A podcast about world affairs created by the students and faculty of the International Relations program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Each month, we will investigate a pressing topic in world affairs. The episodes are created and hosted by students in the IR program and will feature interviews with experts, as well as music, poetry, and other non-scholarly ways to examine the topic at hand.
In this episode, we discuss the war in Ukraine. HWS IR major Christopher Calero speaks with Prof. David Ost about numerous aspects of the unfolding war, from Putin's claims that Ukraine has historically been part of Russia to the devastating effects on the ground to speculation about possible future developments. While the interview occurred two weeks after the invasion, the material covered continues to be relevant as the war continues to develop.
This episode examines the farmer's protests in India during 2021. Responding to government legislation, Indian farmers and their supporters launched a historic, and eventually successful, bid to have those laws rescinded. In this episode, Sadia Rahman interviews Vikas Rawal, economics professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, about the protests, their background, and their possible implications for political life in India. The episode also features Prof. Vikash Yadav as co-host and the song "Kisaan Anthem" (https://youtu.be/oNJiVuPmh9A).
Episode #6 focuses on the Holocaust and its continuing relevance for today’s world. The architect of this episode is Hannah Bilton, a triple major at HWS. Bilton interviews Prof. Michael Dobkowski to discuss the forces that led to the Holocaust, life in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the ways in which the Holocaust continues to inform our contemporary world. We're also joined by our special co-host, Richard Salter.
Episode #5 focuses on a discussion about transitional justice, a concept that encompasses a broad range of institutions and practices used in post-conflict contexts to rebuild and repair the harms produced by war, conflict, and other forms of systemic violence, especially. For this episode, Emma Falkenstein, interviews Prof. Lauren Marie Balasco of Stockton University about reparative development as part of transitional justice.
Episode #4 explores the intersection of climate change, economic development, and conflict on the African continent. In this episode, Willa Dow interviews Anthony Nyong, the Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, to discuss a number of issues regarding how poverty, violence, and climate change can lead to a “catastrophic convergence.” The episode is informed by Willa’s own research on how colonial legacies have impacted the ways Africans are experiencing and adapting to climate change.
Episode #3 focuses on the decolonization of the Japanese empire post-WW2, including the North Korean Repatriation Project, and how that continues to affect Japanese-Korean relations and East Asian affairs. For this episode, Carly Shiever interviews historian Dr. Lori Watt of Washington University to discuss the contested terrain of memory, history and international relations.
This episode explores the moral philosophies of Adam Smith, considered to be the father of modern capitalism. Yalemwork Teferra interviews Prof. Vikash Yadav to discuss the Smith’s ethical framework that often gets erased by many contemporary economists. They explore the ways in which modern capitalism has evolved with globalization and how it has strayed from ideological Smithian conceptions of free trade and the global market. Yalemwork is joined by hosts Stacey Philbrick Yadav and Kevin Dunn as they reflect on consumer culture and corporate responsibility, consumer culture and its global impacts.
This episode focuses on the political and economic impacts of Covid-19 on Latin America. Carling Landeche joins hosts Stacey Philbrick Yadav and Kevin Dunn, and interviews Prof. Scott McKinney for his insights on how the pandemic has impacted the region. Also featuring the song "Covid-19" by Los Chuguranos. For a list of other songs referenced in the episode, go to https://globalvoices.org/2020/04/28/a-selection-of-latin-american-and-caribbean-coronavirus-songs/.
