Conversations with History (Audio)

Host Harry Kreisler welcomes UC Berkeley economic historian Barry Eichengreen to discuss his new book, “Exorbitant Privilege.” Outlining the history of the dollar's role in the international monetary system, Eichengreen examines the function and characteristics of a reserve currency, the institutional prerequisites for the rise of the dollar as an international currency and the factors that accounted for the dollar's preeminence after World War II. In light of the fiscal crisis confronting the U.S. today, Eichengreen speculates on the future of the dollar and on the challenges posed by the euro and the yuan. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 20847]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey for a discussion of the linkages between oil dependence, climate change and national security. Woolsey discusses his involvement in the anti war and civil rights movements in the 1960's. He analyzes the end of the Cold War and the problem of shifting paradigms in national security. He recalls the origins of his focus on environmental issues and describes the opportunities and constraints in the portfolio of options that would transform energy dependency into self sufficiency while addressing the problem of climate change. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20707]

Harry Kreisler welcomes Stanford Professor Ian Morris for a discussion of his new book, “Why the West Rules—For Now.”Professor Morris uses the insights of biology, geography and sociology to identify the essential features and patterns of global history. Focusing on the complex relationship between geography and social development, he emphasizes humanity's capacity to adapt to the changing constraints and opportunities presented over time. He uses these variables to explain the dominance of the West and the rise of the East. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20610]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Micah Zenko of the Council on Foreign Relations for a discussion of his book, Between Threats and Wars. Topics covered include the political goals of US foreign policy after 911,the unique qualities of non state threats to American security, the efficacy of discrete military operations for dealing with these threats, the development, role, and limits of drone aircraft technology, and the conflicting views of the military and civilian officials on the use of limited military action. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20511]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes historian Tom Segev for a discussion of his new book, The Life and Legends of Simon Wiesenthal. The conversation focuses on the roots of Wiesenthal's passionate commitment to justice and explores his lifelong quest to convict perpetrators of genocide. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20515]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes author Andrew Scott Cooper to discuss his new book “The Oil Kings.” Focusing on the geopolitics of the Middle East in the 1970's, the study centers on the complex relationship between Nixon, Kissinger and the Shah of Iran. Relying on recently declassified documents, Cooper describes the international environment of the period and the implications of the Nixon doctrine for the Shah's foreign policy. Revealing the contradiction between the Shah's dependence on the rise of oil prices and the need to fund his new military role, Cooper explains how this contradiction resulted in the Shah's downfall and the implosion of Iran. He demonstrates the interplay between the collapse of the relationship between Iran and the U.S. and the emergence of Saudi Arabia as the guarantor of price and supply in the oil market and America’s most important ally in the Persian Gulf. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 22929]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes author Gurcharan Das for a discussion of his new book, “The Difficulty of Being Good.” Reflecting on his intellectual odyssey, Gurcharan Das elucidates his purpose in writing an extended commentary on the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In the conversation, he also discusses the complex nature of the characters in the epic and the dilemmas posed by their failings and the constraints of the human condition. He concludes with a discussion of the lessons he learned for his own spiritual development and for understanding the moral dilemmas confronting modern societies. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20512]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor Richard H. Thaler for a discussion of behavioral economics. Professor Thaler discusses theory in economics, how observed human behavior points to anomalies that contradict what theory predicts will happen, and the implications of behavioral economics for public policy including its contribution to understanding the 2008 economic collapse and to shaping future regulation. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20513]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Gideon Rose, Editor of Foreign Affairs, for a discussion of his new book, How Wars End. Topics covered include: his intellectual journey, the challenges of editing Foreign Affairs, public discourse on international affairs, the interplay between ideas and action, the politics of ending wars, Obama's strategy in Afghanistan, and the lessons to be learned from the record of American war termination from World War I to the second Iraq War. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20514]

In his 500th interview, Harry Kreisler welcomes Stanford Professor Alain Enthoven to discuss public service and policy analysis. Recalling his tenure in the office of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara during the Kennedy administration, he describes the efforts to control military expenditures and the resistance from the military and Congress. He recalls the circumstances that led to his focus on healthcare and analyzes the evolution of the American health care system, and the constraints on changing the system. Finally, Enthoven reflects on the challenges of changing systems in the face of entrenched interest groups. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20509]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Rogers M. Smith, Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, for a discussion of political ideals and political realities in American history. He highlights the importance of building community and political identity by assembling coalitions around narratives that appeal to a broad audience while shaping policy agendas. Professor Smith compares the leadership of Lincoln, Reagan and Obama in addressing these tasks. He concludes with an analysis of how the issue of race has been approached as American political life has become increasing polarized around issues of inequality and relative international decline. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 22927]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Sebastian Mallaby, Director of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, for a discussion of his new book, “More Money Than God: Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite." Topics covered include: managing risk in international finance; the function and evolution of hedge funds; how the game is played; the changing relationship of hedge funds to international political and economic structures; the causes of the 2008 economic collapse; regulation and government intervention; and the future of hedge funds in the world economy. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20384]