Inside the Strategy Room

181. Navigating geopolitics with Dr Richard Haass

Oct 27, 2023

Dr Richard Haass, veteran diplomat and respected scholar of international relations, discusses the challenges of navigating geopolitics today. Topics include the importance of civics education, implementing change, the significance of democracy, civic engagement, information hygiene, India's economic trajectory, and public education in the United States.

32:07

Creator website

Episode guests

Richard Haass

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Teaching civics in schools and promoting civic engagement can create informed and involved citizens.

CEOs should consider the complex political landscape and factor in geopolitical risks when making decisions.

Deep dives

Importance of Civics Education in Schools

Dr. Richard Haas emphasizes the need to make civics a central part of the school curriculum, as many Americans graduate without understanding the value of democracy or their responsibilities as citizens. He advocates for teaching foundational documents like the Constitution and the Federalist Papers, as well as promoting civic engagement and public service to create informed and involved citizens.

Introduction

2min

Global challenges, implementing change, and the importance of democracy

12min

The Importance of Civic Education and Public Service

5min

The Importance of Information Hygiene and Teaching Information Literacy

2min

India's Economic Trajectory and Education in the United States

11min

Dr Richard Haass shares his perspectives on how business leaders can navigate today’s complex geopolitical landscape.

Richard is a veteran diplomat and respected scholar of international relations. He has deep experience in geopolitics. His diplomatic service includes counseling Colin Powell in talks in Afghanistan and three years as the US envoy on peace negotiations in Northern Ireland. Richard led the United States Council on Foreign Relations for twenty years and is now president emeritus. He has taken on a new role as senior counselor at the investment banking advisory firm Centerview Partners. Richard has also written 17 books and in his most recent, Bill of Obligations: Ten Habits of Good Citizens, he makes the case that for American democracy to survive and hopefully thrive, the very idea of citizenship must be revised and expanded.

Related insights:

Richard’s book: Bill of Obligations: Ten Habits of Good Citizens

Geopolitical resilience: The new board imperative

How three global companies navigate geopolitical risk to build resilience

Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy.

Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com

Discover our latest insights and join more than 92,000 influential professionals who are part of our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/

See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information