Christopher Beem (PhD, University of Chicago) is Managing Director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. He is the author or co-editor of five books, including The Necessity of Politics (University of Chicago Press). His latest book, Democratic Humility: Reinhold Niebuhr, Neuroscience and America’s Political Crisis (Lexington Books, 2015) argues that democracy requires a specific kind of humility to counter our natural inclination to self-delusion and self-righteousness. He holds a BA in the Program of Liberal Studies (Great Books) from the University of Notre Dame, has an MA in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago and an MA and PhD in Ethics and Society from the University of Chicago.