Munk Members-Only Pod: Season 2, Episode 7

02/21/22 • 26 min

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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 focuses on two big stories in the news. First, Canada declares its very Canadian equivalent of martial law to try and bring the so-called “truckers” protests to an end in the nation’s capital. Is the Emergencies Act an appropriate response to the protests? What does its invocation say about our institutions, politics and the state of Canadian democracy? Second, how should we interpret Putin and Biden’s “war of words” over whether Russia is in fact going to invade Ukraine? What in fact are competing strategies playing out behind the screaming headlines?

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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: Modern universities are a threat to democratic freedoms

By now we’ve all heard of ‘cancellations’ across North American campuses – professors who face reputational and professional damage due to deviating opinions – or students who are forced to recant for behaviour deemed problematic by contemporary culture. A new institution of higher learning is hoping to change all that. The newly created University of Austin aims to prioritize and protect freedom of expression and intellectual diversity. Its supporters argue that universities are fundamentally broken. They currently operate like authoritarian regimes more interested in promoting left-wing intellectual orthodoxy as opposed to teaching students how to think for themselves and consider contrary viewpoints. They maintain that protecting young adults from ideas which offend them impedes their development and their understanding of basic democratic principles. Others argue that today’s hysteria about what is being taught in universities is overblown. A few examples of intolerance – amplified by the media and shared on social media – do not represent how these institutions actually operate, nor what takes place in the average university classroom. Furthermore, those railing against universities, including the founders of UATX, are part of a privileged class who are threatened by emerging voices that have traditionally been excluded from public institutions, universities included. Welcoming new voices into the universities has made these institutions more diverse, more democratic, and more free than ever before.

Arguing for the motion is Heather Heying and evolutionary biologist and founding trustee of the University of Austin Texas

Arguing against the motion is Aaron Hanlon an associate professor of English at Colby College

QUOTES:

HEATHER HEYING

“A democracy requires that people don't be censored, and that they don't be self-censored. If higher education isn't the place to explore wild disagreements, then I'm not sure what we have left.”

AARON HANLON

“If college is so stifling of speech, why are people coming out of it with greater appreciation for free expression than those who haven't had that opportunity?”

Sources:

CNN, Fox News, GB News, MSNBC

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

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To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Reza Dahya

Next Episode

Munk Members Pod, Ukraine Crisis Special Edition: Season 2, Episode 8

This 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 is a special edition of the Munk Member’s podcast focusing on the extraordinary series of developments in Eastern Europe that have culminated with Russian troops entering sovereign Ukrainian territory to occupy much of the East of the country. Janice and Rudyard discuss what could happen next in this high stakes crisis. Is this a stalemate in the making with Russia now in possession of two Ukrainian provinces and Europe willing and able to accept this outcome? Or, will Putin push for a full scale invasion? And, finally, what are the geopolitical, long-term ramifications of the last 72 hours for China? For the future of collective security in Europe? For the entire liberal international order?

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.