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Our American "Empire" with controversal Harvard historian Niall Ferguson -- on ThoughtCast!

From: Jenny Attiyeh
Length: 00:19:18

Contrarian historian Niall Ferguson says the US is an empire -- in denial! And that we'd better get our act together!! Read the full description.
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Piece Description

In some ways, the Scottish historian Niall Ferguson is the Russell Crowe of the academic world: charismatic, unconventional, and definitely controversial. He's also a big fan of the British Empire -- and wants the United States to follow in its footsteps. That means it's our job to form colonies in hot climates, for years on end. Are we up for this? While Niall would like that to be the case, he doesn't really think so, because, he says, we're an empire "in denial"... ThoughtCast's Jenny Attiyeh met with Ferguson in his office at Harvard University... ( Attiyeh is pronounced Uh-TEE-uh...) NOTE: This interview is available in two lengths -- 3:55 minutes and 15:26 minutes. Guess which one I think is better... Thanks!

Broadcast History

This interview was broadcast on the WGBH public radio affiliate WCAI/WNAN and on WCVE in Richmond, VA.

Timing and Cues

NOTE: This interview is available in two lengths -- 3:55 minutes and 15:26 minutes. Guess which one I think is better...
Thanks!
SUGGESTED HOST INTRO:
In some ways, the Scottish historian Niall Ferguson is the Russell Crowe of the academic world: charismatic, unconventional, and definitely controversial. He's also a big fan of the British Empire -- and wants the United States to follow in its footsteps. That means it's our job to form colonies in hot climates, for years on end.
Are we up for this? While Niall would like that to be the case, he doesn't really think so, because, he says, we're an empire "in denial"...
ThoughtCast's Jenny Attiyeh met with Ferguson in his office at Harvard University...
--- note: Attiyeh is pronounced Uh-TEE-uh... Thanks!

Additional Credits

Note - this piece was produced in July of 2008, but the PRX Ghost in the Machine insists that it was Jan. 08... It won't obey, I'm afraid...

Related Website

http://www.thoughtcast.org