Amidst the surge of global authoritarianism, how do we protect the freedom of speech and the freedom of dissent that is crucial for democracy? What is the role of global financial institutions and regimes in the crackdown on dissent in faraway places? What role do international human rights organisations, cultural spaces and educational institutions have in protecting the spaces of democracy globally?
In this event, we examine the persecution of writers, academics, journalists and artists across the globe, and question the unwitting role of international financial regimes and reflect on how we might cultivate international solidarity and carve out vital spaces of hope in these globally challenging times.
Meet our speakers and chair
Ross Holder (@H0R0) is Head of the Asia/ Pacific Region at PEN International, which is recognised as the world's foremost association of writers and as a leading expert on the right to freedom of expression. Ross is responsible for advancing PEN International’s work to address freedom of expression violations in the Asia/ Pacific region through research, advocacy and campaigning.
Alpa Shah (@alpashah001) is Professor of Anthropology at LSE and author of the new book, The Incarcerations: BK-16 and the search for democracy in India. Her previous book, Nightmarch, was finalist Orwell Prize for Political Writing, New Statesman Book of the Year, finalist New India Foundation Book Prize, longlisted Tata Literature Live Non-Fiction Award, winner Association for Political and Legal Anthropology Book Prize.
Salman Usmani is an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity and a writer, editor, and digital communications specialist. Over the last 14 years, he has worked in journalism and development communications; often using data and artificial intelligence to trace and document intersectional inequalities across themes ranging from climate change and public health to discriminatory legislation and growing religious persecution.
Ayça Çubukçu (@ayca_cu) is Associate Professor in Human Rights and Co-Director of LSE Human Rights at LSE. She is the author of For the Love of Humanity: the World Tribunal on Iraq, and of numerous articles on social, legal, and political theory which explore the themes of humanity, violence, internationalism, racism, and solidarity. She co-edits the journal Humanity and the LSE International Studies series at Cambridge University Press.
More about this event
This event is part of the LSE Festival: Power and Politics running from Monday 10 to Saturday 15 June 2024, with a series of events exploring how power and politics shape our world. Booking for all Festival events will open on Monday 13 May.
The LSE International Inequalities Institute (@LSEInequalities) brings together experts from many of the School's departments and centres to lead cutting-edge research focused on understanding why inequalities are escalating in numerous arenas across the world, and to develop critical tools to address these challenges.
Hashtag for this event: #LSEFestival
Podcast & Video
A podcast of this event is available to download from Defending democracy: building solidarity with persecuted writers, journalists, and artists.
A video of this event is available to watch at Defending democracy: building solidarity with persecuted writers, journalists, and artists.
Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.