Colloquium, January 18, 2024, 2-4pm – Fellows & External Fellows Only – in-person only

Topic: “The rise of authoritarian governments.”

Organizers: Phil Sullivan

All colloquia will be held at the Senior College Centre. Masks are advised.  Fellows & External Fellows only.

1)  Review of Twilight of Democracy  by Anne Applebaum. Following Julian Benda’s book  la Trahison des Clercs (i.e Intellectuals) she discusses intellectuals’ evolution from supporters of democracy to proponents of authoritarianism.   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_of_Democracy.

2) Intriguing results from a test devised by a Canadian-American psychologist to identify individuals who are “submissive to their authority figures. Note table describing prevalence among adults in Western countries.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_authoritarian_personality

3) Young voters disconnecting from democracy. See  2020 commentary out of Cambridge University (attached) and article from US political journal  The Hill:  https://thehill.com/opinion/education/4302113-young-americans-are-losing-faith-in-democracy-educators-must-act-now/U

4)  Reviews of How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (2018): Summary and review in Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Democracies_Die . Also more penetrating review in The Guardian 9Jan (24, 2018); attached and underlined.

5) Understanding democratic decline in the United States A Brookings Institution very detailed analysis. Its Conclusion sums it up. I read that first. and then  read other parts.  https://www.brookings.edu/articles/understanding-democratic-decline-in-the-united-states/

6 and 7) The Economist’s takes on the crucial role of the media in the forthcoming  2024 US election, and on the intolerance of the   Illiberal Left (  links below)

8)  “And now for something completely different..” {after Monty Python?}  Article by Canadian Journalist from Al-Jazeera showing Canadian democracy in an unflattering light. (link below)

Young_Voters_Cambridge

Media_Role_Economist_16_12_23

Canadian_Democracy_at_work

Democracies_Die_Guardian

Illiberal_left-4-09-21

The lunch is 12:30pm at MIDI Bistro, 168 McCaul St., Toronto, ON, M5T 1W4 (NB this is on McCaul, just south of Baldwin)

The colloquium is at 2pm at the Senior College Centre, 256 McCaul Street in suite 412.  The entrance to the floor is locked so Giuliana will unlock it and prop it open. Only those registered will be at the Centre.