Luca Grillo and the Medieval Institute will conduct a project on "Religion, Power, Democracy: The Deep Roots of the Modern Paradigm," which will investigate the 11th-12th century revolution sparked by the Investiture Controversy, which reevaluated democracy and influenced the formation of modern states. Through two interdisciplinary workshops in 2025 and 2026, Notre Dame scholars will explore the cultural, political, and theological conditions of this transformation and its impact on modern statehood. The initiative will feature Prof. Marco Rainini, a leading expert on the era, who will deliver preparatory lectures and participate in the workshops, engaging faculty and students across disciplines.
Notre Dame publicly launched its University-wide Democracy Initiative in April 2024, followed by May's inaugural Global Democracy Conference, hosted by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, and the second annual Keeping The Republic conference (focused on democracy in the U.S.), hosted by the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy.
After a University-wide call for Democracy Catalyst Funding proposals, in November the Initiative awarded funding to 40 research, education, and convening projects led by 70 scholars representing colleges, schools, centers, and institutes across campus and across the disciplines.