Professor Ken Masugi explores the nature of civil rights in the American founding and its evolution during and after the Civil War. He examines various textual sources to see what arguments were made for and against slavery and equal race relations, both prior to the founding of the U.S. and following it.

Professors Christopher Flannery and David Tucker examine the definitions of the ideal American character, government, and values today and how they are both different from and similar to those of the past. They focus on the relations of the U.S. with the rest of the world and how these values affect these relations.

To listen to this lecture, follow the link below, and scroll down to the first seminar under Friday, August 6.

Robert Alt talks about what it means to be a United States citizen in the present day and world, focusing on discussion of the Patriot Act.

To listen to the lecture, follow the link below, and scroll down to the guest lecture under Thursday, August 5.

Professors Lucas E. Morel and Diana Schaub look at the history of demands for reparation for slavery and of instances and accusations of racial profiling in the U.S. They begin with a short discussion of affirmative action cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, continuing from the lecture "Affirmative Action."

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Friday, August sixth, 10:50 am-12:15 pm session; and select the corresponding RealAudio image or link.

An older version of this lecture can be found here.

Professor Mark Tushnet discusses the life and accomplishments of Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), first African-American Supreme Court Justice and lawyer in the landmark desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Thursday, August 5th, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm session; and select either the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Diana Schaub compares and contrasts the writings and views of a number of civil rights and race relations writers and activists, including Stokely Carmichael (1941-1998), Charles V. Hamilton, Bell Hooks (born 1952), Shelby Steele (born 1946), and Ralph Ellison (1913-1994).

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Thursday, August fifth, 10:50 am-12:15 pm session; and select the corresponding RealAudio link to the left.

An older version of this lecture can be found here.

Professors John Moser and Jeremi Suri look at Wilsonianism in foreign policy post-Vietnam, particularly in the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Moser and Suri also look at foreign policy in the present day.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Friday, July 16th, 10:50 am-12:20 pm session; and select either the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Jeremi Suri considers the influence of Wilsonianism on foreign policy since the presidencies of both Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Suri looks at this foreign policy school's supporters both during the Cold War and after.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Friday, July 16th, 9:00 am-10:30 am session; and select either the RealAudio link or image in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Jeremi Suri discusses Henry Kissinger's foreign policy of detente. He looks at the effect Kissinger's policies had on Cold War diplomacy and how they affected the Cold War and the world as a whole, and also discusses the writing of academic books and articles.

To listen to this lecture, scroll down to the Wednesday, July 14th, 7:30-9:30 pm session. Then click on the Real Audio link in the gray bar to the left of the main text.

Professors John Moser and Jeremi Suri overview several schools of foreign policy: republicanism, nationalism, balance of power, and Wilsonianism. They also review what is meant by foreign policy in general.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the first session, and select either the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.