Panel discussion organized by the McCain Institute to feature young democracy activists discussing their fight against authoritarianism
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 22, 2024) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) today announced it was selected to appear at the South by Southwest® (SXSW®) 2025 festival in Austin, Texas. The McCain Institute’s proposed panel, “The Next Generation: Youth Leaders Fighting Authoritarianism,” was selected out of more than 4,700 proposals submitted to SXSW®’s PanelPicker® process, which allows members of the public to vote on their preferred programming for the March 2025 event.
McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas will host the conversation with young democracy activists who are alumni of the McCain Global Leaders Program:
- Sunny Cheung, Hong Kong Activist & Associate Fellow, The Jamestown Foundation
- Andrea Villagrán, First Secretary of the Congress of Guatemala
- Takudzwa Ngadziore, Honorable Member, Zimbabwe Parliament
“This remarkable group of young leaders was selected to share their work with SXSW for a reason,” said McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas. “Sunny Cheung, Andrea Villagrán, and Takudzwa Ngadziore are fighting authoritarianism on the front lines in their home countries and sounding the alarm on growing threats to democracy worldwide. The McCain Institute is proud to help give this important conversation a global platform.”
Panelists will discuss the warning signs of authoritarianism and how it can emerge even within established democracies. They will also discuss defying biases regarding their age and perceived “lack of experience,” and how young people are creating new tools and methods to mobilize their communities towards the fight for democracy.
Follow the McCain Institute’s journey to #SXSW2025 on Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. More details to be announced closer to the event, which takes place March 7-15, 2025. Learn more here.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.