Ian Lustick, Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, joins UC Berkley's Harry Kreisler on this edition of Conversations with History to discuss Israel and its ongoing conflict with Palestine in the Middle East. (55 min)
Conversations with History and host Harry Kreisler welcome Harold Wilensky, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at UC Berkeley, to talk about his recently published book, Rich Democracies: Political Economy, Public Policy, and Performance. In this landmark work, Wilensky compares rich democracies and explores what makes these modern societies distinct and what makes them alike. (55 min)
UC Berkeley's Harry Kreisler and Juan Guzman, Chief judge, Court of Appeals, Santiago, Chile, discuss human rights and the Chilean justice system. (59 min))
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes international lawyer and policy analyst Tom Farer for a discussion of the different world views of liberals and neo-conservatives within the foreign policy community. He analyzes their different perspectives on the U.S. role in the world, on the problem of terrorism, and their choice of means for the conduct of foreign policy. He also discusses the historical continuity in U.S. foreign policy. (56 minutes)
Host Harry Kreisler welcomes neurobiologist Christof Koch for a discussion of what biology can tell us about consciousness. He discusses the framework for defining the problem which he developed with Nobel Laureate Francis Crick. He reflects on the ongoing revolution in our understanding of the brain and how technology is impacting the transformation of our neuronal correlates of consciousness. He also discusses the implications of his research for our understanding of manŐs place in the universe. (49 min)
Host Harry Kreisler welcomes computer scientist Jaron Lanier. Lanier talks about his work in computer science and his work as a composer and student of music. He reflects on the implications of technology for culture and offers his assessment of how far the revolution in communications will go. (53 min)
Alan Cranston was a four term Senator from California and president and founder of the Global Security Institute and director of its nuclear weapons elimination initiative. This discussion on democracy, disarmament and public education with UC Berkeley's Harry Kreisler was taped in April 2000. (53 min)
At the center of the foreign policy debate for the last 25 years, Karsten Voigt was a leader of the German Social Democratic Party, a member of the Parliament, and today heads efforts to coordinate cultural exchanges between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. (57 min)
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Pakistani Journalist Ahmed Rashid for a discussion of United States foreign policy and the failure of nation building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. (59 minutes)
His Excellency Sung-Joo Han, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea joins host Harry Kreisler for a discussion of how domestic and international factors are shaping South Korea's foreign policy as it deals with North Korea, the United States, and international politics in a changing world. (56 min)
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Ambassador Barbara Bodine for a discussion of her 30 year career in the foreign service. Topics covered include the work of diplomacy, U.S. policy in the Middle East, the events leading to the first Iraq War, her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Yemen including the response to the Al Qaeda suicide attack on the USS Cole, and the long term consequences of the militarization of U.S. foreign policy under the Bush administration. (59 minutes)
UC Berkeley's Harry Kreisler welcomes John Shattuck, Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Library Foundation, for a discussion of his career and work in the area of civil liberties and human rights. (54 min)
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes documentary filmmaker Martin Smith for a discussion of his work. (53 min)
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Susan Shirk, Professor of Political Science at UC San Diego, for a discussion of her new book, China: Fragile Superpower. A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton administration, Professor Shirk analyzes how Chinese domestic politics affects its international behavior and how U.S. foreign policy responds to and influences China's international behavior. She also discusses how her work as a scholar of Chinese politics and society informed her work in Washington. (55 minutes)
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Professor Steve Walt of Harvard University for discussion of the interplay of domestic politics and foreign policy. (58 minutes)
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor J. Bradford DeLong of Berkeley's Economics Department for a discussion of economics and public policy. Reflecting on his work as deputy assistant secretary in the Treasury Department in the Clinton administration, Professor DeLong discusses the dilemma posed by the breakdown of the political center, the strengths and weaknesses of the NAFTA agreement, and Alan Greenspan’s record at the Federal Reserve. He also reflects on the quality of public discussion of economic issues. (55 minutes)
Philosopher and education theorist Joseph Tussman talks about the nature of learning, teaching, and political discourse. (56 min)
Host Harry Kreisler welcomes Admiral Charles R. Larson for a discussion of his career in the military and the role of education in shaping tomorrow's leaders. (50 min)
Conversations with History Host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor Michael Hardt of Duke University.Ę They discuss his joint work with Antonio Negri on Empire. Professor Hardt reflects on his own intellectual odyssey and how his political activism shaped his thinking about radical consciousness in an age of Empire. (57 min)
In this edition, Nigerian attorney and environmental activist Oronto Douglas, talks about political activism and cultural identity in the context of globalization, the international oil economy, and the domestic politics of Nigeria. (55 min)