The conference fee is $1,575. You may take every class — i.e., there will be no overlap as only one class will be going on at a time. Classes are only offered when we’re at sea.
The diverse peoples, histories, and resources of South America gave rise to rich potential for the continent. Often this potential has not translated into benefit for South America’s peoples — until now. Learn how new and old agendas, political continuity, economic convergence and globalization promise to forge a new reality on the ground.
China’s need for resources and Brazil’s endowments may seem like a problem and a solution. But are there more questions than answers? Mr. Cohen, seasoned in Brazil’s ways and a keen China watcher, will discuss the many moving parts of the pragmatic relationship of these dynamos.
Here are the slides (mb file).
The Atlantic slave trade and treatment of Native Americans are core elements of the histories and identities of the nations of the Americas. We’ll take a look at the contemporary dynamics of race and power in the Americas through the lens of the Obama presidency.
Roger Cohen examines the commonalities, contrasts and dualities of authorship and journalism in an intimate discussion of the art and realities of the two crafts.
Opinion: A Journalists Actual Responsibility (0.5mb file).
Journalism: Where Hope Has Withered (0.1mb file).
Book chapter: Rena (0.5mb file).
The relationship between the United States and Latin America today is complicated by a variety of forces. We’ll focus on the key issues, such as the drug trade, the future of energy and the challenge of development and democracy. We’ll investigative the rise of Brazil, which has affected the rest of Latin America in various ways. We’ll also look at the influence a rising China has on the interactions between North America and South and Central America. Finally, we’ll discuss three ideological camps and their differing goals for future relations.
Here are the slides (15mb file).
Chile today features probably the most successful economy in Latin America, perhaps the only one to qualify as an advanced capitalist economy. How did Chile do it? We will examine several possible competing explanations, including the influence of dictators on the country’s history, the impact of social democrats and plain good luck.
Here are the slides (5mb file).
When it comes to human rights, Argentina went from an international pariah in the 1970s to an international champion today. Some of the most progressive human rights laws, including reparations for victims of the dictatorship and same-sex marriage, can be found in Argentina. At the same time, some of the most serious abuses of democratic institutions, including harsh treatment of the press, also exist there. Welcome to Peronism today, the Argentine political movement that stems from former President Juan Domingo Perón and his wife Eva Perón.
Here are the slides (5mb file).
Governed by a leftist coalition, Uruguay boasts one of the most successful economies in Latin America, one of the most stable democracies in the region, and one of the closest friendships with the United States. How did this tiny country achieve so much? We’ll investigate the various forces that led Uruguay to where it is today.
Here are the slides (5mb file).
Perhaps the most important geopolitical change in South America since the mid 2000s is the rise in international stature of Brazil. Its neighbors are not sure they like it, and the United States is waiting to see. We’ll discuss how this change might influence the future relationships between the United States and various Latin American countries, including the new powerhouse itself.
Here are the slides (5mb file).
After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, no event is more controversial in Latin America’s post- World War II history than the short-lived government of Socialist Salvador Allende in Chile. Why was this regime so polarizing, and why does it continue to haunt Latin American politics to this day?
Here are the slides (5mb file).
Take a tour of the innovations that dramatically speeded up communication during the 19th century, with an emphasis on the invention of the electric telegraph in 1844. The laying down of transatlantic cable in 1867 connected Europe and North America by telegraph for the first time. We’ll compare this breakthrough with the communication revolution of our own day represented by the Internet. We’ll also look at the revolutionary improvements in transportation represented by steamboats and railroads, highlighting the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. Finally, we’ll discuss the rise of newspapers and their importance in creating mass politics.
Here are the slides (26mb file).
This war is not at all well remembered, even though its consequences were momentous. Texas had been an independent republic since its successful revolution against Mexico in 1836. The United States annexed the Republic of Texas in 1845, with the consent of the people and the government of Texas. But northern public opinion was not enthusiastic about incorporating Texas into the United States at the time, because slavery was legal in Texas. The boundary between Texas and Mexico remained under dispute. Then, President James Polk sent an army into the disputed area, provoking war with Mexico. The treaty that ended this war ceded vast area to the U.S., though not as much as Polk had hoped. We’ll investigate evidence that Polk wanted the war as a means to add California to the list of U.S. acquisitions from Mexico, and make interesting comparisons between Polk and later presidents who wanted other wars.
What do we mean by a “self-made man”? Nowadays we usually mean a successful entrepreneur who started from scratch. But in the 19th century a different, more comprehensive conception of “self-made” was advanced. “Self-made” meant self-educated and self-disciplined. The emphasis was not on making money but on constructing a morally responsible self. We’ll look to the biography of Abraham Lincoln to show how he pursued the objective of being “self-made.” His criticism of President Polk provoking the war with Mexico illustrates his strong moral sense.
Learn about the greatest hits of American History through its most important documents: The Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. We’ll discuss the historical context for each of these documents, the stories of their creation and the impacts they made. Through discussion, we’ll come to understand the relationships between these game-changing works.
Many of our daily reading habits have shifted significantly over the past few years, given the rise of new media and the changes to the landscape of journalism lately. Learn what top financial and business journalists at the New York Times read, and how they filter the fire hose of news every day to get the most valuable information. Get a taste of the daily reading habits of a variety of powerhouse New York Times journalists now, contrasted with what they were reading five years ago, and even a year ago. We’ll discuss how to sort what you need from what you don’t, and how evolving technology has affected your options.
Here are the slides (16mb file).
Business journalism was once a backwater; at most places, it’s where over-the-hill reporters were sent to serve out their final years. Today, it is one of the hottest beats in journalism. Why? Because the world has changed. Globalization, deregulation of finance, growing participation in the stock markets, rising budget deficits in the United States and elsewhere are all part of this change. Business affects people’s lives in more direct ways than it did in the past (40 years ago, few people had to worry about losing their jobs to Japanese or Chinese imports). These trends will likely continue. Join Lawrence Ingrassia to find out how business journalism must evolve to meet the public’s information needs.
Here are the slides (12mb file).
The New York Times’ business reporting staff won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting in 2013 for a series on the iEconomy. It was awarded for the newspaper’s “penetrating look into business practices by Apple and other technology companies that illustrates the darker side of a changing global economy for workers and consumers.” Look behind the scenes as Lawrence Ingrassia lays out the origin of the idea for the series, how it evolved, how specific topics were chosen for parts of the series and how it was reported and edited.
Here are the slides (7mb file).
Here is the iEconomy story (nine parts) (9mb file).
While the New York Times’ core mission remains the same — publish illuminating journalism that shines a spotlight on important and interesting topics — The Times is a much different newspaper than it was a decade ago. Change has been forced on the newspaper industry. The Times has both coped with and now embraced change, but that wasn’t easy in the early going. Learn how The Times went from playing defense to being a leader in digital journalism. Lawrence Ingrassia will discuss how The Times pulled this off — and the necessity of ongoing reinvention.
Here are the slides (7mb file).
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