Book Lecture: Pillars for Freedom

Book Lecture: Pillars for Freedom

Author: The Institute of World Politics February 1, 2024 Duration: 1:02:04
About the Lecture If America’s center, its citizenry, is not strong, our nation cannot lead internationally: If the United States falters, despotic regimes, led by the People’s Republic of China, will fill the void created, heralding ruin. America can only succeed in this quest if it works most diligently with established as well as new allies. This requires that a new global alliance for freedom be built, which links together established and nascent alliance structures that venerate liberty and the primacy of the individual. To act boldly, America must marshal an integrated strategy that spans the entirety of hard, sharp, and soft power in order to protect freedom, security, and prosperity in the face of unprecedented threats, which may be recognized, emergent, or liminal in nature. The building blocks for this renaissance in global leadership already exist but are only partially assembled. To erect this structure, timeless values must be fused with emerging technologies and geopolitical realities, to induce needed change. Book Synopsis America’s future will be unlimited if we return to wholesomeness, gratitude, and vision, for we must rise as one people, or we shall fall as many. Pillars for Freedom charts a brave path forward to imbue America with strength, economic security, and virtue. The American Experiment is unique in history in its conception of liberty, which is freedom from oppressive government and its yoke. We are a nation that rests on the rule of law and not the imperfections present in all humankind. Today, the bureaucratic state, which controls our government, relies on diversion, untrue narratives, and misdirection to cover incompetence and gross misdeeds. This cannot be our country’s standard. The maintenance of liberty rests upon our faith, our Founding, our families, and our commitments to uncorrupted education and science. Pillars for Freedom describes in consummate detail the powers America must reconstitute and wield in order to reclaim our destiny. Through marshaling our priceless heritage, we can rebuild our military, secure economic strength, and reassert energy dominance, as we erect our civil society. The book describes the actions America must take in all these spheres. Purchase the book here About the Speaker Richard B. Levine served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Technology Transfer and Security Assistance. He directed the Department of the Navy’s organization in these matters during the Reagan administration. Richard previously served on the National Security Council staff, in the White House, as Director, International Economic Affairs, and as Director, Policy Development. Richard holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, with honors, from the Johns Hopkins University. Richard is the recipient of two presidential letters of commendation and the Department of the Navy’s highest honor given to a civilian employee, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award. Richard serves as a senior advisor to former government officials, including Michael R. Pompeo, on matters involving national security, strategy, and international economics. He is the author of the new book, Pillars for Freedom. He is the coauthor, with Vice Admiral John M. Poindexter and Robert C. McFarlane, of America’s #1 Adversary. Richard lives in North Carolina with his wife, Terry.

Tune into The Institute of World Politics for a direct line to the conversations shaping our world. This isn't a series of lectures, but a collection of dialogues and talks from a unique graduate school focused squarely on national security, statecraft, and international affairs. Each episode brings you the voices of seasoned practitioners, scholars, and policy experts who grapple with complex global realities. You'll hear in-depth discussions on the ethical dimensions of foreign policy, the foundations of the American political economy, and the enduring principles of the Western moral tradition as they apply to contemporary challenges. The podcast serves as an audio extension of the Institute's mission to cultivate thoughtful leaders, offering listeners a chance to engage with ideas that inform real-world decision-making. It's an opportunity to sit in on nuanced conversations that move beyond headlines, providing context and depth on how nations interact, compete, and cooperate. Remember, the perspectives shared by guest speakers are their own, fostering a rich diversity of thought on critical issues. For anyone curious about the forces driving international events and the art of principled leadership, this podcast provides a substantive and compelling resource.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Institute of World Politics
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