The University of Delaware’s Center for Global and Area Studies will begin its annual “Issues in Global Studies” lecture series, which this semester focuses on failed and failing states, at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 14, in room 005 of Kirkbride Lecture Hall.

Each lecture in the series, which continues through Nov. 30, is free and open to the public. The series also is part of a one-credit course (ARSC300) that is a core course for the minor in global studies.

This semester's topic is "The Fragility of States" and examines why failed and failing states, from Somalia to Syria and beyond, are destabilizing and unraveling. Speakers will discuss why, even in some advanced and developed states, governance is failing.

Lectures will be held weekly on Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., in room 005 of Kirkbride Lecture Hall. Each lecture will feature a different presenter, from UD and other institutions, focusing on a particular part of the world.

The topics and speakers are as follows, subject to change:

Sept. 14: "Failed Societies Precede Failed States," Alan Fox, UD Department of Philosophy and the Asian, Islamic and Jewish Studies programs.

Sept. 21: "Right Wing Populism and the Rise of Democratic Authoritarianism," Claire Rasmussen, UD departments of Political Science and International Relations and of Women and Gender Studies.

Sept. 28: "Cascading Failures: Sudan and South Sudan," Stuart Kaufman, UD Department of Political Science and International Relations and the European and Jewish Studies programs.

Oct. 5: "Is Pakistan a Failed State?" Tahir Shad, Washington College departments of Political Science and International Studies.

Oct. 12: "The Failure of the Syrian State," Ikram Masmoudi, UD Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and the African and Islamic Studies programs.

Oct. 19: "The Impact of Dictators on Latin America," William Meyer, UD Department of Political Science & International Relations.

Oct. 26: “The Failed State of Afghanistan," Kamran Bokhari, George Washington University Center for Cyber and Homeland Security.

Nov. 2: "Prosecuting Dictators in Latin America," William Meyer, UD Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Nov. 9: "The Impact of Fake News on Governance," David Redlawsk, UD Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Nov. 16: "Brexit: Are Suprastates Failing Too?" Daniel Kinderman, UD Department of Political Science and International Relations and the European Studies program.

Nov. 30: "What Can We Do to Promote Good Governance?" Muqtedar Khan, UD Department of Political Science and International Relations and the Islamic Studies program.