Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

One of America's leading political scientists and theorists Francis Fukuyama is back with a provocative new look at one of the most critical issues facing America: identity politics and, most specifically, its role in promoting democracy as well as undermining it through polarization. In 2014, Fukuyama wrote that American institutions were in decay due to the power of powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatened to destabilize the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to “the people,” who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the entire population. At the same time, groups previously marginalized based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion are increasingly demanding equal recognition in society, setting up a clash in identity politics at a time when national unity is so needed. Fukuyama's new book looks at the contrasting ways identity has become a potent new battleground in society and discusses the threat to society when there are such significant challenges to collective action and communication. His book also makes a spirited call for the importance of forging a national identity that supports democracy as opposed to breaking it apart. Fukuyama's previous best-selling books, including The End of History and the Last Man and Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy, have been essential to understanding America's role in the world and our country's politics and culture. As the country faces another bitterly divided election amidst debates about populism and identity, understanding Fukuyama's new book and viewpoint will be critical no matter what happens in November. Please join us for this important discussion with one of the country's top political scientists. Fukuyama will be in conversation with Frederick M. Dolan, professor emeritus of rhetoric at UC Berkeley. Dolan is the author of Allegories of America: Narratives, Metaphysics, Politics and numerous articles on modern political philosophy, aesthetics and interpretation.

The 2018 election will change the balance of power in California and the nation. While the factors that have driven climate change and drought are on the rise, environmental actions, policies and agencies face rollbacks and cutbacks. The outcome of the November vote on candidates and ballot initiatives will likely have far-reaching ecological and social impacts. Our panel will discuss the present and future of the 2018 midterm elections and the environmental turning points ahead. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Ann Clark NOTES MLF: Environment & Natural Resources

The month of October is dedicated to immigration issues on The Michelle Meow Show at The Commonwealth Club. Our guest this week: Aarti Kohli Aarti Kohli landed in Queens, New York, as a seven-year-old with her family and saw first-hand what it means to be a struggling immigrant in the United States. She is currently the executive director at Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, the first organization in the country to represent and promote the legal and civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. At Advancing Justice-ALC she oversees key program areas, including national security and civil rights, immigration, and criminal justice reform. She also helps guide the state and national policy work of the Advancing Justice affiliation with partners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Formerly, she was the director of immigration policy at the Warren Institute at UC Berkeley School of Law, where one of her key projects involved creating an intensive immigration seminar for professional journalists. Prior to her work in California, she worked in Washington, D.C., as Judiciary Committee counsel to Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) and as assistant legislative director at UNITE union, where she lobbied on behalf of low-income garment workers who were primarily immigrant women. Join us as Michelle Meow brings her long-running daily radio show to The Commonwealth Club one day each week. Meet fascinating—and often controversial—people discussing important issues of interest to the LGBTQ community, and have your questions ready.

The Earth's temperature has been rising. To limit catastrophic outcomes, we must limit warming to no more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) average temperature rise. Economists agree we will save trillions of dollars by acting early. But how do we act successfully? What is the plan if we fall short? Bridging climate science, design, psychology, politics and religion, we explore the practical steps to reduce global warming and to adapt to the inevitable, all the while improving the bottom line, beautifying our communities and increasing human health for all of us who occupy and shape our environment. MLF Organizer Name Ann Clark Notes MLF: Environment & Natural Resources

Ejaz Naqvi, author of The Three Abrahamic Testaments: How the Torah, Gospels, and Qur'an Hold the Keys for Healing Our Fears, will discuss Hajj, the great pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. He will share his precious memories of the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a once-in-a-lifetime, sacred duty demonstrating Muslim solidarity and submission to Allah. He will share the lessons he learned for personal spiritual growth as well as for the benefit of society at large. Naqvi is a practicing physician and serves on the Board of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Celia Menczel NOTES MLF: Middle East

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. In many ways, there was no reason Julián Castro should have been successful. Born to unmarried parents in a poverty-stricken neighborhood of a struggling city, his prospects of escaping this circumstance seemed bleak. Yet he and his twin brother, Joaquin, did not let cynicism hold them back. Instead, they aspired to achieve the American dream despite unlikely odds. Castro’s success as the mayor of San Antonio propelled him onto the national stage, where he was the keynote speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention—the same spot President Obama held in 2004. He then went on to Washington, D.C., where he served as the Obama administration's secretary of housing and urban development. His meteoric rise has many wondering if a presidential run is in his future. Join us as Castro tells the unlikely story of how he believes the American dream can still lift unlikely heroes, no matter one’s politics.

After a year of climate-amplified fires and hurricanes around the country, New York Times reporter Trip Gabriel tells host Greg Dalton how climate and energy issues are playing in the midterm elections. Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, describes what his organization is doing to mobilize the more than 10 million Americans who cite environmental protection as a core value but who don't vote regularly. And Sam Arons, Director of Sustainability at Lyft, explains how his company is encouraging its employees and customers to get out and vote.

When Donald Trump announced his presidential bid in 2015, conservative historian Max Boot couldn’t help but think he was watching a dystopian science-fiction movie. He couldn’t fathom that the party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan could endorse a reality TV star with no prior political experience and a laundry list of controversies. This created an ideological dislocation so shattering that Boot’s transformation from Republican foreign policy adviser to celebrated anti-Trump columnist is the dramatic story of his new book, The Corrosion of Conservatism. After joining other prominent conservatives such as David Frum, Rick Wilson and Ana Navarro in denouncing Trump’s candidacy and subsequent presidency, Boot left the Republican Party. No longer a Republican, but also not a Democrat, Boot’s journey from a movement conservative to a man without a party is one worth hearing about. While 90 percent of his fellow Republicans endorsed President Trump’s agenda in the aftermath of the 2016 election, Boot stood his ground, enduring the criticism of conservative colleagues. Join us for this important conversation about a party at a never-ending crossroads and the movement by people such as Max Boot to reclaim the Republican Party in the name of conservative fiscal and national security principles.

Businesses are taking the lead on climate change initiatives. This panel gathers leaders at organizations that go beyond reducing their ecological footprint to demonstrating sustainability and generating a greater value with fewer resources and emissions. These leading firms are addressing both environmental impacts and the transformation of organizational culture. They are showing how to design and run a conscious business, a self-aware and purpose-driven organization dedicated to serving society and the environment. Audiences will come away with best practices for implementing impactful initiatives in their own organizations. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Elizabeth Carney NOTES

Google is known as a pioneer in offering workplace programs and services such as food, fitness, wellness, transportation and more. Michel Bakker, Google’s director of global programs for real estate and workplace services, will discuss how creating amazing workplaces and experiences helps attract highly sought-after talent and enables Googlers and Google to thrive. He’ll speak to how his team strives to deliver sustainable programs and services at scale, and he'll also discuss their approach to driving innovation in the workplace through the power of internal and external partnerships. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Elizabeth Carney NOTES MLF: Business & Leadership