The World Unpacked

Some of the fastest-changing technology is occurring in cyberspace, often outpacing existing norms and ethics around the use of such technology. Autonomous weapons are already a reality, but defense departments and politicians are only now beginning to grapple with how to use them. Before long, can we expect to see a weapon system that has no human at all in the decision chain? Tim Maurer, co-director of Carnegie Endowment’s Cyber Policy Initiative and David Brumley, director of Carnegie Mellon’s Security & Privacy Institute, sat down with Tom Carver to discuss these important issues.

The world of oils is becoming increasingly complex. Compared to a decade ago when there were very few types of oils, new technologies such as fracking have allowed around 300 new oils to come on-stream. Figuring out which oils are the most carbon intensive – depending also on how they are refined and used – has become very complex but also very important for investors and regulatory agencies. Carnegie Endowment, in conjunction with Stanford University, and the University of Calgary has developed a first-of-its-kind Oil-Climate Index (OCI) to compare these resources. Tom Carver sat down with Debbie Gordon, the head of Carnegie’s Energy and Climate program to discuss the ways the OCI describes the new world of unconventional oils.

The recent attacks in Kashmir, which left 18 Indian soldiers dead, has put the spotlight back on the tense and troubled relationship between India and Pakistan. Political friction between the two countries—both with nuclear capabilities—is high, and each terror attack that can seemingly trace its roots to Pakistan increases calls in India for military action against its neighbor. George Perkovich and Toby Dalton have just released a new book called Not War, Not Peace: Motivating Pakistan to Prevent Cross-Border Terrorism which discusses these very issues; they sat down with Tom Carver to discuss it.

Douglas H. Paal discusses key issues for the 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, with Yukon Huang, senior associate in Carnegie’s Asia program.

Karim Sadjadpour, an expert on Iranian politics, discusses the outcome of Iran’s February 2016 parliamentary elections and the near-term ramifications on domestic politics in the theocratic state.