CNN’s Fareed Zakaria to Address Springfield Public Forum on Dec. 1

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Public Forum, the country’s oldest independent, free public speaker series, continues its 2025-26 series on Monday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at Springfield Symphony Hall with CNN host, columnist, and bestselling author Fareed Zakaria discussing “Age of Revolutions.” The event is offered free to the public thanks to platinum event sponsor St. Germain Investments. No tickets are required to attend, and the doors to Symphony Hall will open at 5 p.m.

Zakaria will discuss the revolutions — past and present — that define the polarized and unstable age in which we live. For his book Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to Present, Zakaria investigates past revolutions over the last 400 years to see if they can help us to understand our current world. Alongside these historical events, he will discuss present-day revolutions: globalization, technology, identity, and geopolitics. While he believes that the early decades of the 21st century may be the most revolutionary period in modern history, he will demonstrate that humans have lived, and thrived, through more than one great realignment, and that pessimism in our current climate is premature.

The Springfield Public Forum, a nonpartisan, independent, nonprofit organization, began in 1935 with the goal of engaging local residents in the political, economic, and social issues confronting the region, nation, and world. For 90 years, it has remained a Springfield institution and has always been completely free and open to the public.

Sponsorship support for the 2025-26 season is provided by PeoplesBank, the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, the Beveridge Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, BusinessWest, the Republican, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., NEPM, and Focus Springfield. For more information, visit springfieldpublicforum.org.