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Consequential


Consequential is a narrative podcast about public policy, its impacts, and its potential for building a better future. Season 5 premieres Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

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S5 E4: Putin's War of Aggression, One Year In

HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT WITH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

In the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a cohort of young Westerners flocked to Moscow, including many idealists who were eager to support the evolution of a democratic Russia.

Today, Russia is on the other side of the looking-glass, nearing the one-year anniversary of the unprovoked invasion of its neighbor, Ukraine. Russian citizens now find themselves conscripted into a military accused of human rights crimes on the warfront. And at home, the Kremlin's propaganda, brutality, and corruption abound. 

If there is a bright, shining light of democracy, Russia is a chilling place far from it.  

Today on the show: How did this happen? And what additional policy response is needed as Russia and Ukraine enter their second year of this waking nightmare?

Our guest is Sarah Mendelson, a former UN Ambassador, an expert in global development, human rights, and foreign policy, and the head of Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College in Washington, DC. She was also once one of those up-and-comers who moved to Moscow in the early 90s. 

Mendelson reminds us that while the world is rightfully focused on protecting Ukrainians, Vladimir Putin's war has also made victims of Russians, and those who advocate on their behalf. 

This episode featured recordings from the documentary film, "Putin Forever?," courtesy Kirill Nenashev.

Read the full transcript.

 

More FROM our guest

“Amb. Sarah Mendelson On Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine” (Heinz College, 2022)

“The Putin Problem: Ambassador Mendelson Talks Policy, Propaganda, and Russian Politics” (Heinz College, 2022)

“Dreaming of a Democratic Russia” (The American Scholar, 2007)

“Don’t Forget About The Rest of Ukraine” (CNN, 2014) 

“Responding to Putin’s Plan Post-Crimea” (CSIS, 2014) 

“Human Rights in Russia” (CSIS, 2022) 

“Reversing the Tide: Towards a New US Strategy to Support Democracy and Counter Authoritarianism” (Freedom House, 2021)

 

SEASON 5: WELCOME BACK, CONGRESS. … NOW WHAT?


 

 

Season 4: Infrastructure


What are the long-term impacts of targeted investments in our physical and human infrastructure? Beginning November 24, Season 4 of the Consequential Podcast will examine how policymaking in such areas as public transportation, energy, and workforce development will affect our future.

 

Season 3: Knowledge Is Power


In Season 3 of Consequential, hosts Eugene and Lauren will be exploring knowledge production in the Information Age. This season will examine how AI and machine learning will impact research practices and data collection, as well as the development and dissemination of knowledge. Topics will include combatting disinformation, the ethics of crowdsourced research, and representation in open source software development.

Season 2: COVID-19 Mini-Season


In light of recent developments related to COVID-19, we have decided to push back our second season to focus instead on what we can learn from the coronavirus in terms of technology and society. In our Consequential mini-season, we will cover the use of large-scale public health data, remote education, and the future of work.

Season 1: The human side of technological change


Our future isn’t a coin flip. In an age of artificial intelligence and increasing automation, Consequential looks at our digital future and discusses what’s significant, what’s coming and what we can do about it. Over the course of our first season, hosts Lauren Prastien and Eugene Leventhal will unpack the narrative of technological change in conversation with leading technologists, ethicists, economists and everything in between.

Episode Transcripts


Click the episode title below to access the full transcript.

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