Jill Lepore
David Woods Kemper '41 Professor of American History

Harvard Thinks Big is a campus-wide event that brings together some of Harvard’s most renowned faculty members to speak to the school’s undergraduate community. Harvard Thinks Big borrows from the mold of the TED conferences— a collection of all-star Harvard professors each speak for ten minutes about something they are passionate about. The goal of the event is to expose undergraduates to a wide range of “big ideas” that they might not be exposed to otherwise.

The Meaning of Life - Jill Lepore (2012) | Harvard Thinks Big

Tim Shriver, Chairman and CEO of the Special Olympics, discusses the mission of the Special Olympics, and the challenges that come with pursuing that mission around the globe.

An Olympic Mission | PolicyCast

According to Stephen Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at HKS, both Democrats and Republicans have been misguided in their pursuit of liberal hegemony. What would better serve U.S. interests? How should the United States focus its military commitments? Listen to this conversation with Professor Walt as he addresses these questions and discusses his latest book, The Hell of Good Intentions: America’s Foreign Policy Elite and the Decline of U.S. Primacy (October 2018).

Wiener Conference Calls recognize Malcolm Wiener’s role in proposing and supporting this series as well as the Wiener Center for Social Policy at Harvard Kennedy School.

Transcript: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/wiener-conference-calls/stephen-walt

America’s Foreign Policy Elite and the Decline of U.S. Primacy with Stephen Walt

Nicholas Burns, former US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs and US Ambassador, now Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, discusses the attacks in Libya that claimed four American lives, the ongoing arab protests over a film produced in the United States and how the US government can both stand up for freedom of expression while rejecting religious intolerance.

Attacks in Libya and Protests Beyond: How the US Can Respond | PolicyCast

Alex Castellanos, a veteran Republican media strategist, discusses the impacts of political conventions, negative advertising and Super PACs on the 2012 Presidential race.

Conventions, Political Ads and Super PACs | PolicyCast

HKS Professor Alex Keyssar discusses the rationale behind voter identification laws and why they've become a hot button issue in the 2012 campaign cycle.

Voter ID or vote suppression? | PolicyCast

Mark McKinnon, former Chief Media Strategist for President George W. Bush, talks about the first 2012 U.S. Presidential debate and compares it with his experiences in the 2000 and 2004 campaigns. He takes us behind the scenes at debate prep and shows how important the post-debate news cycle really is.

The Presidential Debates: Beyond Spin Alley | PolicyCast

Anne-Marie Slaughter, who has served as Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department and Dean of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School, sparked a wave of discussion over work/life balance with her article "Why Women Still Can't Have It All" in the Atlantic Monthly this summer. This week she talks about her experience since publishing the article, how her thoughts on the subject have evolved and what the implications are for public policy.

Anne-Marie Slaughter on Women, Work, and Public Policy | PolicyCast

President Elbegdorj of Mongolia speaks about his past role in ushering Mongolia from communism to democracy and his current efforts to fight corruption and preserve the environment.

Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj on Democracy, Corruption and the Environment | PolicyCast

HKS Adjunct Lecturer on Public Policy Tim McCarthy discusses the Occupy protest movement, its impact on American politics and its relationship with the Tea Party. He also addresses the impact President Obama's reversal on marriage equality had on the marriage equality movement.

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Tim McCarthy on the Occupy Movement and Marriage Equality | PolicyCast

Kim Jong-un's New Year's Day address signaled a willingness to ease tensions with South Korea and focus on economic development, but can the West trust the message? North Korean specialist John Park discusses how South Korea, Japan and the United States should interpret Mr. Kim's remarks, especially in the context of his recent efforts to consolidate power within and without.

America’s Foreign Policy Elite and the Decline of U.S. Primacy with Stephen Walt

Harvard Kennedy School

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