Past Events

*Co-sponsored by the Information Society Project and Knight Law and Media Program.

The Iranian nuclear crisis has dominated world politics since the beginning of the century, with Iran now facing increasing diplomatic and economic isolation. Although talk of military strikes and embargoes dominate our news, there is little understanding of Iran’s nuclear program, in particular its history, which is now over fifty years old. In his talk, David Patrikarakos will argue that the history of Iran’s nuclear program and the modern history of the country itself are irretrievably linked, and will detail the central role of the US in the birth of nuclear Iran, as well as the role that nuclear weapons have played in the program since the beginning.

*Co-sponsored by the Yale Program in Iranian Studies

A wave of populism is sweeping the world. The talk will first compare the different forms populism takes in various countries, reflecting a variety of historical, political, and social conditions. Buruma will discuss what populist movements have in common; why elites are under fire everywhere, in Europe, the US, and Asia; the effects of the Internet, globalization, and immigration. Buruma will then conclude by looking at the common responses of the old elites, talk about why they are inadequate, and see what could possibly be done better.

*Co-sponsored by the Council on East Asian Studies