Global Challenges to Democracy
Toda Peace Institute Public Conversations
The Toda Peace Institute is an independent, nonpartisan institute committed to advancing a more just and peaceful world through policy-oriented peace research and practice. Founded in 1996, the institute catalyses practical, policy-oriented conversations between theoretical experts, practitioners, policymakers and civil society leaders to discern innovative and creative solutions to the major problems confronting the world in the twenty-first century. These conversations, presentations and seminars are part of that endeavour. The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Toda Peace Institute.
The Trumpian Threat to US Democracy | Stephan Haggard & Robert Kaufman
June 27, 2025
A public conversation on current challenges to democracy, and in particular challenges to democracy in America, with Professors Stephan Haggard and Bob Kaufman, with Kevin Clements and Olivia Stokes Dreier. The last jointly authored book by Professor Haggard and Professor Kaufman was Backsliding: Democratic Regress in the Contemporary World. The primary focus of the conversation is what's happening to democracy in America under the second Trump administration.
The Positive and Negative Consequences of India’s 2024 Election
June 27, 2025
A roundtable discussion with India democracy experts Harsh Mander, Shabnam Hashmi, Deb Roy Chowdhury, Vinod Shetty and Colin Gonsalves, in conversation with Kevin Clements and Olivia Stokes Dreier. The discussion is a reflection on the positive and negative consequences of India’s recent election.
People Power in the Philippines | Ed Garcia
June 27, 2025
A conversation with Ed Garcia, hosted by Toda Peace Institute's Kevin Clements and Olivia Stokes Dreier. Ed Garcia has dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of peace, justice, human rights and democracy. He's been a teacher, a nonviolence advocate and social movement leader, a member of the 1987 Philippines Constitutional Commission, a human rights activist and researcher with Amnesty International, and for the last 20 years a peace worker, mediator, negotiator and peacebuilding advisor.
To Kill a Democracy – India’s Passage to Despotism │ Debasish Roy Chowdhury and John Keane
June 27, 2025
A conversation with Debasish Roy Chowdhury and John Keane, hosted by Toda Peace Institute’s Kevin Clements and Olivia Stokes Dreier. They discuss their book “To Kill A Democracy: India's Passage to Despotism”, their views of India under Prime Minister Modi, and the prospects for Indian democracy.
Swedish Social Democracy and the Rise of the Sweden Democrats │Gina Gustavsson
June 27, 2025
A discussion with Gina Gustavsson (University of Uppsala and Nuffield College Oxford) and Toda’s Kevin Clements and Olivia Stokes Dreier. They discuss the recent electoral success of the Sweden Democratic Party, and what this means for Swedish social democracy and its welfare state.
Rise of the Extreme Right – The New Global Extremism and the Threat to Democracy │Lydia Khalil
June 27, 2025
A discussion with Lydia Khalil (Lowy Institute) and Toda’s Kevin Clements and Olivia Stokes Dreier. They discuss the salient features of right-wing extremism and the structural factors which have led to a huge increase in right-wing extremism since 2016: global Inequality, the New World Order, the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories, environmental degradation and climate change, and global democratic decline.
Backsliding – The subversion of democracies in the 21st Century │Stephan Haggard and Robert Kaufman
June 16, 2025
A discussion with Stephan Haggard (UC San Diego) and Robert Kaufman (Rutgers), authors of “Backsliding: Democratic Regress in the Modern World”, and Toda’s Kevin Clements and Paula Green. They discuss ways that political parties and societies can combat autocratic tendencies: through meeting fundamental needs and delivering public goods, through reform of the political system itself, and through international cooperation that seeks to uphold democratic governance.
On Tyranny – Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century │Timothy Snyder and Nora Krug
June 27, 2025
A discussion with Timothy Snyder (Yale University) and Nora Krug (Parsons School of Design), author and illustrator of “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century”, and Toda’s Kevin Clements and Paula Green. They discuss factors that contribute to the rise of tyranny: a widely felt sense of approaching doom largely caused by climate change, the stupefying inequality of wealth, and social media’s appeal to our lowest instincts.