Episode 3: USA Votes – Harris or Trump?
In Pursuit of Knowledge brings together experts in their fields to examine and illuminate the critical issues of our time
Published 23 October 2024
The USA election result affects the entire world. Why is American politics so polarised? Will policy or personality decide the outcome? Is American democracy at a crossroad? A former Biden staffer debates a Republican insider, drawing on their unique insights, research and teaching at the University of Melbourne’s political science department.
Recorded at the University of Melbourne on 15 October 2024.
In Pursuit of Knowledge is an ongoing series. Visit the website to watch previous episodes and to learn about upcoming events.
Panel
Jon Faine: HostJon Faine is a renowned public broadcaster and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the Melbourne Law School with a roving commission across the University of Melbourne. (Image credit: James Braund)
Professor Timothy LynchProfessor Timothy Lynch is an expert in American politics. In 2022-2023 he was the Milward L. Simpson Visiting Fulbright Professor at the University of Wyoming, the most Republican supporting state. His latest book is In the Shadow of the Cold War: American Foreign Policy from George Bush Sr. to Donald Trump
Cory AlpertCory Alpert served for three years in the Biden-Harris administration and was previously a senior staffer on Pete Buttigieg's historic 2020 Presidential campaign. He was the Senior Advisor to the President of the US Conference of Mayors and helped build the humanitarian assistance technology to respond to major disasters across the US and Ukraine. He is now working on his PhD at the University of Melbourne studying the impact of AI on democracy.
Dr Emma Shortis: RapporteurDr Emma Shortis is Senior Researcher in the International & Security Affairs Program at the Australia Institute. Emma is a historian and writer, focused on the history and politics of the United States and its role in the world. She uses her expertise in history to interpret and explain what is happening in the world today, and what it means for Australia, in a compassionate and accessible way.
