Demonstration on October 17th, 1905. Ilya Repin. Oil, depicting the celebration of the Tsar’s Manifesto, which granted individual political rights to the people of Russia. 1907. Courtesy/Russian Museum

SFI News:

At the start of the 20th century, only about three percent of the world’s population was subject to democratic rule. By the year 2000, democracy had become the most common political system globally. Universal suffrage, fair elections, and civil liberties were then enjoyed by over half of the world’s people.

Today, democracy is in retreat in many countries, and its future uncertain. Hosted by the Santa Fe Institute, a panel of five scholars will explore what their science has to say about the history, economics, psychology, and politics of democracy, the citizens’ values that it both requires and may promote, and how a renewed expansion and deepening of democracy may be the best way to save it.

The lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 14, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

David Krakauer, president of the Santa Fe Institute, will introduce the panel and moderate the subsequent open discussion. Speakers are:

Jenna Bednar, political scientist at University of Michigan, SFI External Faculty

Samuel Bowles, economist at the Santa Fe Institute

Hahrie Han, political scientist at Johns Hopkins University

Katrin Schmelz, behavioral economist and psychologist at the Santa Fe Institute