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A Ph.D. used to be a ticket to a comfortable career in academia. But, in recent years, increasing numbers of Ph.D.'s have had trouble finding jobs or are earning less than minimum wage with no benefits. Are universities responsible for matching supply and demand in the Ph.D. job market?
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It's likely that the U.S. will cease to be the world's largest economic power by not later than the 2020s, predicts Martin Wolf. However--depending on its policy choices--it will probably remain a center of world innovation in research, technology, and business.
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ExxonMobil is rather like France, says Steve Coll. It's mostly aligned with the U.S; it's sometimes opposed, but a lot of the time it's just busy keeping track of its own separate system and really doesn't want to be entangled in U.S. power unless it serves ExxonMobil interests.
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Libya's civil war is over, but many victims of the Qaddafi regime are still violently meting out justice to their former oppressors. Will this just lead to a vicious cycle of abuse in the North African state? How can Libya balance the victims' needs with the perpetrators' basic human rights?
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Leadership is going from being command-and-control to connect-and-collaborate; from inspecting for trust to giving it away; and from discussing success towards significance: "If we make a difference for our consumers, our people, and the world, success will find us."
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How can you explain the European debt crisis so that ordinary Americans can understand--and what's more, care? Through interviews and story-telling techniques, these two NPR reporters show us that it's actually a long-drawn-out love story.
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Courageous journalist Ahmed Rashid discusses the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan as the U.S. approaches its scheduled withdrawal in 2014. He goes on to analyze the deepening crisis in Pakistan, which he considers to be even worse.
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President Obama's top counterterrorism adviser recently defended drone strikes, saying they are legal, wise, and moral. But, citing international law, many critics question this approach, especially in a non-combat zone like Pakistan. Is it ethically problematic to rely on drone strikes?
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In the wake of the terrorist attacks and wars of the last decade, for many non-Muslims "shari'a" has become both a loaded word and an all-encompassing explanation. But the history and practice of shari'a is actually complex and varied, as Sadakat Kadri discovers.
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After the recent highly publicized stories of American military members desecrating the remains of Taliban soldiers, many in the U.S. armed forces are learning about the ethics of war through workshops. Will these lessons work? Can warfare morality be learned in a classroom?
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With the election of another American to head the World Bank, some are questioning the institution's legitimacy and role in the world. Since once-impoverished nations are driving world economic growth, should the developing world have a greater say in the bank's governance?
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How do we manage a world where no one power is dominant, and emerging powers have their own views about how to organize political, social, and commercial life?
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With his public resignation letter, Goldman Sachs executive Greg Smith lamented "the decline in the firm's moral fiber." How can financial managers strengthen the ethical backbones of their organizations? What can a junior-level employee do to influence the firm's direction?
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A surprise ruling from the European Court of Human Rights could send five terror suspects to a super-maximum security prison in the United States. Is keeping inmates in solitary confinement for years a form of torture? Or is Supermax a necessary tool to combat global terror?
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Despite the financial industry's bad reputation in the wake of the financial crisis, finance could be one of the most powerful tools we have for solving our common problems. How can we harness it for the greater good? Robert Shiller has some groundbreaking ideas.
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As we run out of resources, the human race is at a pivotal point. We have two options: We can continue along the same path, leading to much of the planet becoming uninhabitable. Or we can create an alternative future where we use resources in a much more sustainable and frugal way.
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Mike Daisey has admitted to fabricating parts of his story on Foxconn for "This American Life." But, perhaps partly due to the attention his story received, the Chinese factory is undergoing a labor audit and plans to raise wages. Is it ever ethical to lie for a larger truth?
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CEO of Women's World Banking Iskenderian explains why investing in women makes so much sense. She also tackles the recent critiques of microfinance and discusses how it is evolving.
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In this knowledgeable and detailed talk, Ambassador Pickering cuts through the current hysteria about Iran, stressing that we still have time for diplomacy. In fact it may finally be the right moment for both sides to engage in constructive talks.
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What is Responsibility to Protect exactly? Dutch Ambassador Herman Schaper gives an expert talk on how it developed, how it is defined, how it was implemented in Libya, and what are the implications for the future.
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David Rothkopf issues a wake-up call to Americans: We have to drop our knee-jerk, partisan attitudes and ask, "What will produce the kind of society that we want to have?" We also have to stop assuming that U.S. capitalism and U.S. views will be dominant in the future.
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With the Supreme Court set to make a decision, the Affordable Care Act is a major source of debate in the United States. Do all Americans have the right to affordable health care? Or does the individual mandate, which requires that all Americans buy insurance, go too far?
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According to Michael Ross, it's no coincidence that major oil-producing countries have less democracy, fewer opportunities for women, more frequent civil wars, and more volatile economic growth than the rest of the world.
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The very public resignation of Goldman Sachs executive Greg Smith is the low point in a bad year for Wall Street. With the Occupy movement and a rumored recruiting crisis in mind, is there any hope left for Wall Street? Can the banks rebound and find a way to be ethical?
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Invisible Children's Kony 2012 campaign has reached critical mass and turned Joseph Kony into a household name. But does the organization's simplified message misinform the public and whitewash the evils of the Ugandan government? Will it all be worth it if Kony is arrested?
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David C. Unger,
Joanne J. Myers
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03/09/12
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David Unger argues that because of national security fears, the U.S. has bypassed its Constitution, creating an "emergency state." The result is excessive military spending, a series of unconstitutional wars, and skewed global trade policies. He also tackles Europe's economic crisis.
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With a recent resurgence of nationalism, Scottish independence is once again a topic of discussion. Do Scotland's vast oil reserves make this a realistic possibility? Or would reliance on a single resource cause the new country to struggle economically after breaking away from the U.K.?
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Enrique Krauze,
Joanne J. Myers
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03/06/12
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Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Gabriel Marcia Marquez, Octavio Paz, and many more: Krauze discusses Latin America's intellectual, literary, and political figures who were inspired by revolutionary ideas, and hopes that his book will be "a requiem for the Latin American passionate revolution."
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If you use a computer or a credit card, watch out! Governments, companies, and individuals are losing billions of dollars a year fighting an ever-morphing, often invisible, and often supersmart new breed of criminal: the hacker.
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Anne-Marie Slaughter,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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03/02/12
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Anne-Marie Slaughter on the responsibility to protect: "I believe in a values-based foreign policy and looking to cooperate as often as I can. I also think that's basic self-interest. We don't do well when we go in without the support of other nations."
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Border disputes have been around for thousands of years, but in the age of Google Maps, they are taking on another dimension. Does Google bear any responsibility if a conflict arises because of borders it has drawn? Or should we all realize that these maps are just for "entertainment"?
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Ezra F. Vogel,
Joanne J. Myers
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02/28/12
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Deng Xiaoping was one of the most important leaders of the 20th century. Scholar Ezra Vogel discusses Deng's life, focusing on his work in opening up China to other countries. Vogel also grapples with the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, which was carried out on Deng's orders.
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In this in-depth discussion, participants examine two case-studies, one for-profit and one non-profit organization: Kimberly-Clark (parent company of Kleenex and Huggies, among other brands), and iMentor, a youth-mentoring program that helps students graduate from high school.
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With economic malaise and political stalemates commonplace across the U.S. and Europe, some are beginning to look to China for answers. Is democracy, with its check and balances, still the best form of governance? Or could the West learn a few things from the "China model"?
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It's been almost a year since demonstrations started in Syria and the government crackdown gets bloodier every day. With sanctions not producing results, is it time for a military intervention? Or do conditions on the ground and possible civilian deaths make this option too risky?
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David J. Scheffer,
Joanne J. Myers
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02/10/12
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David Scheffer was at the forefront of the efforts leading to criminal tribunals for the Balkans, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia. His quest has been to "to discover the right formula, in ever-changing international circumstances, to confront monstrous evil and to do so in the courtroom."
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James G. Rickards,
Joanne J. Myers
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02/10/12
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We are already in Currency War III, says Rickards, who sees four possible outcomes--none of them good--that he calls "the four horsemen of the dollar apocalypse." Here's a tip: keep your eye on gold.
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As the Cuban embargo reaches a milestone, a majority of Americans think it's time for a change. Many argue that the communist stronghold is no longer a threat and the sanctions only serve to hurt the Cuban people. Is it time to lift the embargo or should Obama maintain the status quo?
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Jeff Jarvis,
Joanne J. Myers
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02/07/12
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Well-known blogger Jeff Jarvis celebrates what he calls the "emerging age of publicness," arguing that anything we have to fear in this new networked world is overwhelmingly outweighed by all the good that will come from it.
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Thomas Pogge,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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02/07/12
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In this fascinating conversation, Thomas Pogge explains how growing up in post-war Germany awakened him to injustice. He lays out his plan for reforming the pharmaceutical industry, and much more.
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As the Arab Spring celebrates its one-year anniversary, the West is cautiously awaiting the next step. Will democracy flourish in the Middle East and North Africa? Or will authoritarianism and fundamental Islam be the basis for the new governments born from the revolutions of 2011?
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Trita Parsi recounts the previously unknown story of American and Iranian negotiations during Obama's early years as president, and the real reasons for their current stalemate. Contrary to prevailing opinion, Parsi contends that diplomacy has not been fully tried.
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President Obama's plan for a manufacturing revival has seen bipartisan support, but some economists are asking serious questions. Will more Americans on assembly lines stifle innovation? And can the U.S. compete with the lower wages and willing workers found overseas?
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Ian Bremmer,
Art Kleiner
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01/25/12
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What are the biggest political risks in 2012, and the associated ethical decisions? Political risk guru Ian Bremmer discusses his annual list, and his conclusions may surprise you.
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As NATO's missile defense system goes live in Turkey, questions have been raised about the nation's human rights record. Should NATO condemn Turkey's recent crackdowns on free speech and the media? Or does the country's geostrategic importance trump these concerns?
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The nine unelected justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have the power to strike down laws enacted by elected representatives. Why does the public accept the Court's decisions as legitimate, even when the decisions are highly unpopular? How does the Court help make democracy work?
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With primary season starting up, the Republican candidates are traveling around the nation, making stump speeches, kissing babies, and spending millions. Is this staple of American politics a showcase for democracy? Or does it just exacerbate ideological polarization in the U.S.?
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With the recent death of Kim Jong-il, the United States is once again wondering what to do about North Korea. Is engagement with the nation's new leader, Kim Jong-un, the answer? Or should the U.S. isolate the rogue state and continue to ignore its threats?
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Bruce Bueno de Mesquita,
Alastair Smith,
Joanne J. Myers
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01/05/12
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Cynics or realists? Just follow five rules and you can be a successful dictator, say Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith--at least until old age or sickness catch up with you. They go on to argue that these precepts apply to all systems of governance, including U.S. democracy.
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Ronald Dworkin,
Joanne J. Myers
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01/05/12
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"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." Ronald Dworkin argues for one big thing: the unity of value. He asserts that value is what makes sense of how we act as individuals, how we relate to others, and how we construct our lives.
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Unpaid internships are a valuable and sometimes necessary experience for college students and recent graduates, especially in light of the global financial crisis. But is this really a fair labor practice and does it just give an unfair advantage to more well-off job-seekers?
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Could the slow job growth rate of the Great Recession be attributed to new technologies replacing human labor and intelligence? Is artificial intelligence likely or desirable in a post-industrial society?
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Michael Mendenhall,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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12/21/11
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Technological innovation and the spread of social media have created a bevy of new considerations for companies, such as learning how to engage in meaningful dialogue with their stakeholders--including their employees.
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With the 17th annual global climate change talks foundering in Durban, little hope is left for a worldwide initiative designed to combat global warming. Will local efforts be enough or does this latest setback truly doom a future of sustainability and worldwide cooperation?
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Jeffrey D. Sachs,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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12/09/11
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Jeffrey Sachs discusses America's economic and moral crisis; development aid; the Occupy Wall Street movement; and the mobilization of youth around the world, fighting for the basic principles
of freedom, justice, and equality.
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With Vladimir Putin's party receiving a rebuke in the December 4th parliamentary elections, Russia is at a crossroads. With alleged voter fraud and massive protests as a backdrop, could this be the start of a new, more democratic era in Moscow or will Putin prevail?
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Sylvia Nasar,
Joanne J. Myers
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12/09/11
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Looking back at the truly revolutionary rise in global living standards over the last 150 years, what have we learned about economic policies? There are clear lessons about what works and what doesn't, says Sylvia Nasar, author of "A Beautiful Mind."
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David M. Malone,
Joanne J. Myers
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12/08/11
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Former Canadian High Commissioner to India David Malone gives a comprehensive survey of contemporary Indian foreign policy. He begins by focusing on India's geography, history, and capability, and covers relations with the U.S., China, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
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Why pretend that economics is value free? It's a product of our civilization and riddled with moral judgements, says Sedlacek. By separating economics from ethics we have created a zombie, a monster without a soul. The two have to be put back together.
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Francis Fukuyama
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12/08/11
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How did human beings succeed in creating the ideal of strong, accountable governments that adhere to the rule of law? Francis Fukuyama provides a sweeping account of how today's basic political institutions developed.
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William O'Rourke Jr.,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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12/08/11
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Is it possible to grow a company to $1 billion in revenue in Russia without giving a single bribe? In this interactive workshop with high-level professionals, Alcoa's Bill O'Rourke shares how he navigated the murky ethical conundrums that that come with leadership of a global business.
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Andrew Feinstein,
Joanne J. Myers
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12/07/11
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In 2010, global military expenditure was roughly $1.6 trillion--that's $235 for every person on earth. This has profound impacts, from the perpetuation of conflict, to the corrosion of democracy, to massive socioeconomic costs.
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Philip K. Howard
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12/06/11
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Philip Howard argues that an excess of government regulations and the law has corroded the institutions of authority in our society, with many deleterious effects, and one of the victims of that is our sense of ethics and civility.
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Lt. Gen. Romeo A. Dallaire
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12/06/11
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Child soldiers are a weapons system that is effective, cheap, and complete. How do we counter that? How do we make the use of children a liability? How do we stop people from reverting to using children as the primary weapons system of a conflict?
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Anatol Lieven,
David C. Speedie
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12/06/11
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Pakistan expert Anatol Lieven unravels Pakistan's troubled and complex relationships with the U.S., Afghanistan, the Taliban, and its own army--and adds this special note on what bin Laden's death means for U.S.-Pakistan relations.
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Susan Davis,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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12/06/11
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Microfinance started as a movement for social justice and women's equality and gave birth to an industry, says Davis. This gave rise to scale, efficiency, and large numbers of people being served--over 150 million of the world's poorest households.
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Through experiential exercises that act as rehearsals, we can learn to how to act on our values in real-life situations, says Mary Gentile. She shares a ground-breaking new approach that prepares professionals to respond to ethical challenges in the workplace.
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Rebecca Hamilton,
Rachel Davis
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12/06/11
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What were the accomplishments and failures of the U.S. grassroots movements that responded to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and how do these lessons apply to grassroots movements in general?
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With its mix of militants, nuclear weapons, and chronic domestic unrest, Pakistan's problems have implications for the entire world. Prize-winning author and journalist Ahmed Rashid gives a chilling account of the situation in his homeland.
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Philosopher A.C. Grayling has created a non-religious Bible that draws from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both Western and Eastern traditions. Whatever your beliefs, you will find food for thought in this wise and witty talk.
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Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
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12/06/11
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Joseph Nye discusses the sources of his ideas, his major concepts such as soft power, the impact of these concepts, and his thoughts on the information revolution.
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Author and journalist Peter Godwin was born and raised in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). In this gripping talk he untangles his country's complex and tragic history, and shows us the arc of President Mugabe's brutal career.
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Izzeldin Abuelaish
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12/06/11
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Born in a Palestinian refugee camp, Dr. Abuelaish has devoted his life to medicine and to reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, even though his three daughters and a niece were killed by Israeli shelling. What drives this extraordinary man?
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John Lewis Gaddis,
Joanne J. Myers
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12/02/11
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George Kennan was one of the great men of the 20th century, says John Lewis Gaddis. And he was great in multiple dimensions: as the grand strategist of the Cold War; as a historian; and as author of one of the greatest of American diaries.
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The euro was once thought to be a symbol of peace and prosperity in post-World War II Europe. As the sovereign debt crisis continues, are we watching the end of this currency and, more ominously, a unified Europe?
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Michael Ignatieff
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12/01/11
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"A global ethic makes it possible for us to agree to disagree about ultimate questions, provided we have the philosophical clarity that comes from that process of adversarial justification," says Ignatieff in this thoughtful and challenging talk.
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Barbara Crossette,
Zornitsa Stoyanova-Yerburgh
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12/01/11
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Veteran journalist Barbara Crossette discusses how international reporting has changed dramatically over the last few decades: new dangers, new competitors, and new ethical and professional challenges.
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Robert H. Frank,
Joanne J. Myers
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12/01/11
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Should economic policies be guided less by economist Adam Smith and more by naturalist Charles Darwin? Robert Frank thinks so, and has some provocative tax reform proposals.
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Jon B. Alterman,
David C. Speedie
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11/28/11
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Dr. Alterman describes the principal challenges for the Arab Middle East states as "developing human capital and strengthening public policy environments." In aspiring to these, he calls for patience and long-haul commitment, even restraint, from Western donor sources.
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Are Western-imported methods for fighting HIV/AIDS working in Sub-Saharan Africa? Some critics argue that campaigns more aligned with traditional African values could be more effective in fighting the disease than Western campaigns focused on abstinence and safe sex.
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"It's time that we got ourselves out of this false sense of insecurity and realize that terrorism is here to stay, it will never pose an existential threat to this country, and the biggest threat it poses to us is that we will work ourselves into overreacting to the threat that it poses us."
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You recycle? You turn down plastic and paper? Good. But none of that will save the tuna or stop global warming. If you want to make the planet notice, follow the economics, says Gernot Wagner.
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Who should control your Internet identity? In an age when bills are paid via PayPal, relationships are forged over Facebook, and revolutions are fueled by Twitter, these questions take on great prominence. How we answer them may define the Internet for years to come.
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The Greek tragedy unfolding over the European debt deal raises some important questions about the bounds between debt and democracy: Why shouldn't Greeks--or any citizenry for that matter--get to vote on the economic fate of their country?
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G. John Ikenberry,
Joanne J. Myers
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11/08/11
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The U.S. may no longer be a unipolar power, but the world order it helped create is alive and well. The rise of other nations and the deepening of economic and security interdependence have resulted from the success and expansion of the postwar liberal order, not its breakdown.
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The fact that Guantanamo remains open, although the number of prisoners has been greatly reduced, shows how difficult
it is to handle Islamic militants. Meanwhile, targeted killings have increased. Are we killing our high-profile enemies to avoid sending them to military prison?
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George Friedman, founder and CEO of Strategic Forecasting, Inc., asks: What's in store during this new century? Which nations will gain and lose power? How will new technologies change the way we live? He has some predictions that may surprise you.
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Joel F. Brenner,
Joanne J. Myers
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11/01/11
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From the personal to the corporate to the national, our data is constantly at risk, says Joel Brenner. But it's like gravity; there's not much we can do about it. We just have to learn to live with the situation, stay alert, and limit potential damage.
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Child soldiers and foreign aid raise an important ethical dilemma: Should allies that use child soldiers receive U.S. military aid, even if it compromises our opposition to the practice? When--if ever--should concerns about security trump concerns for human rights?
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Peter Singer,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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10/25/11
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Utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer lives up to his beliefs, giving away 25-30 percent of his income to alleviate absolute poverty, and defending animal rights--or as he puts it, "extending equality beyond the species boundary." Here are his thoughts on these topics and more.
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Recent allegations of an Iranian assassination plot in the United States have once again raised doubts about the effectiveness of sanctions. As confidence in a diplomatic solution wanes, can U.S. officials avoid military intervention without looking soft on Iran?
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John R. Schmidt,
Joanne J. Myers
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10/14/11
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U.S. Foreign Service officer John Schmidt explains how the complex, dangerous relationship between the leaders of Pakistan and various jihadist groups came about, and how it all began to unravel after 9/11.
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Does rising income inequality pose a threat to American democracy? This question has long been taboo in American politics. Yet as "Occupy Wall Street" spreads across the United States, the political consequences of income inequality are grabbing headlines as never before.
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According to NASA, over 135 million pieces of man-made metal debris orbit the Earth. While the space race may be over, someone's got to do the cleaning up. But who?
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Rachel Davis,
Susan Morgan,
Ebele Okobi-Harris,
Abbi Tatton,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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10/03/11
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How do companies such as Yahoo! and YouTube decide on whether disturbing material should be banned from their sites? What are the free speech and human rights issues involved? What guidelines do they use? This fascinating workshop discusses specific cases.
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William Easterly,
Devin T. Stewart,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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10/03/11
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The best system for discovering new approaches is not to have one planner at the top trying to decide what are going to be the successful innovations, says Bill Easterly. It's to have lots and lots of people at the bottom experimenting and finding their own innovations.
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As the UN Security Council weighs the Palestinian bid, is the U.S. right to oppose UN membership? Would Palestinian membership to the UN threaten future peace or could it provide a foundation for future negotiations?
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Randi Levinas,
Jack F. Matlock,
Stephen Sestanovich,
David C. Speedie
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09/27/11
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The Jackson-Vanik amendment has been imposed on Russia for 37 years. Is it time for repeal?
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Is a far-reaching Chinese navy a threat to American naval superiority or to the West? Is China simply a major power, peacefully rising and pursuing its natural national interests? Perhaps, ruling the waves doesn’t have the same importance in the 21st century? What do you think?
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Sam Speedie,
William Gouveia,
Julia Taylor Kennedy
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09/20/11
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Led by Sam Speedie, who stepped up immediately after 9/11 and went into public service, this group of under-40s Carnegie New Leaders discuss how to move the country forward and help other young people to make a difference, whether in government, business, or the non-profit sector.
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Do laws that make it a crime to deny the existence of genocide help to lessen
the chances of renewed conflict? Or, do they stifle freedom of speech--and
risk eliminating political dissent? These are the questions currently debated in Rwanda.
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Thomas L. Friedman,
Michael Mandelbaum,
Joanne J. Myers
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09/15/11
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What can America do as it faces four major challenges--globalization, the revolution in information technology, chronic deficits, and its energy consumption?
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As we take stock of the decade since 9/11, the lessons we have learned are still unclear. Ten years on, analysts impart contentious lessons that may even be irreconcilable. As you reflect on the past decade, what did you learn from 9/11?
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A proposed Canadian pipeline would transport bitumen from the tar sands of Alberta to refineries on the Gulf Coast, crossing the border. Is Keystone XL in the national interest?
Is secure access to oil worth the climate change consequences?
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Robert Wright's astute analysis uses game theory: a religion that sees itself in a zero-sum relationship with outsiders will prove exclusionist and violent, while a religion that sees itself in a non-zero-sum relationship will adjust its theology accordingly. What does this mean for the future?
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As Libya prepares for its future, do NATO member states have a moral responsibility to protect peace and stability? Or should Libya's
future be of its own making? What do you think?
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What is the underlying source of the current financial turmoil? It is not lack of technological knowledge about how to structure and to trade securities. It stems mainly from behavioral and ethical shortcomings, from regulatory failures, and from historical amnesia, says Henry Kaufman.
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Has pluralism in America emphasized private interest over public good? Does the market for ideas need more supervision, or should the market rule?
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Drawing on neuroscience, Jack Fuller explains why the information overload of contemporary life makes us dramatically more receptive to sensational news, while rendering the objective voice of standard journalism ineffective.
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Instead of taking a leadership role, U.S. politicians merely "kicked the can down the road" to resolve the debt ceiling crisis, kicking off a U.S. credit rating downgrade and a global stock market meltdown. Should the U.S. government be given more or less authority in light of recent events?
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Ronald Bruder,
David C. Speedie
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08/10/11
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Carnegie Council's David Speedie and Ronald Bruder, founder of the Education for Employment Foundation, discuss the Foundation's work in providing job training for at-risk youth in Arab Muslim countries, and also the impact of the Arab Spring.
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Governments and corporations are under serious and growing threat from cyber attacks. Which do you favor: a strategy that seeks out hackers and punishes them at the risk of waging an undeclared cyberwar, or a more defensive strategy, as adopted by today’s Pentagon?
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In the next 20 years, 75 to 80 percent of the world's population will have the same standard of living as today's advanced countries. What will this extraordinary set of pressures on natural resources and the environment mean for the planet?
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The power of belief is terrifying. Do you believe anything strongly enough to take a life without the sanction of authorities? Can any belief justify the killing of innocents? Where do you stand between belief and action?
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Outrage over "News of the World's" use of phone hacking raises the question: when is hacking acceptable? Phone surveillance is a common tool for national security. Where do you draw the line?
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In every sector of American society, civility has declined, according to recent polls--from vicious political rhetoric to attacks in the blogosphere and lack of personal decency. How can the media play a positive role in restoring civility?
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World population may hit 10.1 billion by the year 2100. Are population issues individual choices or are they fundamental concerns of public policy? How aggressively should policy intervene?
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Joseph G. Jabbra
|
07/13/11
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For generations, American universities have been educating students in the Middle East. President of Lebanese American University Joseph Jabbra makes an impassioned case for the American values that students absorb in these institutions, such as tolerance, philanthropy and service.
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Can you acknowledge dissenters as patriots? Can you dissent and still
sing the national anthem wholeheartedly? Can you live in a middle
ground?
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Richard K. Betts
|
07/06/11
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After the Cold War, Fukuyama, Huntington, and Mearsheimer each presented a bold vision of what the driving forces of world politics would be. Yet all have proved to be out of step with recent U.S. foreign policy. Is there a fourth vision for the world ahead?
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Should the president be supported by the legislative branch when making difficult foreign policy decisions requiring the use of force? How does this apply to Libya?
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Simon Chesterman
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06/29/11
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The boundaries between public and private are crumbling fast, often with the active or passive consent of those whose privacy is breached. What limits, if any, should be placed on a government's efforts to spy on its citizens in the name of national security?
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In "To Kill a Mockingbird" an innocent man is wrongfully sentenced. The author argues that all we can do in the face of injustice is try, accept, and move on. Should we trust always trust institutions? When the system fails is it enough to have fought, or should we go on to fight again?
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Steven Weber,
Bruce W. Jentleson
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06/22/11
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Free market capitalism, Western culture, democracy—the ideas that shaped 20th century world politics and underpinned U.S. foreign policy—have lost a good deal of their strength. Authority is now more contested and power more diffused. How should the U.S. meet these challenges?
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The intervention in Libya is the first major action authorized by the Security Council under the "responsibility to protect." Should we take military steps when leaders attack their own people? Or does this violate the state's right to self-determination?
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Active in Russian politics since the early days of Perestroika, Arkady Murashev discusses his part in bringing down the Soviet Union and and working towards a new form of government.
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The Chinese economy and defense budget have grown at an enormous rate over the past five years. Do you think that this will lead to global confrontation? Or will China have a "peaceful rise"? Could there be a third way that blends competition and cooperation?
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Pax Americana is a good thing, declares Gideon Rose. The problem is that even when the U.S. wins militarily, it often botches dealing with war's aftermath because it fails to define its political objectives.
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Amid the euphoria about the power of the Internet and social media, Morozov sounds a note of caution. He reminds us that these tools can also entrench dictators, threaten dissidents, and make it harder--not easier--to promote democracy.
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Within weeks of independence for Southern Sudan, the Northern Sudanese Army annexed the disputed town of Abyei. Should Southern Sudan respond militarily, risking a larger war? Or should they move ahead with independence on July 9 as planned?
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Mark Malloch Brown
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06/01/11
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Is the world ready to embrace more powerful international institutions and the values needed to underpin a truly globalist agenda—the rule of law, human rights, and opportunity for all?
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Can corruption be legitimized by common usage, legal process, or subsequent legislation? Should old crimes go unpunished by legislative amnesty? Or is it more important simply to correct the abuse and move forward?
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We're living in a multi-polar, multi-civilizational world, says Parag Khanna, and the old rules no longer apply. Increasingly, states, international organizations, NGOs, and
corporations must work in partnerships and find ways to strengthen
mutual accountability.
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Could SEAL Team 6 have captured bin Laden alive? Should training for elite military forces prioritize thoughtfulness at the risk of indecision?
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Nikolas K. Gvosdev,
Devin T. Stewart,
Dov Waxman,
David C. Speedie
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05/19/11
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Optimistic and bleak by turns, a panel of experts analyzes the dilemmas facing the rising and existing powers--from protests across the Middle East, to the earthquake and nuclear disaster in Japan, to rising food and oil prices across the world.
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Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
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05/18/11
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"In the information age, the mark of a great power is not just whose army wins, but also whose story wins," says Joseph Nye. This talk includes his thoughts on China, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iran, and more.
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Elections and campaigns are about options. Governing is about constraints. For Obama--and every president--what happens when foreign policy options meet foreign policy constraints?
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Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan in a mission by U.S. Navy SEALS. Should the U.S. have captured him alive and put him on trial? Was the U.S. justified in entering Pakistan without the consent of their government?
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The challenge of the next decade is not American power, says George Friedman. It is the preservation of the republic through a management of the international system that faces the fact that, intended or not, we're an empire. So long as we refuse to face that, we can't be effective.
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Taiwan requires electric utilities to purchase renewable energy, subsidized by the government. Recently when solar rates went down, the government changed the contract terms, saving on the amount of government funding but causing solar investors to make less profit. Was this justified?
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Japan's recent tsunami and nuclear disaster have devastated its fishing industry. Fish are at the heart of Japanese culture, yet worldwide stocks of wild fish are in drastic descent. Should there be a push to revive this occupation or should Japan be trying to grow new industries?
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As powerful regional forces confront each other over the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri, a day of reckoning is inevitable. Will there be a compromise or will the struggle be settled on the battlefield of Lebanon, Syria, Iran, or Israel?
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Economic models were the basis for crucial practical decisions that led to the 2008-09 financial crisis. Yet government bailouts remain controversial because free market advocates see intervention as wrong. Do you agree with the need to manage markets? Or should the economy be guided only be the "invisible hand"?
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Mitchell B. Reiss
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04/20/11
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When, how, and under what conditions should governments talk to terrorists? Can opening a dialogue bring conflicts to a faster resolution?
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In the aftermath of popular uprisings in the Middle East, Western aid-donors are confronted by a difficult dilemma. Should they work with anti-democratic or politically extreme domestic groups? Is excluding some parties in the name of democracy justified?
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Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus is working to chart a new course for
the Navy and Marine Corps, that by 2020 will dramatically reduce the
Navy's consumption of fossil fuels. He also prepared
the long-term recovery plan for the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of
the oil spill.
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In transitions from authoritarian rule to democracy, systems must decide who to exclude from public office. What do you do with those who, without being guilty, cannot be called innocent? Is it undemocratic to ban them from holding government positions?
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Robert D. Kaplan
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04/06/11
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Robert D. Kaplan declares that the Indian Ocean area will be the true nexus of world power and conflict in the coming years and it is here that U.S. foreign policy must concentrate if America is to remain dominant in an ever-changing world.
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Oil is cost-efficient as a primary energy source--in the short term. Long-term, however, oil poses economic risks and damages the environment. Should we allow markets to determine energy sources or implement energy policies to invest in alternatives?
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In a striking reinterpretation of the postwar years, Robert Dallek examines what drove leaders around the globe--Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Mao, de Gaulle, and Truman--to rely on traditional power politics, and points out the lessons we can draw from their mistakes.
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Due to the high demand of energy, competitive costs, and environmental concerns, nuclear power seemed like a reasonable option. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have since raised serious concerns about its safety. Is nuclear power worth the risk?
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Timothy Garton Ash
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03/22/11
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Looking back over the last decade, Timothy Garton Ash catalogues the challenges facing the EU--the economy, a united foreign policy, the integration of Muslims--and concludes that despite its problems the union has taken important steps forward.
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Bill Gates is spending one billion dollars in two years to eradicate polio. Although a deadly and crippling disease, it is extremely hard to end and there were only 1,000 cases reported last year. Is Gates' pledge a misallocation of global health resources?
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Despite Obama's rhetoric, most Arabs still see America through the prism of pain of the Arab-Israeli conflict, says Telhami, and a majority of Arabs and Israelis no longer believe peace is possible. Both the Arabs and the Israelis need to put public opinion aside and build an agreement.
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Turkey's democracy has been extolled as a model in the Middle East, but has also been belittled for its creeping authoritarianism. Does Turkey offer hope to those states making a democratic transformation in the Arab world? Or is its system under threat?
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Daniel Altman,
Ian Bremmer,
Zachary Karabell
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03/09/11
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In this lively discussion, economist Daniel Altman, political scientist/risk expert Ian Bremmer, and economic and political analyst Zachary Karabell present what each sees as the top risks for this year--and well beyond.
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In March 2011, there were over 50 vessels and 800 people held hostage by Somali pirates. What should be the response to these captures? Should a third party attack, negotiate, seek legal remedies, or continue to make the best of a terrible situation?
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How can governments use the latest research on well-being to improve the quality of life for all their citizens? What role can government policy play in creating individual happiness?
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How well do the institutions of government live up to the expectations of their people? What has America got right? What should it change? How do other countries measure up?
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Roger E. A. Farmer
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02/23/11
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We need to synthesize the idea that a free-market economy self-corrects and the Keynesian principle that capitalism needs some guidance, says economist Roger Farmer. The goal is to correct the excesses without stifling entrepreneurship and instituting central planning.
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John Exnicios,
David C. Speedie
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02/16/11
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David Speedie interviews John Exnicios, former vice president of the Krieble Institute. Exnicios played a lead role in training Russian dissidents in the last years of the Soviet Union.
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The Indian government plans to give all 1.2 billion Indians a fingerprint ID. Are you in favor of a national biometric ID to prevent identity theft and facilitate commerce? Or are you concerned about the privacy implications? In any case, are universal IDs only a matter of time?
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Barry Eichengreen
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02/09/11
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Barry Eichengreen argues that while the dollar is bound to lose its singular status, the coming changes will be neither sudden nor dire.
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Two waves are overwhelming Egypt and possibly the Middle East: democracy and demography. Can a youthful imperative for rapid change amplify or diminish the growth of democracy? Can a populist revolution contain the seeds of an authoritarian regime?
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Ronald Bruder,
Jasmine Nahhas di Florio
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02/02/11
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Founder and CEO Ron Bruder and VP Jasmine Nahhas di Florio introduce Education for Employment Foundation, an NGO that creates employment opportunities for youth in the Middle East and North Africa. Five programs are underway: Egypt, Jordan, West Bank/Gaza, Morocco, and Yemen.
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In a horrific account, Ed Vulliamy describes the ultraviolent, nihilistic "narco-traficante" culture of the Mexican-American border, a land of drug addicts and cartels.
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In Tunisia, the Jasmine Revolution showed the vulnerability of unpopular and anti-democratic regimes. Should the West support authoritarian regimes to contain political Islam? Should it watch popular passions erect potentially anti-democratic governments? Is there a third alternative?
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The annual announcement from the Eurasia Group of top global risks is here. Do you agree with their choice of fundamental issues for 2011?
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Michael Korda reveals the extraordinary man behind the myth of Lawrence of Arabia. He discusses T. E. Lawrence's contradictory nature, a born leader who was utterly fearless but remained shy and modest; and a scholar who also invented guerrilla warfare.
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Chinese policies tilt the field and undermine free trade, according to journalist David Leonhardt. Should the U.S. use sanctions more aggressively to enforce free trade principles and to protect domestic production? Or are the negative economic consequences too risky?
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Simon Winchester
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01/12/11
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Master raconteur Simon Winchester tells a series of gripping and little-known tales of the Atlantic, the ocean he calls "the inland sea of modern civilization."
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Wikileaks cables reveal that U.S. diplomats are "a big part of the sales force." Is diplomacy diminished or conflicts harder to resolve if diplomats are aggressive commercial partisans? Or are diplomats promoting products a crucial part of 21st century international affairs?
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Andrew J. Bacevich,
Joanne J. Myers
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01/05/11
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It is the time to examine the Washington consensus on national security and why it must change, says Professor Bacevich--and to acknowledge that fixing Afghanistan should not take precedence over fixing Detroit.
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Colonel Bob "Brutus" Charette, Jr. (USMC),
Rear Admiral Philip Cullom (USN),
Brigadier General Peter A. "Duke" DeLuca (U.S. Army),
Jonathan Powers
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12/22/10
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Representatives from the Navy, the Marines, and the Army Corps of Engineers illustrate how the U.S. military is on the forefront of efforts to develop and implement renewable, clean energy sources, both to power U.S. forces and to combat climate change.
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Should non-state armed groups be excluded from the formal realm of international humanitarian law? Should they be held to the same standards as states during warfare? What is the proper mechanism for enforcing the rules of war without lending non-state actors legitimacy?
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In a brand-new view of technology, co-founder of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly suggests that it is not just a jumble of wires and metal. He argues that technology is actually a living, evolving organism that has its own unconscious needs and tendencies.
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U.S. diplomatic cables exposed through WikiLeaks raise several questions about transparency and trust. Should governments employ secrecy in diplomacy? Without transparency, are democracy and diplomacy compatible?
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More than half of the world's Muslims and Christians live along the tenth parallel in Africa or in Asia. How do these two great intersecting faiths interact?
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Western support of Israel demonstrates a clash of interests and values. Israel is a key U.S. ally, yet its policies towards Gaza and the West Bank are repeatedly marked with human rights violations. Can there be a middle ground in foreign policy where interests and values meet?
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Allison Stanger shows how contractors became an integral part of U.S. foreign policy, often in scandalous ways, but maintains that the problem is not contractors, but the absence of good government. Outsourcing done right is, in fact, indispensable to U.S. interests today.
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The UN Charter states that human rights is the responsibility of international society. It also prohibits forceful interference against the territorial integrity and political independence of any state. Which takes precedence in humanitarian crises, sovereignty or human rights?
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Sartaz Ahmed,
Larry Burns,
Joan Krevlin,
Thomas Stewart
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11/24/10
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What will it take to build sustainable societies? The panel includes Sartaz Ahmed of Booz and Company on building sustainable cities; Larry Burns (formerly of GM) on clean vehicles; and architect Joan Krevlin on green buildings.
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With the rise in power of emerging markets and developing economies should the architecture of global economics change to reflect their market approaches? Should the U.S. direct reforms, or should China and other developing markets take leadership?
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Shakeel Avadhany,
Richard A. Cook,
Peter Hartwell,
Niko Canner
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11/17/10
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How do sustainable innovations make it to market? Three very different inventors talk about their creative process, how their inventions have had a social impact, and what a more sustainable society might look like.
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Brazil's President Lula da Silva handpicked Dilma Rousseff as his successor, even though she has never held political office. How important is continuity in governments? Is handpicking a successor acceptable in order to win an election or to direct a government? What do you think?
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Would Serbian admission to the EU prevent another Balkan War? Is promoting Serbian democracy more important than securing justice for 1990s genocides? In pursuing war criminals, is the carrot of EU admission more effective than the stick of EU exclusion?
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Gillian Sorensen,
Robin van Puyenbroeck,
Devin T. Stewart
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11/03/10
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"The UN can do better and it can do more, and when the U.S. is fully committed the chance of success is always greater. The UN is imperfect but indispensable. Our challenge is to build upon its strengths and address its weaknesses in the most constructive way."
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Do markets promote the greatest good for the greatest number? What do you think? Should long-term economic growth, promised by a free market, be prioritized over concerns about inequality? How do you balance a society's need both to create wealth and insure welfare?
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Journalist and author Jere Van Dyk tells of his decades-long involvement with Afghanistan, and gives a harrowing account of his 2008 kidnapping and imprisonment by the Taliban in the no-man's land between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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Moral injury is a new concept to describe the harm done to combatants traumatized by war. Is this concept confined to combatants alone, or is moral injury to soldiers simply a more extreme extension of the moral issues faced by everyone?
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Michael Mandelbaum
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10/20/10
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Michael Mandelbaum says that in this age of soaring deficits, the era marked by an expansive U.S. foreign policy is coming to an end. He recommends a new policy, centered on a reduction in the nation's dependence on foreign oil.
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Civility has fled the 24/7 news cycle. Public life need not be this way. Why do we tolerate, even gorge, on this lack of civility? How do you handle public debate? Do you paint opposing views as demonic?
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Reading classical literature teaches us that there are seldom clear answers to real-life dilemmas, says Charles Hill. It gives us the breadth of knowledge to realize that a multitude of factors need to be taken into account.
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Global warming makes it impossible to limit environmentalism to one country. Should geoengineering be regulated multilaterally before rogue countries experiment with our collective future? Or does the problem demand research and action now, despite the risks?
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Drawing on the International Court's judgment on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, Arbour examines the pursuit of self-determination in a range of situations, focusing particular attention on the upcoming referendum in Southern Sudan.
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China undervalues its currency and pursues an export-led growth model, resulting in the loss of U.S. jobs. Confrontation on this issue is dangerous, yet doing nothing is potentially disastrous for the U.S. economy. How would you respond to China's growing power?
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Christopher Case,
David Rodin
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09/29/10
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What are the basic principles that should guide professional soldiers in the 21st century?
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Offshore oil spills have devastating consequences, yet storm-drain runoff from leaky cars and gas stations can be just as bad. Do the risks of deepwater drilling outweigh the rewards? Could efficiency and innovations on land meet our energy demands without further drilling?
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Clyde Prestowitz
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09/22/10
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Clyde Prestowitz argues that the U.S. is rapidly losing the basis of its wealth and power, as well as its freedom of action and independence. If we do not make dramatic changes quickly, we will confront a painful, permanent slide in our standard of living.
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What should be the balance between preservation and consumption? Should there be a global ethic for protecting endangered species? If so, how should it be enforced?
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Graciana del Castillo
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09/15/10
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After wars end, what steps should countries take to consolidate peace? Graciana del Castillo identifies five premises that are necessary for war economies to transition into sustainable and productive markets.
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Three-quarters of the world's fish stocks are in distress and many fisheries could collapse by midcentury. Should we ban industrial fishing or regulate it for sustainable output? Can farmed fish make up the difference? Furthermore, who will police the oceans? What do you think?
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Ian Bremmer,
Devin T. Stewart
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09/08/10
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In a discussion about his latest book, Ian Bremmer analyzes the troubled relationship between the U.S. and China, and the rise of what he calls "state capitalism"--where the state is the principal actor and there is an absence of the rule of law.
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Half the world now lives in cities, and they are growing. Are megacities an opportunity or a threat?
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Raghuram G. Rajan
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09/01/10
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Raghuram Rajan traces the deepening fault lines in a world overly dependent on the indebted U.S. consumer to power global economic growth, and where the U.S. has growing inequality and a thin social safety net. If these flaws are not fixed, we should be prepared for an even more serious financial crisis.
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Have aircraft carriers lost their place as core naval assets for projecting force? Does the carrier's symbolic role and massive armament still sustain its central mission? For instance, would you risk U.S. carriers in a conflict across the Taiwan Strait?
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Stephen Kinzer argues that the United States needs to rethink its alliances in the Middle East and focus on strategic relationships with Iran and Turkey rather than Israel and Saudi Arabia.
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Should national parks introduce non-native species for recreational purposes, or focus on preserving the parks' natural state?
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Everything hinges on water; it is essential to life and to civilization. Will there be enough fresh water for 9 billion of us by 2050? In this talk, journalist Steven Solomon discusses the impending global water crisis.
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The proposed building of an Islamic community center two blocks from 9/11’s Ground Zero has become a contentious issue. Would building the center promote the American virtues of religious freedom and speech? Or would it be counterproductive and insensitive, even if the intent is pure?
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What has been, is, and should be the role of the UN Security Council? Bosco chronicles its history--its successes and its failures--and concludes with some positive suggestions for the future.
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Smartphones rely on coltan, much of which is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Given that the Congo represents one of the worst illustrations of modern mineral exploitation, what will you do?
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Michael W. Doyle
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08/04/10
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What circumstances justify overriding sovereignty? Michael Doyle discusses the difficult questions surrounding nonintervention and the "unanimous revolution" of 2005, which led to the new norm known as the Responsibility to Protect.
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Is secrecy in foreign policy an unfortunate yet necessary way to maintain national security? Or does the lack of transparency in state decisions undermine democracy?
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Garry Wills traces how the atomic bomb transformed our nation down to its deepest constitutional roots, defined the presidency, and redefined the government as a national security state.
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The growth in national security measures since 9/11 is striking. Is this level of government investment worthwhile? Can there ever be too much security?
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Roald Sagdeev,
Frank von Hippel
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07/21/10
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Doctors Roald Sagdeev and Frank von Hippel have collaborated for decades on nuclear arms control and nonproliferation between the U.S. and the USSR. They discuss their work and their insights for the future arms control agenda.
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How do you choose missions to fight a war effectively, while minimizing civilian deaths and meeting the obligation to your soldiers?
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Stephen F. Cohen
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07/14/10
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Washington has squandered the opportunity for a fundamentally new U.S.-Russian relationship after the Cold War, says Stephen Cohen.
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Must governments meet violence with an authoritarian response? In the recent Mexican election, citizens could demand a crackdown on druglords at the price of personal freedoms, or continue to participate at the risk of their safety. Mexicans chose the latter. What would you do?
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Zachary Karabell
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07/07/10
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In a witty and astute talk, Zachary Karabell describes and explains what he calls 'superfusion'--how the economies and capital flows of China and the U.S. became inextricably entwined to the point where neither can survive without the other.
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Does the state capitalism model present a challenge to free market political systems? Is Google's confrontation with China a taste of the future? What do you think?
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What, asks Oxford economist Paul Collier, are realistic and sustainable solutions to correcting the mismanagement of the natural world? Can an international standard be established to resolve the complex issues of unchecked profiteering on the one hand and environmental romanticism on the other?
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When China loosens the peg of its currency to the dollar, the U.S. will benefit--but it may hurt labor in China. While the looser Chinese currency is fairer to trading partners, it conflicts with protection of Chinese citizens' interests. How would you balance the two concerns?
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Christopher Adkins,
Ragna Bell,
Michael Holland,
Jason Mangone,
Ellen McGrath
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06/18/10
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How do the views of today's students and CEOs differ with regard to business on a shared planet? IBM has engaged with the Council's Carnegie New Leaders and the Workshops for Ethics in Business program to understand these emerging perspectives.
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In Rwanda, 92 percent of citizens have government-mandated health insurance, collectively owned by the policy-holders themselves. Does organizing health care based on this mutual ethical obligation make sense for other countries? What do you think?
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Ian Bremmer,
Georg Kell,
Art Kleiner,
Michele Wucker,
Thomas Stewart,
Devin T. Stewart
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06/16/10
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What's next? Using Eurasia Group's Top Risks as a starting point for identifying the major global challenges in 2010, the panelists identify what they see on the horizon and discuss the ethical issues involved.
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Governments have a moral responsibility to protect their citizens. How far does that extend? Is a "kill list" justified?
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Bernard Lewis is one of the world's foremost Western scholars on Islam. In this eloquent talk he shares some of his knowledge, and explains how the different world views held by Christians and Muslims can lead to misunderstanding.
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Should the U.S. be helping developing countries when it has its own dramatic domestic problems?
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Jayantha Dhanapala,
David C. Speedie
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06/02/10
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Jayantha Dhanapala, former Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs at the UN, gives his views on "getting to zero" on nuclear weapons.
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Will the next dominant international conflict be between state capitalism and free market capitalism? Will it supplant the war on terror? What do you think?
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What do Nazis, the CIA, and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West have in common? Journalist Ian Johnson tells the untold story of a group of ex-Soviet Muslims who defected to Germany during World War II has a lesson for today: beware of using religion as a tool.
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How do we meet the massive global issue of fertility without being mired in the abortion debate?
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1.9 million Sunni Muslims have been forced into exile following the Iraq War, says Deborah Amos. What impact is this having on these people's lives, on Iraq, and on the region's delicate balance of power?
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Are babies born with the morality they need or do they learn it from society? Is morality a biological trait that builds communities through enlightened self-interest, or does it come from a spiritual being? What do you think?
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George Packer discusses some of his essays from the period of September 11, 2001 to November 4, 2008; the luxury of being able to write long, in-depth articles for "The New Yorker" magazine; and the uncertain future of print journalism.
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Should the U.S. shed some global ambitions and responsibilities? Or, is America's global role simply too important, both to the U.S. and the world? What do you think?
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Abel Maldonado,
William C. Vocke Jr.
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05/05/10
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Under the current system, California has a deadlocked, polarized legislature that can't get anything done, says Lt. Gov. Maldonado. The solution is to create an open primary system. California voters will vote on this proposal in June.
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Should election results accurately reflect public opinion or should elections promote effective governance?
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From Russia and China to the U.S. and the U.K., many seemingly dissimilar countries have an "unwritten pact," under which, consciously or not, the population trades some of their democratic rights for better living standards and political stability.
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Is it time to reform the U.S. electoral structure? Should more views be represented? Do narrow interests have too much power? What do you think?
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Charles W. Kegley, Jr.
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04/21/10
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Taiwan has transformed itself into a prosperous, vibrant democracy, and recently tensions between Taiwan and China have lessened. As the balance of power between the U.S. and China shifts, what is the future for Taiwan, and what role will it play in the region?
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Welcome to the Carnegie Council Video Podcast.