Exit Interview with Carl Gershman, Founding President of the National Endowment for Democracy

This summer, Carl Gershman, the founding president of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), will retire from his post after almost four decades of extraordinary leadership. Over the course of his service, he built the NED from the ground up and helped extend its influence in support of freedom to millions around the world.

For 40 years, the NED has been a stalwart force for democracy promotion and assistance. In its time, the world has seen significant change. Four decades ago, a little over a third of the world's population lived in a democracy. Today, that figure is well over half. The percentage of democratic governments around the world has doubled in that same period. Nevertheless, recent trends show the world moving in a worrying direction, with autocracies still outnumbering democracies and backsliding accelerating worldwide. Join us for a conversation with Mr. Gershman to talk about the successes and struggles of the last 40 years as well as the future of democracy.

This event is being co-hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy. This event is made possible by general CSIS support.

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