No U.S. secretary of state ever achieved such celebrity while in office as Henry Kissinger; immersed in the philosophy of Kant and the diplomacy of Metternich, he was hailed as one of the most important strategic thinkers America has ever produced. Yet no former secretary of state has been more vehemently criticized, most notably for sins of omission and commission in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile and East Timor. In this episode – recorded live at the 2024 Writers Conference – renowned historian NIALL FERGUSON, now completing the second of his two-volume biography of Kissinger, talks to New Yorker staff writer and National Book Award-winning author EVAN OSNOS about his subject’s complicated legacy and considers what he might have made of our current foreign policy landscape.
WWSG exclusive thought leader Sir Niall Ferguson is one of the world’s foremost historians of economics, international relations, and global power. His incisive analysis illuminates the geopolitical forces and economic undercurrents shaping the 21st century. From great power competition to emerging security challenges, Ferguson offers unparalleled historical context and strategic insight — helping global leaders, policymakers, and business executives anticipate what lies ahead. To invite Sir Niall Ferguson to your next event, contact WWSG.
Niall Ferguson: World War Three is a far greater threat than climate change
The 1920s were Roaring, the Sixties were Swinging, and the Nineties were Cool (as in ‘Cool Britannia’), but what will historians call the 2020s? As…
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson: Diary of a Flying Scotsman
This piece is by WWSG exclusive thought leader, Niall Ferguson. I can imagine few greater responsibilities than those that weigh upon the commander of Indo-Pacific Command,…
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson: Diary of a Flying Scotsman
This piece is by WWSG exclusive thought leader, Niall Ferguson. I do not really understand why Tucker Carlson, one of the most talented broadcasters of the…
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson: Who Will Win the Israel-Iran War?
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson on Who Will Win the Israel-Iran War
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson on a New US-China “Cold War”
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
