16
September 2011
Past Event
The Courts and Liberal Democracy

The Courts and Liberal Democracy

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
September 16, 2011
Share:
Default Event Image
16
September 2011
Past Event

1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Read Transcript Read Transcript
Speakers:
Harold Furchtgott-Roth,

Hudson Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Economics of the Internet

Stephen Williams

Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

According to Senior Circuit Judge Stephen Williams, a society can be expected to evolve into liberal democracy, including private property and the rule of law, only if producer groups can organize and exert enough influence to prevent government predation. But groups strong enough to resist government predation are likely to be strong enough to mobilize government for predation against others. The resultant rent-seeking society may hollow out liberal democracy to a barely recognizable shell. Could courts at all offset this tendency, either by a tilt against rent-seeking in review of agency decisions, or by a revival of the rule against "partial legislation?"

Related Events
See More
19
May 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Environmental Agendas, Geopolitical Ends: Climate Policy and Great Power Competition
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Zineb Riboua
Brenda Shaffer
Sam Cooper
Getty Images
19
May 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Environmental Agendas, Geopolitical Ends: Climate Policy and Great Power Competition

To examine this emerging challenge, Senior Fellow Dr. Michael Doran will convene a conversation with Research Fellow Zineb Riboua, Professor Brenda Shaffer—Research Faculty Member at the US Naval Postgraduate School and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council—and Sam Cooper, an award-winning investigative journalist focusing on China-Canada relations.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Zineb Riboua
Brenda Shaffer
Sam Cooper
Learn More
20
May 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
A Conversation with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy of the United States, Sarah B. Rogers
Featured Speakers:
Sarah B. Rogers
Zineb Riboua
Eric Schmitt
Michael Doran
Getty Images
20
May 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
A Conversation with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy of the United States, Sarah B. Rogers

Please join the Hudson Institute for a conversation with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah B. Rogers and Hudson Research Fellow Zineb Riboua on how the United States is adapting its public diplomacy tools to advance its interests abroad, counter censorship, promote free speech, and leverage artificial intelligence to deliver more effective, targeted messaging.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Sarah B. Rogers
Zineb Riboua
Eric Schmitt
Michael Doran
Learn More
11
May 2026
Past Event
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Featured Speakers:
Eyck Freymann
Jason Hsu
Getty Images
11
May 2026
Past Event
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China

With Jason Hsu, Freymann will discuss how the United States and its partners can adapt to China’s evolving strategy and develop a coherent plan to prevent conflict while safeguarding Taiwan’s future.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Eyck Freymann
Jason Hsu
Learn More
08
May 2026
Past Event
Voices Inside Iran: The Internal Dimension of Operation Epic Fury
Featured Speakers:
Zineb Riboua
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Samira Gharaee
Getty IMages
08
May 2026
Past Event
Voices Inside Iran: The Internal Dimension of Operation Epic Fury

Research Fellow Zineb Riboua will discuss how the war is reshaping Iranian society with Mariam Memarsadeghi, who researches civil society, democratic movements, and civic education inside Iran and Samira Gharaei, who reports on political developments and public sentiment across Iranian media.

Getty IMages
Featured Speakers:
Zineb Riboua
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Samira Gharaee
Learn More
See More
Related Research
See More
See More