Violent Saviors: The West’s Conquest of the Rest

Violent Saviors: The West’s Conquest of the Rest

Author: Cato Institute December 12, 2025 Duration: 1:32:23
In the name of material progress, the West has sought to develop and frequently exploit the less-developed “rest.” William Easterly will draw from 400 years of history—ranging from the conquest of the Americas and the Atlantic slave trade to colonization in Asia and Africa and the invention of the Third World—to show how the West has justified different forms of intervention in the societies it has purportedly intended to improve. Easterly will explain why development based on consent, choice, and human agency is superior to an approach that neglects dignity, focuses narrowly on material improvements, and too often justifies various degrees of coercion. Deirdre McCloskey will comment on the fundamental role of freedom in development.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Cato Events Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:48
Few people exerted as profound an influence on the postwar conservative movement and the “fusionist” project of attempting to align libertarians with traditional conservatives on issues of shared interest as William F. B…
The Military Balance in the Indo-Pacific, with and Without Taiwan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:05
The prospect of a Chinese invasion and conquest of Taiwan is a major focus of US–China security competition. Apart from its political, economic, and moral consequences, some US experts argue that Chinese control of Taiwa…
Panel 1: Transitioning to a Flat-Benefit System [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:04
Join us for the official launch of Reimagining Social Security: Global Lessons for Retirement Policy Changes by Romina Boccia and Ivane Nachkebia, a timely and urgent new book in which the authors rethink how America can…
Panel 2: Slowing the Growth of Social Security [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:13
Join us for the official launch of Reimagining Social Security: Global Lessons for Retirement Policy Changes by Romina Boccia and Ivane Nachkebia, a timely and urgent new book in which the authors rethink how America can…
Panel 3: Enhancing Private Retirement Savings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:24
Join us for the official launch of Reimagining Social Security: Global Lessons for Retirement Policy Changes by Romina Boccia and Ivane Nachkebia, a timely and urgent new book in which the authors rethink how America can…
Closing: Cato Social Security Model Presentation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:04
Join us for the official launch of Reimagining Social Security: Global Lessons for Retirement Policy Changes by Romina Boccia and Ivane Nachkebia, a timely and urgent new book in which the authors rethink how America can…