Conversations with History (Audio)

Harry Kreisler welcomes George Packer for a discussion of his new book, “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America.” Packer discusses his formative experiences, including forging his own political identity and coming to terms with the legacy of his progressive grandfather and his liberal father. He then recounts the influence of his mother on his writing and his odyssey—Peace Corps, construction, working with the homeless, and membership in the socialist party-- that led him to writing as a vocation. After sketching the skills and temperament of a writer, Packer describes the origins of his new book and its architecture. He then discusses the two groups of men and women whose personal narratives his book explores and relates how their lives give insight into the unwinding of the American dream. The discussion offers a compelling portrait of the inner history of the new America defined by glaring inequality and the collapse of institutions. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Show ID: 25519]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Karl Eikenberry, who commanded coalition forces in Afghanistan and served as U.S. Ambassador there. Reflecting on his career as soldier and diplomat, Ambassador Eikenberry recalls his formative experiences and compares the skill set and challenges of the two postings. He evaluates the volunteer military force, analyzes the situation in Afghanistan as the US stands down, describes the problems posed by exit strategies after intervention, and reflects on the implications of the rise of China and the US pivot toward Asia. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 25374]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes pollster Peter D. Hart for a discussion of his life and work. After reflections on his formative experiences, Hart discusses the melding of quantitative and qualitative insight in his polling, the impact of technology on the field, the challenges facing the profession, the quality of American leadership, and the state of public opinion on the issue of U.S. decline. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 25373]

Host Harry Kreisler welcomes Rory Stewart, Member of the British Parliament, for a discussion of his remarkable odyssey. Reflecting on his background and drawing on his work as a diplomat, soldier, explorer, provincial governor, policy advisor, university research fellow, director of an NGO, and parliamentarian, he describes what he has learned from these multiple experiences. Analyzing the failure of intervention by the West in Iraq and Afghanistan, he focuses on the contradictions between the abstract theories that guide Western policy and the social structures, the geography and history that define the realities of the people and places of Afghanistan and Iraq His conversation concludes with advice for students on preparing the future in an uncertain world. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 25139]

Host Harry Kreisler welcomes William Cronon, Research Professor of History, Geography, and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin, for a discussion of the challenges of historical scholarship. Reflecting on his formative experiences, Cronon, a former President of the American Historical Association, discusses the influence of his parents, his education, and the culture and environment of Wisconsin. He analyzes the essential features of a liberal arts education, the importance of storytelling in history, the implications of the digital revolution for research and teaching, and the contribution of environmental history to the environmental movement. He concludes with advice to students as they prepare for the future. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Show ID: 25174]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor Alexandra Horowitz for a discussion of her book, Inside of a Dog. Professor Horowitz discusses her formative experiences, her interest in cognition in animals, and what led her to focus on dogs. In her analysis, understanding dogs requires consideration of wolf ancestry, cognitive skills and anatomy, and the ways in which dogs interact with humans and how that interaction has affected their evolution. Series: "Conversations with History" [Science] [Show ID: 25112]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett for a discussion of their new book, Going to Tehran. In the conversation, the Leveretts analyze the Islamic Republic of Iran’s strategic goals and domestic politics. After analyzing the biases embedded in U.S. perceptions of Iran, they conclude with a proposal for changing U.S. relations with Iran by emulating Nixon’s breakthrough with China Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 25083]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Berkeley’s Mary Ann Mason for a discussion of the evolution of the women’s movement. In the conversation, Professor Mason, the first woman dean of the graduate division at Berkeley, discusses her career as a historian, lawyer, and university official. She explains her focus on the family and its importance as an indicator of both changes in society and the status of women. Recalling her efforts at the University of California to generate data to understand the condition of women in the academy, she highlights the tools at her disposal to bring change including the role of the legal system, especially Title IX, and the dissemination of information. Throughout the discussion Professor Mason analyzes the importance of understanding how changes in structure in institutions and culture together with attitudinal change by women can insure their hopes for equality Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 25073]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes General Norton Schwartz, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, for a discussion of the changing nature of air power. In the conversation, General Schwartz reflects on his career and analyzes the essential elements of military leadership. He also explores the challenges of securing and maintaining the nuclear arsenal and the implications of developing and deploying pilotless aircraft. He concludes with a discussion of the requirements for military preparedness in an era of belt tightening and budget cuts. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 25072]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Nobel Laureate Gary S. Becker for a discussion of his intellectual journey. Topics covered in the conversation include: the influence of his parents, his education, Milton Friedman, his early work on discrimination, the skills and temperament required for work in economics, applying economic analysis to social problems, the Chicago school of economics, creativity, rational choice theory, markets vs. government, the impact of ideas on policy, the communications revolution, the lessons of the 2008 economic collapse, and advice for students preparing for the future. Series: "Conversations with History" [Business] [Show ID: 25071]

Guest hosts Professor Jack Citrin and Robert Price interview Harry Kreisler, host and creator of Conversations with History, for a discussion of his career and intellectual journey. Kreisler talks about his formative experiences, his education at Brandeis and Berkeley, and his work at the Institute of International Studies as executive director. He explains the origins of Conversations, the development of his craft as an interviewer, and recalls some of the highlights of the 555 interviews he has done for the series. He concludes with his observation about how the university is changing. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 24969]

Guest hosts Professor Jack Citrin and Robert Price interview Harry Kreisler, host and creator of Conversations with History, for a discussion of his career and intellectual journey. Kreisler talks about his formative experiences, his education at Brandeis and Berkeley, and his work at the Institute of International Studies as executive director. He explains the origins of Conversations, the development of his craft as an interviewer, and recalls some of the highlights of the 555 interviews he has done for the series. He concludes with his observation about how the university is changing. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 24968]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico, for a discussion of the challenges facing Mexico and the future of U.S. Mexican relations. President Fox discusses his formative experiences including the influence of his ancestors and teachers, his work as a businessman, and the factors that led him to enter politics. Discussing his Presidency, he analyzes the problems of governing in a country simultaneously riding a democratic revolution and the transformations brought about by the new wave of globalization. He also discusses the issues of immigration and drugs and how both impact the future of U.S.-Mexican relations. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 24916]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Edward N. Luttwak for a discussion of the dilemmas posed for China by the logic of strategy. Luttwak argues that the Chinese perspective on its role in the world is hindered by several factors. Blinded by its history of intra cultural conflict, it is not prepared to deal with a world of sovereign states, a world of intercultural conflict which requires treating other states as equals and not dependents. A third challenge is China’s autonomous bureaucracies often characterized by an aggressive perspective on global affairs. Finally, because of the Communist party’s lack of a meaningful ideology as it consolidates a capitalist miracle, elites manipulate Chinese nationalism as a substitute for Chinese identity. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 24828]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes General James Cartwright for a discussion of military leadership and strategic thinking. Tracing his military career and his intellectual journey, Cartwright discusses the challenges he faced in reorganizing the Strategic Air Command and then describes the role of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He analyzes how a military strategist thinks about reducing the size of the nuclear force, how the rise of China might affect U.S. grand strategy, and the unique challenges posed by threats emerging from the cyber domain. Using the case of drones, he explains how the integration of this technology changes warfare. Finally, he reflects on the opportunities for transformation of the military in an environment of austerity. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 24688]