Book Launch: Philosophy, Law and Culture of Liberal Democracy and the Authoritarian Challenge by Suri Ratnapala
About the event
Defending liberal democracy against rising authoritarianism is a moral imperative in our time!
Launched and introduced by The Hon Margaret White AO, this event will celebrate the release of Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala's new book, Philosophy, Law and Culture of Liberal Democracy and the Authoritarian Challenge.
Date: 18 September 2024
Time: 16:00 (Brisbane Time)
Location: Law School Foyer, Forgan Smith Building
Light canapes and beverages will be provided.
Please register via the link below by 12 September 2024. Registration is essential.
About the Book
Liberal democracy is the great legacy of the Enlightenment; it has reduced world poverty, increased life expectancy, enriched lives by every measure of wellbeing and enlarged our moral compass. Yet, external threats to liberal democracy are posed by totalitarian regimes and their allies seeking to remake the world in their image, and internal pressures arise from opposition to liberal principles from the extremities of the ideological spectrum: radicalism on the left and nativist populism on the right. The defence of liberal democracy requires understanding of its foundational principles, epistemological norms, institutional framework, cultural underpinnings and economic settings.
In Philosophy, Law and Culture of Liberal Democracy and the Authoritarian Challenge, acclaimed author and legal scholar Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala provides combines extensive legal analysis with the history and philosophy of liberal constitutionalism, institutional economics and ethical reasoning. It engages with opposing schools of thought, including radical critical theory and authoritarian ideologies of the right. This book is not just an academic exercise; it is a call to action. It is highly instructive on matters of administrative and constitutional law, the epistemology and ethics of political liberalism, and the pressing threats to fundamental rights and freedoms.
About the authour
Suri Ratnapala is Emeritus Professor of Public Law of the University of Queensland, Australia, and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. He has taught and published widely in the fields of constitutional law, legal philosophy and constitutional political economy and is the author or co-author of thirteen books and many papers. His awards include the Sir Anthony Fisher Memorial Prize, the Centenary of Australian Federation Medal and the John Templeton Foundation Award for teaching in political, economic and social theory. He has been a consultant with USAID, AusAid, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in the legal sector and a special commissioner with the Australian Law Reform Commission.
About CPICL Seminars
The Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law (CPICL) regularly hosts a series of seminars and events that serve as dynamic platforms for intellectual exchange and scholarly dialogue. These gatherings bring together leading experts, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to discuss pressing legal issues and emerging trends in public, international, and comparative law. Our seminars and events are designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, stimulate innovative thinking, and provide valuable insights into complex legal challenges. Through these engagements, CPICL not only disseminates its cutting-edge research but also contributes to shaping the global legal landscape.
