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At a pivotal historical juncture, the United States confronts renewed scrutiny over the strength and future of its democratic institutions. This lecture series assembles a set of diverse voices to assess whether American democracy is under strain, adapting to new realities, or entering a period of transformation. 

Beyond the domestic arena, the series also addresses the far-reaching global consequences of these developments. How do internal political tensions shape U.S. foreign policy and international engagement—including with Switzerland? What do they mean for global stability, economic cooperation, and the future of democratic norms worldwide? By combining critical perspectives with a broad analytical lens, the series invites students and a broader public to reflect on the past, present, and future of the American experiment at 250.

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is President of the International Peace Institute and Perry World House Professor of the Practice of Law and Human Rights at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014 to 2018.

In 2019, he was elected to The Elders, an independent group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela. He has served twice as Jordan’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York and once as Ambassador to the United States. In January 2014, he served as President of the UN Security Council. Earlier, from 2002 to 2005, he was the first President of the governing body of the International Criminal Court. He also served as a UN civilian peacekeeper with UNPROFOR from 1994 to 1996.

He holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Cambridge.