Feb 15, 2022 | Arts & Culture, Politics & Society
In this two-part special episode of the Scholars’ Circle, Doug Becker explores the history of public land in the United States. Over 600 million acres of land is collectively owned by the American people. What is the history of public lands and how is the...
Feb 9, 2022 | Politics & Society
For several years, democracy has faced challenges in the United States. The 2020 election and the transition process following the election, which led to one of the major political parties rejecting the outcomes of the election and attempting an overthrow of it, has...
Feb 1, 2022 | Politics & Society
Russia’s relationship with Ukraine is complicated. Ukrainian independence coming out of the collapse of the Soviet Union ended a 350-year history of Ukraine as a part of the Russian Empire, and then the Soviet Union. From that period forward, the two nations...
Jan 25, 2022 | Politics & Society
Attacks are increasing on the legitimacy and independence of the courts in the United States. What are these attacks? Where are they coming from? What might be the effect of them on justice in America? This panel discussion on the current situation was hosted by the...
Jan 25, 2022 | Politics & Society
By Greg Yudin Putin’s threats are a desperate defence of Russia’s status quo. I’m often asked the following question about Ukraine: ‘Why is Putin doing this? Why does he want to attack Ukraine? He’s doing OK, what is he unhappy with?’ I always give the same...
Dec 22, 2021 | Politics & Society
Following the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett during the 2020 presidential election, the US Supreme Court majority held a conservative worldview that was not reflective of the popular votes for US president and continued the journey of the court in deciding cases...
Nov 22, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Stephen Hoadley Will China be Number One, that is, the most powerful and influential state on earth, soon? This Big Question has already been answered in the affirmative by some commentators…but not all. By some economic measures China is already Number One....
Oct 18, 2021 | Politics & Society
Amnesty International recorded over one thousand death sentences in fifty-four countries in 2020. This is a decrease of 36% from 2019. Over 28,000 people are believed to be under the sentence of death globally. In the United States, state executions have declined with...
Oct 13, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Stephen Hoadley This ‘evidence’ of US unreliability, weakness and failure is partial, out of context, and lacking in historical perspective. Fifty years ago, as I began my teaching career at the University of Auckland, the United States began withdrawing its forces...
Sep 14, 2021 | Politics & Society
California is about to vote on whether to recall their governor and replace him with one of forty-six candidates. This process has uncovered a serious challenge for the governability of the state, and California now faces a governability crisis. Is the recall process...