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Conference

Magna Carta and the Rule of Law around the World

Date and Time
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Location
Hayek Auditorium
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Featuring
Featuring Richard Helmholz, Distinguished Service Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School; Roger Pilon, Vice President for Legal Affairs, Cato Institute; Tom Palmer, Executive Vice President for International Programs, Atlas Network, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; Richard Pipes, Professor of History Emeritus, Harvard University; Swaminathan Aiyar, Research Fellow, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute; Juan Carlos Botero, Executive Director, World Justice Project; moderated by Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute; and Ian Vasquez, Director, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute.

June marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, the “Great Charter of Liberties” that King John of England agreed to and that aimed to limit the Crown’s power. The Magna Carta exerted a significant influence on the development of the common law in England and subsequently in the United States. Richard Helmholz will explain the emergence of the Magna Carta, describe its substance, and discuss its impact on the rule of law in England. Roger Pilon will speak about the charter’s importance to the United States. And Tom Palmer will discuss similar charters in other parts of medieval Europe. Other speakers will address the unsteady spread of the rule of law around the world: Richard Pipes will describe the case of Russia, Swami Aiyar will discuss India’s experience, and Juan Carlos Botero will give a global overview of progress and challenges based on the Rule of Law Index.

9:00–10:30 a.m. Panel 1: Magna Carta and the Western Tradition


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Moderator: Ilya Shapiro
Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute

Richard Helmholz
Distinguished Service Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School

Roger Pilon
Vice President for Legal Affairs, Cato Institute

Tom Palmer
Executive Vice President for International Programs, Atlas Network
Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

10:30–10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Panel 2: The Unsteady Spread of the Rule of Law


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Moderator: Ian Vasquez
Director, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute

Richard Pipes
Professor of History Emeritus, Harvard University

Swaminathan Aiyar
Research Fellow, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute
Swaminathan Aiyar’s Presentation: The Rule of Law in India (PPT)

Juan Carlos Botero
Executive Director, World Justice Project
Juan Botero’s Presentation: The Rule of Law Worldwide (PPT)