Global Insights (Video)

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: "Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley" [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]

The relationship between the U.S. and China is complex. Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister and current president of Asia Society, has written extensively about that relationship, including his latest book, "The Avoidable War: The Dangers of a Catastrophic Conflict between the US and Xi Jinping's China." Rudd discusses new developments in China’s political economy, including the impending 20th Party Congress and some of the challenges President Xi Jinping is facing due to economic difficulties, and examines their impact on U.S.-China relations moving forward. This program is part of UC San Diego's Susan Shirk Lecture on U.S.-China Relations and is moderated by Dean Caroline Freund, School of Global Policy and Strategy. [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 38317]

The international community and the United States, under both Republican and Democratic Administrations, have failed, by almost any measure, to effectively address the re-emergence of authoritarianism in the Western Hemisphere. The forthcoming virtual forum is being organized in an effort to better understand the roots and resilience of these regimes (especially in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua) and the rapidly evolving international context that facilitates their survival, particularly in light of the Russian/Ukrainian conflict. The forum aims to elicit fresh perspectives to inform future policies of the U.S. government, other international actors, and engaged civil society organizations. The Institute of the Americas is organizing this forum in an effort to help catalyze fresh thinking on U.S. policy vis-à-vis authoritarian states in the Americas in anticipation of the United States’ hosted IX Summit of the Americas scheduled in Los Angeles, CA in early June. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38107]

Autocrat, dictator, and socialist. These are just some of the terms that could be used to describe three of Latin America's most controversial leaders - Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, and Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel. Despite several elections which in some cases have seen opponents win, they remain in power. This is a cause for concern as other countries such as El Salvador begin to see the erosion of democratic institutions. With the three leaders not on good terms with the Biden administration, they have not been extended invitations to the IX Summit of the Americas. Richard Feinberg moderates a panel of Javier Corrales, William LeoGrande, and Victor Shih to discuss why these three leaders are still in power. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38106]

The U.S. is blessed with stable neighbors to the south and north. Despite the polarization of immigration issues along the southern border, Mexico is the indispensable ally of the U.S., according to Rafael Fernandez de Castro, director of UC San Diego's Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies. Mexico is the top U.S. trading partner with over 6 million American jobs dependent on trade in goods and services with our neighbor to the south. Mexico also plays a substantive role in migration and border affairs. Series: "Triton Talks" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 38070]

In The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century, Moisés Naím, former Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy, turns to the trends, conditions, technologies and behaviors that are contributing to the concentration of power, and to the clash between those forces that weaken power and those that strengthen it. Naím concentrates on the three “P”s—populism, polarization, and post-truths. All of which are as old as time, but are combined by today’s autocrats to undermine democratic life in new and frightening ways. The Revenge of Power shows how power has not changed but the way people go about gaining it and using it has been transformed. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37831]

The impacts of climate change and the urgency to act have not gone unnoticed in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The Institute of the Americas (IOA) has released a policy white paper entitled, Nationally Determined Contributions Across the America: A Comparative Hemispheric Analysis in an effort to better assess progress made to date by countries across the Americas in delivering on their climate commitments. The white paper provides a timely snapshot of progress made, while also highlighting the serious funding gaps that remain if LAC countries are going to deliver on their previously agreed upon climate pledges. Series: "Climate Crisis" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 37455]

A panel of experts looks at election security from an international comparative aspect focused on election security practices in Brazil, India, and Sierra Leone. What might the United States be able to learn from what’s being done in these three countries to protect against election interference and voter fraud? Panelists: Katherine Casey is an Associate Professor of Political Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Thomas Fujiwara is an Associate Professor of Economics at Princeton University. Gianmarco León-Ciliottais an Associate Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Aila M. Matanock is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Moderator: Susan Hyde, Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36934]

General H.R. McMaster ranks among his generation's most distinguished scholar-soldiers. An acclaimed historian, his military service has spanned from West Point to Iraq and Afghanistan, to the Pentagon and the Oval Office. Now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, General McMaster is the author of Battlegrounds (2020). In conversation with Lowell Bergman, he discusses challenges facing the Free World and the case for responsible US leadership in world affairs. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36567]

How can we even assess the economic damage, and what forecasts should we believe? Which parts of Japans economy will be hit the hardest, and what are the long-term implications of the likely economic crisis, and Japans role in Northeast Asian competition? Can Japan avoid the mass unemployment and corporate bankruptcies that are now befalling the U.S., and if so, what can we learn from any differences in trajectory? Learn from leading economists and practitioners from the field. Series: "COVID-19 in Japan" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35971]

How is Japan responding to the COVID crisis? Until late March 2020, Japan reported only few cases and pursued what was called a cluster buster strategy, namely to strictly contain clustered outbreaks only. Since then, however, there has been a sharp increase in cases and a state of emergency has been declared. What is the situation of Japans health care system now, and what is the public health situation more generally? Are the hospitals ready for this crisis? Are healthcare workers in jeopardy? Listen to Professor Ulrike Schaede and her guests, who are medical doctors and a public health policy expert on how Japan is tackling the health crisis. Series: "COVID-19 in Japan" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 35969]

In the fight against the COVID-19, South Korea’s case stands out. The country, despite facing a large outbreak, was able to flatten the curve of new infections without shutting down its economy. Transparent information about the positive cases has helped South Korea not only to maximize the odds of testing the people most likely to be infected, but also has allowed people to engage in “targeted” social distancing by avoiding places visited by those that tested positive. In this talk, Professor Stephan Haggard and Professor Munseob Lee discussed South Korea’s strategies. Lee introduces his recent work on measuring welfare effect of the disclosure. Data from mobile phone company quantifies degree of “targeted” social distancing. By combining meta-population SIR model in epidemiology and quantitative spatial model in economics, Lee described the trade-off between public health and economic output, and provides evidence-based policy recommendations. [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35984]

What is the COVID-19 situation in Japan, and how is Japan responding to the crisis? Throughout February and March 2020, Japan reported so few cases that it was rarely mentioned in the news. Since then, however, there has been a sharp increase, and a special emergency situation has been declared. What is the political situation now, and how are people in Japan assessing the crisis? Get an update from leading Japan professors in political science and public policy on how Japanese politics and society are bracing for crisis. Series: "COVID-19 in Japan" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 35968]

Runa Khan lives and works in Bangladesh. Her passion lies in helping others through humanitarian efforts in refugee camps, healthcare, and climate change initiatives. Hear how she turns compassion into action and finds hope in challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Series: "Compassion Beyond Borders" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 35904]