NEW DELHI, September 17, 2026– Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), University of Delhi, hosted Fulbright Scholar Prof. Stephen J. Farnsworth for a public lecture on “The US Political System at 250: The Evolving Vision of Freedom in a Changing America” on Thursday, drawing students and faculty to examine the evolving vision of freedom in American democracy. Held at the Manju Bharat Ram Hall in collaboration with the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), the lecture marked a key moment in Professor Farnsworth’s two-week Fulbright engagement with LSR (September 9–21, 2026), which has included workshops, roundtables and research sessions on political communication, media and misinformation.
As the United States approaches 250 years of independence, questions about freedom, democracy and the changing nature of political communication have gained renewed salience. The session brought together students and faculty to trace the evolution of the American political system and the shifting relationship between political institutions, citizens, public opinion and the media. The lecture was chaired by Prof. Rekha Saxena, Senior Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi. Professor Emeritus Stephen J. Farnsworth is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington and founding director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies. A scholar of the American presidency, political communication and media and politics, his work examines presidential communication, White House news management, political messaging and the role of media in public life.
“Freedom is at the very core of our ethos,” said Prof. Kanika K. Ahuja, Principal, Lady Shri Ram College for Women. “As the United States marks 250 years of independence and LSR celebrates 70 years, this is a timely moment to reflect on how freedom evolves across generations. While America’s journey has been shaped by an evolving vision of freedom, LSR’s seven-decade journey has been about putting that freedom to work—in classrooms, on campuses, and in the lives of generations of women. For us, freedom is not simply an idea; it is a commitment to learning, questioning, and engaging meaningfully with the world.”
The lecture formed part of an extended Fulbright residency that has included a two-day workshop, “Information in Crisis: Navigating Misinformation & Disinformation,” focusing on the challenges created by the rapid circulation of information and the importance of critical engagement with contemporary information environments. The programme also featured a roundtable on political humour as a form of commentary, criticism and public engagement, and a session with research students on “Researching Political Communication,” which enabled students to discuss approaches to studying political messages, media and public opinion.
Together, these engagements allowed students and faculty to examine political communication across different contexts and to connect questions of freedom and democracy with contemporary concerns surrounding media, misinformation, political discourse and public participation. The visit reflects LSR’s commitment to international academic exchange and to connecting classroom learning with contemporary public issues.
