Former Economist editor to talk about 'The Fate of the West'

Thursday, 04 May 2017

Bill Emmott, a former editor of the Economist, will be talking about ‘The Fate of the West – The Decline and Revival of the World’s Most Successful Political Idea’ at University next week.

Based on a book he has recently written, the talk will focus on the idea of ‘the West’, which has underpinned our prosperity and security for several decades. It stands for democratic institutions and values, a rules-based system of steadily freer trade, and a common European and Atlantic defence through NATO.

Now the idea is under threat from within, as national-populists from Budapest to Washington seek not more democracy but authoritarian rule, not freer trade but protectionism, not common security but narrow national interest.

Bill argues in his book that to regain its strength, the West needs to be porous, open and flexible.

The talk is scheduled for 7 pm on Tuesday 9 May at Van Emden Theatre, Edith Morley (formally HumSS).

Bill Emmott was the editor-in-chief of the Economist from 1993 to 2006, has dissected the malaise of countries as distant as Japan and Italy, and is currently an independent writer and consultant, contributing to a wide range of publications and blogs including In Facts.

He is also the joint founder of the Wake Up Foundation, a charity dedicated to using film, text and data for public education about the decline of Western societies.

The event is free and open to the public.