Understanding Authoritarianism: Why Dictators Get Worse Over Time
Apr 6, 2022
4:30 PM ET via Zoom
Speaker:
Kaushik Basu
Professor of Economics and Carl Marks Professor of International Studies, Cornell University
The rise of authoritarian leaders around the world has given rise to a host of questions about the genesis of the power of such leaders, how they quell dissent and why such leaders often morph into tyrants. We also have examples of political leaders who come to power with genuine interest in doing good and curbing corruption but end up perpetuating the very ills that they wanted to cure. These questions and themes go far back into history but there is a resurgence of interest in them. The aim of this lecture will be to address some these urgent questions of our time by drawing on contemporary methods of analysis. The lecture will also speculate about the scope for creating constitutions and institutions that curb authoritarianism.
Dr. Kaushik Basu, the Carl Marks Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics at Cornell University, will be delivering the Clark Lecture jointly hosted by the School of Policy Studies and Queen’s Economics Department. Dr. Basu is a leading economist with a distinguished career including serving as the Chief Economist of the World Bank from 2012 to 2016, and the President of the International Economic Association from 2017 to 2021, as well as being awarded one of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan, in 2008. He received his PhD and MSc (Econ) from the London School of Economics and his BA (Hons) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. Dr. Basu’s research interests and publication areas include development economics, game theory, welfare economics, industrial organization, and political economy. In some of his recent papers, Dr. Basu has examined how concepts from game theory can be applied to philosophical debates surrounding morality and group behaviour. His most recent book, The Republic of Beliefs: A New Approach to Law and Economics was published by Princeton University Press in 2018. His writings have been published in outlets including The New York Times, Scientific America, India Today, and BBC News Online.
The School of Policy Studies and Queen’s Economics Department are excited to welcome Dr. Basu to deliver the 2022 Clark Lecture, a part of the W. Edmund Clark Distinguished Lecture Series on Public Policy, which was established through a charitable donation from the Clark family. We hope you will join us for Dr. Basu’s distinguished remarks.
