Trending Globally: Politics and Policy

Trending Globally: Politics and Policy

Author: The Watson School Language: English Episodes: 100
From the Watson School at Brown University, Trending Globally: Politics and Policy brings the insights of leading scholars and practitioners directly into your ears. This award-winning podcast digs into the complex forces shaping our world, moving beyond headlines to understand the deeper political and policy decisions behind them. Each conversation is designed to unpack a pressing issue-whether it's international trade tensions, public health crises, or social movements-with clarity and depth. You'll hear experts from the Watson Institute and beyond explain not just what's happening, but why it matters and how different policies might change the course of events. The discussions are grounded in rigorous research yet remain accessible, turning daunting global topics into understandable and engaging dialogue. For anyone curious about the mechanics of power, governance, and societal change, this series offers a vital resource. It’s a direct line to some of the sharpest minds in international and public affairs, all within a format that fits into your daily routine. Find Trending Globally: Politics and Policy and add it to your listening rotation for a consistently informative perspective on the stories that define our time.
Episodes
Cybersecurity is much more than a tech problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:33
You’ve seen it in the headlines, and maybe you’ve felt it in your own life: over the last few years, cyber attacks have become more frequent and more damaging. They can also vary widely in nature, ranging from minor nuis…
What do we mean when we talk about the ‘free market’? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:54
There are some ideas that inform so much of our thinking about the world that we tend to take them for granted. One example: the idea of the “free market.” Whether we’re talking about income inequality, climate change, o…
How domestic violence legislation has failed to keep women safe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:55
Every minute, roughly 20 people in America (mostly women and children) become victims of domestic violence. The effects of these crimes ripple out to families and communities in every corner of the United States. Yet, de…
How the Inflation Reduction Act will change our country (and our planet) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:12
Last year, the biggest piece of climate legislation in American history was signed into law. However, it wasn’t always touted as such; even its name - “The Inflation Reduction Act” – avoided the topic of climate.This put…
Can Democracy “Deliver the Goods”? Lessons from Kerala, India [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
If asked to think of parts of the world that have made impressive progress in social measures like literacy rates, life expectancy and infant mortality rates over the last century, you might first imagine a small, afflue…
The New Psychology of Nuclear Brinkmanship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:30
January 24th, 2023 marked an unsettling milestone: the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the ‘Doomsday Clock’ forward to 90 seconds to midnight – the closest it’s been to ‘Doomsday’ since the clock was established…
What Happens When a Prison Comes to Town [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:31
In 2007, Watson Professor John Eason moved with his family from Chicago to Forest City, Arkansas. At the time Eason was getting his PhD at the University of Chicago, and he moved to Forest City to learn about America’s m…
How to De-Escalate the War in Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
2022 is coming to a close, but one of the most consequential events of the last year continues unabated: the War in Ukraine. As we approach the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, experts and casual observers…