Coronavirus Lessons From Chernobyl

The Sociologist Who Could Save Us [Read this email in your browser]( Welcome to FP This Week. In this edition, we highlight notable FP articles, including from FP columnist Adam Tooze, who believes the book Risk Society, published by the German sociologist Ulrich Beck in 1986, can help us navigate the coronavirus crisis. Also, we encourage you to revisit some of our recent FP Virtual Dialogues, which are all available for full viewing on our FP [Events page](. Recent events have featured speakers like U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Afghanistan’s Ambassador Roya Rahmani, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Thank you for reading. --------------------------------------------------------------- STORIES OF NOTE [The Sociologist Who Could Save Us From Coronavirus]( By Adam Tooze, FP columnist and history professor and director of the European Institute at Columbia University. Ulrich Beck was a prophet of uncertainty—and the most important intellectual for the pandemic and its aftermath. In the immediate aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, many people were left asking questions that we are facing during the coronavirus pandemic. How long will this last? What activities are safe? Because the level of uncertainty is as high now as it was then, writings such as Ulrich Beck’s Risk Society are more relevant now than ever, argues FP’s Adam Tooze. “Beck’s contribution in Risk Society was to offer a compelling sociological interpretation of this pervasive sense of undefined but omnipresent threat, both as a matter of personal and collective experience and as a historical epoch. But more than that, Risk Society is a manifesto of sorts, proposing a novel attitude toward and politics for contemporary reality.” [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Welcome to the Post-Leader World]( By Oona Hathaway and Scott J. Shapiro, for our [Summer 2020 print issue](. The United States has abdicated its dominant role. Here’s how to fill the gap. The shifting level of global influence opens up new possibilities for more decentralized, democratic systems of global governance involving genuine cooperation among a critical mass of nations. Rather than a world governed by a hegemon, it may be time for one managed by what might be called global clubs. The current state of the world offers the opportunity to transform the global order from one dominated by a single state, or a small number of them, to a more equal system of global governance. It’s time to stop waiting for a hegemon to come to the rescue and instead try to address more of our global problems through independently organized global clubs. [Find Out More]( → In case you missed it: Oona Hathaway recently joined FP editor in chief Jonathan Tepperman and other contributors to our summer print edition to discuss if this moment can lead to lasting change. Listen [now](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Inside the Massive Foreign-Policy Team Advising Biden’s Campaign]( By FP’s Colum Lynch, Robbie Gramer, and Darcy Palder If Joe Biden wins, here are some of the top foreign-policy experts who could be tapped for senior and midlevel jobs in the administration. The organization of the Biden campaign’s group of informal foreign-policy advisors, including 20 working groups and over 2,000 people, offers insights into how Joe Biden plans to mold his foreign-policy agenda. It also sheds light on who is likely to take up top posts in the Pentagon, State Department, intelligence community, and other agencies if Biden is elected. [Look Inside]( --------------------------------------------------------------- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT [Summer Rewind: FP Virtual Dialogues]( Exciting conversations with leading foreign-policy thinkers are now available on demand. We offer our FP Virtual Dialogues to help you stay up to date on the latest international news and understand the complexities of unfolding crises, trends, and geopolitical issues. Over the past few months, Foreign Policy has produced a number of important dialogues around today’s most pressing global issues, which are all available to view on demand on our website. Some recent highlights include: - [Profiles of Resilience]( focusing on grassroots investment and sustainable growth in Africa and its effect in supporting COVID-19 recovery. - [5G Global Power Plays]( taking a closer look at what is at stake in the global “race to 5G.” - [Women in Politics]( a dynamic conversation on the role of female leadership in driving global recovery and resilience and the need for more inclusive governance. [See All FP Dialogues]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Partner with us: Interested in learning more about FP Analytics’ cutting-edge research services, our FP Virtual Dialogue series, or podcast production by FP Studios? Would you like to equip your team or organization with access to Foreign Policy? Contact Andrew Sollinger at andrew.sollinger@foreignpolicy.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW FP ON This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you are subscribed to FP communications. 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