Julie Greene

Julie Greene, a Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of *The Canal Builders*, dives deep into the colossal endeavor of the Panama Canal. She discusses the project's numerous failures and the staggering human cost involved. Listeners learn about the health crises that plagued laborers, the pivotal U.S. political maneuvers that led to its revival, and the engineering decisions that shaped this man-made marvel. Greene highlights the enduring legacy of the canal in transforming global trade and its profound impact on the workforce.

In this engaging discussion, Professor Julie Greene, an expert in global labor and the history of the Panama Canal, unpacks its tumultuous past. She reveals how the canal, a 50-mile waterway of immense significance, faced centuries of failed attempts before the U.S. took on the challenge in the early 1900s. The podcast highlights the horrendous conditions faced by Caribbean workers, the scandalous political maneuvering by the U.S., and the canal's lasting impact on global trade and geopolitics, including contemporary debates over its legacy.

Julie Green, a Professor of American Studies, and Michelle Fleury, BBC's North America business correspondent, dive deep into the Panama Canal's storied past and its recent resurgence in U.S. political discourse. They discuss Trump’s ambitions to reclaim the canal, viewed as a strategic move against China's growing influence. Green highlights the engineering marvel behind the canal, while Fleury analyzes the economic implications and rising transit fees that are reshaping U.S.-Panama relations.