International Horizons

The Information State: How is the State Surveilling and Manipulating us These Days?

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI Acting Director Eli Karetny interviews Jacob Siegel, writer, Army veteran, and author of The Information State. Siegel traces how military information operations, post‑9/11 surveillance programs, and Silicon Valley’s rise converged to create a new public‑private regime of control over information, attention, and consent. He discusses the intellectual roots of technocratic governance from Francis Bacon and Leibniz through progressivism, World War I propaganda, and cybernetics, and explains how the “information state” differs from classical authoritarianism. Finally, Siegel reflects on Trumpism, the tech counter‑elite around figures like Elon Musk, and how AI may usher in a more “Pharaonic” and quasi‑spiritual form of politics beyond traditional expert‑driven technocracy.

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The Cave and the Coalition: Philosophy, Populism, and the MAGA New Right

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI acting director Eli Karetny sits down with political theorist Laura Field to trace the intellectual currents shaping today’s right — from Straussian thought at the Claremont Institute to Catholic integralism, the manosphere, and Trump-era populism. Using Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as a touchstone, they interrogate how philosophical radicalism becomes political strategy, why some thinkers return to the “cave” with prudence while others return with authoritarian blueprints, and what these debates mean for American democracy. Tune in for a lively, theory-steeped conversation that bridges political philosophy and contemporary conservative politics.

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Trump, the UN Charter, and the Strange Politics of International Law

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0000

International law scholars are often among the sharpest critics of the Trump administration—but what if the usual story misses something essential? In this episode, RBI interim director Eli Karetny speaks with NYU international law professor Robert Howse about Trump’s complicated relationship with the UN Charter system, from Gaza to Venezuela and Iran. The conversation also turns to political theory: Leo Strauss’s reputation as a neoconservative godfather, the shadow of Carl Schmitt, and how today’s MAGA New Right recycles older anxieties about liberalism, virtue, and masculinity.

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What happens when liberalism stops feeling like a victory and starts feeling like an exhaustion?

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI Director (acting) Eli Karetny speaks with philosopher Alexandre Lefebvre about liberalism not merely as a political doctrine, but as a lived way of life.

Against the backdrop of rising populism, nationalism, and post-liberal regimes, Lefebvre revisits the liberal tradition—from Locke and Mill to Rawls and Berlin—to argue that liberalism has always contained a moral and existential core. Drawing on John Rawls’s early work and Pierre Hadot’s idea of philosophy as spiritual exercise, the conversation explores freedom and generosity as liberal virtues, the tension between neutrality and perfectionism, and why liberal societies struggle to defend themselves against more overt visions of the good life.

Moving between political theory, international order, nationalism, and spirituality, Karetny and Lefebvre ask whether liberalism can still offer meaning without becoming imperial, moralistic, or coercive—and what liberals stand to lose if they fail to recognize the depth of their own commitments.

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Inside Jobs: How Great Powers Meddle in Other Countries’ Elections

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

From Argentina’s recent vote under the shadow of a threatened $20 billion U.S. aid package to Russia’s covert operations in the 2016 U.S. election, foreign meddling at the ballot box is more common and more dangerous than many citizens realize. In this episode of International Horizons, RBI interim director, Eli Karetny speaks with Dov Levin, Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Hong Kong and author of Meddling in the Ballot Box (Oxford University Press). Drawing on a unique global dataset, Levin explains how often great powers intervene in elections, why most operations are “inside jobs” coordinated with local elites, and why overt interventions frequently work better than covert ones. The conversation explores dirty tricks, founding elections, democratic backsliding, and how new voting technologies could reopen the door to old-fashioned ballot manipulation.

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Can America Still Lead? Foreign Policy in an Age of Division with Joel Rubin

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0000

What happens when America loses its foreign-policy playbook? RBI acting director Eli Karetny talks with veteran diplomat and policy strategist Joel Rubin about the vacuum of strategic vision shaping U.S. decisions from Venezuela to Ukraine to Gaza. Rubin pulls back the curtain on factional battles inside both parties, the dangers of politicizing diplomacy, and why rebuilding a bipartisan foreign-policy consensus may be critical for American leadership in a volatile world.

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The Technological Soul: Alex Priou on Modernity, Ideology, and the Limits of Reason

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI acting director Eli Karetny speaks with Alex Priou, Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Austin, about how technology and ideology shape the modern soul. From Machiavelli’s “dikes and dams” to Odysseus’s struggle against the Sirens, Priou traces how modernity’s drive for control has left us materially fulfilled yet spiritually impoverished. The conversation explores liberalism’s crises, the moral stakes of AI, the American “technological republic,” and why revisiting Homer and Plato may be key to recovering wisdom and restraint in an age of restless innovation.

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Kubrick’s Worlds: Power, Paranoia, and the Politics of the Human Condition

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, Interim Director Eli Karetny speaks with film scholar Nathan Abrams about the enduring relevance of Stanley Kubrick and what his work can teach us about our current era. From the nuclear absurdities of Dr. Strangelove to the cosmic rebirth of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick’s films expose the fragile line between technological mastery and moral collapse. Abrams unpacks Kubrick’s fascination with war, authority, and obedience, his roots in the New York Jewish intellectual tradition, and his exploration of mystical and mythic themes—from Kabbalah to The Odyssey. Together, they reveal how Kubrick’s cinematic universe reflects our own: a world where human creativity, paranoia, and power intertwine in both terrifying and illuminating ways.

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Illiberalism, Putin, and the Politics of Religion

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, Eli Karetny speaks with Marlene Laruelle, Research Professor at George Washington University and director of the Illiberalism Studies Program, about the rise of illiberalism in Russia and beyond. They explore how illiberal movements define themselves against liberalism, Russia’s evolution since the 1990s, and how Putin has woven together competing narratives of nationalism, Eurasianism, and conservatism. The conversation also examines the growing role of religion in Russian politics, the appeal of Russia for parts of the American right, and the eschatological language shaping Russian elites’ views of the war in Ukraine.

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Authoritarian Ideas, Old and New: From Schmitt to “JD”

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

On this episode of International Horizons, RBI Acting Director, Eli Karetny talks with Richard Wolin (Distinguished Professor, CUNY Graduate Center) about the intellectual roots of today’s anti-liberal right. Tracing a line from Germany’s “conservative revolutionaries” (Carl Schmitt, Oswald Spengler, Ernst Jünger, Heidegger) to France’s nouvelle droite and “great replacement” rhetoric, Wolin shows how cultural critiques of egalitarianism and “decadence” resurface in contemporary movements—from the manosphere and Bronze Age Pervert to tech-elite flirtations with political theology and the “state of exception.” The conversation connects these currents to U.S. figures like Peter Thiel and JD Vance, exploring why myths of decline, warrior brotherhoods, and friend-enemy politics have regained appeal—and what that means for liberal democracy now. A bracing tour through ideas shaping our moment, and a call to understand them clearly before they reshape our institutions.

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Is the U.S. helping speed up its own decline? with Damon Linker

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

We begin the new season of International Horizons by asking a crucial question: is the U.S. helping speed up its own decline? RBI Deputy Director, Eli Karetny talks with political writer and scholar Damon Linker about how Trump’s movement sees presidential power, why it challenges long-standing rules and institutions, and what it means for America’s role in the world. They explore whether U.S. influence has shifted from leading a global order after World War II to carving out its own “sphere of influence” alongside other major powers. The discussion looks at attacks on government expertise, the idea of “restraint” in foreign policy, and how fringe thinkers on the right are shaping real political choices. What happens when leaders value absolute freedom of action over laws, expertise, or alliances? Tune in for a clear look at the ideas driving today’s high-stakes political battles.

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What We Get Wrong About Iran, with Vali Nasr

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey talks with Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies and former dean at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, about Iran’s dangerous crossroads after its latest clash with Israel and the United States. Nasr argues that Western narratives about Iran as a reckless theocracy miss the calculated grand strategy behind its actions — a strategy rooted in centuries of imperial ambition, deep-seated insecurity, and anti-American resentment. He explains why the Islamic Republic has survived despite public disillusionment and why hopes of regime change are naïve. Nasr warns that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are now more entrenched than ever, as ordinary Iranians begin to see the bomb as their only shield against annihilation. With the U.S. unwilling to invade but also disinclined to negotiate in good faith, Nasr lays out the stark choice Washington faces: a nuclear Iran or another disastrous Middle East war.

Nasr recently published Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History (Princeton University Press), and is also the author of The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat (Penguin 2014), and The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future (W.W. Norton, 2016 [2006]).

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Globalization's Backlash: Echoes of the Interwar Era in Today’s World

Sat, 10 May 2025 08:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey interviews historian Tara Zahra, author of Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics Between the World Wars (W.W. Norton, 2023). Zahra reflects on the historical parallels between the current backlash against globalization and the anti-globalist movements of the interwar period. She highlights how economic insecurity, the rise of mass politics, and anxieties over immigration and trade shaped political reactions in both eras, while noting key differences—such as the role of environmentalism today and the absence of a world war in recent memory. Zahra also discusses the collapse of the international economic system in the 1930s, the ideological diversity of anti-globalist movements, and the legacy of Bretton Woods. She proposes that revisiting elements of the post-WWII international order, including regional cooperation and economic stabilization, may offer insight into managing today’s fractured global landscape.

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The Good Father Syndrome: Why Strongmen Still Seduce

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Stephen Hanson and Jeffrey Kopstein, co-authors of The Assault on the State: How the Global Attack on Modern Government Endangers Our Future (Polity Press, 2024). In this conversation, they discuss how today’s right-wing movements, from the United States to Hungary, are waging a new form of politics that undermines the very foundations of the modern, rules-based state. Drawing on Max Weber’s concept of “patrimonialism,” Hanson and Kopstein explore how these leaders erode public trust, demolish impersonal bureaucracies, and replace rational governance with personal loyalty and whim. Along the way, they examine the role of conspiracy theories, the rise of “deep state” narratives, and the uneasy alliances connecting libertarians, Christian nationalists, and advocates of an all-powerful executive.

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Populism, Power, and the Crisis of Globalism: A Conversation with Wolfgang Streeck

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

What explains the growing divide between elites and the broader public in democracies across Europe and the United States? In this episode of International Horizons, sociologist Wolfgang Streeck joins RBI director John Torpey to discuss the rise of populism, the limits of globalism, and the tensions between democracy and capitalism.

Drawing from his recent book, Taking Back Control? States and State Systems After Globalism (Verso, 2024), Streeck examines how market forces, technocracy, and the erosion of national sovereignty have fueled discontent across the transatlantic world. He also reflects on the educational divide shaping political cleavages, the challenges posed by immigration, and the implications of U.S. foreign policy and security commitments in Europe and beyond. The conversation explores the shifting foundations of the postwar international order and the prospects for a more democratic and egalitarian global system.

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Walls, Warnings, and the War on Fentanyl: Peter Andreas on Trump’s Border Politics

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, Peter Andreas, John Hay Professor of International Studies at Brown University and author of Border Games: The Politics of Policing the U.S.-Mexico Divide, 3rd edition (Cornell UP, 2022) and The Illicit Global Economy (Oxford UP, 2025), joins RBI Director John Torpey to unpack the myths and realities of border control, illicit trade, and tariffs in the era of Trump. Why do Trump’s border policies resonate with so many despite lower deportation numbers than previous administrations? How are fentanyl, tariffs, and military threats shaping U.S. relations with Mexico and Canada? Andreas explains the performative politics of the border, the historical amnesia around immigration enforcement, and why the lines between legal and illegal economies are blurrier than we think.

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Human Rights in the Trump Era: A Conversation with Kenneth Roth

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, Kenneth Roth, former longtime executive director of Human Rights Watch, joins RBI director John Torpey to discuss Roth’s recent book, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abuse of Governments (Knopf, 2025), which reflects on strategies for defending civil, political, economic, and social rights in an increasingly complex international landscape. Roth explores the implications of Trump's dismantling of USAID, the evolving challenges posed by authoritarian regimes like China, and the critical role social media plays in both exposing and enabling human rights abuses globally. Tune in to hear how Roth maintains optimism about the human rights movement and its continued fight against human rights abuses.

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Fractured Alliances: Trump, Ukraine, and Europe's Security Dilemma

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Estonian parliamentarian and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu about the recent tensions between the United States and Ukraine following a contentious meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Stoicescu critiques Trump's transactional diplomacy, emphasizing the critical role of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international peace and stability. He stresses Europe's need to strengthen its defense capabilities independently, warning that Europe's security depends on sustained and unified support for Ukraine. Stoicescu proposes a structured peace agreement, underscoring the necessity of robust international guarantees for Ukraine’s security. The conversation further explores Europe's shifting perspectives on military engagement in response to ongoing Russian aggression.

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Coup Attempts and Democratic Resistance: Lessons from Brazil

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

As Brazil moves toward trying former president Jair Bolsonaro for plotting a coup against democracy, the United States grapples with constitutional challenges from the new administration as well. Are these two cases of democratic backsliding comparable?

In this episode of International Horizons, John Torpey speaks with José Maurício Domingues, Professor of Social and Political Science at the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, about the resilience of democratic institutions, the role of the judiciary, and the evolving strategies of authoritarian leaders. Domingues unpacks the historical and institutional factors that shaped Bolsonaro’s failed power grab and contrasts them with Trump’s approach to executive power. What can these cases tell us about the future of democracy in both countries? Tune in for a deep dive into the politics of resistance, accountability, and the shifting nature of authoritarianism in the 21st century.

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The Internet, Power, and the Deep State: Zeynep Tufekci on Technology and Democracy Today

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

As the second Trump administration reshapes the U.S. government and its role in the world, how do technology, media, and political power intersect? In this episode of International Horizons, host John Torpey speaks with Zeynep Tufekci—New York Times columnist, Princeton professor, and author of Twitter and Tear Gas—about the evolving relationship between social media platforms, political movements, and democracy. From the shifting role of the internet in global protests to Elon Musk’s interventions in European politics, Tufekci unpacks the historical patterns shaping today’s political landscape. The conversation also explores the erosion of public trust in institutions, the implications of a weakened federal government, and the risks of unchecked technological influence. Tune in for a deep dive into the forces reshaping democracy at home and abroad.

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TrumpWorld: Canada, South Africa, Germany, and the Global Far-Right

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, John Torpey talks with Heribert Adam, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, to unpack the global ripple effects of Donald Trump's return to power. From his startling proposal to make Canada the 51st state to his controversial foreign aid cuts targeting South Africa, Trump's policies are reshaping international dynamics. Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance have stirred political tensions in Germany by supporting the far-right AfD party. How are these developments impacting global democracy, migration, and racial politics? Adam, a distinguished expert on South Africa and race relations, provides historical context and critical analysis on these pressing issues. Tune in for a deep dive into the international consequences of Trump’s second term.

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American Higher Education Under the Second Trump Administration

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey speaks with Steven Brint, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at UC Riverside, about the early days of the second Trump administration and its impact on higher education. Brint discusses the administration’s aggressive efforts to reshape federal governance, including its attacks on DEI programs, proposals to tax university endowments, and moves to condition federal funding on ideological compliance. The conversation explores how these policies could undermine academic freedom, international student enrollment, and the global reputation of U.S. universities. Brint also examines the broader crisis of public confidence in higher education, tracing concerns over cost, curriculum relevance, and perceptions of political bias. The episode concludes with a discussion of the risks facing the American university system in an era of rising authoritarianism and political polarization.

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Trump’s Second Term and Europe: Nationalism, NATO, and the Future of Transatlantic Relations

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Nathalie Tocci, director of the Institute of International Affairs in Rome, about the implications of Donald Trump’s second administration for Europe. The discussion explores how Trump’s approach to foreign policy—characterized by protectionism, nationalism, and disdain for multilateralism—affects European politics, particularly in relation to NATO, trade, and the far-right’s growing influence. Prof. Tocci highlights how Trump’s return emboldens nationalist movements across the continent, especially in countries like Italy, where leaders such as Giorgia Meloni now feel freer to express their ideological stances. The conversation also examines the evolving European response to Trump, from initial panic to a mix of wishful thinking and cautious strategizing, particularly regarding the future of NATO and the war in Ukraine.

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Transatlantic Tensions: Trump’s Return and Europe’s Far-Right Resurgence

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews journalist Mattia Ferraresi about the implications of a potential second Trump presidency for European politics. Ferraresi discusses how Trump’s rhetoric and policies, including his stance on NATO and trade, might influence transatlantic relations. The conversation explores the rise of far-right nationalism in Europe, with a focus on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s alignment with Trump and her emerging role as a key intermediary between the U.S. and the EU. Ferraresi also examines the growing power of far-right parties across Europe, their ideological networks, and their influence on EU policies. The episode concludes with an analysis of Trump’s trade policies and their potential impact on both Europe and his domestic base, raising critical questions about the direction of U.S.-EU relations in a shifting global landscape.

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Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan: Can He Really Do It?

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Kitty Calavita, Chancellor’s Professor Emerita of Criminology, Law and Society at the University of California, Irvine, discuss the historical context and implications of Operation Wetback, a 1954 U.S. mass deportation of Mexican immigrants, and its relevance to President-elect Donald Trump's proposed mass deportation plans. Calavita explains that Operation Wetback aimed to address the economic utility of undocumented workers and political backlash against them, particularly during a recession and Cold War rhetoric. She highlights the logistical challenges of such operations, including the integration of immigrants into various industries and the legal protections against random stops. Calavita suggests that while high-profile roundups may occur, a massive deportation campaign is unlikely due to economic and logistical obstacles.

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Middle East on the Brink: Escalation, Diplomacy, and the Search for Stability

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Recent developments in the Middle East have raised concern about the potential for a wider regional war. What do escalating tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond mean for the future? Join RBI Director John Torpey as he discusses the complexities of the contemporary Middle East with Win Dayton, a retired senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beirut. Mr. Dayton shares insights from his decades of diplomatic experience, exploring the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, the challenges of intervention, and the prospects for stability amid growing regional and global pressures.

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Shared Paths: Exploring Jewish and Muslim Experiences in America

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, John Torpey, Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, speaks with sociologists Mucahit Bilici and Samuel Heilman about their book, Following Similar Paths: What Jews and Muslims Can Learn From One Another (University of California Press, 2024). Bilici and Heilman explore how Judaism and Islam, as minority religions in the U.S., share common challenges and cultural adaptations. The discussion dives into topics like religious identity, multiculturalism, and the American experience, while also reflecting on the historical relationship between Jews and Muslims. Tune in to hear how these two groups navigate their religious lives in America and what lessons can be drawn for interfaith understanding today.

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The UN and its Discreet Diplomacy in Peacemaking

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey interviews Bertrand Ramcharan, former top UN diplomat and author of the recent book, The UN Security Council and Its Protective Function (Melrose Legal Publishers, 2024). Ramcharan describes the many instances in which the UN Secretaries-General worked discreetly to secure peace agreements in conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq war, the Cuban missile crisis, and the Russia-Georgia territorial dispute. He argues that these mediations followed three specific strategies: discreet diplomacy, patience, and waiting for the ripeness of conflicts, through which Secretaries-General have deployed their good offices. Ramcharan also proposes using previously successful approaches to address the current conflicts in Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, which involve working with Great Powers instead of lecturing them and appointing envoys whose prestige may enhance the credibility of the UN and facilitate conflict resolution.

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The Far-Right Threat in German Politics: A Discussion with Marcus Böick

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The recent elections in eastern Germany, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the first far-right party to win a parliamentary election at the state level in postwar Germany, raised significant concern internationally about what’s happening in Germany. Should we be concerned?

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey talks with Marcus Böick, assistant professor of history at the University of Cambridge, on the difficulties that have attended the process of unification in Germany since 1989 and their consequences for German politics. Böick addresses the reasons behind the AfD's success and how those in eastern Germany have experienced the process, their dissatisfaction with traditional parties and their migration policies, and their sense of being ignored by the country’s political elites. Böick delves into AfD's radicalization and the charisma of Björn Höcke as a factor in AfD's victory, and the prospects for the election in Brandenburg this weekend, which could further complicate Germany's political landscape at both the state and national levels.

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Are We Experiencing a Crisis of Culture?

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey spoke with Olivier Roy, professor of social and political sciences at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and author of The Crisis of Culture: Identity Politics and the Empire of Norms (Oxford University Press, 2024). Roy argues that neoliberal globalization is dissolving not just subordinate cultures but also dominant ones by undermining the tacit understanding that undergird cultures and demanding that those norms be made explicit.

Moreover, Roy discusses how identity politics has come to supplant the norms once implicit in a broader culture, undermining the possibility that people know how to live in society at all. These development reflect the decline of utopian dreams – for better or worse – and the difficulties involved in maintaining social bonds.

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Notes from the Field: A Personal View of the War on Gaza

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

We start this season of International Horizons with an interview with Dr. Eli Karetny, an American political scientist and administrative director of the Ralph Bunche Institute who spent the last academic year in Israel with his family. The plan was to do research on the Israeli Bedouin in the Negev desert – until the Hamas attacks of October 7 upset those plans. Karetny begins by discussing the changing moods of the Israeli population and the fading of internal divisions after the October 7th attacks in the midst of evacuations and drills. Karetny describes a highly militarized society that more recently has been worried about the expected retaliation from Iran and the possibility of escalation of conflict in the region.

Finally, Karetny discusses the problematic situation of the Bedouins and how the hopes for reconciliation between the Bedouin and Israeli society have been diminished by the Jewish-Arab polarization during the Israeli-Hamas war.

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The Complexities of the EU Parliament Elections

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey spoke with Francesco Ronchi and Udo Zolleis, two European Parliament officials and analysts. With the European Parliament elections taking place shortly after we spoke, they share their insights on the direction that politics in Europe may take in the coming months and years, especially with regard to right-wing nationalist groups. With its unique position as a supranational institution with diverse political parties and the power to elect the president of the Commission, the European Parliament faces important challenges for Europeans to reach consensus in light of war on the continent, immigration, and global economics.

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We Should Not Take the UN For Granted: A Discussion with Abiodun Williams

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In times where conflicts around the globe are an everyday topic, the place of the United Nations in resolving these conflicts is constantly being questioned. In this episode of International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey discusses this issue with Professor Abiodun Williams, Professor of the Practice of International Politics at Tufts University and former Director of Strategic Planning to UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon. A leading analyst of the UN, Williams is also a past Chair of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS).

The conversation is centered on the findings of Williams’ recent book, Kofi Annan and Global Leadership at the United Nations (Oxford University Press, 2024). As a former UN official himself, Williams offers an insider’s point of view on how to improve the UN's conflict prevention efforts, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the organization’s means of preventing conflicts and recruiting talented international civil servants.

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The Social Acceptance of Inequality

Tue, 28 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

On this episode of International Horizons, Francesco Duina, Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology at Bates College and Luca Storti, Associate Professor of Economic Sociology at the University of Turin in Italy and a Research Fellow of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, discuss the rise of inequalities around the globe and the divergent attitudes towards them since 1970. How can those inequalities be broken down?

In this week’s episode, Duina and Storti preview their book-in-progress on The Social Acceptance of Inequality, and they examine four types of logic leading us to accept inequalities in today’s world. Not surprisingly, the concept of meritocracy plays a major role in our thinking about contemporary inequality, although perhaps more so in the United States than in Europe.

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The Climate Crisis as a Problem of Collective Action: A Discussion with Dana Fisher

Sat, 18 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, Professor Dana Fisher, Director of the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE) and Professor in the School of International Service at American University, discusses with RBI Director John Torpey her approach to dealing with the climate crisis. Fisher explains how the climate crisis is really a social crisis for which collective action seems impossible. Fisher further explains the actions of the players involved in resisting the problem of climate change and their interests in doing so. Finally, she explains how important it is to approach change through strong communities and the solid infrastructures that support them.

Fisher is the author of Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action (Columbia UP, 2024).

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What does Biden’s temporary suspension of offensive arms transfers mean for US-Israeli relations?

Mon, 13 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Charles Blaha, a former State Department expert on the vetting of U.S. weapons transfers to other countries, helps us understand this important moment in the Israel-Hamas conflict. After an extended period of tension between U.S President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden has decided to freeze some transfers of weapons to Israel, at least temporarily. In his conversation with RBI director John Torpey, Blaha explains United States law and policy governing weapons transfers, which imposes stringent controls to avoid the misuse of U.S. weaponry. Blaha also discusses the role of the protests on campuses and their doubtful effects on changing American or Israeli policy. Finally, the conversation delves into the overall posture of the United States vis-à-vis arms transfers to Israel.

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The Rhetoric of Crisis in Israel-Palestine: A Discussion with Amos Goldberg

Wed, 01 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

This week, RBI Director John Torpey speaks with Amos Goldberg, Professor of Holocaust History at the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Among other rhetorical aspects of the conflict, Goldberg reflects on the meaning of such slogans as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” They also discuss the question whether Israel is committing genocide and what that means. Finally, the conversation addresses how the conflict might end, an especially appropriate question as the parties seem to be returning to the bargaining table in a serious way.

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Words of Attack: Rhetoric Against Liberal Democratic Values with James McAdams

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

With a presidential campaign in the US just around the corner and populist and authoritarian thinkers gaining broader platforms, University of Notre Dame political scientist A. James McAdams shines a light on the terms being used today by the Far Right to undermine liberal democracy. How successful are these thinkers in changing public views? And how worried should we be about what they are doing? These are among the topics McAdams addresses in his conversation with RBI Director John Torpey.

McAdams' most recent book (co-edited with Samuel Piccolo) is Far-Right Newspeak and the Future of Liberal Democracy (Routledge, 2024).

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Why Should We Preserve Memory of the Holocaust?

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Wojtek Soczewica has led the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation since 2019, near the site of the killing fields. The Foundation aims at the preservation of the remains of the concentration and extermination camp and of all the personal items that belonged to victims and survivors. Today they serve as material witnesses of the tragic history safeguarding “the place of Auschwitz in human memory.” In this episode of International Horizons, he speaks with John Torpey, director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, about the work of the Foundation and its role not only in contemporary Poland but in today’s turmoil. He reflects on the role of memorials and museums and how they serve as mirrors to help us to ask ourselves the difficult questions. Additionally, Soczewica attempts an answer concerning the relationship between politics and history.

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Citizenship Across Time and Space with David Jacobson

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey discusses the past and future of citizenship with David Jacobson, Professor of Sociology at the University of South Florida (Tampa). They discuss the origins of the concept of citizenship in the ancient Near East a few thousand years ago and how kinship notions shape the debate on citizenship even in our own time. In their recent book Citizenship: The Third Revolution (Oxford UP, 2023), Jacobson and his co-author, Manlio Cinalli, turn to the experience of the medieval guilds as an alternative that may help rejuvenate the institution of citizenship today. The conversation closes with a discussion of Jacobson’s project on violence among the Vikings and how the monopolization of the legitimate means of violence contributes to the decline of violence in societies, as Norbert Elias argued that it did.

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How Can We Reach International Consensus on AI Regulation?

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Gabriele Mazzini, a lawyer and officer of the European Commission and expert in AI regulation. Mazzini discusses the means through which European countries have found agreement on the definition of AI and how to regulate it. Moreover, Mazzini stresses that the fears of an apocalyptic AI revolution taking over humankind are not well-grounded. He also comments on the United States case and how it differs from Europe when it comes to regulating AI, acknowledging that there's been big progress in legislation in this area.

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The Pioneering Life of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Manu Bhagavan and Ellen Chesler discuss Bhagavan’s latest book on Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (Penguin, 2023), admired sister of India’s founding Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and a pioneering public servant, diplomat, and women's rights advocate, in her own right. They talk about the Nehru’s privileged upbringing and elite education, their conversion to a Gandhi inspired ascetism, the hardships of repeated jail sentences during the struggle against British colonialism, as well as the many influences on Pandit’s feminist consciousness, including early western role models like Annie Besant and Margaret Sanger.

Their conversation highlights the critical role of the All-India Women's Conference chaired by Pandit in advancing popular critiques of colonialism and inspiring confidence that the country could transition peacefully and move forward successfully on its own. They also discuss Pandit’s impressive diplomatic career after World War II, when she served in many foreign posts, became the first woman president of the UN General Assembly, and was celebrated globally.

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How Democracies Die . . . and How They May Survive with Daniel Ziblatt

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Daniel Ziblatt, Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Harvard University and co-author (with Steven Levitsky) of the bestsellers How Democracies Die (Crown, 2019) and The Tyranny of the Minority (Crown, 2023).

Ziblatt emphasizes the crucial role played by conservative parties that were committed to democracy in the United Kingdom and Germany and reflects on what makes democracy in the United States less prone to backsliding than these and other twentieth-century cases. Focusing on the arguments in The Tyranny of the Minority, Ziblatt discusses the need for profound change in American institutions to “democratize democracy” and make it more resilient. He stresses the vital importance of mobilizing civil society to preserve democracy, of which he sees optimistic signs in the recent American and German past.

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Why is Right-Wing Extremism so Widespread in Italy?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Marla Stone, a historian of Italian fascism at Occidental College, on the resurgence of the far right in Italy. The conversation delves into the origins of this resurgence and how Italy, a fairly homogeneous society, became a recipient of hundreds of thousand migrants, altering the perceptions of threat on Italian citizens that have been successfully instrumentalized by political movements to bring Giorgia Meloni to power. Prof. Stone also discusses the waning of the Italian left, but sees an optimistic future as an increasing number of Italians are promoting diversity.

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"War is what you make of it" with Neta Crawford of Oxford University and the Costs of War Project

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

We begin this new season of International Horizons with an interview by RBI Director John Torpey with Neta Crawford from Oxford University and the Cost of War Project. Prof. Crawford argues that conflict is less lethal than in the past, although the overall costs of war exceed the duration of previous wars in many dimensions. The conversation delves into the possibilities of a conflict with China and Crawford's concern that the U.S's overreaction to the Chinese challenge could be extremely perilous. That said, misperceptions and misconceptions of the so-called "China threat" can be mitigated through diplomatic exchanges. Finally, Professor Crawford discusses the costs of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, arguing that war has both domestic and external causes and consequences – a point that needs to be better understood when we think about war today.

International Horizons is a podcast of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies that brings scholarly expertise to bear on our understanding of international issues. John Torpey, the host of the podcast and director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, holds conversations with prominent scholars and figures in state-of-the-art international issues in our weekly episodes.

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Is Poland Back on Track? The Challenges for the New Government

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI's Director John Torpey interviews Grzegorz Ekiert, Chair of the Center for European Studies at Harvard University, a propós of the recent election in Poland that installed a centrist government led by former prime minister and president of the European Council Donald Tusk. Ekiert starts by discussing the paradoxes behind the support of Putin and the antiliberalism in Eastern Europe given the imperialism these countries faced from the Russians historically.

In addition, Ekiert addressed Poland’s leading role in the democratization and economic development in the region after the end of the Soviet Union and how many of these initiatives were reversed by an authoritarian regime associated with the Catholic church. The interview concludes with a discussion of the challenges that the new government is going to face after the PiS (Law and Justice Party) seriously eroded the institutions of the state; the challenges are illuminated by a comparison of the institutional constraints extremism will face in Europe with those that exist in the US.

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Everyday Life Behind the Berlin Wall

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews historian and journalist Katja Hoyer about her book Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany (Basic Books, 2023). The conversation begins with a discussion of the personal reasons that the author, herself born in the GDR, wanted to cover the untold stories of her native country – which can no longer be found on a map. Hoyer also discusses the rationale behind the relative gender parity that existed in the GDR as compared with West Germany and how the legacy of that gender policy is reflected in today's unified Germany. Hoyer also comments on the controversial reception of the book in Germany and concludes by discussing the ways in which those originally born in East Germany continue to suffer discrimination in social and organizational life in contemporary Germany.

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Israel, Hamas, and American Jews in a Time of War

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of the Forward magazine, about the situation in Israel and Gaza. She notes that Hamas’s incursion into Israel on October 7, 2023, shattered the paradigm of how Israel and even the Arab world understood what Hamas was all about. The result has been a deep sense of shock and mourning among Israelis for those who have lost loved ones or had them taken hostage. At the same time, some Jews reject the massive Israeli response and are protesting against it. Meanwhile, many progressive Jews in the United States have found that their allies in social justice efforts have proven not to be on the same team when Israelis are the targets of violence. Despite all the violence and heartache, it nonetheless appears that the conflict might lead to a political solution – the only one that will allow Israel and the Palestinians to live together on the small strip of the Middle East that they inhabit.

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The US State Department and Ever-Changing Global Politics

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Bill Russo. Assistant Secretary Russo commented on the role of the United States in the ever-changing dynamics of global politics and how it is perceived as a leader in conflict resolution and often called to act as an arbitrator in wars.

Moreover, Assistant Secretary Russo explains how the “dissent channels” in the State Department, which originated during the Vietnam War as a way to offer opportunities for State Department personnel to criticize Department policy, continue to do so in the context of the Israel-Hamas war.

Finally, the Assistant Secretary highlighted the importance of the recruiting process into the Foreign Service to ensure that the ranks reflect the demographic composition of the United States and explained how the democratization of the foreign service has been carried out in the past two decades since Colin Powell was Secretary of State in the early part of the 21st century.

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Hamas, Iran and Israel: The Perils of Overreaction

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, Colin Clarke, director of research at the Soufan Center, discusses the possible trajectories of the Israel-Palestine conflict with RBI director John Torpey. Clarke introduces the linkages of Hamas with Iran and the way in which the Iranian government backs a number of different proxy groups in the Middle East. He argues that Hamas miscalculated the attack on Israel and that Israel’s overreaction (backed by the U.S.) is very dangerous, threatening a wider war in the region. Clarke also comments on the role of the "international community" in all this, as there are no credible brokers to negotiate peace, potentially making the conflict harder to end. Moreover, Clarke contends that Israel acknowledges that it will be criticized internationally no matter what it does; thus, the focus of Israel's policy is on domestic public opinion, which may be backfiring for Netanyahu.

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Woodrow Wilson: Patrick Weil’s "The Madman in the White House"

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Patrick Weil, author of The Madman in the White House: Sigmund Freud, Ambassador Bullitt, and the Lost Psychobiography of Woodrow Wilson (Harvard University Press, 2023). Weil discusses the beginnings of a book published in 1960 by Ambassador William C. Bullitt, who wrote on the mental health of President Woodrow Wilson with the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. Delving into archival research, Weil found that Bullitt and Freud saw Wilson as a neurotic obsessed with his father, whom he both deeply loved and hated, and that the image of his father was later projected into other characters who first were his friends and later his enemies. Bullitt and Freud also found that Wilson had an unconscious bisexual desire that drove his love-hate relationships. Finally, the conversation offers some reflections on the difficulties presidential systems have in screening mentally unfit candidates for their positions and getting rid of them when they seem unable to fulfill their duties.

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From the Invention of the Passport to the Golden Passport

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Kristin Surak, professor at the London School of Economics, about her new book, The Golden Passport: Global Mobility for Millionaires (Harvard University Press, 2023). The conversation starts with the contrast of Torpey’s The Invention of the Passport (Cambridge UP, 2018) and the “golden passport,” which reflects how, in the past three decades, many countries have opened avenues for the wealthy to buy passports and citizenship (aka “citizenship by investment”). Surak discusses the creation of this market and the reasons why some countries are opening these opportunities. Despite not necessarily being attractive citizenship destinations in themselves, there is a hierarchy of citizenships whereby some countries like Turkey can be a citizenship option for citizens with less attractive citizenships such as Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq. Finally, the author delves into the political economy of citizenship for small countries and how it has become a source of revenue for a number of struggling small countries.

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AI, Post-Truth, and Cultural Transformation

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey talks with economists Luciana Lazzaretti and Stefania Oliva of the University of Florence about the role of artificial intelligence in contemporary cultural transformation. The authors discuss the genesis of computer culture from the garages of California hippies who dreamed of a changed world and unexpectedly unleashed the forces of science and art for the sake of entrepreneurship. Moving forward, the authors discuss the nature of a “post-truth” world and how the many faces of reality can converge towards the truth. Finally, Lazaretti and Oliva address the need to foster critical thinking to cope with the threats posed by AI in terms of misinformation and disinformation.

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Resentment: The Complexity of an Emotion and its Effect on Politics

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Rob Schneider, Professor of History at Indiana University-Bloomington, about the political effects of resentment. Schneider begins by discussing the psychological complexity of resentment and then delves into its understanding by other authors such as Nietzsche and its relationship with Catholicism. Moving forward, Schneider discusses how resentment is related to identity politics and how some sectors of the population have been neglected on the basis of the claim that they are privileged. Finally, he elaborates on the making of forgiveness in divided societies and how it is often imposed on some who are not yet ready to forgive.

Schneider is the author of The Return of Resentment: The Rise and Decline and Rise Again of a Political Emotion (U Chicago Press, 2023).

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Should We Be Optimistic About Global Governance?

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviewed Richard Gowan, UN director of the International Crisis Group. Gowan discusses the different views of the UN on the occasion of the annual meeting of the General Assembly. The absence of a number of key figures was widely noted, but most major world leaders, such as Biden, Scholz, and Lula did attend. Gowan also commented on the power dissemination taking place in global governance, as other organizations such as the G20, G7 and BRICS are gaining importance. Finally, Gowan recognized the challenges that the UN General Assembly has in terms of securing the sovereignty of countries, but also acknowledges the role of other actors in hindering conflict.

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Global Inequality: Are We Really Measuring What We Should Be Measuring?

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviewed Jayati Ghosh, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, about different debates surrounding inequality. Ghosh criticizes the flaws in some inequality indicators that are focusing only on measuring how the poor are doing and not on how the rich are getting richer, or other indicators that exaggerate the performance of the poorest vis-a-vis the richest. Other indicators such as nutrition are misleading, she argues, because governments are focusing on what people are eating and not on the outcomes such as body mass index, anemia or diabetes. Moreover, some governments are using statistical legerdemain to enhance their apparent performance. Finally, Professor Ghosh discusses her research on the COVID pandemic and the way pharmaceutical companies deliberately slowed down the process of spreading the vaccine for their own gain. She argues that COVID revealed and accentuated massive inequalities between countries of the Global North and Global South and that the recent increase in grain prices was not caused by the war on Ukraine but by the ability of global agribusiness to manipulate prices.

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India, a Non-Aligned Member of the International System?

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

We kick off our Fall 2023 season of International Horizons with Upendra Choudhury from Aligarh Muslim University discussing the role of India in the contemporary international system. Prof. Choudhury argues that India’s vision of a multipolar world order consists of acting as a balancing mediator between the traditional West and a rising China. In that sense, Choudhury claims that India cannot afford not to participate in different multilateral organizations such as the BRICS+, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and I2U2 because it carries an important role in stabilizing the world order. Choudhury also introduces the three lines of thought in India’s foreign policy, arguing that India can both focus on its domestic problems and increase its power capabilities.

Moreover, Prof. Choudhury explains that India’s stance in the Russian war on Ukraine is not strategic ambiguity. Instead, India is often in the spotlight when it does not align with the West, but its pacifist actions behind the scenes are never appreciated. Finally, he argues that in order to become a global leader, India needs to unify its population around the country’s national project.

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Negotiating Decolonization: The Limits of a Fairy Tale

Tue, 30 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, Valerie Rosoux, Research Director at the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS) discusses the disagreements in the historiography of Belgium's human rights violations during its colonial activities in Congo, and how Belgium's case differs from those of Netherlands and France in coming to terms with their colonial past from the perspective of the elites', religion, and parties. In dealing with these, she argues that had Belgium's politicians known literature and focused on solving the inequalities of the present, they could have been more effective.

Moreover, Rousoux claims that the Black Lives Matter protests informed the narratives around past colonialism and discrimination in Belgium, although Belgium's civil society's claims haven't been completely addressed. Finally, the author analyzes how historical figures such as Victor Hugo are deemed as racists, and the richness of these views outside scholarly paradigms.

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The Whys and Wherefores of Migration

Tue, 23 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, James Hollifield, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Tower Center for Political Studies, Southern Methodist University (SMU), discusses the epistemology of migration studies and delves into some of its foundational works. Hollifield addresses how modern migration regulation is related to the invention of the nation-state and how, in order to understand migration, one needs to study imperial and post-imperial systems. Moreover, Hollifield discusses internal migration, which is an old phenomenon caused mostly by the industrialization of urban centers since the nineteenth century. Finally, Hollifield explains the causes of internal displacement and how it relates to migration, by way of a comparison between the cases of the American continent and that of Europe.

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Algeria and France: Grievances and the Effects of Decolonialism

Thu, 18 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI's director, John Torpey interviewed Laetitia Bucaille about the factors that explain variation in resentment and grievances in former colonies drawing from the cases of Algeria and South Africa. Bucaille delves deeper into the case of Algeria and the affected populations whose identities were crossed cut by institutions and personal experiences as a former colony. Moreover, she explains how Algeria, considered not a colony but a French territory, still implemented discriminating laws against native Algerians who were deemed as second-class citizens. Finally, the author discusses the long-lasting consequences of this decolonization process and how it gets intertwined with politics and anti-Islam narratives in France.

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The Everyday Feminist with Latanya Mapp Frett

Thu, 11 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Equality between the sexes has long been recognized as a fundamental moral and legal objective of the UN, and more recently of many governments and international financial and development institutions. Women's empowerment has long been recognized as essential to the larger development objectives of the UN and the international community. Extensive empirical data from all over the world today informs and supports the thesis that countries and regions just do better when women are educated, formally employed legally secure and politically well represented.

In this episode of International Horizons, Ellen Chesler talks with Latanya Mapp Frett about the effects that investment in women led initiatives have for the world. Mapp Frett is the author of The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact Driving Movements We Need Now More Than Ever (Wiley, 2023)

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What Can China's Identity Politics Tell Us About Affirmative Action?

Mon, 01 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Yan Sun, Professor of Chinese politics at Queens College and the Graduate Center, to discuss the origins of the ethnic divisions in China and their contemporary effects. Yan addresses the imperial administrative system and the historical incorporation of non-core peoples into it. Furthermore, she discusses the complexities of the Uighur, Tibetan, and Mongol claims to autonomy and the role of ethnic elites in their rise. Finally, she explains the role of ethnic assimilation and China's territorial claims in the central government's view of the war on Ukraine and how Western media often portrays China as a monolith without delving into the nuances of Chinese society and domestic politics.

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Why do Transatlantic Relations Matter?

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, we present RBI's director John Torpey's interview with David Gill, General Consul of Germany, in New York to celebrate the 2023 Otto and Frank Walter Memorial Lecture. The conversation goes explaining the term “Zeitenwende” and what that entails for Germans, its history and how the military approach of Germany came to a new era. David Gill also discusses the effects of the historical division East-West in Germany in modern day politics, the position of Germany in the Russian War on Ukraine, the recent events in transatlantic relations and the importance of cooperation between US and Germany. Finally, Gill comments on his personal experiences and views of the United States as a diplomat as he is off to return to his motherland.

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Solving Public Problems with Beth Noveck

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, we present the recording of a book talk by John Torpey, Ralph Bunche Institute director, with Beth Noveck, author of Solving Public Problems: How to Fix our Government and Change our World (Yale University Press, 2021). Noveck begins by underlining that we humans are doing better than ever materially, but we are not doing as well as we must to address the problems we face. The author also talks about the need to address governance to cope with the change we need and the ways in which this can be done through a combination of engaging with communities and training government officials in problem-solving. This training will develop skills to use quantitative and qualitative evidence to source solutions from the citizenry. Noveck also discusses some examples of these practices in Iceland, Canada, and the State of New Jersey and the ways in which AI can help to streamline governance and participatory democracy.

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Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right but... US Lies and Media Reporting in the 2003 Iraq War

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, journalist and UN director of Human Rights Watch Louis Charbonneau describes the US's government misinformation campaign to justify its invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its aftermath. Charbonneau also discusses the role of media in the lack of questioning of the information they were spreading and contrasts it with the right practices journalists should conduct in their reporting. Finally, the interviewee talks about the consequences of lies from an official source in the spread of fake news, and how the government's actions in 2002 are being used by Russia to respond to the US's criticisms of its invasion of Ukraine.

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The Role of Global South Women in Shaping Global Governance

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, Ellen Chesler interviews Rebecca Adami and Fatima Sator, editor and co-author of Women and the UN: A New History of Women's International Human Rights (Routledge, 2022) that debunks the myth that the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were Western male-dominated inventions. Moreover, the authors discuss how women did not act as a unified bloc in the first chapters of global governance, and that it has been women from the Global South such as Marie Sivomey from Togo, Jaiyeola Aduke Moore from Nigeria, Jeanne Martin Cissé from Guinea, Aziza Hussein from Egypt, Artati Marzuki from Indonesia, and Carmela Aguilar from Peru, Bertha Lutz from Brazil and Minerva Bernardino from Dominican Republic who were the main drivers of feminism in the early stages of the UN.

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Birth Rates and the Future of Social Movements: A Discussion with Jack Goldstone

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

"The world's future will depend on Africa having a good future."

This week on International Horizons, Jack Goldstone, Virginia E. and John T. Hazel, Jr. Chair Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University and a Global Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center, discusses the role of age and demographics of social movements in the twenty-first century. Goldstone speculates about the possibilities of regime change in China associated with the role of the youth and their discontent with governments that are losing performance legitimacy, and the possibilities for a slight rise in authoritarianism in India as the growth of the working-age population slows. Goldstone also suggests why Africa will be the great resource of youth for the entire world for the next 20 years, despite the fact that the talent of young Africans is being held back by government corruption and ineffectiveness.

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Bauman, Virtuosos, Liquid Love and the Refugee Crisis in Eastern Europe

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of International Horizons, we are joined by Izabela Wagner of the Institute of Sociology at the Collegium Civitas in Warsaw and Fellow at The French Collaborative Institute on Migration in Paris. She discusses the sociological factors behind the success of virtuoso musicians and on the social pre-conditions of professional excellence. Wagner also delves into the life of Zygmunt Bauman, his works, and how to understand his innovative theories such as the notion of a newly "liquid" world that followed the solidity of twentieth-century society. Finally, Wagner discusses her reasons for using biographical approach to social life and the latest developments in the refugee crisis in Poland, in which the government has selectively supported Ukrainians while neglecting to help people from other nationalities now awaiting admission on the border with Belarus.

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Why Should Cultural Heritage Be Protected?

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Where people are killed and abused in warfare and violent conflict, artifacts of cultural heritage are often destroyed and mistreated as well. Indeed, in the World War II-era efforts to promote the then-novel idea of genocide, the Polish lawyer and activist Raphael Lemkin sought to codify the notion that genocide was both personal and cultural. What has come of his efforts?

In this episode of International Horizons, we are joined by Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and former Bulgarian ambassador to France and Monaco, who discusses the reasons why cultural heritage should be defended and preserved. Bokova provides different examples of how terrorist groups have destroyed ancient cultural heritage, the evolution of the legal frameworks to protect it, and how -- despite the disregard for international law these days -- the protection of cultural heritage is evolving.

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Where is the Left? The Rise and Decline of Social Democratic Movements

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, David Abraham from the University of Miami discusses the origins of social democratic parties in Europe and the parallels with similar movements in the US. Following his teacher Adam Przeworski, Abraham argues that Keynesianism boosted social democracy by convincing people that the state could manage economic growth. For a time, the iron curtain heightened solidarity in the West, including among social democrats. More recently, social democratic politics has been tempered by liberal movements focusing on “diversity” rather than on class inequality. While noting that there are troublesome signs of growing authoritarianism around the world, Abraham argues that the Trump movement is not comparable with historical fascism.

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A Left Turn? The Politics of Latin America Today

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, RBI director John Torpey interviews Prof. Enrique Desmond Arias, a professor of political science at Baruch College and the Graduate Center, about recent developments in Latin American politics. Arias delves into Peru's recent political unrest and how it resembles the times of Fujimori's authoritarianism and discusses the origins of polarization in the politics of Brazil. Arias also assesses the overall political situation of Latin America and highlights four phenomena: military and police repression addressed disproportionately to historically marginalized groups (not necessarily staging coups), the complacency of some political groups about authoritarianism, people’s unhappiness about governments that don't deliver, and, finally, the efforts of some governments to restore and strengthen democracy.

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Contextualizing the Iranian Protests: The Role of Women in Leading the Change

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Western sanctions have slowed Iran's economy, causing protests against the absence of freedom and opportunities -- teachers their lack of pay; farmers their lack of water; retirees their fear of economic insecurity. But at the heart of this powerful new movement has been Iran's women, whose frustration with Iran’s misogynist theocracy had been mounting for four decades.

This week on International Horizons, RBI Research Associate Ellen Chesler is joined by Mahnaz Afkhami, former Minister of Women's Affairs in Iran, and Kelly Shannon, Associate Professor of History at Florida Atlantic University, to discuss the rise of the women's movement in Iran. The interviewees describe how the different interpretations of the Quran have influenced politics and the role women play in Muslim societies, the prospects of the protests in Iran, and the importance of collective action in bringing about change.

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How Did the Pandemic Transform Workers and Work?

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The pandemic brought to the fore a group of workers deemed “essential” – frontline healthcare workers, restaurant employees, slaughterhouse workers, and the like – who often faced a difficult choice between risking their health to work or forgoing income that they couldn’t afford to do without. Often, they had to work even though they couldn’t afford health insurance – or health care themselves if they got sick, another sign of the inadequacy of our health care arrangements. How did the pandemic transform workers and work?

This week on International Horizons, Professor John Torpey talks to Jamie McCallum from sociology at Middlebury College about the shift in conditions for essential workers across the globe during the pandemic and how that affected the whole world's labor movement. McCallum discusses the variations of these effects in different regions and how exceptionally the US behaved during the pandemic in terms of labor protection. Finally, the author discusses whether labor unrest can be pushed for larger systemic change.

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Involution and Negative Equilibrium: Explaining the Ongoing Conflict in the Congo

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey is joined by Jason Stearns, assistant professor of international studies at Simon Fraser University, who discusses how the Congolese government is invested in conflict on its territory. Stearns traces the current conflict back to the Belgian colonial heritage that created an ethnic disbalance in the population that was then exploited by the authoritarian leader, Mobutu Sese Seko, to maintain power. It later triggered the regional invasion of Congo in which the territory was divided between neighboring countries until the country was finally reunified in 2003. When former rebels lost power in a democratic process and tried to regain it through military means, neighboring countries scrambled to profit from extraction and influence. This left little incentive to put an end to the conflict, and forced the incumbent president to side with the military establishing a system of clientelistic networks in order to stay in power. Finally, Stearns comments on how aspects of this system can be seen in other countries, and how Congolese view the international attention on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in light of this ongoing conflict.

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Is China's Communist Party Threatened by the Protests?

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This week, RBI Director John Torpey talked with William Hurst, Professor of Political Science at Cambridge University, about the origins of the protests in China, how they differ from those in 1989, and the possibilities of regime change. Hurst delves into the mobilization and contentious politics of China and its local-central interplay, where protesters act as rational actors who use different strategies of bargaining and signaling. Moreover, Hurst addresses the implications of Xi Jinping's consolidation of power for the economic model of China and the prospects of change in the near future. Finally, Hurst discusses the outlawing of extramarital and same-gender sex in Indonesia and the role of religion in politics.

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Protests in Iran: Maybe not the Tocqueville Paradox

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In mid-September of this year, a young Iranian woman named Mahsa Amini died under suspicious circumstances after her arrest by the morality police for improperly covering her hair. Her death set off a huge wave of protests across Iran – the biggest in many years. The protesters’ rallying cry was “Women, Life, Freedom,” and women have indeed taken a prominent role in the demonstrations that followed Amini’s death.

This week on International Horizons, John Torpey talks with Ali Ansari about the protests in Iran, their ideological basis, and the interplay between state and religion in the desires of the population. Moreover, Ansari discusses the reasons why Iran supports Russia in the war on Ukraine, and how this support has boosted the attention on the protests, converting them into a transnational phenomenon. Ansari also compares the health of the Iranian and the Chinese regimes in the middle of the protests and concludes that the dire social and economic situation of the Iranian people has made them fearless and defiant of the status quo, whereas China's CCP has more leverage.

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What will be the Role of Europe in the Changing World Order?

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The transatlantic relationship, arguably the bedrock of the world’s post-World War II international security architecture, came under significant threat during Donald Trump’s tenure in office, as Trump complained about European untrustworthiness and talked about pulling the United States out of NATO. Yet in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the transatlantic relationship has widely been seen to recover its strength and to grow in military terms as Sweden and Finland are on a path to become NATO members. What is the state of the transatlantic relationship and why does it matter?

This week on International Horizons, former State Secretary of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, joins John Torpey to discuss European security policy and transatlantic relations in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine. He discusses the motivations that led Putin into the war in Ukraine, as he saw an opportunity after the US withdrawal from the Middle East and doubts about NATO. Gabriel delves into the possibilities of a negotiated outcome in Russia’s war in Ukraine, and analyzes the future prospects of geopolitical competition, where the US will look at the Pacific and will operate under systems of alliances and shared military burdens instead of subsidizing the security system of the West. Finally, Gabriel argues that China is often overestimated, and that a potential strategy for the US and Europe could be to offer alternatives to the Belt and Road Initiative, as China is now coping with domestic economic difficulties.

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What is the Future of Populism?

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The world's wealthier countries have in recent years faced challenges from right-wing populist parties and movements that may rejuvenate origins from relatively far in the past, such as in the case of Italy, or they may constitute new formations disturbingly reminiscent of earlier movements of their kinds. So, for example, the Alternative for Germany, in Germany. So where does populism go from here?

This week on International Horizons, Umut Korkut from Glasgow Caledonian University discusses the goals and findings of the D.Rad De-Radicalization project in Europe and why and how people become radicalized from being alienated from the rest of society. Korkut also delves into other causes of radicalization, such as educational policies and political literacy gap and the manipulation by the elites. He goes on to discuss the nuances of populism in Europe and its variations in the imaginary of people. Finally, he argues that, because of trauma of recent events, voters are paralyzed and cannot see different political alternatives, which is applicable to the American, European, and Turkish cases.

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Can We Square the Circle? Universalism Versus Communitarianism

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The political Left has long faced tension regarding its universalistic commitments and those to the nation it inhabits. The dilemma is captured succinctly in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen that articulated leftist or progressive devotion to both man in the historic collective sense of human beings, as well as to the fellow members of a particular political community at the time of the French Revolution. That older tension persists at the same time that the left has increasingly today become associated with identity politics and such phenomena. So how can the Left square this circle between universalism and its own national community?

In this episode of International Horizons, Emmanuel Dalle Mulle and Ivan Serrano authors of “Universalism Within: The Tension between Universalism and Community in Progressive Ideology”, discuss the concept and importance of universalism and how it is closely related to the conception of nation-states, creating a tension of values where the clashes between educated and non-educated translate into right-wing politics. Moreover, they explain the relationship between identity politics and universalism, and how the working class has shifted within politics in Europe and the United States.

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Observations about the Hard-Won Wisdom of Old Age

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000

The world's population has just passed the 8 billion mark and an increasing proportion of those people are old, including increasingly the so-called "old old" in their 90s and beyond. Indeed, never before have so many older people inhabited the planet. Are we prepared for them? Given the inevitable medical and health challenges that accompany old age, are we ready to take care of all those people? We also need to know how people experience old age. Are you really just as old as you feel?

In this episode of International Horizons David Troyansky from the History departments of Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center, CUNY refers to the demographics of aging and the causes of the unprecedented disproportion of the amount old with respect to younger generations. Troyansky also discusses how older individuals’ perspectives can inform research on aging, and whether the intergenerational gap between old and youngsters may (or may not) yield to conflict. Finally, the author addresses sexuality issues in aging people and why it is seen as taboo.

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A Most Similar Comparison: The Authoritarianism of Poland and Hungary with Edit Zgut-Przybylska

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000

The leadership of Hungary and Poland seemingly shared the same playbook when it came to undermining judicial independence, consolidating electoral power, regulating media ownership and enacting laws against LGBTQ rights and abortion. They also work together to push back against the European Union's efforts to sanction member states pursuing illiberal reforms. However, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Poland has embraced Ukrainian refugees and promoted EU sanctions against Russia, while Hungary has taken a softer stance towards Russia, what are the prospects for these islands of illiberalism within the wider European democratic project?

This week on International Horizons. Edit Zgut-Przybylska from the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and vice president of Amnesty International Hungary, shares her insights about Hungarian and Polish authoritarianism. Zgut-Przybylska presents Orban's definition of Illiberal democracy and how it is intended to disseminate an image of a decaying West. She explains how Russia’s war on Ukraine is framed differently in Poland and Hungary. Moreover, she discusses the Polish and Hungarian leadership’s efforts to portray the EU and Germany as the perpetrators of economic deterioration. Finally, she discusses how Poland and Hungary are getting around Brussels’ laws and its consequences, which include freezing EU funds.

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What is the Role of Minorities in the Modern State?

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000

The existence of minorities has been an unavoidable reality of the creation of nation states that almost always have a dominant national group inscribed in their names. From this perspective, Germany is a country for Germans and Australia is a country for Australians. But there are invariably others who don't fit the heritage or the stereotype of German or Italian, or Australian, or whatever the country might be. So how do we deal with the reality that minorities are a normal feature of basically all countries of the world?

In this episode of International Horizons, UN Special Rapporteur for Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes discusses the job of special rapporteurs on the field, the conceptual evolution of the word minority, how the existence of minority groups in a state can provoke both political turmoil and peaceful coexistence. de Varennes also explains the role of international organizations in the protection of minorities and the new surge in populist nationalism in which minorities are targeted as the enemies of the society. Finally, he presents cases of countries that have embraced diversity and became stable and just societies.

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How to Avoid More Damage from the Russian War on Ukraine

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000

The Western coalition supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia has so far been thought to be solid and reliable, but there may be vulnerabilities in that support. Even as Russia seems to be in disarray on the battlefield and elsewhere, it's been believed all along that Vladimir Putin would use his control over oil and gas resources on which Europe depends to assert leverage over the West in the conflict and heating costs are indeed rising just as the cold weather is descending. The US is less affected by the vicissitudes of energy supplies, but it is hardly immune to these concerns either.

This week on International Horizons, Marcus Stanley from Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft discusses the attitudes of Americans towards the war on Ukraine and how they seem to be more concerned with inflation than the war. Stanley also delves into the challenges of reaching an agreement between Russia and Ukraine and the possible solutions where mediation seems the only way out. He also warns about the need for intervention before an escalation with devastating consequences for Ukrainians and effects on the US and NATO, the prospects of winter without gas in Europe, and the consequences for Russia of the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline.

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Is Italy Going Fascist Again? What to Expect from Meloni with Andrea Mammone

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Italy has just held an election in which it appears that a far-right candidate from a post Fascist Party has won, and his leader will become the next prime minister of the country. What's happening in Italy? What does this election tell us about wider developments in Europe today?

In this episode of International Horizons, Andrea Mammone from Sapienza University of Rome explains the linkages of Giorgia Meloni's party, Brothers of Italy with Fascism and the dynamics of 2022 elections, marked by a generational shift from Berlusconi's leadership. Moreover, Mammone discusses how the victory for the far-right reflects the failure of the Center and Center-Left to consolidate durable coalitions, and the paradox that a more forward-thinking left has not been able to present a woman for elections. Finally, the author discusses the implications of this election for Europe, how the EU has legitimized with their speeches the extreme-right movements in Europe and the challenges that Meloni will face in the economic realm where immigrants can no longer be used as a scapegoat for the problems of Italy.

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Quo Vadis Britannia? Where is Britain Going?

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000

The United Kingdom has experienced a number of epochal transitions of late, starting with its departure from the European Union in early 2020, and more recently, the replacement of the chaotic conservative leader Boris Johnson by former Foreign Minister Liz Truss, and soon thereafter the passing of Queen Elizabeth after some seven decades on the British throne. In the aftermath of these developments, questions have been raised about the coherence of the United Kingdom, its relationship to Europe, and indeed its standing in the world. Quo Vadis, Britannia? Where is Britain going?

This week on International Horizons, Adrian Favell discusses this transitional moment in British history and more specifically how the changing economy and demography of the UK help explain support for Brexit. Moreover, he challenges the assumption that Brexit support came from “the working class,” as it has more to do with identity politics. Finally, Favell explains the implications of Queen Elizabeth’s death for the future of British nationhood.

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Sri Lanka: Meet the New Dynast, Same as the Old Dynast

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Sri Lanka has recently endured tremendous political and economic turmoil with severe shortages of goods and fuel leading to the ouster of the sitting president. After Gotabhaya Rajapaksa fled the country in disgrace, he was replaced by another dynastic heir, Ranil Wickremesinghe. While much has changed in the once war-torn island nation, much has stayed the same.

In this episode, Farzana Haniffa, Professor of Sociology at University of Colombo, speaks with John Torpey, Presidential Professor of History and Sociology and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at Graduate Center, CUNY, about the events that led to massive protests and a coup d’état in Sri Lanka, including the deterioration of the economy caused by COVID and Sri Lanka’s reliance on tourism and remittances and the long reign of the Rajapaksas. Haniffa also discusses how the government is prosecuting and attacking protesters and incarcerating them without trial to instill fear as they did during the Civil War, and how Sri Lankans are responding with anti-polarization protests.

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Closer to a Standstill on Ukraine: Time for Decision

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 13:21:00 -0000

Six months after Russia's attack on Ukraine, the country celebrated its Independence Day on August 24. The Russians seem to have expected that their conquest of Ukraine would be over quickly after a “shock and awe”-style assault, but instead, the Ukrainians have held out unexpectedly against Russian power. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has now lasted over six months, with many thousands of people, soldiers, and civilians, dead on both sides of the conflict, millions displaced, and no end in sight. What can we expect from the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict? We open this season of International Horizons with former US Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Popadiuk

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The Role of Religion in Shaping Political Views, Especially on Abortion

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:28:00 -0000

As was widely feared or hoped might happen, the Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs. Wade, reversing almost 50 years of a constitutional right to abortion. The major driver of attitudes on abortion turns out to be religion. How does religion shape the discussion about political issues worldwide? In this episode of International Horizons, sociologist Amy Adamczyk of CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice discusses the role of religion in determining people’s attitudes on a range of issues such as abortion and homosexuality. From a global perspective, we also discuss the peculiarities of religiosity in the United States, which is an outlier because of its relatively high levels of religiosity compared to other wealthy democracies.. Adamczyk also discusses the intersection between religion, abortion and LGTBQ+ issues, considering that the world has become widely accepting of sexual diversity in the past 20 years. Finally, the conversation revolves around Adamcyzk's most recent co-authored book Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation, which addresses the factors that make children religious.

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Achievements and Challenges of LGBTQ+ People

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 12:49:00 -0000

This is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the increased visibility, dignity and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people around the world. There have been many advances in the rights of sexual minorities in recent decades such as decriminalizing same-sex relationships, banning discrimination in employment and housing and, of course, legalizing same-sex marriage. Yet there's also been a conservative backlash in many countries and growing controversy over care for transgender teens in the US and Europe. Where does the struggle for LGBTQ rights around the world stand today? In this episode, John Torpey, Presidential Professor of Sociology and History at the Graduate Center and director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, talks to LGBT activist Adrian Coman about the clashes between domestic laws and those of the European Union, the challenges of LGBT activism, how politicians instrumentalize homophobia to stay in power, the controversy over trans teens, and the key issues to be addressed in order to increase inclusion.

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How is American Exceptionalism Reflected in Sports?

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:09:00 -0000

The US women's soccer team recently reached a deal with the owners of American Professional Soccer for pay equity with the men. It was noted that the women's soccer teams in the United States were more successful on the international stage and were generating considerable revenue for investors, and yet women had been on the short end of the stick when it came to paying for their work. Meanwhile, international men's soccer has been plagued by scandal in recent years, undermining the image of the sport for many people. So what's going on out on the soccer pitch? This week, Andrei Markovits, Professor of comparative politics and German studies at the University of Michigan, talks with Ralph Bunche Institute Director and Graduate Center Presidential Professor John Torpey about the comparative history of sports in Europe and the United States and how soccer was crowded out from the hegemonic sports space in the U.S. The conversation covers the rise of soccer in the US, the way in which soccer is a "catholicized" institution and the implications that pay equity has for the sport.

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We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know About Africa

Mon, 30 May 2022 14:54:00 -0000

Africa has grown economically in recent years in such a way that many of its populations now enjoy both the benefits and the drawbacks of a middle class western lifestyle. Yet it is also growing rapidly in demographic terms due to the combination of high fertility and lower mortality, raising questions about employment and development generally. What does the future of the continent look like? This week RBI Director John Torpey talks with Ebenezer Obadare, Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow in Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the current situation in Africa. The conversation covers Africa’s experience with COVID, the influence of China and Russia on the continent and why they represent a threat to the established order, why Africa suffers from state weakness, the demographic situation and the lack of opportunities for youth, and finally the religious dimension of contemporary African politics.

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Depoliticization of International Organizations

Mon, 23 May 2022 12:41:00 -0000

International organization,s whose activities unavoidably have political consequences, nonetheless have a well-earned reputation for being apolitical or depoliticized. Why, when so much of what they do seems intrinsically political? Is that reputation for being apolitical a good thing? What are the consequences of the de-politicization of such organizations? This week, RBI director John Torpey talked with Marieke Louis and Lucile Maertens about the trending depoliticization of international organizations and its effects for achieving results and enhancing cooperation. The discussion covers the causes of depoliticization, its framing in comparison to past years, the dangers of politicizing certain issues and not informing policy on science, and how depoliticization may end up protecting the status quo

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The Polish Response to the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis with Rand Richards Cooper

Thu, 19 May 2022 12:09:00 -0000

Some 12 million Ukrainians – a quarter of the population -- have been forced to flee their homes or their country as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Millions are concentrated in Poland as well as in other countries in the region: Romania, Hungary, Moldova, Finland, Germany and elsewhere. How are they faring as refugees? This week on International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey speaks with Rand Richards Cooper, a journalist, editor and writer, about his recent trip to visit Ukrainian refugees in Poland alongside magician Bill Herz. In addition to anecdotes from the magic shows and his interviews, Cooper describes the extraordinary Polish response to the refugee influx, the varied refugee experience, how the war has divided families, and the long shadow of World War Two.

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Propaganda, Protest, and Repression in Russia: An Insider’s Look

Mon, 09 May 2022 12:41:00 -0000

How do Russians feel about the war in Ukraine? What information are they getting about the war? What about the reports of people leaving, especially people in the tech world, but certainly in other fields as well? Are Russians protesting the war? Or has there been too much repression and disinformation for them to want to do that? In this episode, RBI director John Torpey discusses with Institute of Urban and Regional Research’s Anna Zhelnina about the evolution of protests in Russia and how the new legislation has allowed the government to quell them and how the repressive machine has evolved. Moreover, Zhelnina outlines how Russians are responding to the polls in support (or opposition) to the war, and how many Russians are fleeing the country, the way in which artists and common citizenry manage to silently protest the war and finally, the pessimistic view that there is not best replacement for Putin.

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How the Invasion of Ukraine is Transforming Europe and Transatlantic Relations

Mon, 02 May 2022 18:17:00 -0000

This week, International Horizons showcases an interview by RBI and EU Studies Center director John Torpey with political scientist Ivan Krastev about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will affect the balance of power in Europe, transatlantic relations, and the future of democracy. How does the war change existing political divisions, and what should the role of NATO of the U.S. government be? This event took place on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, as the Otto and Fran Walter Memorial Lecture, organized by the EU Studies Center of the Ralph Bunche Institute and by Graduate Center Presents public programs. Ivan Krastev is chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, Bulgaria, and permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna, as well as an author and contributor to the NY Times Opinion page.

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The China Threat is not Existential, but it is Significant

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:17:00 -0000

This week on International Horizons, RBI Director John Torpey talks with Andrew Nathan about the extreme paranoia of the U.S China policy during the Trump administration, whether China poses a threat to the liberal order, what Chinese are perceiving of the U.S, how Chinese are pursuing a multilateral world, and how ill-advised war on Ukraine is enhancing U.S. power outreach and what China is doing about it.

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How did Orban win a Fourth Term? Illiberal Democracy in Hungary

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 13:05:00 -0000

Hungary's Viktor Orban, the originator of the notion of illiberal democracy, has now been re-elected for four more years as Prime Minister of Hungary. This is on top of the 12 years that have preceded this election, and a previous stint as prime minister. This time he won with a supermajority that allows his party to revise the Constitution unilaterally. How did he do it? What can we expect from the ruler whom many regard as the greatest threat to democracy and Eastern Europe other than Russia? What will the EU do? This week, RBI director John Torpey talks to San Diego State University Professor and corruption scholar David Jancsics about the recent victory of Victor Orban after twelve years in office and how this time he has managed to amass more power than ever before. Jancsics discusses the Hungarian state as a “monopoly of corruption” where Orban has created a network of clientielism and loyalties that maintains him in power while giving the impression of legitimacy. Additionally, Jancsics unveils how the war in Ukraine has served Orban’s electoral strategy of enhancing the rhetoric of “us and them,” where the outer world creates threats against which the only stable protection is Orbanism.

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The War in Ukraine and its Consequences for the Global Food Supply

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 13:46:00 -0000

This week, RBI director John Torpey talks with Catherine Bertini, top expert in food security issues and former director of the UN World Food Programme about the War in Ukraine’s consequences for the world’s supply, the decisive actors, how is all related to price increases, the main victims of a food shortage, the violence that this can carry, and how through dietary alternatives and the relocation of crops the world can cope with the effects of this shortage.

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Why is the War on Ukraine Decisive for the Future of the West?

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 12:58:00 -0000

This week, RBI director John Torpey talks to Metin Hakverdi, member of the German Bundestag, about the political momentum of Germany, the global implications of the defense budget increase, the revival of WW2 memories in the psyche of Germans that are witnessing the war in Ukraine, the role of the West as a bloc, and how the Western response of this war is decisive for the liberal order and the stability of national borders.

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What You Probably Haven’t Heard about Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:25:00 -0000

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a military stalemate, perhaps soon to be called a quagmire, and a humanitarian crisis of a magnitude last seen by Europeans during World War Two. NATO leaders are preparing for a long conflict and one that may involve chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Russians are fleeing their country or resigning their official posts out of opposition to the war or remorse for their roles in it. Thousands have been arrested in Russia for their opposition to the war. What comes next after the NATO Summit and the plans to strengthen troop deployments to NATO's eastern flank at the very borders of Russia? This week on International Horizons, John Torpey, RBI Director, talks to Kadri Liik, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, about the prospects for ending the war in Ukraine, the possible end of Putinism, the risks of an economic crisis in the West as a result of energy shortages, how Russia is becoming even more repressive than the Soviet Union, and how its economy is moving backwards.

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Resistance and Democratic Resilience in Myanmar and Ukraine

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 12:35:00 -0000

A military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 and subsequent humanitarian crisis have largely fallen off the Western media’s news headlines, especially as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has captured attention in recent weeks. What is the current situation of the democratically elected government of Myanmar and the oppression of the Rohingya minority? What are the similarities between the military coup in Myanmar and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022? How can the world address the crises of these two would-be democracies? Marcus Brand, International IDEA’s Head of Programme for Myanmar and former UN Development Programme Ukraine Director, speaks with Ralph Bunche Institute Director John Torpey about the parallels between the military coup in Myanmar and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including unexpected resistance, humanitarian crises and massive refugee flows, and possible optimism about what it means for the future of democracy.

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Lessons from Previous Conflicts for the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0000

How might efforts to end previous conflicts inform the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine? Why was U.S intervention in Afghanistan a failure? What role can the UN play in conflict mediation? What is China’s stance on the Russian invasion? This week, RBI director John Torpey talks with Professor Daisaku Higashi of Tokyo’s Sophia University about his book Inclusivity in Mediation and Peacebuilding: The UN, Neighboring States and Global Powers and his extensive research on conflict to draw lessons for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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It is Not Irrational. It’s About Putin’s Legacy: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 13:19:00 -0000

What is Putin’s mental state? Is the invasion a legitimate response to NATO expansion? This week, RBI director John Torpey talks to Queens College Professor Julie George about the real motives behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the role of NATO and the U.S. in the invasion, the views of Russians and Ukrainians about the war, Putin’s miscalculations of the world’s reaction, and the prospects of nuclear weapons being deployed in the conflict.

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Gender Equality as an Essential Element in Securing Peace and Prosperity

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 16:34:00 -0000

Ellen Chesler talks with former director of UNIFEM Noeleen Heyzer about what was to be a woman in leadership, the constraints of advancing an agenda for women, how bureaucracies can be converted into communities of mutual aid, the legacy of Beijing’s 1995 Conference on Women and how UN’s principles of peace and human rights are not enough in preventing violence, corruption and exclusion.

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Forging the Hollywood Industry: China-US Competition for Soft Power

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0000

What do the patches in Tom Cruise’s jacket tell us about China? Are different features and problematiqués of movies being shaped by China? What do Chinese viewers’ preferences tell us about the role of the US in the world? How successful is the Chinese version of Hollywood in attracting people’s around the world? This week, RBI director John Torpey talks with Erich Schwartzel about the past, present and future of the Chinese film industry and markets and how it is all related to soft power. You can listen to it on iTunes here, on Spotify here, or on Soundcloud below. You will find a transcript of the episode here or below.

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What Populism Really is: Framings and Misunderstandings

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 12:39:00 -0000

In the United States and Europe we live today in what seems to be a sea of populism; some on the left, some on the right, some outside of that spectrum, seemingly. The term is certainly ambiguous. What is populism? What is driving the popularity of populism today? And why is it doing better in some places than others? This week, RBI director John Torpey interviewed Jan-Werner Müeller about the increasing (mis)framing of populism as a political program and how leaders of both left-wing and right-wing parties may be labeled as populists. Müeller also discusses the perils for democracy that our understanding of populism entails and the centrality of "cultural wars" for all populisms.

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Humans, Turning Food into Health Hazard: "Diet for a Small Planet" at 50

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 14:12:00 -0000

How is power linked to the way we eat? Has inequality boosted the amount of unhealthy food we consume? How have things changed since Diet for a Small Planet was first published in the early 1970s? This week on “International Horizons,” RBI Director John Torpey talks with Frances Moore Lappé about the politics of food and how the way we eat interacts with structures of power – and what we can do about changing that for the better.

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Pragmatism or ideology? A Historical Perspective on the Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:41:00 -0000

How are Russia and Ukraine tied historically? What are the narratives around the national identity of Ukrainians in relation to Russia? How is contemporary Russian nationalism linked to the collapse of the Soviet Union and Putin’s perception of those events? Could the United States have prevented a revanchist Russia by adopting a less aggressive policy towards transition in the 90s? Susan Smith-Peter, Russia expert and Professor of History at the College of Staten Island, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the intertwined histories of Russia and Ukraine on the current tensions between the two countries.

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Ibn Khaldun’s The Muqadimah: The Best Book You’ve Never Read

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:06:00 -0000

Ibn Khaldun, the late 14th century statesman and historian, is regarded as one of the earliest social scientists on the strength of his classic, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History. The book catalogues the political, social, and historical trends in Arab, Berber, Persian, and European civilizations in the Middle Ages and recalls Aristotle’s Politics in its encyclopedic treatment of social and political life. Yet regardless of its contributions to the humanities, it has been largely forgotten in modern times. Aziz Al-Azmeh, University Professor Emeritus at the Central European University, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the life, ideas, and significance of Ibn Khaldun and the Muqaddimah.

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Can the Human Rights Regime Survive a New World Order? The Past & Future of the Human Rights Agenda

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 15:39:00 -0000

How has the human rights movement developed into the international force that it is today? What ideological and material factors shaped its development? How successful are human rights activists and institutions in reducing human rights violations in sovereign countries? And, finally, where do we go from here? George Andreopoulos, Professor of Political Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and at the Graduate Center, CUNY, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the division on human rights between the global North and global South, the complications around setting legal norms for such complex problems, and the discussion on whether human rights is a Western construct. Transcript: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/12/13/can-the-human-rights-regime-survive-a-new-world-order-the-past-future-of-the-human-rights-agenda/

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You Wish Them a Good Day: Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Information

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 15:38:00 -0000

Are we in the golden age of conspiracy theories? How can society respond to dangerous theories, such as COVID conspiracy theories and misinformation, that create wide-spread dangers to society? Can, or should, conspiracy theories be ‘deprogrammed’ from society, or would that create a potential for states to intervene in people’s thinking in a way that we would find overreaching? Joseph Uscinski, Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the psychological conditions underlying support for conspiracy theories, the existence of QAnon, and the role of the media in aggrandizing such theories. Transcript: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/12/06/you-wish-them-a-good-day-conspiracy-theories-in-the-age-of-information-with-joseph-uscinski/

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The Crisis On The Poland-Belarus Border

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 17:18:00 -0000

What is behind the current standoff over refugees trying to enter Poland from Belarus? Why is the EU supporting Poland’s position? Have asylum seekers become pawns of regional powers seeking political and economic advantage? Nick Micinski, assistant professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Maine, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the situation at the Polish/Belarusian border and the politics of migration in and around the countries of the European Union. You can find a copy of the transcript on our website: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/11/22/the-crisis-on-the-poland-belarus-border-with-nick-micinski/

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How UN Peacekeeping Failures Shape Peace Processes

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:21:00 -0000

Why would warring parties turn to the UN, even when they don't have an interest in guaranteeing peace? Have rebel groups learned to manipulate the UN peace process to further their military goals? How can peace keeping missions adapt their approaches to better accomplish their goals? Anjali Dayal, assistant professor of international politics at Fordham University, talks to RBI Fellow Jenna Russo about her new book Incredible Commitments: How UN Peacekeeping Failures Shape Peace Processes and how peacekeeping dynamics have evolved over time. You can find the book here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/incredible-commitments/42CBF9FB8770469896CA1F72E352D8AA You can find a transcript of the episode here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/11/15/how-un-peacekeeping-failures-shape-peace-processes-with-anjali-dayal/

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The Coup In Sudan From Reform To Resistance

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 15:06:00 -0000

What conditions led to the recent coup in Sudan? Has the international community’s response had a significant impact on the Sudanese regime? Will changing international and regional power dynamics affect domestic politics and international pressures on Sudan? Mohamed Osman, Researcher in Human Rights Watch's Africa division, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the coup in Sudan, civil society’s response, and efforts to find a solution to the ongoing crisis.

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Opening Pandora’s Box

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 14:32:00 -0000

Is legally avoiding taxes a smart thing to do, or is it dodging one’s social responsibility? Does tax avoidance treat the law as a mere formality to circumvent, a tool to manipulate, or a shield of justification? How can we reform tax codes to prevent tax evasion while ensuring that those legal tools are still usable for legitimate purposes? Katharina Pistor, Edwin B. Parker Professor of Comparative Law at Columbia Law School, talks to RBI director John Torpey about the Pandora Papers, what they reveal about international tax evasion, and how much tax reform we can expect in the foreseeable future.

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Do Humane Wars Lead to Forever Wars?

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:23:00 -0000

Have efforts to make war ‘humane’ made it easier for the United States to undertake military action? How do those efforts balance with efforts that are instead aimed at peace? What can we expect from the laws of war in the future in the face of changing technology that replaces soldiers with machinery? Samuel Moyn, Henry Luce Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School, discusses his new book, Humane: How The United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War, with RBI Director John Torpey. You can read the transcript of the episode here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/10/25/do-humane-wars-lead-to-forever-wars-with-sam-moyn/

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Keeping Czech Populism in Check

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:57:00 -0000

In the recent Czech elections, a broad coalition edged out the populist ANO (YES) party and changed the political landscape. Meanwhile, the ailing Czech President must appoint the government from the intensive care unit in order to avoid a constitutional crisis. How relevant is the Czech election in the context of the current international wave of populist politicians? What lessons can be drawn about populism in Eastern Europe and beyond? Petra Guasti, Associate Professor of democratic theory at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University in Prague, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the recent Czech elections, and what they may tell us about the fate of populism in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond.

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Getting It Right: The Role Of Intellectuals In Contemporary Far-Right Populism

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:20:00 -0000

Where do intellectuals fit within the recent resurgence in right-wing populism? What differentiates European and American far-right ideologies? How internationally organized is today’s far right? A. James McAdams, University of Notre Dame, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about trends in far-right thought that are growing in influence in Europe and the United States, and various tactics and ideas that have been instrumental in that rise. For the transcript of this episode, please see https://bit.ly/2YBKLp8

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The Fuss Over AUKUS

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:55:00 -0000

What are the immediate and long-term political implications of the new Australia-UK-US cooperation agreement, providing Australia with nuclear submarines despite the fact that the French had been contracted to provide Australia with subs? Does the pact signal a return towards the ‘Anglosphere’? How will the arrangement affect Australia’s relationship with other countries, specifically France and China? Gareth Evans, former Foreign Minister of Australia, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the AUKUS agreement and how it will affect the international security landscape and relations among the relevant countries, especially including France and China.

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Prospects for Afghanistan under the Taliban with Sarah Shah

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:39:00 -0000

What should we expect in Afghanistan’s future? How is the Taliban governing the country, and what challenges will they face? Will the end of the war bring peace, or will it leave a power vacuum that risks even further destabilizing the region? Sarah Shah, PhD candidate in the Political Science program at The Graduate Center, CUNY studying counterinsurgency and post-conflict reconstruction, talks about the prospects for Afghanistan and the region after the end of 20 years of war and failed state building. For the transcript of this episode, please see https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Prospects-for-Afghanistan-under-the-Taliban-with-Sarah-Shah.pdf

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Is Indonesia the next India? The Coronavirus Crisis in Indonesia

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 01:33:00 -0000

How did Indonesia become the latest Covid-19 hot spot? Can the new wave of the virus be attributed to dangerous new variants, lack of funding, government mismanagement, or a combination of factors? Irma Hidayana, an independent public health activist with a PhD in health and behavior studies from Columbia University, talks with RBI Director John Torpey about Indonesia’s current battle with Covid-19 and local civil society efforts to track the pandemic’s spread.

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How Do You Measure Equality? Gender Equality and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 02:10:00 -0000

The UN has long been one of the most important voices pushing for global gender equality. But how does the UN approach promoting equality from the top down? Should gender equality be its own issue, should it be incorporated into all other issues, or can both approaches be combined? How can we even measure success for such a complex global issue? Anju Malhotra, principal visiting fellow at the UN University International Institute of Global Health and former Principal Adviser on Gender and Development at UNICEF, talks to Ellen Chesler, Research Fellow at the RBI, about the UN’s efforts to promote gender equality and about what has worked, what hasn’t, and what steps the UN may take in the future.

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To Run or Not to Run? The 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 14:20:00 -0000

The 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games start on July 23rd. Is Japan capable of safely hosting the Olympics at this stage in the pandemic, or does this global spectacle risk becoming an international super-spreader event? What political dramas can we expect from these games? Are the Olympics changing to remain relevant to younger audiences interested in newer sports? John Gleaves, professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Center for Socio Cultural Sport and Olympic Research at California State University-Fullerton, talks to RBI director John Torpey about what we should expect from the first postponed Olympics in modern history and what that means for the international sporting community.

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You Brexit, You Fix It: the UK and the EU After Its Withdrawal with António Goucha Soares

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 15:09:00 -0000

On January 31, 2020, the UK voted to leave the European Union making it the first and only nation to do so. What have been the main consequences of Brexit, a year and a half after the fact? Are there other exits waiting to happen? António Goucha Soares, Professor of Law at the Lisbon School of Economics & Management, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about how Brexit developed, how the EU and UK negotiated the exit, and what issues are still unresolved between the two parties.

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Winning Their Marbles? The Return of Cultural Heritage Objects

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 15:54:00 -0000

How do cultural artifacts end up outside their country of origin? What are the different approaches that are being taken to repatriate historical treasures, and what barriers stand in the way of these efforts? What value do we give to objects of ancestral origin, and does it change with time? Pierre Losson, a postdoctoral fellow at the Italian Academy at Columbia University, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the politics of cultural heritage and what we can expect from international efforts to return ‘stolen’ artifacts to their homelands.

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China’s Three Child Policy and What It Means for Demographic Change

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 16:01:00 -0000

What does China’s newly announced three-child policy tell us about China’s changing demographics? What have been the economic and societal consequences of China’s historical efforts to control births? How does this policy fit into a context of global demographic change, and what are the political implications? Wang Feng, Professor of Sociology at University of California, Irvine, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about global demographic changes across China and the world, and what can we expect in the future from today’s changing global demographic trends.

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The Biden Administration’s Approach to Human Rights in Africa and Asia

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:13:00 -0000

What are the current policy objectives guiding the State Department’s foreign policy decisions? How has the US approach to China changed with the transition to a new administration? How is America re-engaging with the world after several years of unilateralism? Scott Busby, the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), talks with RBI Director John Torpey about their work promoting human rights and democracy abroad, as well as about global trends that are implicated in these efforts.

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The Eurovision Song Contest as a Cultural and Political Phenomenon

Mon, 24 May 2021 17:56:00 -0000

How are the Eurovision Song Contest and politics interconnected? How do countries use the song contest to promote their interests in this nominally apolitical event? What role does it play in cultural trends and the soft power of countries, languages, and identity? Dean Vuletic, a historian at the Research Center for the History of Transformations at the University of Vienna, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the 65 years of the Eurovision Song Contest and the role it plays in European culture and politics. You can read the transcript here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/The-Eurovision-Song-Contest-as-a-Cultural-and-Political-Phenomenon.docx

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Africa’s Experience with Covid-19

Mon, 17 May 2021 15:43:00 -0000

Researchers at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently analyzed Africa’s “second wave” of Covid-19 in The Lancet. How does the situation in Africa look in comparison to the situations elsewhere? How are the continent’s various countries faring in their struggles with the coronavirus? Dr. Stephanie Salyer of the Africa CDC talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the trajectory of the virus since the start of the pandemic, efforts to produce vaccines within the countries of the African Union, and other unique challenges facing Africa in its battle against the coronavirus. You can find a transcript here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/05/17/africas-experience-with-covid-19-with-dr-stephanie-salyer/

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The Anti-Government Protests in Colombia

Tue, 11 May 2021 14:19:00 -0000

How did recent protests against Colombia’s proposed tax reforms turn into chaos? What differentiates these events from previous anti-government protests in the region? Is Venezuela’s role in these protests as an outside agitator or a convenient scapegoat for the government? Sandra Patricia Borda Guzman, Associate Professor of political science at Los Andes University, discusses the quickly escalating protests in Colombia, and what they tell us about the current political climate within the country and Latin America. You can find a transcript of the podcast here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/05/11/the-anti-government-protests-in-colombia-with-sandra-borda/

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The Human Rights Watch Report Charging Israel With the Crime of Apartheid

Mon, 10 May 2021 15:02:00 -0000

Are Israel’s policies over the West Bank and Gaza Strip war crimes? What are the implications of such an accusation? Do these policies come from Israel’s security concerns, or are they pretextual explanations for their repressive treatment over the Palestinian population? Eric Goldstein, acting Executive Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about the latest HRW report that accuses Israel of crimes against humanity. He discusses what that means and how the determination was made, HRW’s efforts to stay impartial in their inherently political work, and what governments response to the report indicate for the future of Israel. You can read the transcript at https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/05/10/the-human-rights-watch-report-charging-israel-with-the-crime-of-apartheid-with-eric-goldstein/

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The Containerization of Shipping and its Global Consequences

Mon, 03 May 2021 15:12:00 -0000

What impact has the standardization of international trade had on society? Has the newfound speed and efficiency outpaced other market factors, such as worker conditions and risk prevention? How have dock cities, built on traditional supply chains, been affected by these changes? What can we expect to happen to the hundreds of thousands of shipping containers once they too become obsolete? RBI Director John Torpey talks to Marc Levinson, economist, historian, and journalist, and Liang Wu, doctoral candidate in anthropology at the Graduate Center, CUNY, about how shipping containers have become the new paradigm in international shipping, and what affect that has had on supply chains, markets, and those working in the shipping industry. You can read a transcript of this episode here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/05/03/the-containerization-of-shipping-and-its-global-consequences-with-marc-levinson/

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India’s Struggle Against Covid

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:24:00 -0000

How did India go from declaring victory over covid in January to being the world’s hotspot 3 months later? As one of the largest pharmaceutical and vaccine producers in the world, did India focus too much on vaccine diplomacy and too little on internal vaccination efforts? How has India’s regional competition with China affected how this plays out? Manu Bhagavan, Professor of history, human rights, and public policy at Hunter College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, talks to RBI Director John Torpey about how India reached its current crisis point and what other problems face today’s India on the international stage. You can find the transcript here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/04/26/indias-struggle-against-covid-with-manu-bhagavan/

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Asian Ascendency, Western Decline?

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:04:00 -0000

Is Asia in the ascendancy, and the West in decline? How does the rise of Asia affect power dynamics and competition with Western markets? Will China’s creation of its own regional banking and investment vehicles weaken Western-dominated global financial institutions? Does the rise of cryptocurrency threaten to further destabilize and restructure markets? Kimberly Kay Hoang, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute for Global Studies at the University of Chicago, discusses economic soft power and its role in the broader pattern of Asian ascendancy. You can read the transcript of this episode here:https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/04/19/asian-ascendency-western-decline-with-kimberly-kay-hoang/

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China Before, Today, and Tomorrow

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 16:18:00 -0000

What does China’s past tell us about its present and future? How do remnants of its pre-Communist history affect the way the current leadership approaches the country’s contemporary challenges? How will the United States and China deal with each other on such issues as trade and climate change? How much “soft power” does China have as it takes its place on the world stage? Ian Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, formerly with the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other outlets, and recently expelled from China, discusses historical trends in China’s development and how they affect the policy choices of the Chinese Communist Party today. You can find a transcript here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/04/12/china-before-today-tomorrow-with-ian-johnson/

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Economic Inequality After The Pandemic

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:05:00 -0000

How have governments responded to the economic crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic, and what will be the consequences? On Tuesday, April 6, a panel discussion with Wolfgang Schmidt, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance of Germany, Angella MacEwen, Senior Economist, Canadian Union of Public Employees, and Branko Milanovic, Professor and Senior Scholar, the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality, the Graduate Center, CUNY, addressed the inequalities revealed and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the public policy tools available to ameliorate those inequalities, and the likely paths economies can take in the recovery from the pandemic. This public online event was moderated by John Torpey, Director, European Union Studies Center and Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, and organized with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Washington office. It was co-sponsored by the American Council on Germany, Colorado European Union Center of Excellence, University of Florida Center for European Studies, and Stone Center on Inequality at the Graduate Center, CUNY. You can find a transcript of the episode here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/04/08/economic-inequality-after-the-pandemic/ You can also watch the recording of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdFdOBi7moc

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Peace from the Bottom Up

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 15:23:00 -0000

What are alternative approaches to existing international peacebuilding paradigms? Does de-escalation need to be guided by international elites that work with local leaders, or are there more important societal actors that are better positioned to push for peace? Are differing peacebuilding strategies mutually exclusive, or can they work in tandem to achieve better results? Séverine Autesserre, a professor of political science at Barnard College of Columbia University, talks about her new book, The Frontlines of Peace: An Insider’s Guide to Changing the World, which aims to reform peacebuilding. She discusses the importance of taking seriously the wisdom of local people in troubled areas as a means of decreasing tension and violence, and contrasts this approach with the efforts controlled by international actors with little insight into local conditions. You can read the transcript here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/04/05/peace-from-the-bottom-up-with-severine-autesserre/

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A Global Look at Universal Basic Income

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:51:00 -0000

How plausible is the movement for Universal Basic Income (UBI) in today’s political climate? Is it a form of communism, as its critics paint it, or is it not just a practical response to the coming disappearance of many jobs due to automation? How can we test the idea of UBI in order to convince the skeptics? And what about claims that this is a huge expense that will just give money to undeserving people? Karl Widerquist, Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University - Qatar, talks about the current state of the worldwide Universal Basic Income movement. He discusses developments around the world that provide insight into how feasible UBI would be if it were applied in an entire society. Lastly, he discusses common criticisms of UBI, such as the challenge of popular acceptance of such an idea, its practical plausibility, and the fiscal implications of providing a guaranteed minimum income to all citizens. You can read a copy of the transcript here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/03/29/where-is-the-ubi-movement-at-right-now-with-karl-widerquist/

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Canada’s Role in the Global Order

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:22:00 -0000

Where does Canada fit into the global order today? Canada played an important role in building the US-led world order in the post-World War II period. Its proximity to the US has resulted in a complex relationship that is economic, political, and cultural. The four years of the Trump administration were a difficult period in the relationship, but better days seem ahead. What will the future bring? Bob Rae, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, speaks with John Torpey about how Canada’s foreign policy has developed in the recent past, Canada’s role in international affairs, and its relationship with the US. Rae served as.Premier of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2011 to 2013. He has also recently served as Canada's Special Envoy to Myanmar and Canada's Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Refugee Issues.

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Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the Conflict in Tigray

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:05:00 -0000

The conflict in Tigray, the northernmost region in Ethiopia and just south of Eritrea, grows increasingly worrisome, yet very little concrete information about the events has been available. This is largely a product of Ethiopia’s media blackout in the region, which has left the outside world with little insight into the growing humanitarian crisis. H. E. Brita Wagener, former German Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union (2017-2020), discusses the crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, its complicated political and ethnic history, and efforts by the international community to learn more and to resolve the conflict. You can read the transcript here: https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/03/15/ethiopia-eritrea-and-the-conflict-in-tigray-with-h-e-brita-wagener/

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The Impact of Women's Issues in International Politics

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 17:48:00 -0000

While March 8th is celebrated as International Women's Day, international women’s rights is still an area in need of much greater attention. How did we get here, and what can we expect for the future of women’s issues in the international arena? What is the role of women’s issues in discussions of global politics and in U.S. foreign policy? On March 8, guest host and Ralph Bunche Institute research scholar Ellen Chesler interviews Rachel Vogelstein, the Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow and director of "The Women and Foreign Policy Program” at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University, to talk about the history and current state of women’s issues in international development and what we can expect for them in future, especially within U.S. foreign policy decisions under the Biden administration. You can find a copy of the transcript here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/03/08/the-impact-of-womens-issues-in-international-politics-with-ellen-chesler-rachel-vogelstein/

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“Actions That Shock the Conscience of Mankind”: Limitations of the Genocide Paradigm

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 16:29:00 -0000

For the first time in history, the Genocide Convention of 1948 created a hierarchy of atrocities and criminal transgressions; how well does that paradigm serve the cause of reducing such actions? On March 1, we host Dirk Moses, Frank Porter Graham Distinguished Professor of Human Rights History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to discuss how the genocide paradigm has narrowed the scope of transgressive acts, limiting the ability of international law to address other kinds of wrongs such as indiscriminate aerial bombing. You can find a copy of the transcript here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/03/01/actions-that-shock-the-conscience-of-mankind-limitations-of-the-genocide-paradigm-with-dirk-moses/

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Can We Vaccinate Everyone On The Planet?

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 18:09:00 -0000

Their study shows the advantages to the rich world of vaccinating everyone on the planet. What roadblocks stand in the way of an internationally coordinated effort of mass-vaccination against Covid-19? On February 22, we host Selva Demiralp, Professor of Economics, and Sevcan Yeşiltaş, Assistant Professor of Economics, both at Koç University, Istanbul, for a discussion of their study of the costs and benefits of an equitable distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine, as well as the dangers of vaccine nationalism. You can find a copy of the transcript here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/02/22/can-we-vaccinate-everyone-on-the-planet/

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The Rise of “Technopopulism” in Europe

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:06:00 -0000

Technocracy and populism are normally seen as opposites, but new political parties in Europe appear to be combining the two in novel ways and upsetting the traditional left-right divide. On February 15, 2021, our guest is Carlo Invernizzi Accetti, Associate Professor of Political Science at the City College of New York and the Graduate Center, CUNY, and we discuss the rise of Europe’s technopopulist parties, such as the Five Star Movement in Italy, La Republique en Marche in France, and Podemos in Spain. Will these novel party organizations upend the traditional left-right divide? Transcript: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/02/15/the-rise-of-technopopulism-in-europe/

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The Challenges of Transitional Justice

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:40:00 -0000

How can countries come together again after crimes against humanity, authoritarian regimes, and other misdeeds? On February 8, we host Pablo de Greiff, Senior Fellow and Director of the Transitional Justice Program at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at NYU Law School, to discuss the idea of transitional justice and the challenges it faces as a way of bringing countries back together after periods of authoritarianism and crimes against humanity. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/02/08/the-challenges-of-transnational-justice/

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Transatlantic Relations After the Trump Administration

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:25:00 -0000

What can we expect for the future of transatlantic relations now that the Trump administration is gone? On January 27th, we spoke with Federica Mogherini, Former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2014-2019) and Rector, College of Europe, during our annual Otto and Fran Walter Memorial Lecture. The interview addressed “Transatlantic Relations After the Trump Administration.” Listen in for a fascinating discussion regarding the direction the US-EU relationship is likely to go in after four turbulent years of the Trump administration. Transcript: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/01/28/transatlantic-relations-after-the-trump-administration/

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The Challenge of Climate Change

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:45:00 -0000

How will the global challenge of climate change be met and how will the new US administration respond? On January 25th, we host Michael Oppenheimer, the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, for a discussion on the state of international efforts to respond to global warming and the scientific background to the problem. Transcript: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/01/25/the-challenge-of-climate-change/

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The Past and Future of the Global South

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:10:00 -0000

Smaller states in the Global South are often overlooked by those that think global politics is entirely in the hands of the richest countries. But this ignores the reality that smaller states also have foreign policy objectives and multiple ways to advance them. On January 18th, we host Jacqueline Braveboy-Wagner, Professor of Political Science at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York as well as in the Colin Powell School of Civic and Global Leadership at the City College of New York, to talk about how the Global South engages in international affairs and works to advance its foreign policies interests. Transcript: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/01/18/the-past-and-future-of-the-global-south/

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The International Landscape Awaiting the Biden Administration

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 17:12:00 -0000

The transformation of the Middle East and China and the corrosion in the United States of the Enlightenment values that historically bound together the US and Europe present major challenges to the incoming administration after four years of turbulence in Washington and the attendant deterioration of American standing in the world. On January 11th, we host Charles (“Chas”) Freeman, Visiting Scholar, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, and former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Assistant Secretary of Defense for National Security Affairs, who discusses the international landscape awaiting the Biden administration. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2021/01/11/the-international-landscape-awaiting-the-biden-administration/

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The Dayton Agreement at 25

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 17:11:00 -0000

What success have the Dayton Accords had in resolving the problems created by the collapse of Yugoslavia in the mid-1990s, and what has the international community learned about intervention and peace agreements in the meantime? On December 14th, we host Susan Woodward, Professor of Political Science at the Graduate Center, CUNY, who discusses the outcomes of the Balkan peace process 25 years later, and the risks of outside powers dictating peace on their terms. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/12/14/the-dayton-agreement-at-25/

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The Future of the EU and the Transatlantic Relationship

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 15:16:00 -0000

What should we expect from the next chapter of the EU and US relationship? On December 11th, we host H. E. Stavros Lambrinidis, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, to talk about the EU’s current political issues, such as the EU’s Covid-19 strategy, finalizing the Brexit deal, and the expectations for overcoming the strained relationship with the US during the Trump presidency. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/12/11/the-future-of-the-eu-and-the-transatlantic-relationship/

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The Resilience of Civil Society in African Conflict Zones

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 17:24:00 -0000

What can we learn from how civil society in Africa responds to armed conflict? On December 7th, we host Zachariah Mampilly, Marxe Endowed Chair and Professor of International Affairs at Baruch College, CUNY, who talks about how different civil society respond to threats such as conflict and COVID-19, often within systems designed to limit their agency. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/12/07/the-resilience-of-civil-society-in-african-conflict-zones/

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The Illiberal Threat Within the European Union

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:51:00 -0000

How has the trend towards illiberal democracy developed in the European Union in recent years and how has it affected the internal operations of the EU? On November 23, we host Bálint Magyar for a discussion about the decline of the rule of law in Hungary and Poland in recent years and how these illiberal states have resisted the EU’s push for democratic reforms. Magyar is a Hungarian political economist and scholar and author of the upcoming book, The Anatomy of Post-Communist Regimes: A Conceptual Framework. He was an anti-communist dissident activist, a founder of the Liberal Party of Hungary, a member of the Hungarian Parliament from 1990 to 2010, serving twice as his country’s Minister of Education. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/11/23/the-illiberal-threat-within-the-european-union/

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The Pandemic and the European Union

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 17:15:00 -0000

What is the level of cohesion in the European Union during a time of global uncertainty? On November 16, 2020, our guest, Teresa Pullano, Assistant Professor at the Institute for European Global Studies at the University of Basel, Switzerland, talks about problems affecting the EU’s internal cohesion, such as Covid and a rocky transatlantic relationship, and what we can expect for the future of the European Union. You can find a copy of the transcript here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/11/16/the-pandemic-and-the-european-union/

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Strongmen Against Democracy

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 21:43:00 -0000

Why have we seen such a surge of strongman politics in recent years? For November 9, 2020, our guest, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University, looks at the tools and tactics authoritarian strongmen use to capture state power in a democracy, such as secretive banking laws and global PR firms. Transcript: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/11/09/strongmen-against-democracy/

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The Global Decline in Democracy During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 17:09:00 -0000

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected the fate of democracy around the world? For November 2, 2020, our guest Michael J. Abramowitz, President of Freedom House, discusses the negative trends in democracy in the US and around the world that are threatening the democratic world order. You can find a copy of the transcript at http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/11/02/international-horizons-the-global-decline-in-democracy-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

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Online Foreign Interference in American Elections

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 16:16:00 -0000

How do powerful countries use social media to advance their interests, such as influencing political campaigns in other countries? For October 26, 2020, our guest John Kelly, founder and CEO of Graphika, tells us about how social media has become the next battlefield for global powers and how foreign actors use it to meddle in US politics. Transcript: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/10/26/international-horizons-online-foreign-interference-in-american-elections/

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COVID, Conflict, and Crisis in Russia’s “Near-Abroad”

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 16:26:00 -0000

What’s behind the recent wave of uncertainty and unrest in the former Soviet Republics? For October 19, 2020, our guest Andrew Kuchins, president of the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, discusses the background to the political and military conflicts roiling Russia’s “near-abroad” in Belarus, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Kyrgyzstan. Transcript: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/10/19/international-horizons-covid-conflict-and-crisis-in-russias-near-abroad/

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Indigenous People, Minorities, and the Right to Self-Determination

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 16:01:00 -0000

What does the right to self-determination mean today? For October 12, 2020, our guest Ralph Bunche III, General Secretary of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, discusses his work to secure the right to self-determination of those populations that have been systematically denied that right by the states in which they reside. You can read the transcript here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/10/12/international-horizons-indigenous-people-minorities-and-the-right-to-self-determination/

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The Return of the War in Nagorno-Karabakh

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 17:29:00 -0000

Why did the war in Nagorno-Karabakh reignite after years of peace? For our October 5th episode, we host David Phillips, Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University, who explains the geopolitical issues that led to the return of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the dominatingly Armenian territory in Azerbaijan. You can read the transcript of the episode below. http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/10/05/international-horizons-the-return-of-the-war-in-nagorno-karabakh/

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The Legacy of Ralph Bunche

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:45:00 -0000

Who was Ralph Bunche? On October 1, 2020, we speak to James Dandridge II, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Diplomacy Center Foundation, retired from the US State Department with the rank of Minister Counselor, who discusses the life and legacy of Ralph Bunche, American diplomat and 1950 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East. You can find a copy of the transcript here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Legacy-of-Ralph-Bunche.pdf

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The Past and Future of the UN

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 17:31:00 -0000

Is the United Nations serving as an effective tool for human development or a pawn for members of the Security Council? John Torpey interviews Carrie Walling, Associate Professor of Political Science at Albion College in Michigan, about the complex issues around the UN that will determine its fate at the start of the 75th UN General Assembly.

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"We'll Manage That": Consequences of the Migration Wave of 2015

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 16:14:00 -0000

In September 14th's episode, International Horizons host John Torpey interviews Christian Joppke, Professor of Sociology at the University of Bern in Switzerland, about the uncertainty of Germany today after the dual shocks of a major wave of refugees and European efforts to curtail the pandemic. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Episode-18-Christian-Joppke-transcript.docx

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Race and Immigration in Japan

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:10:00 -0000

For September 8ths episode of International Horizons, host John Torpey interviews Michael Sharpe, Associate Professor of Political Science at York College, CUNY, about the role of race and the myth of a homogeneous Japan, touching on such issues such as its complex immigration policy and how nationalism and anti-racist trends play out within the country. You can also find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Michael-Sharpe-podcast-transcript.pdf

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The Rise of Hitler in the 1930s: Are There Parallels to Our Time?

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 15:53:00 -0000

In today’s episode, International Horizons host John Torpey interviews Benjamin Hett, Professor of History at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center, about the conditions that led to Hitler’s rise to power and the possible parallels to today’s political situation. You can find a transcript of the episode here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Interanation-Horizons-16-The-Rise-of-Hitler-in-the-1930s-Are-There-Parallels-to-Our-Time.pdf

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Counting the Coronavirus

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 15:17:00 -0000

In today’s episode, International Horizons host John Torpey hosts Dr. Sam Clark, demographer and epidemiologist at Ohio State University, for a discussion on the role of disease and mortality statistics in the effort to control the pandemic as well as the difficulties of connecting infectious disease experts with policy makers. You can find a copy of the transcript here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Sam-Clark-transcript.pdf

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Coming to Terms with the History of Racial Domination

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:21:00 -0000

In today’s episode, International Horizons host John Torpey hosts Susan Neiman, Director of the Einstein Forum, about the global movement towards coming to terms with the history of racial oppression, how a nation’s history affects the way that this plays out, and where society can go from here. You can find a transcript of the interview here: http://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/2020/07/20/international-horizons-episode-14/

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Governing Technological Innovation in the US and EU

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 16:35:00 -0000

For Episode Twelve, host John Torpey, Ralph Bunche Institute Director, brings in Eline Chivot, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, and Francesco Ducci, Post-Doctoral Global Fellow at New York University School of Law, for a discussion about the different approaches that the US and the EU are taking to regulate new and emerging technology without stifling innovation.

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The Uneasy Relationship Between the US and the United Nations

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 17:44:00 -0000

For Episode Twelve, our host John Torpey, Ralph Bunche Institute Director, interviews Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group, on tensions between the United States and the United Nations during this global period of uncertainty.

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The French Coronavirus Experience

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:12:00 -0000

For Episode Eleven, our host John Torpey, Ralph Bunche Institute Director, interviews Ettore Recchi, Professor of Sociology at Sciences Po in Paris, to discuss his research on the French state’s response to the coronavirus to see what was effective in curbing their infection rate.

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Recent Political Developments in Hong Kong with Jessica Mahlbacher

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 16:16:00 -0000

For Episode Ten, our host John Torpey, Ralph Bunche Institute Director, interviews Jessica Mahlbacher, a PhD candidate in Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center, on the historical and political context of the recent protests in Hong Kong.

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The Emergence of the Novel Coronavirus with Dr. Rajiv Ratan

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 16:02:00 -0000

For Episode Nine, our host John Torpey, Ralph Bunche Institute Director, speaks with Dr. Rajiv Ratan, Winifred Masterson Burke Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine, about the emergence of the novel coronavirus from a biological perspective.

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The Economic Consequences of the Coronavirus in Germany

Fri, 22 May 2020 16:16:00 -0000

For Episode Seven, our host John Torpey, Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute , speaks with Thorben Albrecht, a member of the ILO's Global Commission on the Future of Work, to discuss how our economies can recover, adapt, and move forward in the age of the coronavirus.

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The UN at 75: Examining its History Through a Woman’s Lens

Fri, 15 May 2020 16:35:00 -0000

For Episode Seven, we host Ellen Chesler, Senior Fellow at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, and Jocelyn Olcott, Professor of History at Duke University, who talk about the UN’s legacy tackling women’s issues around the world and discuss the approaches that advanced that agenda.

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Germany’s Experience with the Coronavirus

Fri, 08 May 2020 16:48:00 -0000

For Episode Six, we are joined by Constantin Goschler, Professor of Contemporary History at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, for a discussion with Professor John Torpey, Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, concerning Germany’s experience with the coronavirus, from its approach to containing the pandemic to what we should expect from its recently announced loosening of the lockdown.

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A Historical Perspective on the Coronavirus Pandemic with Prof. Mari Webel

Fri, 01 May 2020 16:07:00 -0000

For Episode Five, we have invited Professor Mari Webel, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh, to a discussion with Professor John Torpey, Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, about what we can learn about the coronavirus through a look at past pandemics and how they affected the world.

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Brazil and the Coronavirus

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:53:00 -0000

For Episode Four, we have invited Professor Jose Mauricio Domingues, Professor of Sociology and Political Studies at Rio de Janeiro University, to a discussion with Professor John Torpey, Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, about the effects of the coronavirus on Brazil and the tension it's adding to the country’s already strained political system.

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Would the World be Any Better Without the UN?

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 16:47:00 -0000

This episode features Professor Thomas Weiss, Director Emeritus of the Ralph Bunche Institute and Presidential Professor of Political Science at the Graduate Center, CUNY, and Professor Peter Hoffman, Assistant Professor in The New School's Graduate Programs in International Affairs, discussing the future of the UN, the nationalist revolt against multilateralism, and the renewed calls for global cooperation in the face of global problems such as the coronavirus.

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Countering Violent Extremism

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:13:00 -0000

Episode Two features Dr. Lydia Wilson, Research Fellow at the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict at the University of Oxford and Senior Fellow at the Ralph Bunche Institute, and Professor Peter Romaniuk, Associate Professor of Political Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, CUNY, who discuss the field of "Countering Violent Extremism" (CVE) and the complexities that must be considered to effectively counter extremist messaging.

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The Coronavirus in Italy

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:23:00 -0000

For today's episode, we welcome Professor Luca Storti, Associate Professor of Economic Sociology at the University of Turin, to discuss the Coronavirus, how it has played out so far in Italy, and what Italy’s experience can teach the rest of the world.

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