More than 200 years into the modern experiment with democratic forms of rule, democratic aspirations continue to founder on the rocks of racial and ethnic hierarchies and other patterns of domination constructed on social categorizations of difference. In the case of the U.S., African American disadvantage continues to be entrenched fifty years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 transformed the legal landscape; Latino disadvantage has also emerged as a pressing problem, as has a low level of political engagement among Asian Americans. In Europe, we are witnessing the resurgence of the far-right, in response to dramatic demographic diversification, occurring simultaneously with economic instability. Civil war related to ethnic violence has devastated many African countries in recent years. India has the world's largest affirmative action program and yet to cross caste and religious lines in marriage is to open oneself and one's family to abuse and often murder by the locally dominant. These are just a small set of examples of the hard problems that currently define the political and ethical landscape of democracy in contexts of diversity.

The question of how to achieve fair and just forms of democratic life in conditions of significant demographic diversity must be tackled afresh, from the ground up. Importantly, pursuing answers to this question requires united normative and positive, or ethical and empirical, forms of expertise, through multi-disciplinary partnership. The ethics of diversity also intersect with important work in all of the professional schools. Conversations around this theme that unite faculty in the arts and sciences with faculty in the professional schools would be productive. And, of course, issues pertaining to the ethics of diversity constantly generate tensions for university campuses themselves. The theme should provide a context for advancing a research-based understanding of how college campuses too can do better at the ethics of diversity.

All Fellows in residence will be expected to devote the majority of their time to their individual research projects and to participate in regular work-in-progress seminars. In addition, Fellows whose work intersects most directly with the annual theme will be invited to participate in the thematic components of the Center's programming, which will consist of public lectures, conferences, and workshops.

A broad range of researchers is invited to submit proposals to become residential Fellows. Tenured and untenured faculty are invited to participate. Postdoctoral applications are eagerly encouraged, as well as proposals from researchers in industry, government, or NGOs seeking sabbatical time to pursue research directly relevant to ethical issues. Applicants from any discipline or professional field will be considered. Each applicant should propose an individual research and/or writing project. Applicants must have a PhD, professional degree, or equivalent professional experience.

The deadline date for receipt of applications for projects beginning September 2015 is