Global Ethics Corner Podcast

The very public resignation of Goldman Sachs executive Greg Smith is the low point in a bad year for Wall Street. With the Occupy movement and a rumored recruiting crisis in mind, is there any hope left for Wall Street? Can the banks rebound and find a way to be ethical?

Invisible Children's Kony 2012 campaign has reached critical mass and turned Joseph Kony into a household name. But does the organization's simplified message misinform the public and whitewash the evils of the Ugandan government? Will it all be worth it if Kony is arrested?

With a recent resurgence of nationalism, Scottish independence is once again a topic of discussion. Do Scotland's vast oil reserves make this a realistic possibility? Or would reliance on a single resource cause the new country to struggle economically after breaking away from the U.K.?

Border disputes have been around for thousands of years, but in the age of Google Maps, they are taking on another dimension. Does Google bear any responsibility if a conflict arises because of borders it has drawn?

With economic malaise and political stalemates commonplace across the U.S. and Europe, some are beginning to look to China for answers. Is democracy, with its check and balances, still the best form of governance? Or could the West learn a few things from the China model?

It's been almost a year since demonstrations started in Syria and the government crackdown gets bloodier every day. With sanctions not producing results, is it time for a military intervention? Or do conditions on the ground and possible civilian deaths make this option too risky?

As the Cuban embargo reaches a milestone, a majority of Americans think it's time for a change. Many argue that the communist stronghold is no longer a threat and the sanctions only serve to hurt the Cuban people. Is it time to lift the embargo or should Obama maintain the status quo?

As the Arab Spring celebrates its one-year anniversary, the West is cautiously awaiting the next step. Will democracy flourish in the Middle East and North Africa? Or will authoritarianism and fundamental Islam be the basis for the new governments born from the revolutions of 2011?

President Obama's plan for a manufacturing revival has seen bipartisan support, but some economists are asking serious questions. Will more Americans on assembly lines stifle innovation? And can the U.S. compete with the lower wages and willing workers found overseas?

As NATO's missile defense system goes live in Turkey, questions have been raised about the nation's human rights record. Should NATO condemn Turkey's recent crackdowns on free speech and the media? Or does the country's geostrategic importance trump these concerns?

With primary season starting up, the Republican candidates are traveling around the nation, making stump speeches, kissing babies, and spending millions. Is this staple of American politics a showcase for democracy? Or does it just exacerbate ideological polarization in the U.S.?

With the recent death of Kim Jong-il, the United States is once again wondering what to do about North Korea. Is engagement with the nation's new leader, Kim Jong-un, the answer? Or should the U.S. isolate the rogue state and continue to ignore its threats?

Unpaid internships are a valuable and sometimes necessary experience for college students and recent graduates, especially in light of the global financial crisis. But is this really a fair labor practice and does it just give an unfair advantage to more well-off job-seekers?

With the 17th annual global climate change talks foundering in Durban, little hope is left for a worldwide initiative designed to combat global warming. Will local efforts be enough or does this latest setback truly doom a future of sustainability and worldwide cooperation?

With Vladimir Putin's party receiving a rebuke in the December 4th parliamentary elections, Russia is at a crossroads. With alleged voter fraud and massive protests as a backdrop, could this be the start of a new, more democratic era in Moscow or will Putin prevail?