One of America’s leading authorities on international affairs, Michael Mandelbaum, will present the 2007 Benjamin A. Rogge Memorial Lecture at Wabash College. Mandelbaum’s lecture, "Democracy’s Good Name: The Rise and Risks of the World’s Most Popular Form of Government," will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, September 28, in Baxter Hall, room 101.
In addition to his evening lecture, Mandelbaum will lead an open forum discussion on "Democracy’s Good Name: The Rise and Risks of the World’s Most Popular Form of Government" at 4:15 p.m. in Baxter Hall, room 114.
Mandelbaum is the Christian A. Herter Professor and Director of the American Foreign Policy Program at Johns Hopkins University. Mandelbaum received a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University and has been on the faculty of Harvard University, Columbia University, and the U.S. Naval Academy. The author of 10 books and editor of 12 more, his latest book, Democracy’s Good Name: The Rise and the Risks of the World’s?Most Popular Form of Government, was released in September 2007. The book investigates the reasons for democracy’s exponential rise in the last century and critically examines democracy’s potential in the Middle East, Russia, and China
Mandelbaum writes a regular column for Newsday. His analyses of global challenges are informed by his 
experience with the U.S. government. He served in the Office of the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, working on national security issues. For 22 years he has served as Associate Director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Project, working with leaders of Congress and exposing them to the latest thinking on American foreign policy. He has contributed op-ed pieces to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Los Angeles Times. From 1986 - 2004, he was a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he also ran the Project on East-West Relations. The World Affairs Councils of America named him one of the most influential people in American foreign policy.
Mandelbaum’s lecture and open forum are free and open to the public. This annual event honors the late Wabash College professor of economics, Benjamin Rogge. Mandelbaum will have a book signing in Rogge Lounge following his evening lecture.