Law

Samantha Power: Chasing the Flame

Samantha Power
2008

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Harvard Professor Samantha Power for a discussion of her new book, "Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira De Mello and the Fight to Save the World." The conversation focuses on the lessons of De Mello's life for understanding the challenges confronting world order in the 21st century.

http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people8/Power/power-con0.html

Key Words: Law, United Nations, Diplomacy, Humanitarian...

Ronald M. George: The Judiciary

Ronald M. George
2011

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Ronald M. George, former Chief Justice of California. Reflecting on his years of public service, Chief Justice George traces his intellectual journey and offers his thoughts on
the qualities of thinking and temperament that characterize judicial deliberation. He argues for both decisional independence and institutional independence if the judiciary is to perform its role in a democracy as a co-equal branch of government. Recalling his efforts as head of the California Judicial Council to reorganize the state court system, he identifies...

Richard J. Goldstone: The Rule of Law

Richard J. Goldstone
2011

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Justice Richard J. Goldstone for a discussion of the role of law in transitions to democracy, in the prosecution of war crimes, and in the enforcement of the rules of war in
the post 911 environment. Drawing on his experiences in South Africa, on his work as special prosecutor for the Bosnia and Rwanda tribunals, and for his leadership of the UN commission on the Gaza War, Justice Goldstone discusses the distinctive features of the South African transition, the ground breaking work that facilitated a breakthrough in the Bosnia conflict, and the...

Professor Paul Butler: Intellectual Journey from Reform to Activism

Professor Paul Butler
2019

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor Paul Butler, Albert Brick Professor Law at Georgetown, for a discussion of the law and blacks. Topics covered include formative experiences including influence of his parents, his upbringing in Chicago, his education, and his work as a prosecutor. Emphasis is on how and why his ideas about reform and activism evolved as he came to understand black confrontation with the law.

Key Words: Law, Law and Inequality, Activism and the Law, Black Lives

Phillip Bobbitt: Terror and Consent: The Wars of the 21st Century

Phillip Bobbitt
2008

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Philip Bobbitt, Herbert Wechsler Professor of Jurisprudence, Columbia University. Focusing on the transformation of the state and warfare, Professor Bobbitt offers a new interpretation of terrorism. He explains the emergence of the market state, compares it to the nation state, analyzes the unique features of warfare in the new century, and brings into focus the distinctive qualities of today's terrorism. Professor Bobbitt also describes the challenges posed for national security and offers an agenda for changes that integrate strategy and law....

Philippe Sands: The Rumsfeld Memo and the Betrayal of American Values

Philippe Sands
2008

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes international lawyer Philippe Sands for a discussion of Bush administration policies regarding international law. Sands analyzes the evolution of international law from the Atlantic Charter to the present drawing on research in his two books, "Lawless World," and "Torture Team: Rumsfeld's Memo and the Betrayal of American Values." He concludes that war crimes may have been committed after 911 and that key players in the administration are subject to charges not only in the court of world opinion but also in tribunals invoking universal...

Philip C. Bobbitt: Machiavelli

Philip C. Bobbitt
2014

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Columbia Law Professor Philip C. Bobbitt for a discussion of his new book on Machiavelli, "The Garments of Court and Palace." Focusing on "The Prince" and the "Discourses on Livy," Bobbitt argues that Machiavelli, steeped in the political turmoil of his time and drawing on his experiences as a diplomat and constitution draftsman, wrote an insightful and prophetic analysis of the transition from feudal city state to embryonic nation state.

Key Words: Law, Theory, Nation State, Machiavelli

Philip Bobbit: Law, Strategy and the Transformation of the State

Philip Bobbit
2011

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Philip Bobbitt for a discussion of his book, The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History. Bobbitt explores the dynamic relationship between constitution and strategy and its consequences for the transformation of the state. In modern history, epochal wars are fought and then settlements reached that legitimate changes in the structure and form of the state, changes that emerged in the course of the conflict. Focusing on the case of twentieth century conflicts, Bobbitt explains how in this epoch--which lasted from the First World...

Peter Neufeld: A Passion for Justice

Peter Neufeld
2001

Leading criminal attorney Peter Neufeld joins host Harry Kreisler to discuss the criminal justice system in America and his new book, Actual Innocence: Five Days to Execution and Other Dispatches from the Wrongly Convicted.

http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people/Neufeld/neufeld-con0.html

Key Words: Law, Human Rights, Innocence Project

Oronto Douglas: The BP Disaster: Lessons from the Niger Delta

Oronto Douglas
2010

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Oronto Douglas for a discussion of the impact of the major oil companies on the ecology and politics of Nigeria. Drawing on his experience as a native of the Niger Delta and a leader of the environmental movement there, Oronto Douglas traces the struggle for environmental justice in his homeland. He analyzes the problems facing the new President of Nigeria and discusses his own role in the new administration. Oronto Douglas then analyzes the BP disaster in the American Gulf Coast and compares that tragedy to the experience of the Niger Delta. He...