Everything from the international rules-based order (IRBO) to local government depends on the consistent application of and respect for the rules by all relevant actors. The principle at the heart of all of this is the rule of law, a concept that is poorly understood but very much at risk right now of collapsing. This talk will explain exactly what the rule of law is and why it matters, and will then focus on why it is under attack and by whom, and also on how the weakening of the rule of law affects both global security and our personal safety and well-being.

About the Speaker 

Darren Zook teaches in global studies and political science at the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught and published on a wide variety of topics, including the politics of music, human rights and international law, terrorism and security studies, multiculturalism and diversity, cybersecurity, and economic policy with a focus on anti-corruption programs. He has been recognized many times for his contributions to education and for his work as a socially engaged scholar who strives to build bridges within and between different communities. He is the author of a four-volume book project entitled Ourselves Among Others, which is a constructive critique of current diversity policy and practice in the United States and around the world.