Kennan: A Life Between Worlds (Guest: Frank Costigliola)

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Heartland’s Tim Benson is joined by Frank Costigliola, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Connecticut, to discuss his new book, Kennan: A Life between Worlds. They chat about why George Kennan was one of the most important, and complex, figures in the history of American foreign policy, his diplomatic career in the Soviet Union, his rise to fame and preeminence, and his swift fall from power and influence. They also discuss how Kennan was impossible to classify and whether his diplomatic vision holds any lessons for today. 

Show Notes:

Financial Times: Anatol Lieven – “Kennan: A Life Between Worlds — lessons for the containment of Russia”
https://www.ft.com/content/76231e54-063a-4366-acd1-cecd314c470e

First Things: Patrick Porter – “Cold War Contradictions”
https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/04/cold-war-contradictions

Foreign Affairs: Fredrik Logevall – “The Ghosts of Kennan”
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/ghosts-george-kennan-lessons-cold-war

The New Republic: Patrick Iber – “George Kennan’s False Moves”
https://newrepublic.com/article/169557/george-kennans-false-moves

Times Literary Supplement: Harold James – “Kissing Stalin on the mouth”
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/kennan-frank-costigliola-book-review-harold-james/

Washington Examiner: Damir Marusic – “The divided George Kennan”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-divided-george-kennan


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Creators and Guests

Tim Benson
Host
Tim Benson
Ill Literacy, the newest podcast from The Heartland Institute, is helmed by Tim Benson, Senior Policy Analyst for Heartland’s Government Relations team. Benson brings on authors of new book releases on topics including politics, culture, and history on the Ill Literacy podcast. Every episode offers listeners the author’s unique analysis of their own book release. Discussions often shift into debate between authors and Benson when ideological differences arise, creating unique commentary that can’t be found anywhere else.
Kennan: A Life Between Worlds (Guest: Frank Costigliola)