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Image: courtesy of Alexandr Bormotin / unsplash.com

Book launch and panel discussion —

Can democracy safeguard the future?

Online, 20 May 2021, 6-7.30pm

You are cordially invited to join us at this evening event to consider the question: Can Democracy safeguard the future?

The event will mark the launch of the new book by Prof Graham Smith, Chair of the Foundation and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster. In his book Graham asks why democracies repeatedly fail to safeguard the future. He sets out ways of reshaping legislatures and argues that forms of participatory and deliberative politics should be at the centre of the democratic response to protecting the interests of future generations.

The publication comes at a critical time when the policy window may be more than “slightly ajar”. The Foundation is intent on using this moment to contribute to the momentum for change that is evident through such developments as the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in Wales, the proposals led by Lord Bird and Caroline Lucas MP for similar legislation in Westminster and the forms of participatory democracy such as climate assemblies.

The launch event will be an opportunity to engage with Graham and leading activists—including Indra Adnan, Nitasha Kaul and Jonathon Porritt—on these key themes, with the intention to establish workstreams that take the case for change forward and build the momentum needed to force open the policy window.

About the speakers

  • Prof Graham Smith is Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD) in the School of Social Sciences, and chair of the FDSD; he is the author of the book we are launching with this event: ‘Can Democracy Safeguard the Future?’ (Polity, 2021).
  • Indra Adnan is Founder of The Alternative UK, a psycho-social therapist and international consultant on Soft Power. Her most recent bookThe Politics of Waking Up: Power and Possibility in the Fractal Age is out on Perspectiva Press, May 2021.
  • Dr Nitasha Kaul is a novelist, politics & international relations academic, economist, and poet. Links to her books, articles, and public interventions on democracy, political economy, feminist and postcolonial theory, India, Kashmir, and Bhutan are at www.nitashakaul.com
  • Jonathon Porritt is a ‘veteran campaigner’ and eminent writer, broadcaster and commentator on sustainable development. He is a co-founder of Forum for the Future, his most recent book is called Hope in Hell—A decade to confront the climate emergency (Simon & Schuster, 2020).
  • The evening will be chaired by Peter Davies, FDSD trustee, and Wales’ first Sustainable Futures Commissioner. He played a lead role in the development of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act, particularly through leading the national conversation on the Wales we Want.

Links

Participants in the event can receive a 20% discount on “Can Democracy Safeguard the Future”, purchasing direct from Wiley’s website (Discount code: SMI21).

WHERE

Online

WHEN

Thursday, 20 May 2021
6-7.30pm

CONTACT

For enquiries, please email events@cusp.ac.uk.

FURTHER READING

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Capitalism is broken. The relentless pursuit of more has delivered climate catastrophe, social inequality and financial instability—and left us ill prepared for life in a global pandemic. Weaving together philosophical reflection, economic insight and social vision, Tim Jackson’s passionate and provocative book dares us to imagine a world beyond capitalism—a place where relationship and meaning take precedence over profits and power. Post Growth is both a manifesto for system change and an invitation to rekindle a deeper conversation about the nature of the human condition.
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