World Class

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Siegfried Hecker on Denuclearization Jun 25, 2018

Show notes

After the June 12th meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, the US is pushing for rapid denuclearization. But, even in a best case scenario, what is a realistic timetable? And now that North Korea has nuclear military capabilities, how might the US encourage the North Koreans to develop nuclear energy for their electrical grid instead?

Dr. Siegfried Hecker is the former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a senior fellow at FSI, and an expert on denuclearization. He is also the only American scientist to have toured North Korea’s nuclear plants for enriching uranium. In this timely conversation with FSI director Michael McFaul, Hecker explains the logistical challenges of denuclearization, how the North Korean case is different from Iran, and what scenarios to watch for as the US contemplates a new relationship with the North Koreans.

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Robin Hood isn’t coming: Why democracies don’t always correct income inequality Jun 22, 2018

Show notes

As income inequality soars, we expect democracies to correct it with higher taxes on the rich. But time and again, the average voter rejects this idea at the ballot box. Why does this happen? In a country founded on the ideal that we are all equal, who gets to decide what’s fair? We talk with Professor Kenneth Scheve, an FSI senior fellow and professor of political science, about our ideas of fairness and how they impact the way our societies work.

Former Ambassadors Kathleen Stephens and Michael McFaul on the North Korea Summit Jun 15, 2018

Show notes

Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump met in Singapore on June 12th, and everyone is still working to make sense of the meeting. What led up to this meeting, what are the key takeaways from the summit itself, and what can we expect going forward? Former South Korean Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, who is also the William J. Perry Fellow at FSI’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at FSI, joins FSI Director Michael McFaul to offer her candid analysis of everything that unfolded, and what to watch for next.

What if "the people" are a threat to democracy? Jun 08, 2018

Show notes

What exactly is populism and why is it suddenly everywhere? Are the different movements around the world connected to each other, or are they popping up independently? What are the underlying conditions that give rise to populism, and what risks does it present to democracy?

Anna Gryzmala-Busse is a senior fellow at FSI and the new director of our Europe Center. Together with Michael McFaul and Frank Fukuyama, Gryzmala-Busse recently launched a project to study and report on populist movements. In this conversation with FSI director Michael McFaul, Gryzmala-Busse outlines some of the reasons populism is on the rise, why the current wave is ultimately about the breakdown of political parties, and what we can expect from the current populist movement in America.

Larry Diamond with Cambodian Human Rights Activist Mu Sochua Jun 01, 2018

Show notes

Fears are growing that Cambodia is coming under authoritarian rule. Prime Minister Hun Sen, the world’s longest-serving government leader, has dissolved the opposition party and started arresting its leadership in September 2017. Deputy opposition leader and human rights activist Mu Sochua, fearing imprisonment herself, went into exile last October. In this conversation with FSI senior fellow Larry Diamond, she talks about how Cambodia has changed the since the time Khmer Rouge genocide, how events on the ground are unfolding, and what steps she hopes the US and other governments will take in order to put Cambodia back on a path towards democracy.

From Cold War to Hot Peace: Michael McFaul on his new book May 25, 2018

Show notes

Michael McFaul, director of FSI, former US ambassador to Russia, and host of World Class, has a new book out. It's called From Cold War to Hot Peace, and it offers an unparalleled perspective on US–Russia relations. In this conversation with FSI's deputy director Kathryn Stoner, herself a Russia expert who has co-authored two books with Amb. McFaul, he shares the story of how he first became interested in Russia, his experiences during his time as ambassador, and why he's still optimistic that someday US–Russia relations will improve.

Sir Nick Clegg on Brexit, with host Gerhard Casper May 18, 2018

Show notes

Is it too late to stop Brexit? As the deadline for exiting approaches, what are the pros and cons of trying to halt Brexit at this late juncture? Regardless of what happens, what might we expect for the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union? In this conversation Sir Nick Clegg, former Deputy Prime Minister from 2010-2015, sits down with former Stanford president and senior fellow at FSI, Gerhard Casper, to talk about how we got here – and what lies ahead.

Armenia's new leadership: How did we get here? May 11, 2018

Show notes

Armenia is in a state of transition. Peaceful protests led by Nikol Pashinyan have dislodged Serzh Sargsyan from his seat of power, and suddenly the country looks poised for dramatic change. Is this a grassroots movement, or are outside forces pulling the strings? What's the role of social media in all this? And why now, exactly? To take stock of these fast moving developments, we're joined by FSI's Sarah Shirazyan and Yeghishe Kirakosyan of the Stanford Law School for perspective and what to watch as the story unfolds.

Turbulence in Taiwan May 04, 2018

Show notes

Since the 1980s, Taiwan has been a model of democracy in East Asia, but there are challenges on the horizon. Domestically, Taiwan is experiencing slow economic growth and a polarized electorate. Meanwhile across the region leaders are navigating tensions on the Korean peninsula, disputes in the South China Sea, and the possibility of a US-China trade war. In this conversation, former president of Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou talks with Professor Francis Fukuyama about all these issues, as well as the future of Taiwan's relationship with China.

Democracy at Risk in Kenya Apr 27, 2018

Show notes

Kenya is in a state of polarization, and its democracy is at risk. Maina Kiai was the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association from 2011 – 2017, and in this conversation with FSI's Larry Diamond he discusses Kenya’s 2017 disputed presidential election. The stakes are high. As Kiai wrote last year, "Elections in Kenya are not a civil political competition; they are an all-out contest for power and resources." The growing democratic recession in Africa may be undermining the country's electoral democracy.

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