What happens after democracies weaken, and what can citizens do about it? Barbara F. Walter, the New York Times bestselling author of “How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them,” will discuss the dangers of life inside a partial democracy — rising extremism, instability and violence — and the ways in which ordinary people can resist.
Walter, a professor of political science at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, will share insights from her new research on the effects of democratic decline and what history teaches us about survival and recovery.
Caroline Freund, dean of the School of Global Policy and Strategy, will moderate the event.
This lecture series was generously established by the Bonkowsky family at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy in 2023 in honor of Dr. Elizabeth Leitch Bonkowsky. The series promotes public understanding and advocacy of democratic and human rights work across the globe.
Registration is required to attend the event. The registration deadline is 12 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2025. On-site registration will not be available. If you have any trouble registering yourself or a guest, please contact April Hickman.
