Global Insights (Audio)

How do you find hope in a deeply fractured and polarized world? In this timely and powerful conversation, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Nicholas Kristof pulls from decades of reporting from global conflict zones and overlooked American communities to bring a deeply human perspective to today’s most urgent moral and civic challenges. In an era marked by division and misinformation, this program explores how truth, empathy and ethical courage can shape a more just and compassionate world. This program is presented by the Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society, and moderated by The World's Marco Werman and UC San Diego Theater professor Allan Havis. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 40914]

As voters prepare to head to the polls on Election Day, join the Goldman School of Public Policy and Cal Performances for a critical look at the moment we’re in, the issues that have shaped and led us to this year’s tumultuous election, and the future of American democracy. UC Berkeley experts from former presidential administrations—Janet Napolitano, former Secretary of Homeland Security under the Obama administration (2009-2013); Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under the Clinton administration (1993-1997); and Maria Echaveste, former Assistant to the President and Deputy White House Chief of Staff under the Clinton Administration (1998-2001)—as well as PolicyLink founder-in-residence and Chief Vision Officer for the Goldman School of Public Policy’s new Democracy Policy Initiative, Angela Glover Blackwell. Series: "The Goldman School - Berkeley Public Policy" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 40302]

Fareed Zakaria, host of the renowned CNN program “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” talks about how to maintain peace in the post-Cold War era. He examines what he calls the geopolitical revolution that's taking place today and compares it with the unusual state of peace that existed from 1989 until the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - a time without constant and sustained geopolitical rivalry and tension. He looks at current state of conflict and tension, especially with China. He is joined by Stephen Hadley, former National Security Advisor. This talk is part of the the 2024 Susan Shirk Lecture on U.S.-China Relations at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy. In its sixth year, the forum on U.S.-China Relations is the only American leadership meeting focused exclusively on China and U.S.-China relations. This year’s theme is “Widening the Aperture: U.S.-China Relations in the Global Context.” Series: "Global Policy and Strategy" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 40146]

Between 1918 and 1921, Ukrainian peasants, townsmen, and soldiers who blamed the Jews for the turmoil of the Russian Revolution murdered over a 100,000 Jews. Aid workers warned that six million Jews were in danger of extermination. Twenty years later, these dire predictions would come true. In his new book “In the Midst of Civilized Europe,” acclaimed historian Jeffrey Veidlinger shows for the first time how this wave of genocidal violence created the conditions for the Holocaust.

Veidlinger is Joseph Brodsky Collegiate Professor of History and Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan and the author of multiple prize-winning books, including “The Moscow State Yiddish Theater: Jewish Culture on the Soviet Stage” (2000), “Jewish Public Culture in the Late Russian Empire” (2009), and “In the Shadow of the Shtetl: Small-Town Jewish Life in Soviet Ukraine” (2013). Series: "Library Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39078]

A thought leader and former professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University, Francisco O. Mora serves as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States. Ambassador Mora discusses the challenges and opportunities within the Americas. In prior positions, Ambassador Mora served as Director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center as Deputy Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere. His opinion pieces and other commentaries have appeared in various U.S. and Latin American media outlets. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38822]

Ukrainian Member of Parliament Inna Sovsun joins Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley, and Janet Napolitano, Professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy and former Secretary of Homeland Security, for a firsthand perspective on the war in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in early 2022. They discuss the war's impact, and what comes next for the people of Ukraine.

This event is cosponsored by the Goldman School of Public Policy, the Center for Security in Politics, the Center for Studies in Higher Education, the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, the Institute of European Studies Series: "The Goldman School - Berkeley Public Policy" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38606]

The United States uses economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool for one of two reasons: either the latter is a perceived threat to the security of the first nation, or that country treats its citizens unfairly. The United States has imposed sanctions on several Latin American countries, specifically Venezuela, Cuba, and Peru. The leaders of those countries... Nicolás Maduro, Miguel Díaz-Canel and Daniel Ortega are accused of mass atrocities against the people of their countries. The United States will host the ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, and Maduro, Diaz-Canel and Ortega will be absent from the meeting of leaders from North, Central and South America. Richard Kiy hosts a discussion with Richard Feinberg. Abe Lowenthal and Neil Harrington on how US sanctions are working and what will be done at the Summit of the Americas to prevent the spread of authoritarianism in the Americas. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38111]

Despite the imposing of economic sanctions against the authoritarian regimes of Maduro, Diaz-Canel, Ortega, the grip these leaders continue to exert over their countries and its populations continues to remain steadfast. What else can be done? Are there other measures, other means of returning the countries of Venezuela, Cuba and Peru back to its citizens? Join Richard Feinberg as he hosts a panel of experts including Ricardo Herrero, Francisco Monaldi and Manuel Orozco as they discuss fresh approaches and other 21st century tools that could be used to end the reign of these authoritarian rulers in the Americas. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38110]

The United States and other foreign countries have imposed crippling sanctions against the governments of Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel due to the rule of their authoritarian leaders. Those countries are seeking support elsewhere including with some of the adversaries of the U.S. government. Nicaragua has re-established ties with China in an effort to subvert the economic pressure imposed by the United States. Richard Feinberg hosts a discussion with Cynthia Arnson, Francisco Monaldi, and John Polga-Hemovich on which governments are supporting authoritarian leaders in Latin America. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38109]

Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political status quo, and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voting. Latin America has seen the rise of authoritarian states in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Institute of the Americas President and CEO Richard Kiy moderates a discussion with Alberto Vollmer and Richard Feinberg discussing fresh thoughts and ideas regarding current U.S. policies toward authoritarian states. The panel also considers what can be done to keep the current regimes in check and prevent other states in Latin America from falling under authoritarian rule. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38108]