U.S. Democracy in Crisis: How we got here and what we can do about it - A Talk with Colin Woodard

York Public Library is pleased to present our 3rd Annual Bancroft Lecture Series event: U.S. Democracy in Crisis: How we got here and what we can do about it with Colin Woodard.  

The United States is facing a period of significant political transformation that many view as a test of the nation's democratic foundations. Woodard reveals America's structural and historical vulnerabilities that enabled this shift, the role of regional cultures in enabling it, and how a shared national purpose can play a decisive role in turning the tide.

Colin Woodard is a New York Times bestselling historian and Polk Award-winning journalist recognized as one of the most respected authorities on North American regionalism, U.S. nationhood, and how America's colonial past shapes its present and future. Known for his dynamic and thought-provoking insights, he has authored six books, including American Nations, a Wall Street Journal bestseller analyzing the U.S. through eleven distinct regional cultures; The Republic of Pirates, a New York Times bestseller adapted into an NBC series; and Union: The Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood, which explores the creation of the American national myth.

A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Woodard has an extensive journalistic career, having reported from over 50 countries across seven continents. He won a George Polk Award, was Maine Journalist of the Year (2014), and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Explanatory Reporting (2016). His work has appeared in major outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, and on CNN and NPR. 

Woodard currently directs the Nationhood Lab at the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University, an interdisciplinary research, writing, testing and dissemination project focused on threats to American democracy.

The talk will be followed by a book signing. Our favorite indie bookseller, Booktenders, will be on site with copies of his books for sale.

This talk will be held in the Library's Upper Level and a reception will follow.  The event is free and open to the public. Registration is mandatory. 

THIS EVENT HAS LIMITED SEATING. Up to two people may be registered using the registration form. Additional registrations must be completed in a separate form. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration so that a waitlisted individual may attend. 

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⚠️ REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS FULL; JOIN THE WAITLIST TO BE SENT A LINK FOR THE LIVESTREAM or view the broadcast on YouTube here.

A recording of the event will be viewable on the Library's YouTube channel for 90 days (until December 18, 2025). 

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THIS PROGRAM is funded by The Dan Bancroft Memorial Endowment for Civic Leadership and Engagement at York Public Library. The endowment was established in memory of Dan Bancroft, who served as president of the YPLA Board of Trustees from 2021 to 2023. Through his engagement in the York community as a dedicated volunteer and outstanding leader, as well as his gift for connecting with people, Dan left an enduring impact on our town. With this fund, the Library has chosen to honor Dan as a remarkable exemplar of the power of a single person to make a real difference in the community. Contribute to the fund here.