[10/04/2025] The Dalai Lama at 90: Human Ethics, Global Culture and Changing International Norms on the World Stage

As the 14th Dalai Lama turns 90, seventy-five years have passed since he assumed the position of head of the Tibetan state and government. Emerging on the world stage following the fall of Tibet in 1959, he became a prominent global figure during the era when newly independent states were reshaping international relations after the Cold War’s end. How did the Dalai Lama’s unique position as both spiritual and political leader influence the development of global norms around human ethics, freedom, and non-violent resistance? How did his advocacy for universal values and ecumenicism fit into the evolving discourse of international governance in the post-Cold War period? What will be the trajectory of his normative influence as the world confronts new geopolitical challenges and shifting power dynamics?

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Kunchok Dorjee, Johns Hopkins University

Nicole Willock, Old Dominion University

Elsie Walker, Founder, Peak Enterprise

Amina Tirana, New York University.

Convener: Dr. Tashi Rabgey