‘Answering to Us’
Minh Ly, Bertrall Ross
In his new book, Answering to Us: Why Democracy Demands Accountability (Princeton University Press), Minh Ly, a political science professor at the University of Vermont, explores how centering the idea of accountability in how one understands the value of democracy provides people with the resources needed to reckon with anti-democratic forces.
Authoritarians often claim to be democratic because they hold elections that they say represent the will of the people. But if accountability is central to democracy, then people must be able to hold governments responsible for their actions, not only in elections but also in office. Ly shows that doing so requires freedom of the press, freedom to protest, the rule of law and independent courts, and legislative oversight—all of which elected authoritarians threaten. Answering to Us posits that citizens should be empowered to demand accountability and to exercise the duties of oversight over public officials in solidarity with one another.
The conversation is moderated by Karsh Institute Faculty Fellow and University of California, Berkeley, School of Law professor Bertrall Ross.
A limited number of lunches will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11:30 AM. And copies of Ly’s book will be available for purchase.
The Nau Lab's “Touchstones of Democracy” series explores key events, places, thinkers, and texts that inform the history and principles of democracy. The fall 2026 conversations are produced at the University of Virginia by the Karsh Institute of Democracy and the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
Parking:
Parking is not available at Bond House, but you can access Bond House by riding UVA Transit’s Orange Line. If you plan to drive, there is paid parking within walking distance at the Oakhurst Inn and Central Grounds Garage. For additional handicap accessible parking spots, consult the UVA accessibility map.
Speakers
Minh Ly
Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Vermont
Minh Ly
Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Vermont
Minh Ly is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Vermont. He is the author of Answering to Us: Why Democracy Demands Accountability from Princeton University Press. Josiah Ober, the former chair of political science at Stanford, writes, "Answering to Us is a wide ranging and profound exploration of the fundamental value of collective self-government and what it takes to have and keep it. Ly’s original argument for democracy as equal accountability draws on an extraordinary mastery of political history, moral philosophy, and empirical social science." Anna Stilz, distinguished professor at Berkeley, adds, "this powerful book . . . is a must-read for anyone interested in the fate of democracy in our times." Professor Ly’s research and teaching focus on democratic theory, economic justice, and civic education. He was previously a Lecturer at Stanford, a postdoc at Princeton, and earned his PhD from Brown and A.B. from Harvard.
Bertrall Ross
Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
Bertrall Ross
Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
Bertrall Ross is a professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Ross’ research focuses on democratic accountability, responsiveness, and how to better include marginalized communities in political and administrative processes. His past scholarship has been published in several books, law review, and peer-review journals. Two of his articles were selected by the Yale, Harvard, Stanford Junior Faculty Forum.
Ross has been the recipient of the Rutter Award for Teaching Excellence, the Steven M. Polan Fellowship from the Brennan Center for Justice, the Berlin Prize from the American Academy in Berlin, and the Princeton University Public Law and Public Affairs Fellowship. Ross is serving as a senior fellow on the Administrative Conference of the United States and was a member of President Biden’s Commission on the Supreme Court.
Before entering the academy, Ross clerked for the Hon. Dorothy Nelson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Hon. Myron Thompson of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. He has degrees from the University of Colorado, the London School of Economics, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and Yale Law School.