Tag Archives: diplomacy

Scholars’ Circle – We Explore the Future of Warfare – October 4, 2026

Ever since Russia attacked Ukraine, there have been predictions that the normative order against aggressive war was under threat. Then the US and Israel attacked Iran. Numerous scholars have predicted this would encourage China to attack Taiwan. The normative restrictions on war are loosening and the US is distracted and hence not able to help defend Taiwan. But two clear developments challenge this prediction. Russia, after 4 full years of war, is not likely to win this war anytime soon. And the US, despite the President’s continual assertions that it has won the war, clearly has not. Technology such as drone warfare might be a reason. Defensive tactics could be another. So on today’s show, we will explore the future of warfare in light of the Russian and American wars and their current lack of success. [ dur: 1h18m ]

We are live in front of an audience at the International Studies Association’s West Regional meetings in Pasadena, California.

This program is produced by Doug Becker, Maria Armoudian, Ankine Aghassian, Anna Lapin and Sudd Dongre.

Politics and Activism, Governance / Law, War / Weapons, Diplomacy, Militarism, Russia, Ukraine, United States, China, Iran

Scholars’ Circle – Canada US relations, Trade war – September 13, 2026

The United States and Canada share the longest undefended border in the world. We record this show on September 11 and I am reminded of Canada’s strong alliance with the US, allowing American flights to land as the skies closed and showing remarkable generosity to the passengers that day. But recently, the US has shown antagonism and even animosity to its ally to the North. Ranging from a President threatening the annexation of the nation (and making it the 51st state) to placing rather high rates of tariffs on many Canadian goods, the relationship between the two nations are strained. On today’s show, we will explore the history, the current state, and the potential future relationship between Canada and the US. And we will focus the discussion on the view from north of the border. [ dur: 58mins. ]

This program is produced by Doug Becker, Maria Armoudian, Ankine Aghassian, Anna Lapin and Sudd Dongre.

Economics, Politics and Activism, Diplomacy, Canada, United States, Trade Wars

Scholars’ Circle – Book Author Interview on “Cold War Football: A History in Ten Matches” and 1973 Coup D’État in Chile – July 26, 2026

The 2026 World Cup has finished and the final two teams, Spain and Argentina, have stirred up old notions of what we call soft power. Sports play a large role in how countries display their soft power, but it can often be confused for cooperation. Indeed all power is contested and soft power is no exception, and the contest is clear when two national teams meet in a sports contest.

Book cover - Red with a Yellow star and collage of football players with the tile Cold War Football - A history in Ten Matches.

Examples of soft power interactions in sports include the US beating the USSR in hockey in the 1980 Winter Games or the Soviets defeating the US in basketball at the 1972 Olympics during the height of the Cold War. No sport, however, garners more international interest than soccer (or what the rest of the world calls football). Our guests have written a new book that defines the Cold War rivalry through the lens of ten historic soccer matches. The book is called Cold War Football: A history in Ten matches. [ dur: 33mins. ]

We revisit the September 11th, 1973 coup in Chile that toppled democratically elected Salvador Allende and installed the dictator Augustin Pinochet. We’ll hear what happened, explore the latest revelations and how Chileans are dealing with their past now.  [ dur: 25mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

This interview was recorded September, 2014.

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Doug Becker, Sudd Dongre, and Anna Lapin.

Politics and Activism, Diplomacy, Social Sciences, Organized Sports

Scholars’ Circle – Emigrant’s positive effects on democracy -/- Foundations of Public Diplomacy – May 26, 2019

First, how emigration could lead to greater democratization in the world. [dur: 11 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Then, today’s panel hosted by Professor Doug Becker, International Studies at University of Southern California (USC), lays the foundations of public diplomacy, its techniques, and its effectiveness. It then examines the role of new technologies in the digital age and how it poses new challenges and opportunities. [ dur: 45 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Produced by the Scholars’ Circle team: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Anaïs Amin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.