The Role of Culture in Politics

Culture and diversity can be a tool used to unify a country or nation; however, as seen by recent global political movements, it can also be used to polarize and segment populations. Populist campaigns, both on the left and right of the political spectrum, have served to endorse the social norms and attitudes of those who feel disenfranchised by the establishment. Values have been at the epicenter of debate in recent elections across the Americas and Europe; however, this is not a concept unique to the Western world. In India, identity politics and the relationship to culture also play a major role in the world's largest democracy.

Global Affairs & Economics journalist Ali Velshi examines the current phenomenon and spread of culture wars, and culture's role in both curbing and spreading populist ideas. Ali is back at Asia Society by popular demand to discuss this very important issue facing our community, country, and society.

Schedule

5:45 p.m. | VIP Reception
6:30 p.m. | Program

About the Speaker

Ali Velshi is an MSNBC Anchor, co-host of “MSNBC Live with Velshi & Ruhle” Monday to Friday at 11aET, “Velshi & Ruhle” on Saturday’s at 1230pET, and “MSNBC Live with Ali Velshi” Monday to Friday at 3pET. He is also a Business Correspondent for NBC News.

Prior to MSNBC/NBC News, he hosted “Ali Velshi On Target,” a nightly prime-time show on Al Jazeera America that spoke truth to power through debate, interview, and on-the-ground reporting. Velshi has reported from the U.S. presidential campaign trail, as well as covering ISIL and the Syrian refugee crisis from Turkey, the days leading up to the nuclear deal from Tehran, the tensions between Russia and NATO from Eastern Europe and the High Arctic, the debt crisis in Greece, and the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

Velshi joined Al Jazeera America from CNN, where he was the channel’s Chief Business Correspondent, anchor of CNN International’s “World Business Today,” and the host of CNN’s weekly business show “Your Money.” Velshi also co-hosted CNN’s morning show, “American Morning.” He was nominated for two 2016 Emmy Awards for work on disabled workers and Chicago’s red-light camera scandal. In 2010, Velshi was honored with a National Headliner Award for Business & Consumer Reporting for “How The Wheels Came Off,” a special on the near-collapse of the American auto industry. Additionally, CNN was nominated for a 2010 Emmy for Velshi’s breaking news coverage of the attempted terror attack by Umar Farouq Abdulmuttalab on Northwest flight 253 into Detroit.

He has reported extensively on the global financial crisis. Known for his trademark exposition and explanation, Velshi appeared as a guest economics analyst on shows like “Oprah,” “The View,” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” at the height of the crisis, explaining the causes of the meltdown in plain terms. Velshi is the author of Gimme My Money Back (Sterling and Ross, 2008) and co-author with CNN’s Christine Romans of How to Speak Money (Wiley, 2010). Born in Kenya and raised in Canada, Velshi graduated from Queen’s University in Canada with a degree in Religion, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from his Alma Mater in 2016. Velshi splits his time between New York City and Philadelphia. Active in the community, Velshi serves on the Board of the Chicago History Museum, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He volunteers with the New York’s Center for Urban Community Services homeless outreach program one morning per week.

About the Moderator

Martyn E. Goossen is Vice Chairman of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank and President of JPMorgan Chase Bank – Houston Region. Marty has over 40 years of experience in financial services, nearly all of which has been in the wealth management field. The majority of his career was spent working in Asia. Marty and his wife, Kathy, moved to Hong Kong with Citibank in 1978 and transferred to Tokyo in 1984. Marty joined JPMorgan Chase in Tokyo in 1988 and remained in Asia until 2006, when he moved to Houston to take the position as head of the Houston Private Bank and President of the Houston Region. In 2017, Marty was appointed to Vice Chairman of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank focusing on the south region of the United States. Marty has undertaken a number of civic responsibilities in Houston. He serves on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Asia Society Texas Center, Central Houston Inc., and The Houston Zoo. He is also a member of the Council of Overseers at Rice University’s Jones School of Business and is a Director of the Singapore American School Foundation. Marty received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1977 and a B.S. in Economics from Union College in Schenectady, New York.

Asia Society Texas Center Business & Policy Programs, Endowed by

Huffington Foundation

Bank of America, Muffet Blake, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and United Airlines are presenting sponsors of Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas Center. Lead support for Business & Policy programs comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, BP America, Cathay Bank Foundation, Anne and Albert Chao, Mandy and William Kao, The Southmore, and Wells Fargo. Generous funding also provided by the Friends of Asia Society Texas Center, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.