OSHER 159 - Why Nations Succeed or Fall Apart

This course explores why some nations such as the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Canada, and others have generally succeeded, but other nations such as North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have failed to thrive and grow. The history and conditions that underlie the success or ultimate failure of nations throughout history are presented. Economic and social concepts also will be introduced to provide insights as to why some nations are poor and failing despite being rich in natural resources. Predictions for the future of the United States will be debated using the concepts presented in this course. This course is envisioned as a three-day course over a three-week period. One guest speaker, Dr. Loren Yager, with federal government experience in analyzing and comparing nations' performance will be featured (Dr. Loren Yager, formerly Managing Director of International Affairs and Trade with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative agency of the U.S. Congress, serves currently as an advisor to several nations on their performance).