Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

See the Conversations with History Blog See a webcast of this interview: Jervis

This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a Conversation with History. I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today is Robert Jervis, who is the Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics at Columbia University. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a past president of the American Political Science Association. Professor Jervis' publications include Perception and Misperception in International Politics, System Effects: Complexity in Political Life and Social Life, The Illogic of American Nuclear Strategy, and most recently American Foreign Policy in a New Era.

1. Background ... New York ... political discussions ... world events ... Oberlin ... Berkeley
2. Doing International Relations Theory ... fascination with international politics ... moving between the particular and the general ... nuclear strategy ... misperceptions ... conclusions relevant to Iraq and WMD ... realism
3. The Consequences of 9/11 ... George Bush is changed ... America runs wild ... no balancer ... Bush administration candid about the reality of unchecked power ... pre-emption ... hegemonic power is unconstrained in the statement of its interests ... potential for fear increases ... impact of American political tradition ... terrorism and nuclear weapons
4. The Bush Administration's Response to 9/11 ... a Realist's evaluation ... the Bush doctrine ... democratization as a goal ... problem of information and intelligence ... what did Bush administration believe about Iraq? ... problem of public support

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