TORTURE & DEMOCRACY

Book launch and discussion

Thursday 27 November 2008 13:00 to 14:00

Participants

Darius Rejali, Professor of political science, Reed College

Professor Philippe Sands QC, University College London and Matrix Chambers

We are long past debating the question "is torture compatible with democracy?" - obviously it has been for some time.

The key questions now are:

  • Under what circumstances is torture compatible with democracy?
  • Why have democracies been historically such powerful innovators of torture?

Darius Rejali in conversation with Philippe Sands will sketch out the answer to these questions in historical terms and then turn to the pressing question, as the American electorate goes to the polls, does a change of government make a difference?

They will also consider what social scientists know to be the long-term effects of institutionalized torture, both within government and for social order more generally, and map out the challenges facing the next President.

Darius Rejali is author of the great book on torture, Torture and Democracy (Princeton, November 2007).