Public Affairs

Overview

Public Affairs hosted speakers who are prominent people in the world of international affairs, from acclaimed authors, to Nobel laureates, to high-ranking UN officials.

SEP 16, 2003 Transcript

Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and Lessons for Global Power

Niall Ferguson examines the rise and demise of the British world order and its lessons for the United States.

Detail from book cover

SEP 11, 2003 Transcript

Why Societies Need Dissent

Based on research of group polarization, Cass Sunstein makes a convincing case that societies function better if they allow dissent.

Rogue Nation:  American Unilateralism and the Failure of Good Intentions by Clyde Prestowitz

JUN 10, 2003 Transcript

Rogue Nation: American Unilateralism and the Failure of Good Intentions

Clyde Prestowitz sees American unilateralism, rooted in the claim to exceptionalism, as the main reason behind the growing anti-American sentiments around the world.

At War with Ourselves:  Why America Is Squandering Its Chance to Build a Better World by Michael Hirsh

JUN 4, 2003 Transcript

At War with Ourselves: Why America Is Squandering Its Chance to Build a Better World

The world’s remaining superpower has failed to grasp the importance of its global leadership responsibilities, argues Michael Hirsch. Assuming a leadership position within a ...

The Future of Political Islam by Graham Fuller

MAY 22, 2003 Transcript

The Future of Political Islam

Fuller predicts that although unlikely to disappear altogether, radical Islamist groups will eventually learn to compromise as more modest groups spring up to compete with ...

The New Chinese Empire and What It Means for the United States by Ross Terrill

MAY 14, 2003 Transcript

The New Chinese Empire: And What It Means for the United States

Our interests with China are peace, prosperity, and mutual exchange between two great countries and civilizations with openness for business, for students, for the professions. ...

Detail from book cover.

MAY 1, 2003 Transcript

The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks hopes that mankind can develop a doctrine of peaceful coexistence grounded in religious texts common to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Detail from book cover.

APR 30, 2003 Transcript

The Piratization of Russia: Russian Reform Goes Awry

How did a small group of Russian oligarchs manage to amass incredible fortunes in the short period following the end of the Cold War? Marshall ...

Unilateralism and U.S. Foreign Policy

APR 24, 2003 Transcript

Unilateralism and U.S. Foreign Policy

How is U.S. unilateralism in foreign policy perceived from abroad? This panel of international affairs experts presents a range foreign perspectives and discusses the ...

Terror And Liberalism by Paul Berman

APR 15, 2003 Transcript

Terror and Liberalism

Paul Berman discusses the common ideological underpinnings of totalitarian movements, from fascism and communism to the radical Islamist movement. He observes that&...