Global Conversations

Mario Draghi’s recent instalment as the 59th Prime Minister of Italy makes him the 10th person to hold that position in the last 20 years, and the 7th in just the last decade. Why are Italy's leaders unable to retain support within their own governments and among supporters? And, what kind of political reforms could Italy implement to ensure that it has more stable governments, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic? In this episode of Global Conversations, Luca looks for answers to some of these questions - and many more - from Paolo Granata, an assistant Professor in Book and Media Studies at the University of Toronto.

In this special collaboration with Beyond the Headlines - a current affairs radio show produced by Master of Public Policy Students at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy - Regina sits down virtually with Hilary Lawson to talk about her recent feature contribution to Global Conversations' winter 2021 issue: "Nunavut’s Connectivity Gap Signals an Opportunity for China in the Arctic." They discuss, among other things, the technological and infrastructural gap between Canada and its arctic communities, how COVID-19 has widened that gap, and the geopolitical role of Canada's arctic regions.

In this episode, Sky seeks to understand the past, present and future of the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela with the help of Dr. Judith Teichman, Professor of Political Science and International Development at the University of Toronto. Prof. Teichman provides our listeners with a thorough overview of how this crisis has impacted the economy, migratory patterns and political landscape of Venezuela.

In this episode, Paige and Regina continue their conversation with Professor Ivan Kalmar on the rise of populism, how it started, where it has manifested, and how it's operationalized in the case of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

In this episode, Paige and Regina sit down with Professor Ivan Kalmar to discuss the rise of populism, how it started, where it has manifested, and how it's operationalized in the case of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. From religion to migration, Dr. Kalmar provides his insight on the positionality of Central Europe in the midst of this global wave.

In this episode, Global Affairs student Luca Bonifacio-Proietto invites Dr. Peter Loewen to discuss the results of the 2020 US Election, Donald Trump’s attacks on American democracy over the course of his presidency, and what the United States might look like under the leadership of Joe Biden. This episode was recorded prior to the insurrection of the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

In this episode, Sky sits down (virtually) with Dr. Graeme Moffat, a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the Chief Scientist and Vice President of Regulatory Affairs with Interaxon: a Toronto-based world leader in consumer neurotechnology. They discuss - among other things - brain-computer interfaces (or BCIs), mental health, Elon Musk, and Neuralink: a start-up working to develop a device which Musk has described as a "Fitbit in your skull," with the potential to cure paralysis, deafness, blindness, and other neurological ailments.

In this episode, Paige Smith talks to Sara Beiruiti and Christian Tramontin - the Munk students running the on-campus Science for Peacegroup at the University of Toronto - about their organization's ongoing engagement in the conversation about climate change and non-proliferation.

To learn more and connect with Science for Peace, check out https://scienceforpeace.ca or facebook.com/science4peace or the U of T Campus Group’s Instagram at @sfp.uoft.

In this episode, Paige Smith speaks to Professor Richard Sandbrook about his organization, Science for Peace, and how it is working to educate and conduct research in the fields of peace, sustainability and justice.

Be sure to check out Part 2 of this series to hear from the MGA students running the Science for Peace on-campus group at the University of Toronto.

To learn more and connect with Science for Peace, check out https://scienceforpeace.ca or facebook.com/science4peace.

In this episode, Shail Vin talks to Ellie O’Neill about how her social business – Powwater - is trying to help solve the global water crises by investing in local entrepreneurs across the developing world. They discuss Powwater’s fundraising model through sale of drink wear, as wells as the new digital marketplace the company is launching in Kenya. They also discuss the macroeconomic side of the global water crisis.