The election of Barack Obama - the end of an era?

'Change' was the keyword in the 2008 presidential election, but just how profoundly did the election change the political landscape in the United States? Did the election of Barack Obama in fact signal the end of a conservative era that began almost three decades ago with the election of Ronald Reagan? The four panelists, Ray Haberski, Carl Pedersen, Edward Ashbee and Niels Bjerre-Poulsen, have very different approaches to these questions. Join us for a lively discussion!

The Panelists:

Ray Haberski is visiting Fulbright Chair in American Studies at the Center for the Study of the Americas for 2008-2009. Ray’s primary research areas are U.S. Cultural and intellectual history, U.S. Movie culture, U.S. Religion and society, U.S. Religion and political ideologies, and Current trends in U.S. culture, society and politics. His most recent book is The Miracle Case: Film Censorship and the Supreme Court (2008).

Carl Pedersen is an Adjunct Professor at the Center for the Study of the Americas, CBS. Carl Pedersen's research ranges widely, from African-American studies to US politics and society and Caribbean history. His latest book is Barack Obama: Bending the Arc of History (2009)

Niels Bjerre-Poulsen is an Associate Professor at CBS and Center Director of the Center for the Study of the Americas. His primary fields of research are American political culture, US history and foreign policy, and the development of the American presidency in particular.

Edward Ashbee is an Associate Professor at the Center of the Study of the Americas, CBS. He has written extensively about US politics and society. His publications include studies of elections, court rulings, and George W. Bush's presidency. More recently, Ashbee has written about contemporary attitudes and opinions and the differences between the US and Europe.