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LECTURE SERIES Archive of lecture series for 2002. Click on the link to view more details and a live or archived video webcast of the event.
February 5 SCIENCE AND DEMOCRACY IN THE POST 9/11th WORLD A panel
discussion with Moderated
by WPI Senior Fellow and New York Times interviewer, Claudia Dreifus will read from her new book, Scientific Conversations: Interviews from the New York Times on Science (Times Books/Henry Holt) and conduct "live interviews" with two of the book‘s subjects, Rita Colwell, Director of the National Science Foundation and Nobel Laureate, Leon Lederman. Among the topics for discussion will be the impact of the horrific attacks of September 11th on the world of science, basic research and democracy. Joining the discussion will be William J. Broad of the New York Times, the co-author of Germs: Biological Weapons and America‘s Secret War. Ms. Dreifus and Mr. Broad will sign books after the program. February 7 THE BUSH DOCTRINE IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS: DOES IT EXIST? a panel
discussion with Moderated
by The Bush Administration‘s record on foreign policy in its first year has confounded many observers. In his first nine months in office, President George W. Bush departed radically from the globally consultative policies of his predecessor and steered the country along a unilateralist course in international affairs. Then, following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, President Bush executed a mid-course correction and sought to create a world coalition, including nations like China and Russia with whom he had been feuding, to tackle the challenge of terrorism. But today having adopted his newly multilateralist tones, what he is doing may not seem to be what it appears. President Bush has withdrawn from the ABM Pact and has continued to eschew involvement with a multitude of international treaties in favor of an American-oriented foreign policy. Thus, was the coalition he created for the Afghanistan war an aberration or truly a signal of future multilateral engagements? Is there a Bush doctrine in foreign affairs? Is it only confined to terrorism? If so, how would one define it? February 14
THE
STRANGE PATH OF BIOTERRORISM: a panel
discussion with Moderated
by For decades, while the world stood in terror of nuclear war, Russian and American scientists hidden in guarded secret locations refined and stockpiled a new kind of weapon of mass destruction a weapon of anthrax, small pox, plague, to name only a few of the toxic agents bred by Soviet and American labs. When the scientific program was formally terminated with the 1972 Bioweapon Treaty, Russians secretly continued to develop bio-weaponry. But it was not until 2001 that the buried evils of the Cold War the biological Armageddon came to haunt us, after the anthrax attacks in America. How real is the threat of the biological warfare on the national scale? Where did the anthrax come from--US, Russia, Iraq, or terrorists? Why has the US government been so unprepared to deal with all those questions? Can the world place real controls over these death agents? February 21
THE
ROGUE STATES: a panel
discussion with Moderated
by With the defeat of the Taliban and the ejection of the al Queda from its bases and training camps in Afghanistan, the attention in the war on terrorism is shifting to the next set of likely targets. A number of countries who have long appeared on America's list of 'rogue states' as sponsors of terrorism seem the most likely candidates for the next phase of the war. But what is the true nature of the threat that each of these countries may pose to international security and how significant are any such dangers compared to a range of other problem countries, such as Iraq and Iran, who share the designation of 'rogue' but present a different range of problems? Should the focus be on 'failed states', nations whose central governments barely function and who may serve as unwilling or even unwitting host to terrorists, such as Somalia, Sudan or Yemen? Or should action be taken against countries, such as Libya, North Korea, Iraq or Iran who have aggressively pursued the acquisition of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and all of whom have supported and harbored terrorists in the past? What choices face American decision makers and what are the range of options they have available to deal with the myriad of challenges that such states pose for the United States and its allies in the war on terrorism and in the struggle to prevent the further proliferation of weapons of mass destruction? March 7 WHITHER THE EMERGING GLOBAL MIDDLE-CLASS? a panel
discussion with Moderated
by Building a large and sustainable middle class, especially in big emerging economies like Brazil, Indonesia, and Mexico, is the key to both global political stability and world economic growth in the decades ahead. Yet most large emerging economies are suffering today because of sluggish world economic growth, reduced investment flows, and rising export competition from China and other low-wage exporters. As a result, many of these economies are being forced to rethink the economic strategies they pursued over the past decade. What are the prospects for large emerging economies,and what policy options do they have in light of changing world economic conditions? March 14 a panel
discussion with Moderated
by The US-led war on terror has already resulted in dramatic political and strategic realignment in Eurasia, and more changes are to come. What are the likely implications of the expansion of the anti-terror campaign? How will it impact major states in the region? This panel will review three critical regions within Eurasia. Russia: President Putin has rebalanced the Kremlin's foreign policy, supporting the United States in the pursuit of terrorists in Afghanistan, but Putin has encountered growing resistance to this tilt from his own military and security establishment. The Caspian and Central Asia: the United States has established unprecedented commitments in the region, signing security accords with two states and building up stronger ties with the rest. South Asia: potentially the most explosive region that will be considered, with India and Pakistan standing at the brink of a major conflict. March 21 THE IMPACT ON SEPTEMBER 11TH ON AMERICAN LIBERALISM a panel
discussion with Moderated
by The 9/11 attacks and the subsequent war against terrorism have raised a number of grave questions for America's liberals. What is the right way to understand the attacks and the war? What have these events revealed about American policies? What has been revealed about liberal attitudes? Is this a time when American liberals should reaffirm their traditional beliefs, in order to resist the jingoist and authoritarian pressures that accompany any war? Or is this a moment when liberals should revise certain of their fundamental assumptions, in order to rise to the new challenges? April 4 a panel
discussion with Moderated
by With the unexpectedly smooth and successful introduction of the Euro, it appears that Europe may be on the cusp of real integration, going beyond the merely economic to embrace core political, social and security issues. As it considers drafting a European constitution, the continent sometimes resembles an incipient United States of Europe. Yet this may be deceptive. A core question for the future of Europe has long been whether to widen or deepen the European Union, and with the EU's expansion to include Eastern European nations, widening has won. But what impact will this have on the deepening that is needed if Europe is to become the second global superpower? Will integration progress smoothly, or will it face obstacles, and will these be surmountable? Right-wing parties throughout Europe are attempting to promote national agendas at odds with greater European integration, France and Germany may be losing their centrality in decision-making, and resistance to greater integration may be exacerbated by economic disparities among member states. At the same time, the impact of September 11 has forced Europe to reassess its relationship with the US dramatically, speeding up the process of developing integrated foreign, defense and security policies for the continent. The already-existing divergence of views between the United States and European countries on issues of human rights, for example, have been highlighted in the disagreement over treatment of Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners, and foreign policy differences are emerging as the US war on terrorism grows increasingly unilateral. What are the long term implications of these trends for the emergence of a stronger and larger European Union and for Europe's relationship with the US? April 11
HOMELAND
DEFENSE: a panel
discussion with
The September 11th attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center have sparked debate about how best to defend the United States against "terrorist networks of global reach." The most visible aspects of the Bush administration‘s response have been the war in Afghanistan and the decision to seek the largest increases in military spending since the Reagan administration. But an equally important element of the "war on terrorism" has been the establishment of an Office of Homeland Defense and a doubling of the funds devoted to this purpose, from $18 billion to $38 billion per year. This panel will explore what the administration means by homeland defense, how the funds are being spent, and whether this massive new investment is likely to make the country safer from terrorist attack. April 25 a panel
discussion with Moderated
by Japan was the country of economic miracles from the 1950s through the 1980s. In fact, by the 1980s there were many who thought Japan‘s economy was destined to surpass that of the US in the near future. Yet for the past dozen years now Japan has been in the economic doldrums with no end in sight. Japan‘s economy has barely grown at all during recent years. If fact, it is often in recession. What went wrong? What are the major obstacles to restoring growth? Why has no solution been found? Is Japan politically capable of implementing needed reforms? Japan‘s sluggish economy and reduced role in international lending and investment have hindered economic development throughout Asia, indeed, throughout the world. September 26 BUSH‘S FOREIGN POLICY: THE HALF-TIME SCORECARD a panel
discussion with
Moderated by With President Bush’s term almost half-over, it is possible to discern the outlines of a full-bore Bush foreign policy. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Republican president has promulgated a doctrine of preemptive action against states that fit a profile he has defined as an "axis of evil" -- rogue nations that possess weapons of mass destruction. In pursuit of these objectives, Bush apparently plans to act around the globe unconstrained by international treaties or other global obligations that could hamper his ability to take military action or mount armed defenses -- unless they already support his own strategic goals. Among the questions under consideration for this panel are: is American unilateralism justifiable in our contemporary era? Does President Bush’s actions so far create a more stable world or a less stable one? Does international law still have a role to play in today’s global society? What are the downsides of Bush’s policies? What are Bush’s ultimate aims? October 1 THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS REVISITED: FORTY YEARS LATER A panel
discussion with Moderated
by With October 2002 marking the fortieth anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, we are at a moment where we can reconsider the meaning of this extraordinary event for our own times. Did the crisis signal a turning point in the Cold War? Did it have any long-term impact on the geopolitical strategies of the two contending powers, America and the Soviet Union? What was its effect on relationships between the U. S. and Latin America? Did it prove to be the genesis for the anti-nuclear movements? How will historians sixty or one hundred years from now appraise the significance of the event? Was the crisis truly a pivot on which history revolved or will it be seen as a mere blip on the historical radar screen? These and other questions are to be addressed by the panelists. October 3
PUSHING
THE ENVELOPE: a panel
discussion with Moderated
by It has been seven years since President Bill Clinton and thirty-three heads of state from the Western Hemisphere met in Miami to sign an historic agreement to create a free trade area in the Americas by 2005.The implementation of the FTAA would create the world's largest free trade zone, with a combined GDP of US$13.2 trillion and a population of more than 800 million. If successfully negotiated, it would be more comprehensive than the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the basis of the Uruguay Round for global trade negotiations. The FTAA would affect the overall social and political context in which public policy decisions are made in the hemisphere. The debate surrounding the FTAA goes beyond trade policy negotiations. A global coalition of unions, community organizations, environmentalists, students and faith based activists is calling for sustainable economic development throughout the hemisphere, protection of social programs, workers' rights, and the environment, respect for local sovereignty and democratic decision-making, and greater ''transparency'' in the process of negotiating trade agreements. On the governmental front, Brazil's leading presidential candidates have expressed major reservations concerning President Bush's plan to create an FTAA, opting instead to strengthen ties with the world's other emerging powers--Russia, China and India. It remains to be seen, if the U.S. with only three years remaining before the deadline, will be able to overcome the major domestic hurdles and international obstacles that exist. October 17 WOMEN HEADS OF STATE: VIRTUOUS LEADERSHIP? a panel
discussion with Moderated
by In a time when women from Finland, Panama, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines are heading their governments, is their leadership making a difference on women's rights, human rights, development and war and peace issues? Three expert observers give their views and answer questions. October 24 a panel
discussion with Moderated
by It is the most important question in economics. But in recent years, there seems to be less confidence about the answers. Developing nations have grown far slower than expected. Meantime, the "New Economy" of developed nations, especially in the U.S., has been badly oversold. This panel presents some alternative ideas about the sources of economic growth. Have economists emphasized savings and technology too much? What is the importance of markets and demand? Do social programs help or hinder growth? Should the education and job participation of females be actively encouraged? November 7 CHINA: DEMOCRATIZING THE WORLD’S NEXT SUPERPOWER a
panel discussion with Moderated
by China has experienced sweeping economic and political reforms during the past several decades. These include widespread local elections with multiple candidates for each office. Many of the candidates who win are not the official candidates of the ruling Communist Party, nor even Party members. As yet such contested elections have not been extended to the national level. There is also growing personal freedom in China, though individual rights are still far less secure than in most Western countries. Are these developments the harbinger of an evolution to democracy or the mere window-dressing of an autocratic regime? November 14 THE MEDIA AND AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY- WHO’S ON FIRST? a
panel discussion with Moderated
by A central question in our day is whether the press—as the fabled Fourth Estate—really does function as an unofficial check or balance on the powers of the executive, legislative, and judiciary. What impact does the media have on U.S. foreign policy? In recent wars and conflicts, from the Persian Gulf War to Operation Enduring Freedom, the foreign-policy apparatus has been roundly criticized as having too much impact on the media’s work and conduct. What foot is the shoe on? Who’s on first? Senior television executives who study and report on this question, which is only growing in importance, will help us explore the answers. November 21 THE AMERICAN EMPIRE: CAN IT ENDURE? a
panel discussion with Moderated
by Can anyone doubt that the United States is an imperium? An informal one, to be sure, but the magnitude of the American economy is twice as large as its sometime rival Japan, and its military budget is greater than the next twenty biggest spenders combined. The Bush administration is now willing to intervene unilaterally and massively across the globe. This marks a decisive turning point in American history. But what of the future? Can any empire wield enough power to keep its enemies and former allies from combining against it? And in the twenty-first century, is America not more vulnerable than at any time in its history as a nation? These and other questions will be addressed by the panelists. December 5 MISADVENTURES IN HUMANITARIAN AID a panel
discussion with Moderated
by Humanitarian relief organizations have become major protagonists in the humanitarian crises of the past decade. In so doing, they have moved from their founding principle of political neutrality, which gave them access to victims of war, to a posture of calling for intervention to stop civil wars and ethnic conflicts. But has this advocacy come at too high a price? Have humanitarian organizations now put themselves in a position of appearing to be taking sides in a conflict thereby jeopardizing their access to victims? And has the humanitarian movement allowed itself to be hijacked by the major powers, becoming at times a fig leaf for actions by these powers and at other times an excuse for inaction.
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