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Latest Ballpark interview episodes
China’s evolving approach to economic security with Professor Yeling Tan
11 November 2024
In October 2024 the LSE Phelan US Centre spoke to Yeling Tan, Professor of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. They spoke about how China understands economic security and its evolving economic strategy, and how public attitudes in China towards international trade influence the country’s trade policy.
Contributor: Professor Yeling Tan (University of Oxford)
AI and elections with Professor Lawrence Lessig
28 October 2024
In October 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to spoke to Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School. Cited by The New Yorker as “the most important thinker on intellectual property in the internet era”, Professor Lessig now focuses on “institutional corruption”, especially as that affects democracy. He is the author of many books, including They Don’t Represent Us: Reclaiming Our Democracy, Fidelity & Constraint: How the Supreme Court Has Read the American Constitution, and most recently, How to Steal a Presidential Election.
They spoke about how AI and the media can affect the legitimacy and conduct of elections, how policymakers have attempted to govern and control the use of AI and about how citizens’ assemblies could be a way to protect democracy against AI’s influence.
Contributor: Professor Lawrence Lessig (Harvard Law School)
The West and the failure of democracy in the Middle East with Professor Fawaz Gerges
18 October 2024
In October 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations in the Department of International Relations at LSE, holder of the Emirates Professorship in Contemporary Middle East Studies, and Affiliate of the LSE Phelan US Centre.
They discussed his new book, “What Really Went Wrong: The West and the failure of democracy in the Middle East”. We also discussed the history of US involvement in the region, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas.
Contributor: Professor Fawaz Gerges (LSE Department of International Relations)
The social media spiral of silence with Nick Lewis
14 October 2024
In September 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Nick Lewis, a PhD student in LSE’s Department of Government and a recipient of a Phelan US Centre PhD Summer Research Grant in 2022. Nick’s research looks at how social media creates bias in democratic deliberation. They spoke about how Facebook discourages people from taking part in discussions via what’s called the “spiral of silence”. They also discussed the importance of social media in the 2024 presidential election.
Contributor: Nick Lewis (LSE Department of Government)
Why America Can’t Retrench with Peter Harris
30 September 2024
In September 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Peter Harris, Associate Professor of Political Science at Colorado State University about his new book, Why America Can’t Retrench (And How It Might) which looks at the US’ dominant role in the world, how it got there and the factors preventing global restraint. They discuss the idea of America’s ‘primacist’ approach to international affairs and the role of domestic politics and systems in preventing a change to America’s role in the world.
Contributor: Peter Harris (Colorado State University)
Faculty-student research collaborations with Evelyne Ong
23 September 2024
In August 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Evelyne Ong, an undergraduate research assistant with the Phelan US Centre for the 2023-24 academic year.
They discuss her work with Visiting Professor Jeffrey Legro, on the project, ‘The Nuclear Revolution and Great Power Competition’. They also talked about her experience taking part in the Phelan US Centre’s undergraduate research assistantship programme.
Contributor: Evelyne Ong
Master’s students essay competition on capitalism
16 September 2024
In 2024, the Phelan US Centre ran an essay competition for master’s students with the prompt, “How should the United States work to shape the future of capitalism in this age of insecurity?”
We speak to the author of the winning essay, David Millman, and the runners-up, Yazmin Baptiste and Manickam Valliappan. We discuss their essays, the competition, what it’s like for students to engage with a wider audience, and the opportunity they had to present their essays in the UK parliament to MPs and the British-American Parliamentary Group.
Contributor: David Millman, Yazmin Baptiste and Manickam Valliappan
US Industrial Policy with Professor Nathan Lane
2 September 2024
In July 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Nathan Lane, Associate Professor in Economics at Oxford University, about industrial policy in the United States and its history, including recent policies from the Biden administration like the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act. They also discussed how US industrial policy might change depending on who wins the 2024 presidential election.
Contributor: Associate Professor Nathan Lane Smith (University of Oxford)
Black Immigrant Literacies with Professor Patriann Smith
19 August 2024
In 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Patriann Smith, professor in the College of Education at the University of South Florida. Dr. Smith’s transdisciplinary research examines how differences in languages, Englishes, and English language ideologies affect Black Caribbean students’ immigrant literacy practices as they cross cultures and languages between their home countries and the United States.
In this episode, they spoke about her new book, Black Immigrant Literacies: Intersections of Race, Language, and Culture in the Classroom.
Contributor: Professor Patriann Smith (University of South Florida)
Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It with Professor Adia Harvey Wingfield
5 August 2024
In June 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Adia Harvey Wingfield, the Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Arts & Sciences and Vice Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity at Washington University in St. Louis.
They spoke about Professor Wingfield’s new book, Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It (HarperCollins, 2023). The discussion also covered US labor activism, and the role US federal and state governments have in addressing racial inequalities in the workplace.
Contributor: Professor Adia Harvey Wingfield (Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Arts & Sciences and Vice Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity at Washington University in St. Louis)
Parliamentary America with Professor Maxwell Stearns
22 July 2024
In May 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Maxwell Stearns, the Venable, Baetjer & Howard Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law about his new book, Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy.
The book argues that the solution to many of America’s democratic challenges is to amend the Constitution to reform the US government to become a parliamentary democracy. We talk about why he thinks American democracy is in crisis, the lessons he has learned from how other countries govern, and what reforms are now needed in the US.
Contributor: Professor Maxwell Stearns (Venable, Baetjer & Howard Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law)
US Nuclear Strategy in a Changing Indo-Pacific
8 July 2024
In June 2024, the LSE Phelan US Centre held the conference, US Nuclear Strategy in a Changing Indo-Pacific. The conference brought together scholars and analysts with a strong record of policy-relevant research on nuclear strategy and expertise in the security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.
The conference was convened by Phelan US Centre Affiliates, Rohan Mukherjee and Lauren Sukin, both Assistant Professors of International Relations in the LSE’s International Relations Department.
In this episode of the Ballpark, we speak to Lauren Sukin about the main themes and takeaways from the conference. We also talk to three of the conference participants, Debak Das (University of Denver), Matthew Fuhrmann (Texas A&M University), and J. Luis Rodriguez (George Mason University), about what they saw as the nuclear security dynamics in their region of focus, and how the US has been responding to these both within that region and across the Indo-Pacific.
Contributors: Dr Lauren Sukin (LSE Department of International Relations), Dr Debak Das (University of Denver), Professor Matthew Fuhrmann (Texas A&M University), and Dr J. Luis Rodriguez (George Mason University)
US Foreign Policy and Power with Professor Jeff Legro
24 June 2024
In May 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Jeff Legro, University Professor at the University of Richmond, and Visiting Professor at the Phelan US Centre for 2023-24. They spoke about the US’ role as a “unipolar” country in the world, conceptions of sovereignty, both in the US and abroad, the potential future of US foreign policy, and the relationship between nuclear weapons and globalization. They also discussed Professor Legro’s work with the Phelan US Centre’s Undergraduate Research Assistantship programme and students Ayush Das and Evelyne Ong.
Contributor: Professor Jeffrey Legro (University of Richmond and Visiting Professor at the Phelan US Centre for 2023-24)
The media, truth, and reality with Brooke Gladstone
10 June 2024
In 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Brooke Gladstone, host and Managing Editor of WNYC’s On the Media about the US’ changing media landscape, the meaning of truth and facts in the age of Donald Trump, and how we can teach the next generation to be better media consumers.
Contributor: Brooke Gladstone (On the Media)
The Bomb with Fred Kaplan
29 May 2024
In May 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to author and journalist for Slate magazine and Phelan US Centre Visiting Senior Fellow, Fred Kaplan about his 2020 book, The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.
Contributor: Fred Kaplan (Slate magazine and Phelan US Centre Senior Visiting Fellow)
The Ecology of Nations: American Democracy in a Fragile World Order with Professor John Owen
13 May 2024
In 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to John Owen, Ambassador Henry J. and Mrs. Marion R. Taylor Professor of Politics, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and the Miller Center for Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, and an Academic Visitor at Nuffield College, University of Oxford from January to June 2024.
They discussed his new book, ‘The Ecology of Nations: American Democracy in a Fragile World Order’, the United States’ changing foreign policy objectives, and the move from welfare liberalism to open liberalism in the post-war period and beyond.
Contributor: Professor John Owen (University of Virginia)
Made in China: When US-China Converged to Transform Global Trade with Dr Elizabeth Ingleson
3 May 2024
In April 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Elizabeth Ingleson, Assistant Professor in the Department of International History at LSE and Centre Affiliate of the Phelan US Centre. They spoke about Dr Ingleson’s new book, Made in China: When US-China Interests Converged to Transform Global Trade. They also discussed the evolution of the US-China trade relationship since the 1970s, including the role played by US policymakers and capitalist interests.
Contributor: Dr Elizabeth Ingleson (London School of Economics and Political Science)
The Insiders' Game: How Elites Make War and Peace with Professor Elizabeth Saunders
29 April 2024
In March 2024, the Phelan US Centre spoke to Elizabeth Saunders, Professor of Political Science at Columbia University about her new book, ‘The Insiders’ Game: How Elites Make War and Peace’ and the role of ‘elites’ in US foreign policymaking.
Contributor: Professor Elizabeth Saunders (Columbia University)
Merchants of the Right: Gun Sellers and the Crisis of American Democracy with Professor Jennifer Carlson
15 April 2024
In March 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Jennifer Carlson of Arizona State University, and 2022 MacArthur Fellow, about her new book, Merchants of the Right: Gun Sellers and the Crisis of American Democracy. They also discuss the symbolism and political value guns have in American politics and society.
Contributor: Professor Jennifer Carlson (Arizona State University)
Latino Voters in the United States with Professor Jason Casellas
8 April 2024
In March 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Jason Casellas about how the role of Latino voters in the United States and their changing voting patterns. They also discuss how Latino voters might influence the 2024 presidential election.
Contributor: Professor Jason Casellas (University of Houston)
China Policy: The Limits of Transatlantic Convergence with Dr Mathieu Duchâtel
18 March 2024
In February 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Dr Mathieu Duchâtel, Resident Senior Fellow and Director of International Studies at Institut Montaigne about transatlantic convergence between the EU and the United States on China policy. They also discussed the fault lines between the EU and US on China policy, and how China has responded to these divergences, including on Taiwan policy.
Contributor: Dr Mathieu Duchâtel (Institut Montaigne)
Super Tuesday 2024 results with Professor Jason Casellas
7 March 2024
On March 5th, 16 US states and territories held primary elections to decide the 2024 Republican and Democratic presidential nominees: a day known as “Super Tuesday”. The Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Jason Casellas about the Super Tuesday results, the primary race so far, and what the trends may mean for the general election in November.
Contributor: Professor Jason Casellas (University of Houston)
The Limits of Presidential Power with Professor Andrew Rudalevige
4 March 2024
In January 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Andrew Rudalevige, the Thomas Brackett Reed Professor of Government at Bowdoin College and visiting professor in the LSE’s Department of Government for the 2023-24 academic year. They spoke about the separation of powers in US government and the executive branch, and former President Trump’s potential plans to reshape the federal bureaucracy to create more political appointees if he is re-elected to the presidency in this year’s presidential election.
Contributor: Professor Andrew Rudalevige (Bowdoin College)
Bipartisanship and the US Foreign Policy with Dr Jordan Tama
19 February 2024
In January 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Dr Jordan Tama, Provost Associate Professor at American University’s School of International Service about his new book, Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy: Cooperation in a Polarized Age. They also discussed how party control in the US government can influence foreign policy, the changing coalitions of the Democratic and Republican parties and why some foreign policy issues have bipartisan consensus while others don’t.
Contributor: Dr Jordan Tama (American University)
The Brattle Group Report on Reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery
5 February 2024
In 2023 the Phelan US Centre spoke to the authors of the Brattle Group Report on Reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery, which estimates reparations for the total harm from enslavement, including to those who were enslaved and to their descendants. Dr. Coleman Bazelon, Rohan Janakiraman, and Mary Olson discuss their report and how it can inform calls for reparations for enslavement.
Contributors: Dr. Coleman Bazelon, Rohan Janakiraman, and Mary Olson (Brattle Group)
The Future of US-China Competition with Dr Ashley Tellis
22 January 2024
In January 2024 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Dr Ashley Tellis, the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about how the US has engaged with China economically in recent decades. They discuss how the US’ strategy towards China has shifted across recent presidencies, the effectiveness of ‘friendshoring’ policies, and decoupling and de-risking relationships between China, the United States, and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Contributor: Dr Ashley Tellis (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
Why China Hawks are Wrong with Professor William Wohlforth
18 January 2024
In 2023, the Phelan US Centre spoke to spoke to William C. Wohlforth, Daniel Webster Professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College, about the United States’ role as the world’s unipolar power. They also discuss the rise of China and what this means for the international role of the United States, and his upcoming book, with Jill Kastner, on great power subversion.
Contributor: Professor William C. Wohlforth (Dartmouth College)
Rust Belt Union Blues with Professor Theda Skocpol
4 January 2024
In 2023 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University about her new book, with Lainey Newman, Rust Belt Union Blues Why Working-Class Voters Are Turning Away from the Democratic Party. Using Western Pennsylvania as a case study, their book examines the decline of labor unions and the shift of working-class voters away from the Democratic Party. We also discussed the appeal of Donald Trump to blue-collar voters and how unions might regain their previous role in American community life.
Contributor: Professor Theda Skocpol (Harvard University)
Master’s students essay competition on climate change
11 December 2023
In 2023, the Phelan US Centre ran an essay competition for master’s students with the prompt, “What responsibility does the US have to the rest of the world on climate change?”. In this Extra Inning, we speak to the author of the winning essay, Oscar Parry, and the runners-up, Jibran Raja and Alia Yusuf. We discuss the essay competition, what it’s like for students to engage with a wider audience, and the opportunity they had to present their essays in the UK parliament to MPs and the British-American Parliamentary Group.
Contributors: Oscar Parry (LSE Anthropology), Jibran Raja (LSE International Relations), Alia Yusuf (LSE School of Public Policy)
Religion over Race with Dr Amanda Sahar d’Urso and Dr Tabitha Bonilla
29 November 2023
The Phelan US Centre spoke to Dr Amanda Sahar d’Urso, Assistant Professor at Georgetown University and Dr Tabitha Bonilla, Associate Professor at Northwestern University, about their recent article Religion or Race? Using Intersectionality to Examine the Role of Muslim Identity and Evaluations on Belonging in the United States in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, which they also wrote about on the US Centre’s USAPP blog. They discuss the role of religious and racial identity in America today.
Contributors: Dr Amanda Sahar d’Urso (Georgetown University) and Dr Tabitha Bonilla (Northwestern University)
In Quest of a Shared Planet with Dr Naveeda Khan
13 November 2023
In 2023 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Naveeda Khan, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University about her new book, In Quest of a Shared Planet: Negotiating Climate from the Global South, the role that UN Climate Change Conferences (or “COPs”) play in the global climate framework, and the relationship between the global north and south in taking responsibility for and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Contributor: Dr Naveeda Khan (Johns Hopkins University)
The Birth Lottery of History with Professor Robert Sampson
10 October 2023
In June 2023, the Phelan US Centre spoke with Robert J. Sampson the Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers University Professor at Harvard University about his new study, The Birth Lottery of History. This study followed over 1,000 Americans over 23 years and looks at the effects on different age cohorts of the social transformation of crime, punishment, and inequality over the last three decades.
Contributors: Professor Robert J. Sampson (Harvard University)
Democratic Disenchantment in Rich & Poor Countries
15 August 2023
In May 2023, the Phelan US Centre’s Mohid Malik spoke to Pranab Bardhan, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. In this Extra Inning podcast, they discussed the argument put forward in Professor Bardhan’s 2022 book, A World of Insecurity: Democratic Disenchantment in Rich and Poor Countries. Their conversation explored the future of democratic governance as it confronts majoritarian politics throughout the world.
Contributors: Professor Pranab Bardhan (University of California, Berkeley)
The Kennedy Withdrawal with Professor Marc Selverstone
9 August 2023
In December 2022, the Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Mark Selverstone, Associate Professor in Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Centre of Public Affairs, and chair of the Miller Center's Presidential Recordings programme, about his new book, The Kennedy Withdrawal Camelot and the American Commitment to Vietnam. They discussed the factors that shaped President Kennedy’s views on Vietnam, the relationship between Kennedy and his Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara, and their views on a potential withdrawal from Vietnam, and the usefulness of White House recordings to academics and historians.
Contributors: Dr Marc Selverstone (Miller Center of Public Affairs)
Geopolitics and Democracy with Brian Burgoon and Peter Trubowitz
21 July 2023
In May 2023, the Phelan US Centre spoke to Brian Burgoon, Professor of International and Comparative Political Economy in the Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam, and Peter Trubowitz, Professor of International Relations, and Director of the Phelan US Centre at LSE and Associate Fellow at Chatham House, about their new book Geopolitics and Democracy, which will be published in July 2023 by Oxford University Press. They discuss the rise of anti-globalist forces which are against international cooperation and multilateralism, and how this connects to the decline of the welfare state and citizens’ perceptions about threats from abroad.
Contributors: Professor Peter Trubowitz (LSE Phelan US Centre), Professor Brian Burgoon (University of Amsterdam)
The defining global challenges of the coming decades with the Lloyd George Study Group
26 June 2023
For this episode of the Ballpark, we asked each of the ten members of the Lloyd George Study Group on Global Governance one question: What do you take to be the defining global challenges of the coming decades? Their answers tell us a great deal about what global challenges we face, and how we might begin to tackle them.
Contributors: Wu Xinbo (Fudan University), Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae (University of Ibadan, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs), Selina Ho (National University of Singapore), Peter Trubowitz (LSE Phelan US Centre), Charles Kupchan (Georgetown University), Cornelia Woll (Hertie School), Bahgat Korany (The American University in Cairo), C. Raja Mohan (Asia Society Policy Institute), Monica Herz (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro).
The Confederate Diaspora with Professor Samuel Bazzi
12 June 2023
In March 2023, the Phelan US Centre spoke to Samuel Bazzi, Associate Professor in the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Department of Economics at the University of California, San Diego about his new research on The Confederate Diaspora. They discussed how white migration from the early American South soon after the Civil War helped to diffuse and entrench Confederate culture across the United States, holding back civil rights and economic equality for Black Americans, and how the diaspora continues to influence on contemporary American politics.
Contributors: Samuel Bazzi (University of California, San Diego), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
The Rise and Fall of the EAST with Professor Yasheng Huang
2 June 2023
In March 2023, the Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Yasheng Huang, Epoch Foundation professor of global economics and management at MIT’s Sloan School of Management about his new book, The Rise and Fall of the EAST, which will be published by Yale University Press in August 2023. They also discussed Chinese technological development over the last three decades, and the challenges China currently faces in developing and maintaining its talent and human capital to support innovation.
Contributors: Yasheng Huang (MIT), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
Waning Globalisation with Professor Pinelopi Goldberg
25 May 2023
In March 2023, the Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Pinelopi Goldberg, Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University about her new book, The Unequal Effects of Globalization, which will be published by MIT Press in August 2023. They also discussed the rise of scepticism towards globalisation, the role of international institutions like the WTO, hyper-globalisation, and whether globalisation can be fair.
Contributors: Pinelopi Goldberg (Yale University), Chris Gilson (Phelan US Centre)
Beijing's Global Media Offensive with Joshua Kurlantzick
3 April 2023
In February 2023, the Phelan US Centre spoke to Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations about his new book, Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign To Influence Asia and the World. They also discussed the effectiveness of China’s efforts to expand its global media influence, from its pitfalls to successes.
Contributors: Joshua Kurlantzick (Council on Foreign Relations), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
How China Derailed its Peaceful Rise with Professor Susan Shirk
21 March 2023
In January 2023, the Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Susan Shirk, Research Professor and Chair of the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego about her new book, Overreach: How China Derailed its Peaceful Rise.
Contributors: Professor Susan Shirk (UC San Diego), Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
The Case for Reparations for Mass Incarceration with Dr Tasseli McKay
9 March 2023
In December 2022, the Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Dr Tasseli McKay, National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Sociology at Duke University, about her new book, Stolen Wealth, Hidden Power The Case for Reparations for Mass Incarceration. Their discussion covered mass incarceration in the US, the case for reparations, and principles of transitional justice.
Contributors: Dr Tasseli McKay (Duke University), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
Professor Glenn Loury on Identity Politics and Race in America
28 February 2023
In May 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Glenn Loury, Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at Brown University, on the role of identity politics in the United States. In their discussion, they situated Black American experience within the context of identity politics, and how this has done little to correct existing racial inequalities in the United States.
Contributors: Professor Glenn Loury (Brown University), Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
Professor Jessica Chen Weiss on China and the International Order
21 February 2023
In November 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Jessica Chen Weiss, professor of government at Cornell University, about China and the future of the international order. They also discussed President Biden’s approach to China, and the future of US-China relations.
Contributors: Professor Jessica Chen Weiss (Cornell University), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
China’s Belt and Road with Professor Taylor Fravel
13 February 2023
In November 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Taylor Fravel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about China’s Belt and Road Initiative. They discussed the history and recent developments of the Belt and Road Initiative, the political implications of this project, and the US’ responses to it. This Extra Inning was produced by Chris Gilson, Mohid Malik, and Anderson Tan.
Contributors: Professor Taylor Fravel (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
Professor Rana Mitter on historical analogy in US-China relations
6 February 2023
On 27 September 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Rana Mitter of the University of Oxford about China’s changing national narrative. They also discussed nationalism in China and the ways China has engaged in revisionist history with regards to its conception of the current international order.
Contributors: Professor Rana Mitter (University of Oxford), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
Lessons from the Edge with Marie Yovanovitch
30 January 2023
On 25 January 2023, the Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke with Marie Yovanovitch, the United States’ Ambassador to Ukraine from 2016 to 2019, about her new book, Lessons from the Edge. They also discussed US-Ukraine relations, resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and European security.
Contributors: Marie Yovanovitch, Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
England’s Cross of Gold with Professor James Morrison
24 January 2023
In June 2022, the Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson spoke to Centre Affiliate Professor James Morrison about his new book, England’s Cross of Gold Keynes, Churchill, and the Governance of Economic Beliefs (Cornell University Press, 2021). They also discussed the history of the gold standard in the UK, and what research on economic and monetary history can tell us about the current moment.
Contributors: Professor James Morrison (LSE International Relations), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
Professor Mary Kaldor on Long-term Solutions to the War in Ukraine
16 January 2023
On 9 June 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Mary Kaldor of the LSE about ways to reimagine a future European security framework. They also discussed the importance of empowering the local civil society groups in Russia and Ukraine that oppose Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Contributors: Professor Mary Kaldor (LSE), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
The future of Liberal Internationalism and the War in Ukraine with Professor Ayse Zarakol
3 October 2022
On 9 June 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Ayse Zarakol of the University of Cambridge about the state of the Liberal International Order following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They also discuss what the rise of non-Western powers that have not fully adhered to Liberal Internationalism suggests about the future of this American-led system.
Contributors: Professor Ayse Zarakol (University of Cambridge), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
American Isolationism and the future of the Liberal World Order with Professor Charles Kupchan
3 October 2022
On 9 June 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Professor Charles Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations and Georgetown University about the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the Liberal World Order. They also discussed the foreign policy objectives of the United States and how the United States should deal with security issues in Europe.
Contributors: Professor Charles Kupchan (Council on Foreign Relations and Georgetown University), Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik (Phelan US Centre)
Everyone wins: Student-faculty collaborations in the UGRA programme
3 October 2022
In June 2022, the Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson spoke to Professor James Morrison about his experience as a faculty lead working on research projects with undergraduates as part of the US Centre’s undergraduate research assistant (UGRA) programme. Professor Morrison, who has worked with an UGRA each year since the programme’s inception in 2017, discussed the contribution that these undergraduate students have made to his research over the years. He also spoke about the mutual benefits that academics and students enjoy from these collaborations.
Contributors: Professor James Morrison (LSE International Relations), Chris Gilson (Phelan US Centre)
Finding Success as a Phelan US Centre Undergraduate Research Assistant
27 September 2022
On February 24th, 2022, the Phelan US Centre’s Joss Harrison spoke to Karen Torres about her experience as an undergraduate research assistant (UGRA) with Dr John Collins at the US Centre in 2019-20, and how this has influenced her academic and career plans. They also discussed her co-authored article with Dr Collins in the Journal of Illicit Economies and Development, which focuses on Colombia’s place in the global drug wars.
Contributors: Karen Torres, Joss Harrison (Phelan US Centre)
Dr Fiona Hill on Putin, the War in Ukraine, and European Security
17 August 2022
On 15 June 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Dr Fiona Hill of the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the ramifications for the future of NATO and the European security framework. They also discuss future possibilities of engaging with Russia and the role that non-European states may play in this process.
Fiona Hill is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. She served as national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia from 2006 to 2009 and senior director for Europe and Russia at the National Security Council from 2017 to 2019. She is author of There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the 21st Century and co-author of Mr Putin: Operative in the Kremlin.
Contributors: Dr Fiona Hill (Brookings Institiution)
How UK Think Tanks influence US policymaking, with Professor Michael Cox
15 October 2021
On 21 July 21 2021, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson spoke to Professor Michael Cox of LSE IDEAS about his new article in the journal, International Politics, “What do Think Tanks do? Chatham House in search of the United States” and how think tanks affect policymaking in the UK and the US. They also discuss his upcoming book of essays Agonies of Empire, which outlines the ways in which five very different American Presidents have addressed the complex legacies left them by their predecessors while dealing with the longer-term problems of running a modern-day empire under increasing stress.
Professor Michael Cox is the Founding Director of LSE IDEAS. He was appointed to a Chair at the LSE in 2002, having previously held positions in the UK at The Queen’s University of Belfast and the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth. He helped establish the Cold War Studies Centre at the LSE in 2004 and later co-founded LSE IDEAS in 2008 with Arne Westad.
Contributors: Professor Michael Cox (LSE IDEAS)
Four Threats to American Democracy with Professor Robert Lieberman and Professor Suzanne Mettler
19 May 2021
On 15 February 2021, the Phelan US Centre’s Blog Editor, Chris Gilson, spoke to Professor Robert Lieberman and Professor Suzanne Mettler about their recent book, ‘Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy’. In this podcast, they discuss some of the unique features of American democracy and how its four pillars may be under threat, and what needs to be done to secure democracy in the US.
Robert Lieberman is Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. He studies American political development, race and American politics, and public policy. He has also written extensively about the development of American democracy and the links between American and comparative politics. His most recent book is Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy (St. Martin’s Press, 2020), co-authored with Suzanne Mettler. In 2021, he will be the John G. Winant Visiting Professor of Government at the University of Oxford.
Suzanne Mettler is the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions in the Government Department at Cornell University. Her research and teaching interests include American political development, inequality, public policy, political behavior, and democracy. She is the author of six books, including, most recently, Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy (St. Martin’s Press, 2020), co-authored with Robert C. Lieberman. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the recipient of Guggenheim and Radcliffe Fellowships, and serves on the boards of the Scholars Strategy Network and the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences.
Contributors: Professor Robert Lieberman (Johns Hopkins University); Professor Suzanne Mettler (Cornell University)
James Baldwin vs. William F. Buckley: The Great Debate Over Race in America
23 September 2020
On the 30th of January 2020, Professor Nicholas Buccola joined the LSE US Centre for the event, “James Baldwin vs. William F. Buckley: The Great Debate over Race in America”. The event was chaired by Dr. Clive James Nwonka, an LSE Fellow in Film Studies within the Department of Sociology and affiliate of the US Centre. At the event, Professor Buccola spoke about his new book The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America. He revisited the historic debate between these two thinkers, the controversies that followed their meeting, and how their clash continues to illuminate America’s racial divide today.
Professor Nicholas Buccola is the Elizabeth and Morris Glicksman Chair in Political Science at Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon. He is a is a writer, lecturer, and teacher who specializes in the area of American political thought. He is the author of The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America (Princeton University, 2019) and The Political Thought of Frederick Douglass: In Pursuit of American Liberty (New York University Press, 2012).
Contributors: Professor Nicholas Buccola (Elizabeth and Morris Glicksman Chair in Political Science at Linfield College); Dr. Clive James Nwonka (LSE Fellow in Film Studies, Department of Sociology)
Russian Trolls and the 2016 Election: interview with Professor Kathleen Jamieson
28 July 2020
In this interview, Professor Kathleen Jamieson talks about the impact of Russian interference on the 2016 US Presidential election, the tactics used to influence voters, and what we should be thinking about ahead of the 2020 Presidential election.
Professor Kathleen Jamieson is the Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication of the University of Pennsylvania and Director of its Annenberg Public Policy Center. She is also the author of ‘Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President – What We Don’t, Can’t, and Do Know‘.
Contributors: Professor Kathleen Jamieson, Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, and Chris Gilson, US Centre
"African Americans in a White House": An event with Professor Leah Wright Rigueur
3 July 2020
On the 5th of March 2020, Professor Leah Wright Rigueur joined the LSE US Centre for the event “African Americans in a ‘White’ House: Presidential Politics, Race, and The Pursuit of Power.” At the event Professor Leah Wright Rigueur told the complex story of the transformation of Black politics and the astonishing racial politics of presidential administrations that have paved the way for patterns of political misconduct that have continued into the present.
Contributors: Professor Leah Wright Rigueur, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harry S. Truman Associate Professor of American History, Brandeis University, and Professor Imaobong Umoren, Assistant Professor, Department of International History, LSE.
"Black Republicans, Power and the Reagan Administration": Interview with Professor Leah Wright Rigueur
23 June 2020
Ballpark co-host Michaela Herrmann is joined by Professor Leah Wright Rigueur, who discusses the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) scandal of the 1980s, the experiences of Black Republicans in the last 50 years, the racial politics of the Reagan administration, and how #BlackLivesMatter protests can be linked back to long-standing trends like inequality and policing practices.
Contributors: Professor Leah Wright Rigueur, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harry S. Truman Associate Professor of American History, Brandeis University, and Michaela Herrmann, US Centre
"Russian Hackers, Trolls and #DemocracyRIP": an event with Professor Kathleen Jamieson
23 June 2020
On the 27th of February 2020, the LSE US Centre hosted Professor Kathleen Jamieson for the event Russian Hackers, Trolls and #DemocracyRIP. In this lecture, Professor Jamieson brought together what is known about the impact of the Russian interventions in the 2016 US presidential election, outlined the contours of the #DemocracyRIP Russian plans to undercut the presidency of Hillary Clinton, and asked what’s next and what can we do about it.
Contributors: Professor Kathleen Jamieson, Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director
“How Millennial Economics Will Shake Up US Politics” – an event with Joseph Sternberg
22 February 2020
On the 9th of October 2019, the US Centre hosted Joseph Sternberg of The Wall Street Journal at the US Centre’s public event, “How Millennial Economics Will Shake Up US Politics”. At the event, he presented an overview of Millennial economics in America and outlined how the Great Recession affected Millennials in particular. He also discussed the continuing effects of the recession even as economic conditions have improved, and some of the political issues that will continue to challenge Americans across the Boomer-Millennial divide.
Contributors: Joseph Sternberg, Wall Street Journal, and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director
The Theft of a Decade: How the Baby Boomers Stole the Millennials’ Economic Future – an interview with Joseph Sternberg
22 February 2020
In this Extra Inning from the LSE US Centre, Ballpark host Chris Gilson talks with The Wall Street Journal’s Joseph Sternberg about his new book, The Theft of a Decade: How the Baby Boomers Stole the Millennials’ Economic Future. In the interview, Joseph Sternberg outlines the effects of the Great Recession on Millennials and talks about Millennials’ economic and political future.
They also discuss the policy issues that will continue to challenge Boomers and Millennials as the former ages out of the working population and puts economic pressure on the latter.
Contributors: Joseph Sternberg, Wall Street Journal, Chris Gilson, LSE US Centre.
“Donald Trump and the Roots of Republican Extremism in the US”, an event with Professor Theda Skocpol
22 February 2020
On 14 October 2019, the US Centre hosted Professor Theda Skocpol for the event “Donald Trump and the Roots of Republican Extremism in the US.” At the event, Professor Skocpol discussed her recent research explaining how sets of organizations expressing two separate currents of right-wing extremism – billionaire ultra-free-market fundamentalism and popularly rooted ethno-nationalist resentment – have worked in tandem to remake the Republican Party.
Contributors: Professor Theda Skocpol. Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director
Why American foreign policy since the Cold War has been a failure with Stephen Walt
24 January 2020
Your host Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre is joined by Professor Stephen Walt. In this interview, Chris and Professor Walt discuss the differences in US foreign policy between Presidents Trump and Obama.
They also discuss Professor Walt’s new book, The Hell of Good Intentions, and why he thinks American foreign policy since the Cold War has been a failure.
Contributors: Professor Stephen Walt (Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government), Chris Gilson (LSE US Centre).
New York City’s Planning Challenges for 2020 and Beyond with Marisa Lago
24 January 2020
In this Extra Inning of the Ballpark, we are joined by Marisa Lago, the Director of the New York City Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission. Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre spoke with Marisa Lago about what it’s like to work across three New York mayoral administrations, the big planning issues facing the city right now, and how city planning can help address inequality.
Contributors: Marisa Lago (Director of the New York City Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission.), Chris Gilson (LSE US Centre).
Donald Trump and the Roots of Republican Extremism in the US, an interview with Professor Theda Skocpol
13 December 2019
In this Extra Inning of the Ballpark, your host Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre talks with Professor Theda Skocpol about her recent research on the Republican Party. Professor Skocpol outlines the shift that the Republican Party has undergone in the last decade, driven by two distinct currents of right-wing extremism: ethno-nationalist resentment, and ultra-free-market fundamentalism. They also discuss her upcoming book, which traces the growing grassroots movement of suburban white women in left-wing politics.
Contributors: Professor Theda Skocpol. Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, Chris Gilson. LSE US Centre
The Dangers of Brexit for the Special Relationship with Senator Chris Murphy
5 April 2019
On March 20th 2019, the US Centre hosted Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut for his talk, “The Dangers of Brexit for the Special Relationship”. Senator Murphy, who is a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, spoke to US Centre Director, Professor Peter Trubowitz, on the future of the US’s relationship with one of its oldest allies in the context of the UK’s looming exit from the European Union.
Contributors: Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director
Lessons from History and the Future of International Trade with Jeff Frieden and Doug Irwin
22 February 2019
In this Extra Inning of the Ballpark Chris Gilson hosts a conversation between Jeff Frieden and Doug Irwin as they discuss one of the most important parts of the economy: international trade. They talk about the changing consensus on trade in the US under Trump, what the growth of populism across the world means for trade and the international economy, Brexit, the growing trade war between the US and China, and give their policy recommendations for Donald Trump.
Contributors: Jeff Frieden, University of Harvard and Doug Irwin, Dartmouth College
What the US-North Korea summit may have in store with Stephan Haggard
21 February 2019
For this Extra Inning from the US Centre’s Ballpark podcast, host Chris Gilson speaks to North Korea expert Professor Stephan Haggard about the upcoming summit between the US and North Korea. We explore what’s at stake and what the summit may be able to achieve.
Contributors: Stephan Haggard, Krause Distinguished Professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego
Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump with Joe Uscinski
7 January 2019
This Extra Inning of the Ballpark features audio from the US Centre’s event “Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump” which took place on 25 July 2018. Joseph Uscinski, associate professor of political science at University of Miami, speaks about his book American Conspiracy Theories and why President Trump might be America’s first conspiratorial president.
Using an analysis of more than a hundred years of data taken from newspapers, surveys, and the internet, Professor Uscinski demonstrates that conspiracy theories follow a strategic logic: they are tools used by the powerless to attack and defend against the powerful.
Contributors: Joseph Uscinski, associate professor of political science at University of Miami, and Ros Taylor, Research Manager for the LSE Truth, Trust & Technology Commission
How Great Powers Transition: A Conversation with Dr. Kori Schake
23 November 2018
Host Chris Gilson talks with Dr. Kori Schake, the Deputy Director-General of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, about her new book Safe Passage. Dr. Schake discusses how and when power can peacefully shift from one hegemon to another, the impact of Trump’s foreign policy on America’s standing in the world, and the future of the Republican party.
Contributors: Dr. Kori Schake, Deputy Director-General of the International Institute for Strategic Studies
Summer Lecture from Professor Kathy Cramer “The Politics of Resentment in the 2016 US Presidential Election”
29 August 2017
The 2016 election revealed stark divisions along the rural-urban divide in America. Professor Katherine J. Cramer’s research explored that division and investigated how rural American resentment toward cities and the urban elite provided fertile ground for right-leaning candidates to win elections. This is the third lecture of this series, and it features Professor Kathy Cramer on “The Politics of Resentment in the 2016 US Presidential Election”.
Contributors: Kathy Cramer, Director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service and Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Summer Lecture from Professor Tali Mendelberg “The Affluence Effect: College Socialization and Inequality in America”
21 August 2017
Do American universities promote income inequality? That’s the question Professor Tali Mendelberg takes on in this lecture. This second lecture of the series is from Professor Tali Mendelberg, entitled “The Affluence Effect: College Socialization and Inequality in America”.
Contributors: Tali Mendelberg, Professor of Politics at Princeton University
Anxiety, Fear, and National Identity, a public lecture from Professor Neil Foley
14 August 2017
You usually have to be in London to catch the public lectures sponsored by the US Centre, but this August, we’re bringing them to you. This podcast lecture series features the research of leading American academics. This first lecture is from Professor Neil Foley, “Anxiety, Fear, and National Identity: anti-immigration politics and the rise of Latino power in the US.”
Contributors: Neil Foley, Robert and Nancy Dedman Endowed Chair in History at Southern Methodist University
The Yanks Are Coming! A lecture from Professor Mick Cox
12 December 2016
We dive into the history of Americans at LSE. As we’ll hear from Professor Mick Cox, the LSE has helped shape the United States, and Americans have helped define the LSE since its foundation in 1895.
Contributors: Mick Cox, Professor of International Relations at LSE
Conspiracy Theories and Donald Trump
28 September 2016
Donald Trump has brought conspiracy theories into the mainstream political debate. We spoke with political scientist Joe Uscinski, author of American Conspiracy Theories, about what impact this has had on American politics and elections.
Contributors: Joe Uscinski, University of Miami
Has Obama been a transformative president?
25 August 2016
In this installment of Extra Innings, we bring you behind the scenes of the US Centre and present a full lecture from University of Texas Austin Professor Jeffrey Tulis. Jeffrey examined Obama’s presidency and asked whether or not Barack Obama has been a transformative president. This event was held in collaboration with the Dahrendorf Forum.
Contributors: Jeffrey Tulis, University of Texas at Austin
Everything you wanted to know about Brexit but were too afraid to ask
1 August 2016
It’s clear that the UK has voted to leave the EU, but there are still many questions surrounding Brexit. We want to provide some answers for our listeners on the other side of the pond to all of the questions Americans have about Brexit but were afraid to ask. We’ve gathered some of the LSE’s top experts on the EU, the UK, and Brexit to hear about what’s going on here, the repercussions for the rest of the world, and what the US can learn from this historic vote.
Contributors: Chris Gilson and Denise Baron of the LSE US Centre talk to Tony Travers, Professor of Government, Tim Oliver of LSE IDEAS, and Sara Hagemann, Assistant Professor at the European Institute.
Gun Violence and Politics in the US
1 July 2016
Following the recent horrific shooting in Orlando, Florida, we gathered three Americans to discuss their research and direct experience with the politics of gun violence. We contextualise the recent news with a statistical and research frame and then took a specific look at the gun safety policy and political fights that took place in Colorado in 2013.
Contributors: Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre talks to Sierra Smucker, PhD student at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, and Visiting Student at the LSE US Centre, Sasha Milonova, Communications Associate for the Dahrendorf Forum at LSE IDEAS, and MSc student in political economy, and Denise Baron, Ballpark Producer and LSE MSc student in social psychology.
Monetary policy and more with Jeff Frieden
18 May 2016
We featured Jeff Frieden in our podcast on the Almighty Dollar, but our interview with him covered so much more. So we decided to share the full interview on the past, present, and future of monetary policy.
Contributors: Jeff Frieden, Professor of Government at Harvard University
Why the Ballpark?
5 May 2016
You might be wondering, "Why is this podcast called 'The Ballpark'?" We invited another baseball fan and political economist, Derek Valles, to chat about the overlaps and intersections of baseball and politics.
Contributors: Derek Valles, LSE Government
Erich McElroy’s Imperfect Guide to the US Presidential Debates
24 March 2016
In this Ballpark Extra Innings segment co-hosts Denise Baron and Chris Gilson head down to Erich McElroy’s Imperfect Guide to the US Presidential Debates show, and hear some comedy and commentary on the Republican presidential debate, and the US election.
Contributors: Erich McElroy, Josie Long, Robyn Perkins, Ola
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The Ballpark is produced with help from the LSE’S Annual Fund and the US Embassy in the UK. Our theme tune is by Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers”, a Seattle based gypsy jazz band.