Professor Kaushik Basu, Carl Marks Professor of International Studies at Cornell University and current University of Bath Global Chair, returned to campus in May for his second visit, further strengthening the growing partnership between Bath and Cornell.
Hosted by Professor Ajit Mishra in the Department of Economics, the visit brought together colleagues and students from across the University, as well as international collaborators, for an engaging programme of academic and public events.
One of the key events of the visit was a public lecture delivered at Bath’s historic Guildhall. Titled The Algebra of Authoritarianism, Professor Basu’s lecture explored why some political systems appear stable but fail, while others suppress opposition, and what this means for safeguarding democracy. Combining theoretical insight with real-world examples, Professor Basu addressed what is becoming ever more relevant amid the rise of authoritarianism in the global political landscape.
The visit also featured the Cornell-Bath conference, bringing together speakers from world-leading institutions from the UK, the USA, India and Europe. The three-day conference provided a dynamic forum for the exchange of ideas across a range of economic and interdisciplinary themes, fostered new connections and discussions around future research collaborations, and showcased the high-calibre research taking place at Bath. During the conference, the Department of Economics also welcomed Christine Potter, Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of Global Operations and Strategy at Cornell University. These discussions emphasised the strong academic ties between Bath and Cornell, and the institutions’ shared ambition to generate impactful, globally relevant research.
Professor Basu’s continued engagement highlights the success of the University’s Global Chair programme in attracting world-leading scholars and creating opportunities for purposeful international collaboration. His visit has made a valuable contribution to the research environment at Bath and showcased its place within a global network of leading institutions.
Professor Ajit Mishra commented:
It has been a privilege to host Professor Basu once again. His visits during his Global Chair term continue to enrich the University's research community, and the jointly organised Bath–Cornell conference, with participation from scholars across the globe, has opened up valuable new avenues for collaboration across a range of economic and interdisciplinary areas.
On Professor Basu’s visit, Professor Emma Carmel, Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said:
Professor Basu’s continued engagement demonstrates how the Global Chair programme strengthens the University’s international profile while creating meaningful opportunities for collaboration. His visit not only fostered new ideas and academic partnerships through the Cornell-Bath conference, but also engaged the wider community through his public lecture in the city, reflecting our commitment to sharing knowledge beyond the University and contributing to local and global dialogue.