“Nobody is a perfect hero”: Learning from the peacemakers of the past with Bruce Jentleson

The Global Cable

On this episode of The Global Cable, Perry World House’s Director William Burke-White sits down with Bruce Jentleson, Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University, to discuss his book ‘The Peacemakers: Leadership Lessons from Twentieth-Century Statesmanship.’

As a seasoned scholar with extensive real-world policy experience –on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s policy planning staff, he looked for ways to prevent atrocities around the world – Jentleson brings a unique perspective to the stories of 14 people who worked for peace at different moments in the 20th Century.

Each of the book’s chapters profiles a peacemaker – exploring what they set out to accomplish, what influenced them, and where they succeeded and failed. 'The Peacemakers' draws important lessons from the lives and work of yesterday’s leaders that can help today’s leaders.

Burke-White and Jentleson also explore some of the challenges for those trying to make peace in the twenty-first century. Any would-be peacemakers must contend with major challenges, including climate change and the United States’ complex relationship with China. As a result, Burke-White and Jentleson consider whether there can ever be such a thing as a perfect peacemaker in today’s dynamic world.