John will discuss the importance of why both an active and effective police force and active and effective oversight of the police are necessary for a liberal democracy to thrive. John Noakes’ scholarly work focuses on the relationship between the state and political dissent. This includes research on the origins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), FBI surveillance of Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s, and, most recently, on changes in how police respond to political protests. John is an associate professor of Sociology at Arcadia University and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Bard College and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx