We’ll talk about the value of a nonpartisan,  professional civil service in sustaining a functioning democracy. We'll cover the struggle to depoliticize the civil service going back to the end of the nineteenth century and bringing it up to date. We're now seeing the ranks of civil servants slashed, with some positions converted into political appointments.  Where is this heading? What are the risks? If the "deep state" consists of well educated professionals, are they the natural enemy of autocrats? How is it playing out in this moment? And how is it playing out in Maine?

Special guests:

• Ryan LaRochelle, Senior Lecturer at the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service at the University of Maine 

• Rob Shriver, Managing Director of the Civil Service Strong and Good Government Initiatives at Democracy Forward

Learn more about the Democracy Forum here.

Tune into the broadcast at 4:00 p.m., Friday, June 19, on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, streaming at weru.org. If you miss the broadcast, check back here for the audio archive. Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes | Spotify | Android.