Restoring Civic Trust: A Fireside Chat with Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Shrinking trust in institutions, weakening civic participation and intensifying polarization are destabilizing advanced democracies worldwide. As the social norms that unite communities erode, so too does confidence in government.

The Right Honorable Gordon Brown, former prime minister of the United Kingdom and chair of the new Center for Civic Society at the USC Schaeffer Institute, will discuss emerging research that identifies practical, evidence-based strategies for restoring civic life and strengthening democratic values in this conversation with USC Provost Andrew Guzman. Brown, who is also the Ronald L. Steel Chair in Foreign Policy and International Affairs, will draw on lessons from his career in public service to reflect on how policymakers and civic institutions can bridge political, social and ideological divides to foster common ground.

Program

10:30am	Check-in and Refreshments
10:45am	Opening Remarks Bob Shrum Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
11:00am	Fireside Chat The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Steel Chair, Center for Civic Society, USC Schaeffer Institute In conversation with:  Andrew Guzman Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, USC Audience Q&A
11:50am	Closing Remarks Dana Goldman Founding Director, USC Schaeffer Institute

About the Center for Civic Society

Established in 2025, the Center for Civic Society works to assess, strengthen and promote democratic values around the world through research, civic engagement and global dialogue. The Center is led by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who also holds the Ronald L. Steel Chair in Foreign Policy and International Affairs, and unites scholars from across USC to identify the roots of polarization, address complex societal challenges, conduct rigorous analysis and develop actionable solutions. It is a flagship program of the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service.

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