James Robinson - Professor of Government, Harvard University
The Interview18 Jul 2012

James Robinson - Professor of Government, Harvard University

Stephen Sackur speaks to the renowned Harvard academic James Robinson. In a recent book, written together with Daron Acemoglu, he tries to answer one of the most basic questions of global economics and politics: why do some nations thrive while others fail? What does Norway have that Mali lacks?

There are of course multiple answers based on physical geography, resources and cultural differences, but James Robinson is adamant one factor determines economic success much more than all others: the development of resilient, inclusive political institutions.

Put crudely, the idea is political freedom begets prosperity - but is that always true?

(Image: James Robinson)

Episoder(1819)

Ciarán Hinds: Is Northern Ireland a creative powerhouse?

Ciarán Hinds: Is Northern Ireland a creative powerhouse?

Stephen Sackur interviews Northern Irish actor Ciarán Hinds, whose career took him from the troubled streets of Belfast to an Oscar nomination. Right now, Northern Ireland is a creative powerhouse; why, and will it last?

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Jens Stoltenberg: Is Russia really preparing for a war with Nato?

Jens Stoltenberg: Is Russia really preparing for a war with Nato?

Sarah Montague is at Nato’s headquarters in Brussels to speak to its outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Two years after Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, is Vladimir Putin now preparing for a war with Nato?

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HARDtalk: Defying Putin

HARDtalk: Defying Putin

In a special programme in the run up to Russia’s presidential election in March, HARDtalk looks back on interviews with those few Russians who have been ready to stand up to Vladimir Putin. From the late Boris Nemtsov to Alexei Navalny whose death was announced recently, what motivates those ready to risk everything to challenge Putin?

23 Feb 202422min

Nikolai Denkov: Is Bulgaria a weak link in Europe's security?

Nikolai Denkov: Is Bulgaria a weak link in Europe's security?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov. His country is trying to wean itself off Russian energy, and sends weapons to Ukraine, but many Bulgarians are still pro-Russian. As Europe tries to beef up its own security, is Bulgaria a weak link?

21 Feb 202423min

Alexey Navalny: The interview

Alexey Navalny: The interview

Russian authorities have announced the death of one of the country’s most significant opposition leaders Alexey Navalny in a remote penal colony in the Arctic Circle. Stephen Sackur spoke to him in Moscow in 2017 about the risks involved in being a prominent critic of President Putin.(Photo: Alexey Navalny. Still from his 2017 interview with Stephen Sackur)

19 Feb 202423min

Bassem Youssef: Can laughter ever provoke political change?

Bassem Youssef: Can laughter ever provoke political change?

Stephen Sackur is in New York for a special edition of the programme with Egyptian American satirist Bassem Youssef. During the Arab Spring, his mockery of Egypt’s leaders won him millions of fans, but after the military took over he fled to the US where he has reinvented his comedy career. Can laughter ever provoke political change?(Photo: Bassem Youssef, comedian and political satirist)

16 Feb 202423min

Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya: Does Ukraine feel betrayed?

Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya: Does Ukraine feel betrayed?

Stephen Sackur is in New York City for an exclusive interview with Ukraine’s top diplomat at the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya. With partisan warfare in Washington DC blocking crucial military assistance to Kyiv, does Ukraine feel betrayed?(Photo: Still taken from the Hardtalk interview with Sergiy Kyslytsya)

13 Feb 202423min

Cornel West: Could enough votes taken from Joe Biden help Donald Trump get elected?

Cornel West: Could enough votes taken from Joe Biden help Donald Trump get elected?

Stephen Sackur is in New York City to speak to Cornel West, the high-profile philosopher, writer and activist who has launched his own bid for the White House. Running as independent, he looks unlikely to win but could this anti-war socialist take enough votes from Joe Biden to help Donald Trump get elected a second time?

12 Feb 202423min

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