Carnegie Council Podcasts
689 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★ - 11 ratingsListen to the latest insights from Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs—the world’s catalyst for ethical action. Tune in to hear from leading experts and thinkers from around the world who are tackling the most complex issues today and tomorrow, including the intersection of AI and equality, the governance of climate altering technologies, America’s changing role in the world, and the future of global migration. To learn more, visit our website at http://www.carnegiecouncil.org.
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Episodes
The Jungle Grows Back: America and Our Imperiled World, with Robert Kagan
November 20, 2018 21:09 - 51 minutes - 59.1 MB"The analogy that is at the heart of this book is about a jungle and a garden," says Robert Kagan. "In order to have a garden and sustain a garden, you've got to be constantly gardening. For me at least, that is a good analogy for this liberal world order, which itself is an unnatural creation which natural forces are always working to undermine." Human nature has not fundamentally changed, and this peaceful period is an aberration.
Myanmar and the Plight of the Rohingya, with Elliott Prasse-Freeman
November 16, 2018 14:34 - 38 minutes - 44.4 MBThe Rohingya are seen as fundamentally 'other,' says Prasse-Freeman. "Hence, even if they have formal citizenship, they wouldn't really be accepted as citizens, as full members of the polity." Could Aung San Suu Kyi have done more to prevent the persecution? How important was the hate speech on Facebook? How can the situation be resolved? Don't miss this informative and troubling conversation.
Global Ethics Weekly: The Right to Science, with Helle Porsdam
November 15, 2018 18:03 - 34 minutes - 39 MBThe right to benefit from scientific progress was enshrined in the United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, explains University of Copenhagen's Professor Helle Porsdam. Unfortunately, many people, including scientists and policymakers, don't know much about it. How was the right to science developed? What are examples? And, with an anti-science administration in the White House today, what are the contentious issues?
Internet Trolls in the U.S. and Mexico, with Saiph Savage
November 14, 2018 20:56 - 42 minutes - 48.7 MBProfessor Saiph Savage is an activist scholar and technology expert who is using large-scale data to study the sophisticated ways in which trolls target certain groups and bombard them with misinformation--for example U.S. Latinos were targeted in the 2018 midterm elections as were Mexicans in their 2018 presidential election. But her message is one of hope. In Mexico, citizens eventually saw through misinformation campaigns and others can too.
Enemy of the People: Trump's War on the Press, with Marvin Kalb
November 12, 2018 20:20 - 55 minutes - 63.7 MBTrump has a love-hate relationship with the press, which he calls "the enemy of the people" when it crosses him, knowing nothing of the origins of the phrase, says Marvin Kalb. Yet the pillars of democracy are the sanctity of the court and the freedom of the press. "I think that President Trump—not wittingly, unwittingly—is moving this nation away from our common understanding of democracy toward something that edges toward authoritarianism."
A Savage Order, with Rachel Kleinfeld
November 09, 2018 20:20 - 38 minutes - 44.2 MBCan violent societies get better? Rachel Kleinfeld discusses her latest book, "A Savage Order: How the World's Deadliest Countries Can Forge a Path to Security." Her conclusion is ultimately optimistic: Though it's never easy, real democracy (not autocracy in disguise) and a vibrant middle class can provide a path out of violence.
Global Ethics Weekly: The U.S. & the Taliban Before & After 9/11, with Jonathan Cristol
November 08, 2018 05:00 - 48 minutes - 55.9 MBWhen most Americans think about the Taliban, their minds go to Osama bin Laden, terrorism, and the endless war in Afghanistan. But as Jonathan Cristol writes in his book, "The United States and Taliban before and after 9/11," there is much more to the story as both sides met countless times in the 1990s, with the Taliban eager to have good relations with America. What was the bigger stumbling block for the U.S.: women's rights or al-Qaeda? What are the lessons for today?
China Steps Out, with Joshua Eisenman
November 02, 2018 16:33 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBIn this illuminating conversation, China scholar Joshua Eisenman discusses his two latest books: "Red China's Green Revolution," which overturns the conventional wisdom (both in China and abroad) that Chairman Mao's commune system was a failure; and a co-edited volume "China Steps Out," which explains why for China (unlike the United States), developing regions are a cornerstone of its foreign policy.
Global Ethics Weekly: Climate Change Mitigation & Governance, with C2G2's Janos Pasztor
November 01, 2018 16:36 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBAs activists, politicians, and environmentalists come to terms with a dire report on global warming from the UN's IPCC, Janos Pasztor, executive director of the Carnegie Climate Geoengineering Governance Initiative (C2G2), remains focused on the governance of the potential use of climate change "mitigation" technologies. What do these discussions look like in China? What do smaller countries think? And how challenging is it that climate change remains a political divisive issue in the U.S.?
The Alternatives to War: From Sanctions to Nonviolence, with James Pattison
October 29, 2018 04:00 - 27 minutes - 31.5 MBIn this interview with the Council's John Krzyzaniak, James Pattison (University of Manchester, UK), discusses his book, "The Alternatives to War." Taking what he calls a "pragmatic approach," Pattison outlines seven sets of alternatives, including economic sanctions and positive incentives. His goal is to offer policymakers a moral map of the main alternatives to war, thinking through the considerations for each one.
Reckless: Henry Kissinger and the Tragedy of Vietnam, with Robert K. Brigham
October 26, 2018 14:43 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBHenry Kissinger is smart, charming, and a great writer, says historian Robert Brigham. But when it came to Vietnam, his arrogance and deceit made a bad situation worse. Kissinger altered the logbooks for military bombings and misled the president on the content of the secret talks in Paris. "He was a theorist who stuck to theorist dreams, and it cost the country dearly." What are the lessons for today's administration?
Global Ethics Weekly: Youth Unemployment & Refugees in the Middle East & North Africa, with Mariel Davis
October 25, 2018 16:31 - 34 minutes - 40 MBThe Middle East and North Africa has a huge youth and young adult population--65 percent of the people in the region are under 30--but unfortunately unemployment among this group remains high. Education for Employment's Mariel Davis details how the organization is working to change this. She also discusses the challenges facing refugees, with a focus on Jordan.
Wellbeing in Northern Ireland, 20 Years After the Good Friday Agreement, with Senator George J. Mitchell
October 22, 2018 16:34 - 23 minutes - 26.8 MB"Much has been said and written about the long and difficult road that led us to the Agreement in April of 1998. Many have deservedly received credit for their roles, but the real heroes of the Agreement were the people and the political leaders of Northern Ireland," declares Senator George Mitchell, who played a leading role in the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. Don't miss this moving and very personal speech.
Fight for Liberty, with Max Boot, Philip Bobbitt, Garry Kasparov, & Bret Stephens
October 19, 2018 15:47 - 59 minutes - 68.6 MBWe live in a time when liberal democracy is on the defensive, not only in the U.S. but around the world. Yet these speakers, whose roots reflect the political spectrum, are optimistic that having a fresh discussion on moral values and basic principles such as freedom of speech, a free press, and the rule of law can help bring democracy back to health. Don't miss this valuable discussion.
Global Ethics Weekly: Science Fiction, Micro-democracy, & Information, with Malka Older
October 18, 2018 14:33 - 28 minutes - 32.5 MBMalka Older has spent time as an aid worker in Darfur, Indonesia, and Japan, as was discussed in last week's podcast, but she also has another role: science fiction novelist. Her latest book, "State Tectonics," is the third in a series that explores the concepts of "micro-democracy" and a "global information management bureacracy" in the near future. How have separatists from East Timor to Catalonia influenced Older's novels?
The Nationalist Revival: Trade, Immigration, and the Revolt Against Globalization, with John B. Judis
October 16, 2018 16:01 - 1 hour - 68.8 MBWhy has nationalism suddenly returned with a vengeance around the world? Why are nationalists so angry about free trade and immigration? Why has globalization become a dirty word? In this insightful talk, John B. Judis has some answers to these questions--and prescriptions for the United States.
Global Ethics Weekly: Disaster Response & Ethics, with Malka Older
October 11, 2018 19:34 - 32 minutes - 37.1 MBFormer Senior Fellow Malka Older, a novelist and aid worker, details the ethical and logistical sides of disaster response, drawing on her experiences in Sri Lanka, Fukushima, and Darfur. Why are "rich" countries sometimes less prepared to handle earthquakes and hurricanes? How is disaster response different in the United States? And with Hurricane Michael affecting millions this week, what are some practical ways to help?
The Future of U.S. National Security, with Derek Reveron
October 10, 2018 14:29 - 1 hour - 72.3 MB"Is it still fair to say there are continuities in foreign policy two years into the Trump administration? I'm going to say yes, and I'll offer some evidence," declares Derek S. Reveron of the U.S. Naval War College and Harvard Kennedy School. Don't miss this expert analysis of America's role in the world.
Chinese and Russian "Political Warfare" with Tom Mahnken and Toshi Yoshihara
October 09, 2018 19:00 - 43 minutes - 49.3 MBTom Mahnken and Toshi Yoshihara of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) discuss China and Russia's "authoritarian political warfare." "Not only do they use these influence campaigns, they use economic coercion, occasionally they use a military force, they use non-military instruments of power," says Yoshihara. "And it's the combination of these tools that I think make Russian and Chinese strategy so potent."
An Update on Pakistan, with Ahmed Rashid
October 05, 2018 14:59 - 17 minutes - 19.5 MBAcclaimed journalist Ahmed Rashid discusses Pakistan's new populist prime minister, Imran Khan, whom he considers woefully unprepared. He also examines Pakistan's debt-ridden economy and Pakistan's complex relationships with China, India, the U.S., Afghanistan, and the Taliban. "I think the key thing to understand is the need to follow Afghanistan," he says. "Whatever happens in Pakistan will depend on what happens in Afghanistan."
Global Ethics Weekly: Statelessness & Ethnonationalism in India & the U.S., with Kavitha Rajagopalan
October 04, 2018 15:39 - 30 minutes - 35.4 MBSenior Fellow Kavitha Rajagopalan explains the troubling situation in Northeast India near the border with Bangladesh, where millions of citizens could end up stateless. With denaturalization increasing exponentially under the Trump administration, what are the parallels with what's happening in the United States? Is this all due to the rise of ethnonationalism in both countries?
Mass Detentions in Xinjiang, China, with Francisco Bencosme
October 03, 2018 19:44 - 20 minutes - 23.8 MBAccording to a recent Amnesty International Report, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region are the targets of surveillance, arbitrary detention, and forced indoctrination by the Chinese government. Up to 1 million Uyghurs have been detained, says Amnesty's Francisco Bencosme. There are parallels with the Rohingya crisis, yet there has been far less international outcry.
All Options Are on the Table: Threats and Coercive Diplomacy in Foreign Affairs
October 02, 2018 19:22 - 57 minutes - 66.2 MBAre there ever justifiable reasons for issuing threats to achieve foreign policy objectives? In particular, are President Trump's threats against Iran justified? Don't miss this rare opportunity to get the Iranian perspective with this stimulating discussion between Drs. Reichberg and Syse of the Peace Research Insitute Oslo (PRIO) and H.E. Gholamali Khoshroo, permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations.
Meth Fiefdoms, Rebel Hideouts, & Bomb-Scarred Party Towns of Southeast Asia, with Patrick Winn
October 01, 2018 18:56 - 41 minutes - 47.8 MBFrom the world's largest meth trade in Myanmar to "Pyongyang's dancing queens," "neon jihad," and much more, Bangkok-based author Patrick Winn takes us on a tour of the underbelly of Southeast Asia. The region's criminal underworld is valued at $100 billion and in the next decade it's going to hit $375 billion, bigger than many of these country's GDPs, he says. These stories need to be told.
On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, with Martin Rees
September 28, 2018 11:33 - 20 minutes - 23.2 MBCosmologist and astrophysicist Martin Rees discusses the future of humanity on Earth and beyond, foreseeing a time when space pioneers may use gene splicing and AI to adapt to living on Mars, thus becoming "post-human." What concerns him most? "My worry, particularly about bio and cyber, is that whatever can be done will be done somewhere by someone. That is a scary prospect and is going to be a big challenge to governance, in my opinion."
Global Ethics Weekly: Refugees, from Utica to Uganda, with Kavitha Rajagopalan
September 27, 2018 17:39 - 39 minutes - 44.8 MBAs the Trump administration cuts refugee resettlement in the U.S. to its lowest number in decades, this population in other nations has exploded in recent years. Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Kavitha Rajagopalan details what this looks like for one refugee in Utica, New York and the challenges that countries like Uganda and Turkey are facing.
Making Foreign Policy Relevant Again, with Asha Castleberry & Ali Wyne
September 25, 2018 18:10 - 1 hour - 72.3 MBHas a gap opened up between the U.S. national security community and the general public over foreign policy? If so, why? How can we close it? Moderated by Nikolas Gvosdev, this panel with foreign policy experts Asha Castleberry and Ali Wyne is part of a larger effort by Carnegie Council's U.S. Global Engagement Program to examine drivers in U.S. politics pushing the United States to disengage from international affairs.
Malaysian & Indonesian Elections, with Meredith Weiss & Jeremy Menchik
September 24, 2018 19:23 - 42 minutes - 48.1 MBThis fascinating conversation begins with a discussion of the critical importance of Southeast Asia, including the rise of China and its ambitions in the region. Then Professor Weiss focuses on Malaysia and the return of the formidable 93-year old Mahathir as prime minister. Next, Professor Menchik discusses the complex situation in Indonesia--a country with 17,000 islands and 300-plus ethnic groups--and the upcoming elections there.
Global Ethics Weekly: A Blue Wave for Foreign Policy? with Nikolas Gvosdev
September 21, 2018 18:45 - 31 minutes - 35.8 MBCarnegie Council Senior Fellow Nikolas Gvosdev and host Alex Woodson discuss what U.S. foreign policy could look like if Democrats take Congress in November and/or the White House in 2020. What do Bernie Sanders' views on international affairs have in common with "America First"? Is there space for a more centrist policy? And after the 2016 election, is the U.S. still able to effectively promote democracy abroad?
Korea & the "Republic of Samsung" with Geoffrey Cain
September 20, 2018 20:38 - 37 minutes - 43.2 MBKorea expert Geoffrey Cain talks about his forthcoming book, "The Republic of Samsung," which reveals how the Samsung dynasty (father and son) are beyond the law and are treated as cult figures by their employees--rather like the leaders of North Korea. He also discusses the prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula--is Trump helping or hurting?--and the strange and sensational story behind the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.
Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment, with Francis Fukuyama
September 17, 2018 16:49 - 1 hour - 69 MBThe rise of global populism is the greatest threat to global democracy, and it's mainly driven not by economics, but by people's demand for public recognition of their identities, says political scientist Francis Fukuyama. "We want other people to affirm our worth, and that has to be a political act." How is this playing out in the U.S., Europe, and Asia? What practical steps can we take to counteract it?
Future Politics, with Jamie Susskind
September 14, 2018 20:06 - 19 minutes - 21.8 MBThere are three major technological developments that are transforming the way we live, says Jamie Susskind: increasingly capable systems, increasingly integrated technology, and increasingly quantified society. With these we are moving into the "digital lifeworld," which is basically a different stage of human existence. What will these momentous changes mean for the future of politics and society--i.e. how we order our collective lives?
Global Ethics Weekly: Expertise in the Era of Trump, with Joel Rosenthal
September 13, 2018 17:09 - 22 minutes - 25.3 MBResponding to excerpts from U.S. Naval War College's Professor Tom Nichols and best-selling author and economist Dambisa Moyo--and the hostile anti-expert tone of the Trump era--Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal discusses how he approaches his area of expertise, international relations. How did we end up here? And is there reason for optimism when looking at younger generations?
China's Spies in California with Zach Dorfman
September 11, 2018 16:24 - 33 minutes - 38 MB"There is a significant counterintelligence threat on the West Coast of the U.S., and it differs in meaningful ways from what is commonly perceived of as counterintelligence work and targets on the East Coast," says Senior Fellow Zach Dorfman. He discusses shocking examples of Chinese espionage in particular, such as technology theft and spying on local politicians. The Chinese also exert pressure on diaspora communities to become more pro-PRC.
Fake News in the Philippines, with Jonathan Corpus Ong
September 10, 2018 16:25 - 28 minutes - 32.9 MBWho are behind the fake news and political disinformation campaigns that plague the Philippines? "They're not exactly who you think," says Jonathan Corpus Ong, co-author of a recent study on this. The most important players are not the notorious bloggers and social media influencers as you might expect. "The people who are the chief architects of network disinformation are people in the ad and public relations (PR) industry."
Global Ethics Weekly: Americans & Putin's Russia, with Nikolas Gvosdev
September 06, 2018 18:44 - 20 minutes - 9.51 MBSenior Fellow Nikolas Gvosdev looks at the reasons for the growing favorability ratings towards Putin's Russia among a certain segment of the American population. Is this a function of Trump's personal affection for the Russian president? Or, as has been seen in France and other European nations, are there deeper cultural and political connections?
Fighting Fake News, with Anya Schiffrin
September 05, 2018 14:08 - 24 minutes - 28.5 MB"Disinformation, fake news, online propaganda is a problem that has gotten attention all over the world, and we're seeing very divergent responses," says Schiffrin, author of "Bridging the Gap: Rebuilding Citizen Trust in Media." "I think the U.S. is going to do what it always does, which is look for free-market solutions and try lots of small-scale initiatives, and Europe is going to do what it tends to do, which is have more regulation."
The History of Fake News, with Andie Tucher
September 04, 2018 14:16 - 32 minutes - 36.6 MBHistorian Andie Tucher takes us through 400 years of fake news in America, starting with a fake story published in 1690. But today, she says, given the the speed, anonymity, and reach of the Internet it's a lot easier to get away with faking news in dangerous ways--and harder to push back, especially given the president's attitude that the press is the enemy of the people.
Global Ethics Weekly: A Different Look at Immigration, with Kavitha Rajagopalan
August 30, 2018 14:59 - 27 minutes - 31.9 MBResponding to an excerpt from a talk by Brookings Institution's William Galston, Senior Fellow Kavitha Rajagopalan and host Alex Woodson discuss immigration from a few different angles, including in the contexts of economics and English language competence. Plus, they look at the under-reported issues facing undocumented Asian immigrants in the United States.
Spotting China's Influence Operations, with Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian
August 29, 2018 13:59 - 23 minutes - 26.4 MBThe Chinese Communist Party's main goals for influence operations in the U.S are "to make sure that the U.S. does not stand in China's way in terms of its global, foreign policy, and economic goals, and second, to silence or marginalize critics," says Allen-Ebrahimian, a security reporter for "The Daily Beast." Who are the principal targets? Elites, Chinese-American communities, Chinese students in U.S. universities, and American academics.
Political Influence Operations, with Darren E. Tromblay
August 27, 2018 14:23 - 13 minutes - 15.1 MB"I see Russia as conducting more smash-and-grab type influence operations. China is in it for the longer term," says author and former U.S. government intelligence analyst Darren Tromblay. China is pursuing multiple campaigns, including efforts to infiltrate politics or pressure politicians on specific issues, leveraging business deals to support Beijing's objectives, and carrying out numerous academic and cultural initiatives.
Global Ethics Weekly: Truth & Identity Politics, with Alexander Görlach
August 23, 2018 17:38 - 29 minutes - 33.8 MBCarnegie Council Senior Fellow Alexander Görlach and host Alex Woodson speak about identity politics in the United States and Europe from their different perspectives. They also discuss how religion and the recent Mexican election fits in to these narratives.
"Russian Roulette" & Influence, with Olga Oliker & Jeff Mankoff
August 22, 2018 13:41 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MBJeffrey Mankoff and Olga Oliker of CSIS host a podcast called "Russian Roulette" on all things Russian (and Eurasian), from food and wine to politics. What is the Russian perspective on U.S.-Russia relations and what are the goals of Russia's covert influence operations in the U.S.? Do they all originate with Putin or are some of them bottom-up? Are the Russians happy with Trump's performance as president? Find out in this lively podcast.
Digital Deception & Dark Money, with Ann M. Ravel
August 20, 2018 15:04 - 24 minutes - 11.4 MBThe term "fake news" is a little too tame, says Ann Ravel of the MapLight Digital Deception Project. Actually, this is foreign and domestic political propaganda aimed at undermining U.S. institutions and democracy. Maplight also tracks the enormous, pervasive problem of "dark money"--contributions by undisclosed donors to influence U.S. campaigns. Yet Ravel is optimistic that once Americans understand what's happening, it can be stopped.
Global Ethics Weekly: Helsinki, Singapore, & the Emerging Trump Doctrine
August 16, 2018 17:43 - 52 minutes - 59.5 MBFrom the unprecedented Trump-Kim meeting, to what some call a treasonous press conference in Finland, to growing tensions between America and its closest allies, as well as its adversaries, this has been a historic summer for international affairs. RAND Corporation's Ali Wyne unpacks these developments and looks at a potentially busy September for North Korea and the continuing schism between Trump and his top foreign policy advisers.
Banned in China, with Andrew J. Nathan
August 15, 2018 14:23 - 38 minutes - 43.8 MBWhat's the "anaconda in the chandelier" in China that looms over foreign scholars, journalists, and Chinese citizens expressing their opinions? Find out in this podcast with political scientist and China scholar Andrew Nathan of Columbia University.
Post-Truth, with Lee C. McIntyre
August 14, 2018 12:12 - 26 minutes - 30.4 MB"Post-truth doesn't mean that no one cares about truth, it doesn't mean that there isn't any such thing as truth, it just means that there's a critical mass of people who no longer think that they have to form their beliefs based on what's true," says philosopher Lee McIntyre. This is not new; it probably goes back to Galileo and science denial. But today post-truth is more virulent than ever, from Trump to Brexit. What can we do about it?
China's Presence on U.S. Campuses, with Jack Marr
August 13, 2018 13:57 - 17 minutes - 20.1 MBBoise State University's Jack Marr discusses how China's approach to the world has changed, from keeping a low profile to "a great push outward." Last year there were over 360,000 Chinese students in the U.S. These students are a great resource, says Marr, and we should welcome them and engage with them. "You don't want [them] just to come, study for a while, and then leave. I think that's not in the United States' best long-term interest."
Global Ethics Weekly: The Ongoing Crisis in Yemen
August 09, 2018 18:39 - 27 minutes - 31.1 MBThe world's worst humanitarian crisis is ongoing in Yemen, as the Saudi-led coalition, with the support of the U.S., continues its brutal campaign against the entrenched Houthi rebels. Waleed Alhariri, U.S. director of the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies, details the military stalemate centered on a Red Sea port, the debate about America's role, and the prospects for peace, with a UN-led conference in Geneva scheduled for early September.
Japan-China Battles for Hearts & Minds, with Giulio Pugliese
August 07, 2018 17:18 - 23 minutes - 27.4 MBJapan and China, while in a "tactical détente," are engaged in an information battle for foreign hearts and minds over the South China Sea and also Japan's past, says Pugliese of King's College, London. The "China dream" is the doppelganger of the "China nightmare"--the brutal Japanese invasion of China. "To a certain extent, Xi Jinping will need to cater to the China nightmare for foreign and internal consumption as he pushes for the China dream."