A Logic of the Future: International Relations in the Age of Turbulence
You’re invited to a Global Challenges to Democracy Seminar featuring Stephen Heintz, President and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
In-Person Event
Ash Center Seminar Room 225, Suite 200, 124 Mount Auburn Street
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm EST
You’re invited to join Stephen Heintz, President and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF), for a Global Challenges to Democracy Seminar.
Stephen Heintz argues that today’s overlapping crises—geopolitical conflict, climate change, technological disruption, and democratic erosion—cannot be met with the institutional frameworks and assumptions of the past. Drawing on history and current global turbulence, he shows that international order remains shaped by outdated ideas about sovereignty, power, economic growth, and security, even as these logics increasingly generate instability and risk. Heintz outlines an alternative “logic of the future” centered on shared sovereignty, protection of the global commons, equitable distribution of power, positive-sum cooperation, human and planetary well-being, and democratic renewal. The talk explores how moments of crisis create rare opportunities for systemic redesign—and why deliberate, values-driven reform of global governance is now essential to avoid catastrophic outcomes and build a more peaceful, legitimate, and sustainable world.
Lunch will be served starting at 11:45 am. This event will be recorded.
About the Series
In the span of a few years, democracy has gone from a likely, if distant, destination for much of the world to a far more tenuous prospect. This seminar series, co-chaired by Professors Yanilda María González and Gautam Nair and hosted by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, delves deep into the various challenges, both internal and external, that stand in the way of building more accountable, responsive, and capable democracy. Leading scholars of politics provide insights using a wide variety of methods and expertise in countries from across the globe.
Event Details
This event is open to Harvard ID holders only and registration is required.
The Ash Center encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its events. Should you wish to inquire about an accommodation, please contact our events team at info@ash.harvard.edu prior to the event.
Additional questions? Email the Ash Center events team at info@ash.harvard.edu.