Rethinking the rules of political representation | Taming polarization: Reforming the American federal republic conference

On the 16th and 17th of October 2026 the LSE Phelan US Centre hosted the conference Taming polarization: Reforming the American federal republic. The conference brought together historians, political scientists, geographers, legal scholars, analysts, and practitioners from the US, EU, and the UK to consider the role of federalism in fuelling polarization in the US and how federalism may be leveraged to tame it. Adopting a comparative and historical perspective, the conference featured frank, sustained discussion of critical issues such as state autonomy, political representation, and fiscal equalization.

On Saturday 17 October, the conference held the panel session, "Rethinking the rules of political representation". Long-running changes in America’s electoral geography have amplified differences over federal and state power on matters of policy. Recent changes in campaign financing and electoral procedures have raised the stakes. Struggles over political representation are now acute. This panel discussion considered the possibilities for changing the rules of representation.

The session featured Professor Ilya Somin of George Mason University, Professor Jenna Bednar, of the University of Michigan and Professor Jonathan Rodden of Stanford University. The session was chaired by Nicola Lacey, School Professor of Law, Gender and Social Policy at LSE

This recording also features conference closing remarks from Peter Trubowitz, Director of the LSE Phelan US Centre and Professor of International Relations at LSE.

For more information about the Taming polarization: Reforming the American federal republic conference, including recordings from the other panel sessions, please see the conference website.

This event recording was produced by Chris Gilson and Avan Fata.