Tag Archives: Politics and Activism

First we look at art as an act of resistance and as a weapon to counter oppression and violence. [ dur: 28 mins. ]

Mark LeVine is a professor of history at the University of California, Irvine and author of Overthrowing Geography, Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam and Impossible Peace.

Finally, on the Scholars’ Circle panel, we explore the historic and current efforts to amend the constitution. [ dur: 30 mins. ]

John R. Vile is Dean and Professor of Political Science at Middle Tennessee State University. He is the author of, The Writing and Ratification of the U.S. Constitution: Practical Virtue in Action, Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues, 1789-2015, and ReFramers: 170 Eccentric, Visionary, and Patriotic Proposals to Rewrite the U.S. Constitution.
Stephen M. Griffin is Professor in Constitutional Law at Tulane Law School. He is the author of, Long Wars and the Constitution and American Constitutionalism: From Theory to Politics.
Sanford Levinson is Professor in the Department of Government and Chair in Law at the University of Texas Law School. His numerous publications include, Constitutional Faith, Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (and How We the People Can Correct It) and, most recently,Framed: America’s 51 Constitutions and the Crisis of Governance.

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Scholars’ Circle – Intergenerational economic equality -/- Crop cultivation collapses without bees – October 9, 2016

October 8, 2016 host

First, trend for economic equality in US has been changing with less opportunity for people to transcend inter-generational economic status than they have in other countries, like Norway, Finland, Denmark and Canada. Why the changes? [ dur: 13 mins. ]

Miles Corak is a professor of economics with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottowa. He is the author of, “Generational Income Mobility in North America and Europe” and “Income Mobility Across the Generations”

Then, climate change, pesticides and mites are killing off the planet’s bees. What will happen to the planet’s foods? And can the bee colony collapse be stopped? [ dur: 45 mins. ]

Jeremy Kerr is a Professor of Biology at the University of Ottowa, specializing in conservation biology and biodiversity – Macroecology , Conservation research site. His latest publication links the decline of bumble bees to climate change.
Peter Dearden is a Professor of Genetics and a researcher in the laboratory for evolution and development at Otago University where he specializes in evolution, development and epigenetics (link).
Paulo de Souza is a Professor and team leader at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia, and the Global Initiative for Honey Bee Health (link). He’s also a collaborating scientist on NASA’s Mars exploration Rover Mission.

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Scholars’ Circle -Overuse of Antibiotics -/- Addressing Climate Change – September 25, 2016

September 24, 2016 host

First, sanitation and antibiotics have saved the lives of many, but are they also the culprits behind some of modern diseases? We might have gone overboard in killing our microbes. And that may be causing some of today’s epidemics. Martin I. Blaser is Professor of Translational Medicine and Director of Human Microbiome Program at New York University. He is the author of Missing Microbes : How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues. [ dur: 21 mins. ]

Martin I. Blaser is Professor of Translational Medicine and Director of Human Microbiome Program at New York University. He is the author of Missing Microbes : How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues.

Then, scientists say we still have time to address climate change and we’ve made headway, but we still have a long way to go. We speak with renowned climate scientist Michael Mann. [ dur: 37mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Professor Michael Mann is a climatologist and a geophysicist. He’s the director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University. He was one of the lead authors of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC. He is the author of The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial Is Threatening Our Planet, Destroying Our Politics, and Driving Us Crazy.

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Scholars’ Circle – Conventional Arms Trade -/- Psychology of Doing Good – September 11, 2016

September 10, 2016 host 1 Comment

First, a look inside the arms trade and its effects on politics and society.[ dur: 33mins. ]

Suzette Grillot is a Professor of International Studies at University of Oklahoma. She is the co-author of the book The International Arms Trade.

Then, we speak with Erwin Staub about his latest book, The Roots of Goodness and Resistance to Evil: Inclusive Caring, Moral Courage, Altruism Born of Suffering, ActI’ve Bystandership and Heroism. [ dur: 25 mins. ]

Ervin Staub is a Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Founding Director of its Ph.D. concentration in the Psychology of Peace and Violence.

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Scholars’ Circle – Bird Songs -/- New Form of Corporate Lawlessness – September 4, 2016

September 4, 2016 host

First, scientists have made fascinating discoveries on how animals communicate. Birdsongs are more than music; they are warnings of danger understood by many species. [ dur: 30 mins. ]

Erick Greene, Professor of Biological Sciences at University of Montana. He has published numerous papers in ornithology, the latest in collaboration with the Cornell labs of Ornithology

Then, companies like Uber, Google and AirBnb claim to be civil rights leaders, but they are introducing a new form of corporate lawlessness? [ dur: 28 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Siva Vaidhyanathan, Professor of Media Studies at University of Virginia. Author of “The Googlization of Everything: (And Why We Should Worry)“. His articles at Slate can be found here. He co-authored an opinion piece on Guardian UK newspaper with Frank Pasquale ( author of Black Box Society: The Secret Algorithms that Control Money and Information (Harvard University Press, 2015) Uber and the lawlessness of ‘sharing economy’ corporates

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Scholars’ Circle – Humans Disrupting Evolution -/- Ethics in Health Care – August 21, 2016

August 20, 2016 host

First, is humanity the most damaging predator on earth? Our guests say yes, and that its predatory practices may be disrupting evolution.[ dur: 23 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Chris Darimont, is a Professor at the Department of Geography at University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. He has a PhD in Evolution and Ecology from the Biology Department at the University of Victoria.
Dr. Tom Reimchen, is a Professor at the Department of Geography at University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. Canada. Please visit the Evolutionary Studies Lab at University of Victoria, Victoria BC, Canada where you will find additional studies on this subject.
Heather Bryan, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Applied Conservation Science lab exploring the physiological mechanisms by which wildlife responds to environmental change at University of Victoria BC, Canada.

Then, on the Scholars’ Circle panel, many observers argue, that the economic forces are corrupting medical care and eroding the trust between patients and their doctors. The problems in health care delivery have wide implications related to how health care should function particularly when there are limited resources. We examine the ethics of medicine and healthcare, and the modern day issues that complicate them. [ dur: 37 mins. ]

Thomas Pogge is the Director of the Global Justice Program and Professor of Philosophy and International Affairs at Yale University and King’s College. His books include World Poverty and Human Rights, Freedom from Poverty: Who Owes What to the Very Poor? and World Poverty and Human Rights: Cosmopolitan Responsibilities and Reforms.
Martin Wilkinson is Professor of Political Studies and Deputy Head of Department of Politics & International Relns at the University of Auckland. His books include Freedom, Efficiency and Equality and Ethics and the Acquisition of Organs.
Richard Cookson is a Reader and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York. His books include The Humble Economist: Tony Culyer on Health, Health Care and Social Decision Making and Jonathan Bradshaw on Social Policy: Selected Writings 1972-2011.

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Scholars’ Circle – Ritual Human Sacrifice Sets Social Hierarchy -/- Politics of Emotions – August 14, 2016

August 13, 2016 host

First, a new study suggests that ritual human sacrifice played a critical role in creating and maintaining social hierarchy.[ dur: 28 mins. ]

Quentin Atkinson is Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is the co-author of the study Ritual human sacrifice promoted and sustained the evolution of stratified societies, Nature (2016).

Then, on the Scholars’ Circle panel, we look at the politics of emotions. How do emotions drive outcomes like ethnic violence, wars and genocide? What roles to fear, anger, resentment and entitlement play in conflict?[ dur: 30 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Roger Petersen is a Professor of Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is the author of “Resistance and Rebellion: Lessons from Eastern Europe“, “Understanding Ethnic Violence: Fear, Hatred, Resentment in Twentieth Century Eastern Europe“, and “Western Intervention in the Balkans: The Strategic Use of Emotion in Conflict“.
David Altheide is Emeritus Regents’ Professor in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry at Arizona State University. He is the author of “Terrorism and the Politics of Fear“, “Creating Fear: News and the Construction of Crisis“, and “An Ecology of Communication: Cultural Formats of Control.”
Jeff Birkenstein is an Associate Professor in, and chair of, the Department of English at Saint Martin’s University. He is the author of “Reframing 9/11: Film, Popular Culture and the War on Terror“.

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Scholars’ Circle – National Psychology in Age of Excess -/- Treatment of Misdeeds among Leaders in our Society – August 7, 2016

August 6, 2016 host

America has entered an age of excess, according to our guest. Driven by a maddening quest for perfection, technology, deregulation, and a superficial and often inaccurate mass media, our national psychology has become narcissistic. That is leading to a culture of cheating, lying, and reckless behavior that crashed the economy and continues to wreck lives and the national fabric. We examine our national psychology with J.R. Slosar author of, “Culture of Excess: How America Lost Self Control and Why We Need to Redefine Success.” [ dur: 18 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Dr. Jay Slosar (JR Slosar) is a lecturer at Chapman Univeristy. He is the author of “Culture of Excess: How America Lost Self Control and Why We Need to Redefine Success.“

Then, on the Scholars’ Circle panel, why some misdeeds become scandals and others don’t? Why is it that the same type of transgressions are treated differently at different times, and might this differential treatment affect our politics, policies and society? [ dur: 41 mins. ]

Robert Entman is Professor of Media and Public Affairs and Professor of International Affairs at George Washington University and the author of Scandal & Silence: Media Responses to Presidential Misconduct, Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion and US Foreign Policy, and The Black Image in the White Mind: Media and Race in America.
Brendan Nyhan is Professor of Government at Dartmouth College and co-author of All the President’s Spin: George W. Bush, the Media, and the Truth.
Sigurd Allern is a Professor at the Department of Media and Communication at the University of Oslo. He is the author of Scandalous!: The Mediated Construction of Political Scandals in Four Nordic Countries.

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Scholars’ Circle – What is media Freedom -/- Dictator’s handbook – July 31, 2016

July 30, 2016 host

First, we look at media freedom and its effects. What is media freedom? How do you know when it’s there? We speak with Jenifer Whitten-Woodring and Douglas A. Van Belle co-authors of “Historical Guide to World Media Freedom“. [ dur: 28 mins. ]

Jennifer Whitten-Woodring is a Professor of Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
Douglas A. Van Belle is a Senior Lecturer in the School of English, Film, Theatre and Media Studies at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.

Followed by what do dictators, CEOs, and political leaders have in common? We’ll explore some of their strategies for getting and keeping power with Alastair Smith, coauthor of, “The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics.” [ dur: 30 mins. ]

Alastair Smith, Professor of Politics, NYU. He has also co-authored the book “The Logic of Political Survival“.

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Scholars’ Circle – What will decide the US election? – July 24, 2016

July 24, 2016 host

First, a look behind the presidential campaign events with one of the top advance men. How do Advance people shape what we see in mass media? Steven Jacques, author of Advance Man. [ dur: 19 mins. ]

Steven Jacques is author and former Advance team leader for the White House and presidential campaigns. He is the author of Advance Man.

Then, what might be the factors that determine our next president? We’re joined by three experts of political science. [ dur: 40 mins. ]

Henry Brady is Professor of Political Science and Dean of Goldman School of Public Policy at University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of Counting All the Votes: The Performance of Voting Technology in the United States, Letting the People Decide: Dynamics of a Canadian Election, Expensive Children in Poor Families: The Intersection of Childhood Disability and Welfare, and co-author of Voice and Equality: Civic Voluntarism in American Politics
Jan Leighley is Professor in the Department of Government at American University. She is the author of Strength in Numbers? The Political Mobilization of Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Mass Media and Politics: A Social Science Perspective, and co-author of Who Votes Now? Demographics, Issues, Inequality and Turnout in the United States
Ricardo Ramírez is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of Mobilizing Opportunities: The Evolving Latino Electorate and the Future of American Politics, and co-editor of Transforming Politics, Transforming America: The Political and Civic Incorporation of Immigrants in the United States.

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Tag Archives: Politics and Activism

Scholars’ Circle – Art as an act of resistance -/- Amending US Constitution – October 23, 2016

Scholars’ Circle – Intergenerational economic equality -/- Crop cultivation collapses without bees – October 9, 2016

Scholars’ Circle -Overuse of Antibiotics -/- Addressing Climate Change – September 25, 2016

Scholars’ Circle – Conventional Arms Trade -/- Psychology of Doing Good – September 11, 2016

Scholars’ Circle – Bird Songs -/- New Form of Corporate Lawlessness – September 4, 2016

Scholars’ Circle – Humans Disrupting Evolution -/- Ethics in Health Care – August 21, 2016

Scholars’ Circle – National Psychology in Age of Excess -/- Treatment of Misdeeds among Leaders in our Society – August 7, 2016

Scholars’ Circle – What is media Freedom -/- Dictator’s handbook – July 31, 2016

Scholars’ Circle – What will decide the US election? – July 24, 2016

By Maria Armoudian