The next 250 years: the future of democracy, science, and markets

Join us for a joint symposium organised by the American Philosophical Society and the Royal Society, as we reflect on the past 250 years of democracy, science, and markets, and consider what the next 250 might bring.

Overview

The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of four major events in the history of science and ideas. In March 1776, Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations, a book that continues to shape economic thinking. The next month, Edward Gibbon published The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a study of how a once-dominant empire crumbled. And in July, American colonists launched an experiment in self-government and democracy with the publication of the Declaration of Independence, a document that embodies Enlightenment-era thought on individual liberty and human happiness. Its signatories included the polymath Benjamin Franklin, founder of the American Philosophical Society, and one of the few 18th-century Americans elected a fellow of the Royal Society.

To mark this anniversary, the Royal Society, one of the first learned societies, and the American Philosophical Society, the first learned society in North America, are holding an international symposium that uses these four historic touchstones to explore the future of governing and human happiness, global geopolitics, the world economic order, and science and its prospects.

Attending the event

• This is an in-person event, and attendance is by invitation only
• It will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person
• Find travel and accessibility information on our website

Please email the international team with any queries.