Big World

In the early 1990s, the US and the USSR signed the first of a series of treaties designed to limit the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons. In this episode of Big World, SIS professor Sharon Weiner joins us to discuss the many nuclear weapons treaties between the US and Russia—the world's two largest nuclear powers.

Professor Weiner explains the significance of START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) signed in 1991 (2:14). She also breaks down why START II was signed in 1993, SORT (Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty) was signed in 2002, and New START was signed in April of 2010 (4:06) as well as whether all these treaties were successful (6:11).

Professor Weiner describes what might have happened if President Biden and President Putin did not agree to extend New START before its expiration date in February 2021 (10:04). Now that the two leaders have agreed to extend the treaty for five years—the maximum allowed in its text—Professor Weiner discusses what might occur in the next few years as New START nears expiration (15:54) and shares why the nuclear arsenal is a mistake waiting to happen (17:57).

What does the future hold for nuclear relations between the US, Russia, and other countries around the world (21:53)? Why do nuclear weapons pose not only a physical danger but also a danger to global cooperation (23:27)? Professor Weiner answers these questions and shares if she thinks the US, Russia, and other nuclear powers would ever agree to abolish the use of nuclear weapons (25:52).

During our “Take Five” segment, Professor Weiner tells us the first five things the Biden administration should do to achieve nuclear disarmament (13:15).

Amidst the long-overdue reckoning with systemic racism in the US and globally, an area of study that focuses on the lives of Black people and seeks to more fully share a totality of Black experience has gained increased attention. In this episode, SIS professor Jordanna Matlon joins Big World to discuss her research on one of these areas: Black masculinity.

Matlon explains why individual Black men who garner great wealth or celebrity status become performing commodities in popular culture (1:53). She also describes her fieldwork in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, where she found that global media depictions of Black American artists have impacted how Abidjan street vendors view their roles as men (5:28).

The patriarchal idea that the sole measure of a man is his capacity to earn money—the wage earner ideal—is not specific to any one country. Matlon breaks down how this idea impacts Black men across the African diaspora worldwide (10:07) and shares why she uses scare quotes when describing a “crisis” of Black masculinity (15:33).

In a nod to the unusual life of an enthnographer as compared to other academics, Matlon reveals what was it like to record two songs with a former street vendor and her research assistants while she was in Abidjan (17:16).

Finally, the year 2020 spurred a level of activism not seen in the US in decades. This activism mostly was aimed at redressing the country’s systemic racism. Looking forward, Matlon shares what she thinks success looks like for this generation of activists (21:06).

During our “Take Five” segment, Matlon states what five things she would do to disassociate Black masculinity from “crisis” (13:35), once and for all.

The 1960s started 60 years ago, but the shadow cast by that decade in the US is long. It was a decade that fundamentally changed how the US treats our citizens and views our role in the world. In this episode of Big World, SIS professor Sarah Snyder joins us to discuss the long 1960s and US human rights policy.

Snyder tells us how she defines the “long ’60s” (1:28) and explains how US human rights policy evolved over this time period (2:32). She also discusses John F. Kennedy’s potential, had he not been assassinated in 1963, to have been the first US president to prioritize human rights abroad (4:06).

Based on research she conducted for her book, From Selma to Moscow: How Human Rights Activists Transformed US Foreign Policy, Snyder explains how transnational activism during the long ’60s fundamentally altered US foreign policy related to human rights (7:35) and how the decade and a half set the stage for human rights policy today (9:20).

Is promoting human rights abroad a partisan issue (13:28)? Can we expect to see human rights return as a US foreign policy priority in the Biden administration (15:25)? Snyder answers these questions and discusses whether or not current activism for human rights reflects what we saw in the ’60s (17:20) and if the influence on US politics of that influential decade is beginning to wane (20:40).

During our “Take Five” segment, Snyder tells us five steps that a new presidential administration should take to signal that it prioritizes human rights (11:13).

Russia is defined, at least in part, by its relationship with the United States. In January 2021, US leadership will transition again, and the world's most significant dysfunctional relationship will evolve yet again. In this episode, SIS professor Keith Darden joins Big World to discuss the future of Russia-US relations.

Looking back, Darden first discusses whether or not the United States’ relationship with Russia is the worst that it has been since 1985 (1:43). He then describes why Russia-US relations were less strained right after 9/11 and during the 2008-2012 “reset” between then-US president Barack Obama and then Russian president Dmitry Medvedev (4:55). Finally, he shares how much of an impact Russia’s 2016 election interference campaign had on the relationship (8:01).

Looking ahead, how will the Biden administration affect Washington’s relationship with Moscow (15:21)? Will the new US administration continue a visible and vocal role of promoting democracy in other countries, and—if so—would that serve as a barrier to improving Russia-US relations (17:40)?

And, for the million dollar question, Darden discusses whether or not better Russia-US relations are even feasible with Vladimir Putin in power.

During our “Take Five” segment, Darden shares the five policies he would institute to improve Russia-US relations (9:39).

It is not surprising that food—something so universal yet so individual and culturally specific—would have a place in foreign policy. In this episode, SIS professor Johanna Mendelson Forman joins Big World to discuss culinary diplomacy, gastrodiplomacy, and conflict cuisine.

Professor Mendelson Forman shares how governments use food as a tool for soft power (1:38) and explains the difference between culinary diplomacy and gastrodiplomacy (4:46). She also discusses the connection between food and war—what she calls conflict cuisine (6:40).

Why is conflict cuisine a unique part of DC’s culinary scene (10:46)? How does Professor Mendelson Forman use food and visits to local restaurants to teach students about war and peace, diplomacy, and conflict resolution (12:43)? She answers these questions and explains what has changed in DC’s conflict cuisines over the last five years (15:03).

Finally, Professor Mendelson Forman examines the possible impact of COVID-19 on family or chef-owned global cuisine restaurants (17:05) and discusses the important role social gastronomy, or the use of food to do good, is playing during the coronavirus pandemic (18:48).

During our “Take Five” segment, Professor Mendelson Forman tells us the five ways she’d like to see people use food as a tool for activism and social change (9:39).

Breonna Taylor. Eric Garner. Michael Brown. George Floyd. The list of names goes on and on and on. They are US citizens killed by the police. They are all Black. And those two facts are inextricably linked. In this episode of Big World, SIS professor Cathy Schneider joins us to discuss racial profiling and police violence.

Professor Schneider explains how ethnic, racial, and religious minorities are policed differently than other groups in the US (1:28) and why Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people are more likely to be victims of police violence (5:59). She also discusses whether other countries have grappled with the degree of police violence seen in the US (8:56).

Why did the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis spark anger and mass protests around the world (14:50)? What does defunding or abolishing the police actually mean (18:15)? Professor Schneider answers these questions and describes the kinds of reforms that can effectively be enacted to allow the public to hold police accountable for misconduct (21:26).

During our “Take Five” segment, Professor Schneider shares the first five things she would do to reform policing in the United States (10:53).

*Note: This episode of Big World was recorded with Guy Ziv prior to the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that was signed on August 13th, 2020.

Over his decades in and out of power, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has redefined what it means for Israel to be a Jewish democratic state. In this episode, Professor Guy Ziv joins Big World to discuss Netanyahu’s outsized role in Israeli politics.

Ziv explains how Netanyahu rose to power (2:17), how his stance toward a two-state solution has shifted (6:04), and his annexation plans for West Bank territory (7:19). He also breaks down how the prime minister has influenced foundational pieces of Israel’s democracy like press freedom (13:34) and rule of law (15:46).

Has the coronavirus pandemic helped Netanyahu stay in power (19:55)? On a democratic scale that includes leaders like Poland’s Andrzej Duda, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, and the US’s Donald Trump, where would Netanyahu be placed, and why (22:48)? Ziv answers these questions and discusses the prime minister’s relationship with religion (24:25) as well as if the corrosion of Israel’s democracy can be reversed with Netanyahu still in power (26:10).

At a time in which the upcoming US election looms large, Ziv shares the five practices he would institute to improve the US’s global standing in the world during our Take Five segment (18:06).

A college graduate’s search for their first professional job is made a lot easier when they have a great internship or two on their résumé. In this episode, Shaine Cunningham, SIS director of career education and employer relations, joins Big World to share her insights on landing an internship in international affairs.

Cunningham discusses when students should start looking for internships for any given semester (1:30) and what types of experiences their résumés should highlight (2:49). She also discusses the value of transferable skills (4:50) as well as how to talk about one’s experiences during an interview for an internship (6:26).

Are there any particular skills that SIS students can aquire through their courses that can help them land internships (8:49)? Cunningham answers this question and explains what students can do to get their foot in the door at a government agency (13:37). She ends our episode by revealing the common mistakes to avoid when applying for an internship (17:20).

During our “Take Five” segment, Cunningham shares the five ways to get the most out of an internship experience (10:45).

What happens when a country is powerful enough not to fight its own battles? In this episode, SIS professor Dylan Craig joins Big World to discuss proxy warfare.

Professor Craig provides an expansive understanding of proxy warfare and how a proxy war differs from a traditional war or armed conflict (2:01). He explains why proxy wars are a “rediscovered classic” rather than a recent development in international affairs (3:34) and breaks down whether or not most modern conflicts are proxy wars (5:18).

Can the American Revolution be considered a proxy war (7:47)? Why do states engage in proxy warfare in the first place (14:41)? Professor Craig answers these questions and explains what “winning” a modern-day proxy war looks like in an era of “endless wars” (16:56).

Finally, Professor Craig examines the ethical considerations for a state when engaging in proxy warfare (19:00) and discusses the role of non-state actors in modern conflicts, including the US presence in Afghanistan and Iraq (21:41).

During our “Take Five” segment, Professor Craig tells us the five things he would do to reduce the prevalence of proxy wars around the world (10:30).

As far as the West is concerned, World War I is largely a European story, but that's only part of the full narrative. In this episode of Big World, SIS professor Elizabeth Thompson discusses stolen democracy in the Middle East after “the war to end all wars.”

Professor Thompson, the Mohamed S. Farsi Chair of Islamic Peace at SIS, provides a more expansive understanding of the impact of World War I and the Paris Peace Conference (2:25), including the Syrian Arab Congress that convened at Damascus in 1919 (6:24). She also explains how Britain and France intervened to destroy this newly-declared, independent Arab kingdom (9:01) and why Syrian Arabs were not, at the time, protected by international law or the new League of Nations (10:00).

Based on research she conducted for her book, How the West Stole Democracy from the Arabs, Professor Thompson breaks down how the British and French attempted to erase all evidence of the Syrian Arab State's democracy (14:54). She also explains why knowledge of this part of history helps us understand more recent events in Greater Syria (18:31) and reveals how different the present-day Middle East might be if the Syrian Arab Congress had successfully instituted a representative democracy in the 1920s (21:45).

During our “Take Five” segment, Professor Thompson tells us the five changes she would make in US policy that would help people in the Middle East achieve their own democratic desires (11:49).