel and Raj Vinnakota, this forum will feature a panel of USM faculty who will explore how difference, disagreement and democratic participation manifest at the local level. The panel, titled A Perspective on Pluralism in Southern Maine, will include Dr. Ron Schmidt (political science), Dr. David Kasdan (sustainable public policy), Dr. Michelle Vázquez Jacobus (social and behavioral sciences), and Dr. Adam Schmitt (history and education).
While pluralism is often discussed in national or theoretical terms, this panel will ground the concept in lived experience and everyday civic life.
“We live in a diverse society,” Schmitt said. “People think about the issues that bind us together in different ways.”
For Schmitt, pluralism means more than simply acknowledging those differences. It requires engaging multiple perspectives in meaningful ways and allowing them to shape shared understanding and decision-making.
The conversation will also address the role of disagreement in democratic spaces, particularly within public institutions like universities.
“We need differences of opinion in order to try to address the thorny issues in our society,” Jacobus said. “Pluralism is integrating the differences of opinion as opposed to just acknowledging them.”
She emphasizes that Southern Maine’s civic culture creates real opportunities for that kind of engagement, where people can show up, speak out and be heard in ways that feel tangible rather than abstract.
Kasdan offers a more skeptical perspective on the language of pluralism itself, encouraging nuance in how the concept is used.
“Pluralism is just the variety of opinions, a multiverse of opinions, even within a single individual,” he said.
Kasdan’s comments point to the complexity of civic identity and the importance of resisting rigid labels that can oversimplify how people understand themselves and one another.
From a political perspective, Schmidt frames pluralism as a defining feature of American democracy and a necessary way of navigating difference.
“We live in a world of plurality and difference,” said Schmidt. “Whether you think pluralism is a great thing or whether you’re worried about it, it’s a fact of life that we need to think about together.”
Southern Maine offers a distinctive setting for this discussion, where civic participation is unusually accessible and residents often expect direct engagement from public leaders and institutions.
The event is designed as an interactive conversation rather than a traditional lecture, with opportunities for audience participation throughout the evening.
EVENT: A Perspective on Pluralism in Southern Maine
WHEN: February 4, 2026, from 5-6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hannaford Hall at the Abromson Community Education Center on the Portland campus.
The event is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required.
The Forum on American Democracy is made possible by the generous support of the Pond Family Foundation.