The Global Democracy Recession: Can it be Reversed?

A TALK WITH CARL GERSHMAN

Wed, May 3, 2017 – 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Johnson/Kaplan Lecture Hall (#404), 66 West 12th St, NY

Three decades after the historic “third wave” of democratization, global democracy is in retreat and authoritarianism has made alarming gains. Can the momentum of global democratization be revived?

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Carl Gershman is the president of the Washington DC-based National Endowment for Democracy, an institution with the mission to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through non-governmental efforts. The World Movement for Democracy, which was founded under his leadership in India in 1999, held its fifth global assembly in Kyiv in 2008. Prior to assuming the position with the Endowment, Mr. Gershman was Senior Counselor to the United States Representative to the United Nation. Mr. Gershman has lectured extensively and written articles and reviews on foreign policy issues for leading international publications, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His work in advancing democracy has been recognized worldwide and on behalf of NED, he has accepted awards from the governments of Poland, Romania, Korea, Lithuania and from numerous NGOs internationally. A frequent visitor to Ukraine, he most recently traveled there in April 2015. Born in New York City in 1943, he received his undergraduate degree from Yale University in 1965 and M.Ed. from Harvard University in 1968.

Opening and Welcome:

David Van Zandt
President of The New School

Discussants:

Jeffrey C. Goldfarb
Michael E. Gellert Professor
Department of Sociology, New School for Social Research

Sukhadeo Thorat
Chairman
Indian Council of Social Science Research Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Sanjay Ruparelia
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Politics, New School for Social Research