The University of Nottingham, in collaboration with the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), invites you to:

‘On Tyranny: How Today’s Democracies Can Recognise and Confront Tyranny’
Tuesday 11th June 2024, 6pm-8pm (BST)
Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP – Henry Jackson Society

The panel discussion will be chaired by Dr Edmund Stewart
Assistant Professor in Ancient Greek History, Faculty of Arts and Director of Tyrannica Project at the University of Nottingham

Speakers:

Aliona Hlivco (Former Ukrainian MP and Managing Director at HJS)

 Paul Kenyon (BAFTA-winning journalist and author of Dictatorland)

Benedict Rogers (Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch and author of The China Nexus)

Professor Mateusz Stróżyński (Director of the Institute of Polish and Classical Philology, AMU Poznań)

What relevance does the concept of tyranny have for the modern world? Can modern tyrannies be objectively identified, and can their behaviour be predicted? Recent years have seen an alarming global reversal of democratisation and a growth in personalist dictatorships. Modern commentators regularly avoid the term tyranny, however, as a descriptor for these regimes. But can the label ‘tyranny’ in fact be objectively applied to modern dictatorships – and indeed a species of regime found in all ages and on all continents? And should we heed the warnings of ancient texts regarding these types of regimes? This conversation will open the way for further interdisciplinary study and discussion of tyranny and authoritarian regimes, central to the research of the Tyrannica network.

Join us for this event where will launch a new interdisciplinary and international research network on Authoritarian Regimes: Tyrannica.

Wine and refreshments will be served following the panel and plenary discussion.

This event is funded by the AHRC Impact Accelerator Account.

Aliona Hlivco is a Managing Director at The Henry Jackson Society and a member of the Advisory Council at Coalition for Global Prosperity.

She is a foreign policy expert with background in global affairs and strategic communications. Aliona is a guest lecturer in various UK and US academic institutions and a regular expert voice on global affairs for international media.

Aliona has had an extensive career in Ukrainian politics, serving as an adviser to the former Prime Minister of Ukraine and holding positions in Chernivtsi Regional Parliament and the Ministry of Infrastructure. She focused on international cooperation, public-private partnerships and decentralisation. She held a public office and was a member of regional parliament in 2015-2018 before she moved to London.

Aliona holds MA in Political Science and MPA from Chernivtsi National University in Ukraine. She is a recipient of the Order of Merit for her service in supporting democracy in Ukraine during the Revolution of Dignity 2013-2014.

Paul Kenyon is a BAFTA-winning journalist, known particularly for his contributions to BBC’s Panorama. He is author of Dictatorland and Children of the Night, which cover the history of dictatorships in, respectively, Africa and Romania.

Benedict Rogers is a Human Rights Activist and co-founder of Hong Kong Watch. He is an expert particularly on human rights abuses in Burma and China and the author of Than Shwe: Unmasking Burma’s Tyrant and The China Nexus: Thirty Years in and around the Chinese Communist Party’s Tyranny.

Mateusz Stróżyński is Director of the Institute of Polish and Classical Philosophy at Adam Mickiewicz University. His research focusses on Classical Philosophy and Platonism. He is a co-founder of the Tyrannica network.

We can be watched both ONLINE and IN-PERSON.

To register online please follow the LINK.

To attend the event and reception in-person please submit your details in the form below. Please kindly note the seats are limited and you will need to receive a confirmation email from HJS in order to be able to attend the event in-person. 

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EVENT SUMMARY

The Henry Jackson Society hosted “On Tyranny: How Today’s Democracies Can Recognise and Confront Tyranny,” featuring Aliona Hlivco, Paul Kenyon, Benedict Rogers, and Professor Mateusz Stróżyński, chaired by Dr. Edmund Stewart. Dr. Stewart highlighted the historical context and contemporary relevance of studying tyranny. Aliona Hlivco discussed the resilience of Ukrainians against Russian aggression, emphasizing Ukraine’s historical struggles with tyranny and the nation’s ongoing fight for democracy. Paul Kenyon provided insights into dictatorships in Africa and Romania, highlighting patterns of power consolidation and external influences. Benedict Rogers focused on the Chinese Communist Party’s tyranny, stressing the importance of a moral stance and robust foreign policies to support global democratic movements. Professor Mateusz Stróżyński added perspectives from historical and philosophical angles, exploring the deep-rooted concepts of tyranny. The event concluded with a Q&A session, exploring strategies to recognize and confront modern authoritarian regimes, underscoring the importance of historical lessons and international cooperation in defending democratic values.

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