‘The belief that a single form of rule is best for everyone is itself a kind of tyranny.’ – John Gray, The New Leviathans 

We once thought liberalism could and should be universal. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 ushered in an era of triumphalism in the West in which it seemed inevitable that the world was moving towards a global community of liberal nations.

But recent decades have shown that this presumption could be flawed. Authoritarianism is on the rise, liberalism has fallen out of favour at the ballot box and populism has taken root globally. Where do we go from here?

On November 5 philosopher John Gray comes to the Intelligence Squared stage to argue that we must accept that we are living in a world where liberalism’s best days are behind us. In conversation with academic Helen Thompson, he will discuss the themes of his latest book, The New Leviathans, drawing on new readings of Hobbes and other political philosophers to discuss the current state of the global order, the human condition, and a path forward for a more self-aware, realistic and honest politics.

Hear from one of today’s most provocative thinkers live at Smith Square Hall, and have your questions answered in the Q&A.

Praise for The New Leviathans

‘John Gray is Britain’s best philosopher – and he knocks it out of the park with a book that details the unravelling of the Western order.’ ― The Telegraph

‘Confronts the truth that no politician dares utter: that things are very bad with a world in which, in Gray’s words, either market forces are directed by the state or the state has been captured by corporate power.’ ― Terry Eagleton

‘One of the most important thinkers alive.’ ― The Times