Putney debates 2023: Democracy in crisis

Putney Debates 2023: Democracy in Crisis?

Putney Debates 2023 examined claims that democracy is in trouble and in danger of collapsing. The Debates comprised five lectures – an opening lecture, a closing lecture and three regional lectures – and three panel sessions, held from 9 to 11 May 2023.  

The opening lecture was delivered by Richard Clary from Harvard Law School and the closing lecture by Malcolm Turnbull, former Prime Minister of Australia. The regional lectures examined the democracy in Africa, India and South America. 

Three panel sessions, attended by scholars around the world, discussed the leadership in democracy, institutions of government, and electoral systems and political parties.

About Putney Debates 2023

The Putney Debates constitute an annual forum for discussion of a constitutional matter in a form accessible to the people.
 
The purpose of Putney Debates 2023 was to examine claims, much announced and seemingly widely shared, that democracy is in trouble and in danger of collapsing, not only in the more fragile and unstable nations, but in its ancient home grounds, including the United Kingdom and the United States.  
 

The aims of the debates were (i) to examine critically the claims of democracy being in crisis, with reference to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, Europe generally, and the United States of America, (ii) followed by a review of the situation in Africa, India, and South America.