The Scholars' Circle Interviews

We interview Professor James S. Fishkin author of the recently published book – Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy? . Then we remember Ngugi wa Thiongo , scholar of language and author many books such as Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature (1986). Discussion with Professor Fishkin on his book … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Author interview of the book – Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy? ; Remembering Ngugi wa Thiongo author of Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature – June 1, 2025 →

What exactly an emolument? Is the airplane gift from Qatar to President Trump an emolument? Is it evidence of corruption? And has the Supreme Court continued to enable corruption? Hosted by Doug Becker. [ dur: 26mins. ] Clark D. Cunningham is Lee Byrd's Chair in Law and Ethics at Georgia State University College of Law. … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Emolument Clause & Trump Qatar gifts ; The harm of microplastics – May 25, 2025 →

Canada's Liberals were facing a 20 point deficit a few months back but came back to maintain power by re-electing Liberal Prime Minister, Mark Carney. What does this mean for the country and its challenges this year and beyond? What are Canada's most pressing political challenges? Canadian politics are complex and experts argue their most … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Canadian election insights – May 18, 2025 →

We are 100 days into the second Trump Administration. How different is this term from his first and from other Presidents? What are the constitutional and normative challenges it poses to American democracy? Just how much has Trump attempted to consolidate power in the Presidency? What are the biggest threats his administration poses to the … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – First 100 days into the second Trump administration – May 11, 2025 →

Science is under attack. Who and what are behind the attacks? While we face catastrophic climate change and other pending disasters, how can we restore the public's understandings about scientific realities? We explore disinformation and ways to communicate with non-scientists to loosen the grip the disinformants have on so many people. [ dur: 58mins. ] … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Science denial and disinformation – May 4, 2025 →

April is Genocide Awareness Month, and no genocide was more devastating, more destructive and more emblematic of the demand for never again like the Cambodian Genocide. Often referring to as the “Killing Fields” after the moving Dith Pran novel and movie of the same name, 2 million people out of a pre-genocide population of 7 … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Insights into Cambodian Genocide and Wiriyamu Massacre in Mozambique – April 27, 2025 →

Recent peace treaty communication coming from Armenia and Azerbaijan explained. Robert English is Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Southern California. He is the author of Russia and the Idea of the West: Gorbachev, Intellectuals and the End of the Cold War and The Other Side: How Soviets and Americans Perceive Each … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Armenia – Azerbaijan treaty update ; Labors view on tariff – April 20, 2025 →

With wars still raging in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, we return to an earlier interview on the origins of war. When and how did war begin? While some have argued it evolved in early human behavior within forging bands societies, our guests say, that's not true. Forger bands did not wage war. [ dur: 30 … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Origins of war and ways to resolve socially violent tendencies – April 13, 2025 →

Trump Administration's immigration policy invokes Alien Enemy's Act to remove longtime residents in US without justification. This is a 1798 law that allows the government to remove nationals of countries When the US is at war with their country without due process. And it was signed in order to counter potential espionage. Prior to this … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Alien Enemy's Act invoked to deport people from US without due process on civil charges – April 6, 2025 →

The Russian invasion and war in Ukraine is now over three years old. The new Trump Administration is trying to negotiate a cease fire and peace in the war. Why has an agreement been so elusive? [ dur: 20mins. ] Robert English is Associate Professor of International Relations and Co-Director of the Central European Studies … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations ; Building opposition to anti-science propaganda – March 30, 2025 →

The Trump Administration has launched full frontal political assaults on academic freedoms on college campuses. Both professors and students are being targeted for their political positions. Schools fear the loss of funding based on protests on campus and faculty political advocacy. And departments are being targeted not just for classes but also existentially, such as … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Trump's assualt on academic freedom; Book author interview – We the Men – March 23, 2025 →

The expansion of the vote to women throughout the 20th Century has had an impact on the discourses and politics of war and peace. What is the relationship between women voting, electing women leaders, and women-lead groups in civil society on the issue of war and peace? Does the expansion of the vote to women … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – The Suffragist Peace: How women gained voting rights and affected global politics – March 16, 2025 →

Title IX, the landmark legislation on women's equality in higher education, was passed to equalize funding between men's and women's athletics. What has it achieved? Where does it fall short? When some schools failed to implement Title IX for athletics, activists sued. We look at the landmark cases and what they have achieved. [ dur: … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Title IX history and compliance struggle for women's equality in higher education – March 9, 2025 →

Is the US in a Constitutional crisis? Is the constitution itself a crisis? What are the specific actions of the Trump Administration that has led to this? How will the courts respond? And what is the unitary executive theory and how has it undermined the checks and balances of the system? [ dur: 58mins. ] … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Trump's violations of US Constitution – March 2, 2025 →

We honor Black History Month. The South outlawed black literacy all the way until the Civil War. What was this war on black literacy and how did educators resist this law? [ dur: 32mins. ] Derek Black is professor of law in the Ernest F. Hollings chair in constitutional law at the University of South … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Book author interviews: The fight for black literacy, women intellectuals of the civil rights movement – February 23, 2025 →

The Trump Administration is actively seeking to destroy the public service and the protections offered by government. What does this mean for the future of the democracy and for the future of the country? Who will will stand up for public services that we've long come to rely on for public safety, clean water, air, … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Deep State, Public Services in a democracy – February 16, 2025 →

What exactly is the political, physical, and existential meanings of borders? Borders are human creations but often define state and national boundaries and even identities. They define belonging to a nation. And under this new administration, borders have become the most visible feature not just of policy but who belongs in the United States. Our … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Immigrants to US and how they are treated by its Laws and Executive power of US Presidents – February 9, 2025 →

Climate change is intensifying natural disasters such as hurricanes, storms, and wildfires and making them more frequent. Yet President Trump has proposed eliminating the federal emergency management agency, FEMA, that responds to disasters. Why was FEMA created and how effective has it been? [ dur:58mins. ] Timothy Kneeland, History, Politics, Law, Director, Center of Public … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Reforming Federal Emergency Management Agency of USA territories – February 2, 2025 →

The United States has announced its intention to leave the World Health Organization. What does this mean for the US, for the WHO and for campaigns to maintain global health? [ dur: 29mins. ] Sofia Gruskin is a Director of IIGH and Distinguished Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Law at USC. She … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – US orders withdrawal from WHO ; Jimmy Carter's Legacy – January 26, 2025 →

To commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. we discuss Dr King's life, his work, his legacy and his memory. We then explore the impact of Dr King and his memory on contemporary issues, including the role of women on the movement and the security of people of color as embodied in the Black … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Dr. Martin Luther King Legacy and its effect on contemporary civil rights movement- January 19, 2025 →

Western US is ablaze with intense and widespread fires. What role does climate change, forest management, overpopulation, and resource management play in the increasingly devastating fire seasons worldwide? How can climate mitigation and adaptation complicate forest management? [dur: 58mins. ] George Perry is a Professor at the School of Environment at the University of Auckland. … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Sober view on Wildfire mitigation and adaptation – January 12, 2025 →

The fourth amendment has protected privacy for Americans. But with new technologies, smart phones, the internet, and other devices, our protections are easily compromised. Will protecting privacy in the digital age require a new Digital 4th Amendment? We interview Orin Kerr author of The Digital Fourth Amendment: Privacy and Policing in our Online World [ … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Author interview – The Digital Fourth Amendment: Privacy and Policing in our Online World – January 5, 2025 →

The history of anti-slavery activism is a rich and important period in American history. But there are so many stories that still have yet to be written. Samuel Ward is one of those activists; an important figure in the African-American activist community working against slavery and racism, whose story is largely lost. Our guest R. … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Samuel Ringgold Ward: A life of Struggle, a biography – December 29, 2024 →

Money can distort politics. And the lack of transparency where this money comes from can further distort politics and invite corruption. Since much of the money in campaign finance is not subject to transparency laws, it has taken the name dark money. This specifically references spending by nonprofit organizations created for political spending. How much … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Why voters should strike down Dark Money in politics – December 22, 2024 →

Tuesday December 10 , 2024 was a Human Rights Day. When human rights are denied, we explore genocide with two specific questions: Who internationally makes a determination that violence and atrocities are in fact genocide? And what if anything changes when there is a finding that atrocities are genocide? We explore whether a legal approach … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Determining Genocide ; Dark side of democracy – December 15, 2024 →

History of Meskhetian Turks who are stateless and struggling to exist as people among nations like Turkey, Georgia, Romania and Armenia. We will discuss this population and its unique challenges in Russia and its population also has a unique and important position within the United States. [ dur: 32mins. ] Steve Swerdlow, Esq. is Associate … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Meskhetian Turks, their struggle for Self Determination ; Social behavior due to unconscious mind – December 8, 2024 →

COP 29 in Azerbaijan has just ended. These annual meetings are intended to advance the cause of combating climate change. And while the meetings did result in an agreement, there has been intense criticism both within the attendees and critics from outside the halls of the meetings about this agreement. And of course the United … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – COP29 , its outcome and looking ahead – December 1, 2024 →

The small Southeastern European nation of Moldova sits at a crossroads.  Once a part of the former Soviet Union, the nation has long ties to Central Europe (and in particular Romania). And recent political developments expose this tension. In October, the nation -reelected President Maia Sandu, despite allegations of Russian interference to aid her opponent … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Moldova Election 2024 – November 24, 2024 →

In the 2024 election, voters reaffirmed the right to abortion in many states while the nation still elected an anti-abortion president, and anti-abortion majority in both the senate and the house of representatives. What does this mean for abortion rights in the US. Aziza Ahmed is Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Abortion/reproductive rights & access post presidential election – November 17, 2024 →

Election Day 2024 has come and gone. And the US elected Donald Trump and a huge red wave that turns every branch of government and every lever of power to the Trump-dominated Republican Party. What does this mean for the nation and the world? We look forward today at the US and the world in … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Insights on 2nd Trump Presidency – November 10, 2024 →

LGBTQ communities are marginalized in so many places around the world. While their presence in international politics is growing, they still face quite a lot of threats and challenges. We explore LGBTQ communities and their impact on global politics. S. N. Nyeck is Associate Professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Ethnic Studies at … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – LGBTQ communities and their impact on global politics – November 3, 2024 →

First, we discuss gerrymandering and redistricting and what it means for the upcoming elections on First Tuesday of November  2024. Christian Gross He's professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California. He's the academic director of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. He's the author of Congress … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Election by gerrymandering and a tribute to Professor Philip Zimbardo – October 27, 2024 →

“the most beautiful word in the English language is tariff.” That is a direct quote from former President and current Republican candidate for President Donald Trump. On most issues that involve funding, when the former President is asked how he intends to pay for a proposal, his response is to increase tariffs. In 2018 the … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Election issues of Tariff on imports and Childcare affecting Economy and Workforce – October 20, 2024 →

As part of our ongoing series on the important issues that confront the US in the 2024 election we look at access to safe water and lessons learned from the Ellicott city floods. Segment 1: Although Access to safe drinking water is a human right, millions of people in the United States do no have … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Water issues and challenges faced by voters in 2024 US elections – October 13, 2024 →

From now until November's American election, we will cover issues that confront the nation and the world and on which we expect people will vote. For today's show, we will explore the differences between Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's nominee for President, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party's nominee for President in … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Foreign Policy differences of candidates in 2024 Presidential elections – October 6, 2024 →

Israel used devices loaded onto personal communications devices like pagers to launch attacks against the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The bombs detonated throughout Lebanon, and killed several Hezbollah members while wounding countless others. What was Israel's motivation in using such an unorthodox approach to attack its adversaries? Is it acceptable to use these devices under international … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Cyber killing of targeted individuals; Assassinations and Targeted Killings in the eyes of international laws – September 29, 2024 →

Cyber operations and cyber threats have become a greater fear in world politics and everyday life. But just how much of a threat are they? And how have they changed the way nations interact and conduct diplomacy? Hosted by Doug Becker. [ dur: 26mins. ] Brandon Valeriano is Assistant Professor at the School of Diplomacy … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Unleashing of Cyber-attacks that kill ; Green washing techniques we should know – September 22, 2024 →

School shootings have sadly become a part of American life over the last two decades. From the 2000–01 to 2021–22 school years, there were 1,375 school shootings at public and private elementary and secondary schools, resulting in 515 deaths and 1,161 injuries. What are the causes of all of this violence? What are the best … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Ways to Stop violence among Kids ; Addressing generational traumas experienced by children – September 15, 2024 →

States have legal requirements to receive refugees and can return them after a conflict ends. But does this mean there is a right of return? What are the conditions of the right of return? Is it conditional on the provision of security for the state to which they are returning? [ dur: 40mins. ] Susan … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Refugees right to return in international law ; Effects of earth's magnetism on birds, whales, bees and turtles – September 8, 2024 →

Kamala Harris declared that the Palestinians must live in dignity, security and have self determination. But what is the right of self determination? How has it been practiced legally and practically throughout history? And does self determination mean independence? [dur: 30mins.] Hurst Hannum is Professor of International Law Emeritus, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Right of Self-Determination ; Civil War politics examined- September 1, 2024 →

What led to the overthrow of Bangladesh's leader Sheikh Hasina? Were they political, economic, social? Or the promises of what advocates are calling a “second wave of independence.” What does the new Bangladeshi government need to build upon this political moment? What can the government do to successfully democratize and economically develop the nation? [ … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Bangladesh students revolt that ousted its president – August 25, 2024 →

With the upcoming election Democrats have proposal to reform Supreme Court with term limits, ethics oversight and many more. Our panel look at how and why people are concerned over the influence peddling related to recent decisions. Hosted by Maria Armoudian. [ dur: 35mins. ] Erwin Chemerinsky is the Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Reforming Supreme Court of United States ; How proxy wars are dominating international relations – August 18, 2024 →

We explore the choice of Kamala Harris as the Democratic party's candidate despite not running in primaries, the choice of President Biden to withdraw from the race, whether he should step down and what the decision means for age and service in the US, and some of the policy implications such as Supreme Court reform … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – President Biden chooses to step down and Kamala Harris ascendancy to lead the Democratic Party into November 2024 election – August 11, 2024 →

Farming around the world, and in particular in the US, has increasingly become centralized as large factory farming. What are the environmental, social, and philosophical implications of this mode of agricultural production? [ dur: 58mins. ] Factory farming carry significant challenges on environmental protection, on pricing and the centralization of wealth, and on social issues … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Catastrophic consequences of Factory Farming – August 4, 2024 →

We interview the author of a new book CALIFORNIA, A SLAVE STATE (Yale University Press; June 27, 2023). Professor Jean Pfaelzer shows that, since the very first colonizers crossed the border, the Golden State was and still is powered by slavery – a piece of American history that many still try to bury. [ dur: … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – A book author interview: History of California as a Slave State – July 28, 2024 →

Autocratic regimes often use people throughout the population to serve as informants. Why do people choose to become an informant and collaborate with autocracies? And what constitutes justice against these informants once the state democratizes? We discuss a new book on the topic Informers Up Close with its authors Mark Drumbl and Barbora Hola. [ … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Book Author interview : Informers Up Close, case-study of Communist Czechoslovakia (1945-1989) – July 21, 2024 →

Private Military Corporations have become a growing element of the warfighting landscape. States have historically had a monopoly on the use of military force. But private corporations challenge this monopoly. How much do they increase the lethality and likelihood of war? How much can private corporations be regulated? And what are the challenges to regulation? … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Private Military Corporations and State responsibilities – July 14, 2024 →

The criminal indictments of former President Trump have created a political crisis in their unprecedented nature. Historically, U.S. presidents have not faced criminal charges, even in cases where there is a high likelihood of guilt, in large part due to respect for the office. Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon embodies this norm. What can … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – When democracies prosecute corruptions of its former political leaders – July 7, 2024 →

The rise of the religious right or Christian Nationalism aided in the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, and has been a significant voting bloc ever since. How much is this movement driving American politics? How organized are the groups that comprise the movement? And what exactly is its political agenda? [ dur: 35mins. ] … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – How Christian Nationalism affects elections in US ; Faith based Communities, a study – June 30, 2024 →

We discuss with John Vile his book Encyclopedia of Presidential Vetoes from Washington through to Biden – History, Subjects, and Procedures. [ dur: 29mins. ] John R. Vile is Dean and Professor of Political Science at Middle Tennessee State University. He is the author of, The Writing and Ratification of the U.S. Constitution: Practical Virtue in … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Book Author interviews: Presidential Vetoes an historical view; Paradox of Free Speech – June 23, 2024 →

While much of the world is in a democratic backslide, some nations' democracies are thriving. What do the elections in Mexico, South Africa, and India portend? We will examine the election of these three leading Global South nations, the impact of dominant parties losing some support, and the general state of democracy in each nation. … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Votes counted in India, Mexico and South Africa – June 16, 2024 →