Munk Members-Only Pod: Episode 13

04/02/21 • 15 min

This is a sample of the Munk Members-Only Podcast. The program provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

This week’s Munk Members Podcast focus on three stories in the news this week: the third wave of COVID-19 hits across the world – was the latest round of lockdowns inevitable or were there decisions missed and made that now have April 2021 looking all too similar to April 2020?; Brazil is plunged into its latest political crisis as the pandemic ravages Latin America’s once dominant economy – are populists like Bolsonaro on the way out as their mismanagement of COVID-19 crisis ushers in a new wave of political instability?; and Russian democracy campaigner Alexei Navalny health is rapidly deteriorating in prison – is there anything the West can do to help to nudge Russia away from Putinism and towards democracy?

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If you like what the Munk Debates is all about consider becoming a Supporting Member.

For as little as $9.99 monthly you receive unlimited access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, monthly newsletter, ticketing privileges at our live and online events and a charitable tax receipt (for Canadian residents).

To explore you Munk Membership options visit www.munkdebates.com/membership.

This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue.

More information at www.munkdebates.com.

If you like what the Munk Debates is all about consider becoming a Supporting Member.

To explore you Munk Membership options visit www.munkdebates.com/membership.

This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue.

More information at www.munkdebates.com.

Previous Episode

Be it resolved: There is no credible military defence of Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression

China’s takeover of Hong Kong, and its increasingly aggressive military manoeuvres in the South China Sea have many wondering whether Taiwan is the country’s next “reunification” target. While politicians debate whether it’s in the West’s interest to step in, strategists say the more pertinent question is whether a military defence of Taiwan is even possible. China now boasts the world’s largest army, conventional air force, coast guard, and navy. These vast military resources provide Beijing with the capacity to overwhelm Taiwan through a combined amphibious assault using nuclear attack submarines, destroyers, and aircraft carriers, and an airborne assault using strategic stealth bombers, fighters, and helicopters. Some experts argue that it is wishful to think that the US can defend Taiwan militarily from half a world away unless there is a radical reset of American military strategy and posture towards China. But others contend that despite China’s clear military superiority over Taiwan, the island nation enjoys many advantages when it comes to fending off an invasion. Taiwan’s unique geography and navigational challenges of the Taiwan Strait mean that an amphibious invasion is a daunting task even for a navy the size of China’s. The country has one of the best early warning systems in the world, and combat aircraft sequestered in mountain locations across the island that could repulse a large scale airborne assault. The almost two million Taiwanese who are trained to defend the country - guerrilla tactics included - vastly outnumber any possible Chinese invasion force. Add in US aircraft carriers, ballistic missiles, armed drones, and high tech minefields, and a Chinese military conquest of Taiwan could end up handing Beijing its biggest military defeat since WWII.

Arguing for the motion is Oriana Skylar Mastro. She’s a Center Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. She is the author of "The Costs of Conversation: Obstacles to Peace Talks in Wartime".

Arguing against the motion is Michael Beckley, Associate Professor at Tufts University near Boston, and also a Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the author of "U nrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower".

Sources: Formosa TV English News, CNA, Arirang News, ABC News, Senator Tom Cotton, BBC News, US GEGE, CGTN, France 24, RTI

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.

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Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.

This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/

Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions

Senior Producer: Christina Campbell

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

Next Episode

Be it resolved: We are not alone in the universe

K2-18 B, an earth-like planet with water vapour is spotted 111 light years away. An interstellar object christened Oumuamua flies through our solar system exhibiting characteristics never seen before in an asteroid. Scientists discover intriguing radio wave emissions coming from Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the sun. These are just some of a growing number of observations that have scientists excited about proving the existence of alien life. Statistical probabilities support this view - the Kepler Space Telescope has identified billions of planets theoretically capable of supporting life. To meaningfully advance the science of astrobiology humanity needs to abandon the longstanding and pervasive view that we are alone in the universe. Skeptics say that given the immense age of the observable universe there should be some evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, but instead all we hear and see is silence. These same scientists argue that the ability of a planet to make the jump from inanimate matter to life - known as abiogenesis - and then to stay alive and become intelligent - requires highly unlikely transitions. Earth and humans are special. Our existence represents an incredible fluke and the statistical probability of it happening elsewhere is all but impossible. In sum, we are alone.

Arguing for the motion is Avi Loeb, Astronomer and Professor of Science at Harvard University and a New York times bestselling author, most recently of Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.

Arguing against the motion is Stephen Webb, a physicist at the University of Portsmouth, author of the best seller Where is Everybody, and presenter of the recent top ten TED Talk Where are all the Aliens?

Sources: Sky News Australia, Fox 35 Orlando, KSAT 12, Business Insider, PBS Space Time, World News, CBSDFW, MoleClues TV