Tocqueville Conversations

Gabby Bashizi (AUP ’24, History, Law, and Society)

Walking up to this historic chateau under windy grey skies on Friday morning was a surreal moment. A conversation with fellow attendees revealed a shared sense of awe at the ground we were setting our feet upon. The setting of these conversationsserved only to magnify the discussions we were able to bear witness to on numerous panels and interviews throughout the two days the conference spanned. It was amazing to get to be in the presence of such knowledgeable professionals, political actors, professors, and people who were likewise invited to attend. I particularly enjoyed a discussion about national identity during crisis, and how Ukraine has managed to pull together stronger than ever during turbulent times. This phenomenon was compared to France's own political and historical landscape; panelists highlighted the importance of education in forming national identity. I found the arguments made very compelling; however, the conference also demonstrated the importance of respectful discourse. It was equally as fruitful to see questions posed to panelists and discussions between them that challenged ideas presented in a mindful way. Lastly, the conference was important, for me, not only for the panel discussions, but also for the opportunity to speak with and get to know some of the people in attendance. On the first day, we had the honor of being joined for lunch by an ex-ambassador to the United States, a US Vice-Admiral, and the CEO of Total Energies. The conversation we had during that meal was one of the more memorable ones we had over the two days, and I really value everything I learned from them. The Tocqueville Conversations were truly an educational experience that I will treasure as I continue to study the themes presented at this event.

Cross Lawrence (AUP ’24, History)

The Tocqueville Conversations was an infinitely valuable experience. It is nearly impossible as a student, let alone an undergraduate, to rub shoulders with such influential, important, and insightful people at one point. The conversations I had while at the event were not only stimulating but were also invaluable in furthering understanding and establishing vital links for careers through networking. Not to mention, the location of the event, how it was managed and the services provided were very much beyond expectations. Overall, I had a lovely time, and thanks once again for offering me this great opportunity.

Mallory Boyd (AUP ’23, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; Psychology)

Upon arriving at the Château in the morning, we were welcomed with a lovely spread of breakfast, juice, and coffee so we could fuel up before entering the tent to listen to the line-up of speakers, roundtable discussions, and Q&A panels. We ate lunch outside on the castle grounds, and got to talk with other conference attendees. Dominic, Jennifer and I made friends with some of the students from the Collège d'Europe, and really enjoyed chatting with them between speakers. While it was exceptionally hot outside, I was able to take rests inside the châteauduring the day. At one point when I was joined by a group of attendees, we were offered an impromptu, private tour of the château. We were even allowed inside of Tocqueville's personal library and study, which was just so incredibly cool to see. 

This conference was also a great means of networking with politicians, economists, journalists, and activists in a uniquely beautiful setting. The conference line-up was quite impressive, too. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to pose questions to the speakers and panelists, as it opened up the conversation to the audience and allowed us to respond in real-time to the discussions being had on stage. It was also great seeing how many of the younger attendees were able to ask questions, especially since our little group of students usually carried on with our discussions over lunch! I would also commend the conference for having live translation of the speakers on stage, as it made the conference accessible to all those attending and watching from the livestream! I learned so much about the ongoing Russian conflict in Ukraine (I especially appreciated the roundtable discussions between Ukrainian activists and journalists highlighting their own experiences and testimonies), and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Château de Tocqueville and downtown Cherbourg.

Jennifer Shoemaker (AUP ’24, International and Comparative Politics)

I really enjoyed attending the Tocqueville Conversations, it gave me the opportunity to hear about the ongoing Russia/Ukraine War from philosophical, historical, military, and economic perspectives. As someone with a family background in both Russia and Ukraine, I think it is important to mix personal and academic perspectives when understanding world events and conflicts. The conference was well organized and gave me an opportunity to meet people that are professionals, researchers, and students. The panel conversations were always intriguing and showed a wide range of opinions and experiences. The Chateau had beautiful grounds, and Cherbourg was a nice town to stay in with great seafood and cute streets. I would really recommend attending the conference, and I would attend the conference again as I had a great time.