Int'l Politics & Economics

This workshop aims to bring together faculty from political science and economics departments at AALAC member institutions for a workshop on the economic history of states and societies. The workshop will include sessions discussing new research papers, a session on teaching in the liberal arts, and a keynote by Saumitra Jha (Stanford GSB).

David Leblang, Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, will present on the politics of the EU sovereign debt crisis. When the crisis began, it was widely understood that Germany’s response would dictate its ultimate resolution. If Germany chose to support bailouts, then it was possible that debt-saddled countries would be able to survive within the Eurozone. If not, it would likely result in a wave of financial sector failures, defaults and, possibly, exiting the Eurozone. Leblang argues that the decision to bailout Greece reflected domestic political calculations.

Lecture “Normalizing US-Cuban Relations: The Obama Legacy” by Peter Kornbluh, Senior Analyst at the National Security Archives. Kornbluh currently directs the Archive’s Cuba and Chile Documentation Projects, and formerly was co-director of the Iran-contra documentation project and director of the Archive’s project on U.S. policy toward Nicaragua. From 1990-1999, he taught at Columbia University. He has authored numerous articles and four books, including his latest —”Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana” (UNC Press, 2014).

Lecture by Ambassador Richard LeBaron, Atlantic Council. Ambassador LeBaron is a career diplomat with over thirty years experience abroad and in Washington. His most recent overseas posting was as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in London from August 2007 to August 2010. Ambassador LeBaron served as ahargé d’affaires in London from February to August 2009. Previous to his assignment to London, Ambassador LeBaron served as the US ambassador to Kuwait (2004 to 2007).

Informal gathering to allow International Politics and Economics Department faculty and majors to meet and converse over food and drinks.

Professor Pyle will be hosting an informal ice-cream-and-hot-chocolate-cum-advising event for all International Politics and Economics (IPE) majors (and potential majors). Topics to discuss will likely include questions relating to study abroad, preparatory steps for writing a thesis and much, much more.”

Professor Pyle invites IP&E majors to stop by for an ice cream break and take this opportunity to ask questions about courses, the major, etc.

International Politics and Economics (IP&E) senior thesis writers will present their research via poster presentations.

“Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay” —Oliver Goldsmith, “The Deserted Village” (1770) Inequality is on the rise in the contemporary global economy, both within prosperous economies and between developed and developing countries. Can democracy sustain itself while acquiescing in a growing gap between the world’s haves and have-nots? Does the American dream depend on a foundation of shared prosperity that is increasingly a historical artifact?

Roundtable Discussion: Peter LIndert, Paul Pierson, and David Rueda Chair: Will Pyle, Director, International Politics and Economics Event will also be “live streamed” to Crossroad’s Cafe. SPONSORS: International Politics and Economics Program, Jones Economics Enrichment Fund, Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs, Academic Enrichment Fund, the Departments of History, Political Science, and Religion, the Programs in European Studies and in Privilege & Poverty, the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, and Atwater, Brainerd, and Cook Commons