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The Anatomy of a Political Decision
What makes a political decision consequential? In this program, Sir Christopher Clark, Professor of History at the University of Cambridge, approaches that question by looking beyond individual leaders to the systems, institutions, and pressures that shape their choices. Clark begins with an 1887 letter from Emperor Wilhelm I to Otto von Bismarck, marking the 25th…
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From Fire to Freezers: The History of Eating
From mammoth hunters drying meat over open fires to today’s industrial food systems, the story of what we eat is deeply tied to human innovation. In this Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture, Stanley Chodorow, Emeritus Professor of History at UC San Diego, traces this history by showing how food preservation began out of necessity.…
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Righting Wrongs and Offering Refuge: Lessons from Faith and History
How do we repair the damage of past injustices? And can sacred spaces still serve as places of protection and resistance today? Two thought-provoking talks from UCSB’s Walter H. Capps Center tackle these urgent questions, exploring the responsibilities societies hold toward communities that have endured harm and the creative ways faith traditions shape public life.…