Converging Dialogues

Wendy Pearlman discusses Syrian diaspora stories, protests, conflict, concept of home, and cultural preservation. They explore leaving Syria, the future of the diaspora, and rebuilding elsewhere. She highlights the resilience and challenges faced by Syrians in different cultural contexts.

Eugene Rogan, an expert on Middle Eastern history, discusses the 1860 Damascus massacre with Xavier Bonilla. They cover Egypt-Ottoman relations, Tanzimat reforms, Druze-Marinite tensions, and al-Qadir's heroic acts. They also explore the aftermath, the concept of genocide, and the impact on the modern Middle East.

Legal scholar Maxwell Stearns discusses potential constitutional reforms, third-party impact, positive vs. negative rights, gerrymandering, Germany's electoral system, and challenges with ranked choice voting in a dialogue with Xavier Bonilla.

Aziz Rana discusses failures of the US Constitution across various eras, the positive aspects of the Constitution, empire settlerism, Socialist Party of America, WWI, the New Deal, justices' authority, originalism, Black Panther movement, and the future of the Constitution.

Lynn Tesser, Associate Professor of International Relations, discusses moving from empire to nation states, rebellions in the Americas, Greek revolution by elites, post-Ottoman Balkans and Anatolia, and empire today. They talk about nationalism, state formation, and great power politics amidst diverse regions and ethnic dynamics.

Batja Mesquita, a social psychologist, discusses how culture influences emotions with Xavier Bonilla. They cover the distinctions between emotions, universalist vs. social constructionist theories, expression of emotions, shame across cultures, and emotional acculturation to new environments. Mesquita's expertise in cultural psychology sheds light on diverse emotional experiences and the impact of cultural norms on emotional expressions.

Natalie Foster discusses economic guarantees for Americans, emphasizing government involvement and community organizing. Topics include FDR's policies, neoliberalism, bank bailouts, populism, ACA impact, and the future of economic stability.

Tricia Rose discusses systemic racism in the US, defining metaracism, exploring individuals vs. institutions, systems theory, colorblindness, and the evolution of racism. She emphasizes the need to understand nuanced oppression and hidden biases to address systemic disparities effectively.

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Robert Merry about the Presidency of James Polk. They give and overview of James Polk, influence of Andrew Jackson, Polk’s personality and trajectory, and the four major issues he tackled as President. They discuss Polk’s expansionism, the Mexican-American War, Polk’s one-term deal, legacy, and many more topics. Robert W. Merry has an extensive background as a reporter, newsroom manager, and publishing CEO. He has both his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Journalism. Currently, he is the author of numerous books on American history and foreign policy, including, A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War, and the Conquest of the American Continent. Website: https://www.robertwmerry.com/ Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

Professor Alex Edmans discusses misinformation, confirmation bias, data interpretation, and ethical considerations in statistics. They explore the 10,000 hours rule, correlation vs. causation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Emphasizing critical thinking and avoiding biases in research and decision-making.