Institute for Freedom and Community

Dialogue that Opens Minds

The Institute for Freedom & Community encourages free inquiry and meaningful debate of important political and social issues. By exploring diverse ideas about politics, markets, and society, The Institute aims to challenge presuppositions, question easy answers, and foster constructive dialogue among those with differing values and contending points of view. Established at St. Olaf College in 2014, The Institute offers a distinctive opportunity to cultivate civil discourse within a liberal arts setting.

Upcoming: Fall 2025 Speaker Series – Strengthening Democracy

Fall 2025 Events

Speakers for the Institute for Freedom and Community's fall lecture series include (clockwise, from top left) Brooklyn College Distinguished Professor of Political Science Corey Robin; Saikrishna Prakash, the James Monroe Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Virginia Law School; University of Miami Assistant Professor Political Science Matt Nelsen '12; Steven Levitsky, the David Rockefeller Professor of Latin American Studies and Professor of Government at Harvard University; and Johns Hopkins University Professor of Political Science Hahrie Han.

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