For months, the conversations happened through a computer screen—thoughtful discussions about authoritarianism, democratic resilience, ethics, and the fragility of institutions. In May, four School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) master's students boarded a plane to Windsor, England, to finish the conversation in person. 
The trip marked the culmination of the working group "Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism," a yearlong virtual exchange program that brought six SPIA students together with graduate students and fellows from Cumberland Lodge and the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom. A collaboration between the UK institutions and SPIA’s Matthew B. Ridgway Center for International Security Studies and Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership, the program gave participants a structured space to examine how democracies hold against authoritarian pressure—as well as what happens when they fail.
SPIA students John DeWire, Carly Dunning, Mariam Moaz, and Hannah Shiflett traveled with Johnson Institute Director Julia Santucci to Cumberland Lodge, a historic royal estate in Windsor Great Park that has been held by the royal family for 375 years. Between sessions, which included final policy presentations alongside their UK counterparts, discussions with leading British academics on democratic governance, and a workshop on civil dialogue across difference, students had time to explore the sprawling estate, an unexpectedly fitting backdrop for conversations about the long arc of democratic institutions. The group ended the trip with a few days in London for meetings with British officials and civil society representatives.
“I was thrilled to hear that we had the opportunity to travel abroad to present our projects on democracy and authoritarianism and finally meet each other in person,” Moaz said about the trip. “Collaborating with our UK peers, some of whom are international students, was incredibly insightful. It allowed us to better understand their perspectives on the US government while also learning about the challenges they face within their own governmental institutions."
For Moaz, the decision to join the working group was an easy one. The program's themes complemented the American Democracy Scholar certificate she earned as an undergrad at Pitt-Johnstown, but her interest grew from something more personal, as well.
"Having family living under authoritarian rule overseas allowed me to recognize similarities between their country and the US, particularly in relation to concerns about the erosion of civil rights," she said. "The experience highlighted how rights and freedoms are often taken for granted until they become threatened or restricted."
Over the course of the year, the group dug into questions at the center of contemporary democratic politics — among them, how competitive authoritarianism takes hold, what ethical leadership demands of public servants, and how trust between citizens and institutions can be rebuilt once broken. The monthly sessions focused on case studies drawn from countries that had lived through authoritarian rule, those still navigating that trajectory, and those that had maintained stable democratic institutions over time. 
As the year came to a close, participants were divided into three cross-institutional groups to research and present a final project. Moaz and her team examined the media's role in shaping how governmental institutions operate and how misinformation and disinformation can be weaponized to erode public trust.
"What set the working group apart from others in SPIA was the opportunity to collaborate with peers internationally and engage in research and discussion beyond the university setting," said Moaz. "This experience placed a strong emphasis on international affairs and provided us as SPIA students with a broader, more globally informed perspective."
Santucci said she hopes this year's program is the first of many. "We are definitely planning to collaborate with Cumberland Lodge and the University of Northampton again next year," she said. "Our goal is to bring our students back to the United Kingdom and continue to build upon this partnership in person."
Learn more about SPIA's research centers and find ways to get involved in initiatives like the Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism working group here.