"Most of the world regards the U.S. as an empire, and many Americans suspect we are," said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. "But to be imperial goes against the American grain."
To help people grapple with this critically important issue, the Hauenstein Center is bringing in two dozen of the nation's top scholars and journalists this fall to debate whether the U.S. has become an empire.
"No one perspective is considered sacrosanct," explained Whitney. "Diverse perspectives will be thoroughly aired and debated."
Schedule of Events
Gerald R. Ford Museum Auditorium
Arianna Huffington vs. Victor Davis Hanson
Author, syndicated columnist and TV commentator Arianna Huffington will square off with author, historian, political commentator and farmer Victor Davis Hanson.
"I've never seen Hanson lose a debate, and I've never seen
Huffington back down from a debate, so this should be quite an
evening," said Whitney.
featuring H.W. Brands, Michael Scheuer and others
Thursday, October 6
Loosemore Auditorium, Grand Valley's Pew Grand Rapids Campus
8-9 a.m., Keynote Address
9-10:30 a.m., Panel I: American Founders and Empire
David Hendrickson
Peter Onuf
Karl-Friedrich Walling11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Panel II: 19th-Century American Empire
Josiah Bunting
Donald Frazier
Scott Stabler
Bruce Winders1:30-3 p.m., Panel III: War and Empire, 1898 to 1945
H. W. Brands
Brad Birzer
Andrew Cayton
Richard Gamble
Gerald R. Ford Museum Auditorium
8-9:30 p.m, Keynote Address by H. W. Brands
Friday, October 7
Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Grand Valley's Allendale Campus
9-10:30 a.m., Panel IV: The Cold War and American Empire
Josiah Bunting
Thomas Carty
and others11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Panel V: Empire after 9/11?
Ivan Eland
David Hendrickson
Michael Scheuer12:30-1:30 p.m.
Luncheon address by Michael Scheuer
The Lessons: Thursday, November 17, 8 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Museum Auditorium
Featuring Robert Caro
To make reservations, call the Hauenstein Center at 616-331-2770.
