Lecture by Daniel Slater

November 20 this year at 18.00. As part of the international program of the Institute of Public Planning “Russian Readings”, a lecture by Daniel Slater, professor of political science at the University of Chicago, will be held on the topic “Where strong states come from: an attempt to “reconcile” Asian and European traditions.”

Daniel Slater is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago. Professor Slater conducted a number of comparative political studies in the countries of Southeast Asia, which were supposed to identify the conditions for the consolidation of elites and the effectiveness of states. Slater's articles and writings have appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, Comparative Politics, International Organization, and other publications.

Experts who study countries in Europe and Asia disagree on how strong states are built. Students of Europe believe that a strong state is a “contractual state” in which politicians constantly try to win popular approval. Experts on the countries of East and Southeast Asia are confident that a strong state is an “evolutionary state” in which leaders are not influenced by social processes.
In his lecture, Professor Slater will present a different perspective on this contradiction and highlight the unexpected role of pressure from below in the process of building strong states in East and Southeast Asia. An analysis of the experience of European and Asian countries shows that a strong state and democracy are not incompatible concepts. This experience contains important lessons for countries struggling to build strong states in an era of widespread democratization.

We invite you to take part in the lecture and subsequent discussion.

Daniel Slater's lecture will take place on November 20 this year. at 18.00. in the conference room “Europe” (Alexander House, Bolshaya Polyanka St., building 1, floor 5).

Please confirm your participation by phone 788-41-26 or by email RD@inop.ru before 15.00. November 17 this year