In a video conversation with Harry Kreisler, the political scientist Rogers M. Smith discusses the importance of building community and political identity and the increasing polarization around issues of inequality and relative international decline.

Recognizing the nerd in all of us, Guernica brings you Conversations with History, a video series of interviews with distinguished intellectuals conducted by creator and executive producer Harry Kreisler and produced by the Institute of International Studies at the University of California at Berkeley.

In this week’s episode, 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.

________________________________________________________________________

Harry Kreisler is also the Executive Director of the Institute of International Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. In that role, he shapes, administers, and implements interdisciplinary academic and public affairs programs that analyze global issues.

…

Andrew Bacevich: The Passing of the Postwar Era: How the United States’s international order has faded. More		Juan Cole: Protest Planet: How a neoliberal shell game created an age of activism. More
Robert Reich: Greece’s Choice—and Ours: Democracy or Finance?: Rule by democracy or by financial markets? Based on what’s happened in America, choose the former. More		Lawrence Weschler: The Art of the Shakedown, from the Nile to the Potomac: How corruption in the U.S. puts everyday corruption in Africa to shame. More

To read more blog entries from GUERNICA click HERE .

SUBSCRIBE TO GUERNICA’S RSS FEED