The Global Recession of Democracy

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM EDT
Johnson Center Cinema

Dr. Larry Diamond
Professor of Sociology and Political Science at Standford University
Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution
Co-Editor of the Journal of Democracy

Over the first quarter-century of the "third wave" of democratization, beginning in 1974, the number of democracies in the world tripled and levels of freedom in the world expanded dramatically. Since 1999, however, beginning with the breakdown of civilian constitutional rule in Pakistan late that year, there has been a sharp acceleration in the number of breakdowns of democracies, and more recently the world has been slipping into a democratic recession. In the last three years, levels of freedom have declined, democracy has lost global momentum, and China has increasingly emerged as a potential rival model of a regime that is seen as worthy of emulation. This lecture will document the signs of democratic recession in the world, explore the causes for this worrisome trend, and suggest some policy responses to shore up uncertain democracies and revive global democratic progress.

Refreshments will be served prior to the event.

Hosted by The George Mason Graduate Political Science Society.