The Trump administration is remaking the US political and policy space at a ferocious rate. Their strategies have left slow-moving wonks reeling and comms teams fighting to keep up. Underneath the frantic activity is a deeper fear for DC think tanks: is American democracy in terminal decline? Is the USA becoming a captured state?
DC Wonks, you are not alone—there are think tanks who have been here already.
Through our friends at On Think Tanks (OTT), WonkComms is connected with think tank communicators across the globe—many of them in countries where this has happened before. They’ve learned the lessons about how to communicate in times of democratic decline and they are ready to share. How do we get our message out when state actors or oligarchs capture communications channels? How will we react to polarizing tactics that use fear, disinformation and delegitimization? How do we choose what not to engage with? And how will we respond when attacks get personal?
Enrique Mendizabal, founder of OTT, will lead the conversation, reflecting on lessons from Peru and elsewhere. He will be joined by:
- Sonja Stojanović Gajić, former director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, who will share learnings from Serbia and the Western Balkans;
- María Belén Bonello, director of communications at Fundar, will address recent experiences in Argentina; and
- Amelia Broodryk, communications director at ISS will talk about the experience of state capture in South Africa.
For any questions, please contact John Schwartz. We look forward to seeing you soon!