Philip Gordon on Global Democracy: Challenges and Future

Philip Gordon’s Keynote Address at the Spring Symposium: The Current State and Future of Democracy Worldwide

The Clough Center’s Spring Symposium featured a keynote by Philip H. Gordon, addressing the global crisis in democracy. He highlighted the rise of populist leaders and their impact on constitutional politics, linking the erosion of democracy to income inequality, which prioritizes economic issues over democratic engagement. The address is available on YouTube.

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The Clough Center’s Spring Symposium concluded with a keynote address by Philip H. Gordon, who gave a speech on the current state and future of democracy worldwide. Dr. Gordon explored the recent shifts in global democracy, such as the rise of populist leaders who have called into question constitutional politics worldwide. He linked the current erosion of democracy with income inequality, which he said makes democracy a secondary priority to many people. You can watch Philip Gordon’s keynote address on the Clough Center’s YouTube channel via the link below.

Philip H. Gordon, Clough Center’s Spring Symposium 2025
“I think it would be fair to say the state of democracy worldwide is in a serious crisis after rising steadily in both numbers of democracies and the quality of democracies around the world”, Philip H. Gordon, Clough Center’s Spring Symposium 2025
Left to Right: Jonathan Laurence (Clough Center Director), Philip H. Gordon, Clough Center’s Spring Symposium 2025