Understanding the World Today: A Perry World House Faculty Discussion
Event Date: 3rd September 2025
Location: Internet 21:00 BST
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 | 4:00 – 5:15 PM ET | Hybrid Event
As the world continues to grapple with deep and interconnected challenges, working toward collective peace, security, and prosperity has never been more urgent.
Armed conflicts persist in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa. Despite approximately half the world having the opportunity to vote in 2024, much of the world’s population still lives under some form of autocracy. Human rights remain under pressure, particularly for the millions of people crossing borders in search of safety and opportunity. As the world marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, climate-driven disasters are taking a rising toll on lives and livelihoods. Across all of these arena, technological advances are outpacing governance systems.
The challenges are vast, but they also present enormous opportunity. Surging civic participation shows global demand for accountable governance. Migration is reshaping societies, spurring cultural and economic growth. The climate crisis is accelerating cooperation and technological breakthroughs. While disruptive technologies raise complex risks, they also hold tremendous potential to improve lives.
To make sense of this moment and what lies ahead, Perry World House will convene a panel of distinguished experts. Drawing on expertise in democracy, climate change, global security, and human rights—the four thematic pillars that guide PWH’s work—this discussion will offer insights into the many global policy issues defining the start of this new academic year.