Meritocracy and Military Service: Keys to Social Mobility

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Harvard's admission criteria used to be based on reading scholarly works, fostering connections with scholarly individuals, and military service experience during World War II, leading to social mobility regardless of elite background. This system allowed individuals from educated backgrounds, not necessarily elite, to rise to high positions in the government, as seen with someone who rose to a position close to the head of state for eight years under two presidents, including Ford. However, these mechanisms are now considered broken in the United States, with a call for Harvard's replacement rather than mere critique, highlighting the difficulty of creating effective systems.

On today's episode of Live Players, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss the legacy of Henry Kissinger. They define Kissinger's unique brand of international relations and evaluate his career through the lens of the current culture wars.

Live Players is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co

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Check out Erik's new show Request for Startups featuring a rotating cast of founders and investors (including Dan) sharing their requests for startups they want to exist in the world, and also their stories of navigating the idea maze in different sectors so founders don’t have to reinvent the wheel anymore. The first episode is out now - we over better dating apps, references as a service, and WeWork for productivity

Watch and Subscribe on Substack: https://requestforstartups.substack.com/p/receipt-based-dating-reference-checks
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/request-for-startups-with-erik-torenberg/id1728659822
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/739L1LR32QI2XyoZlRh5nv

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We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

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LINKS:

Samo’s Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

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X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg

@samoburja

@turpentinemedia

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:54) Reflections on Kissinger's Career and Influence

(02:15) Understanding Kissinger's Approach to World Order

(06:43) Kissinger's Realism: A Deeper Look

(09:30) Kissinger's Legacy and Influence on Modern Diplomacy

(09:57) Applying Kissinger's Lens to Modern Foreign Policy

(18:35) Sponsor: Shopify

(23:44) Meritocracy

(29:00) The Role of Academia in Shaping Statesmen

(29:50) Simple Credos

(32:00) The Nixon Tapes: A Historical Perspective

(33:00) The Role of Meritocracy and Sameness in American System

(34:00) The Struggles of India and the Influence of Lee Kuan Yew, former PM of Singapore

(35:15) Critiques of Kissinger's Policies

(42:45) The Blunt Realities of War and Politics

(50:00) The Influence of Kissinger on Modern Foreign Policy

This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.