Each week, we'll share a variety of videos, articles, webcasts, and more from around the web — all curated by Asia Society Texas Center staff to reflect the broad interests and goals of our mission. On Mondays, explore Business and Policy topics through a selection of videos, podcasts, and articles.

Webcast: Democracy and Authoritarianism Under COVID-19

ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE, June 2, 2020 — The novel coronavirus pandemic has challenged governments across the world as they struggle to manage the tremendous public health challenge posed by COVID-19 while trying to avoid economic collapse. There has been ample discussion about which countries have managed the crisis well thus far and which have not, and an ensuing debate about what kinds of governments have been most effective. Some have attributed the initial failure to share information about COVID-19's potential seriousness and impact to China's closed political system. At the same time, top-down systems such as China's may have certain advantages in their ability to institute and enforce lockdowns, social distancing, and mask-wearing. On the other hand, the difficulties many democratic nations — particularly in the West — have faced in slowing the spread of the virus have raised concerns about the ability of democratic systems to effectively handle this type of challenge.

Are democracies or authoritarian states better equipped to deal with public health crises? What are the specific vulnerabilities and advantages that different regime types have in dealing with pandemics? Renowned journalist, author, and political scientist Fareed Zakaria joins ASPI President The Hon. Kevin Rudd for a conversation about the experience of democratic and authoritarian states under COVID-19.

Learn more about this program »

Podcast: Asia In-Depth: How Taiwan Smothered the Coronavirus

May 7, 2020 — Few places in the world have done a better job suppressing the coronavirus than Taiwan. In the three months since a 50-year-old woman became its first confirmed case, only six people have died from COVID-19 in Taiwan. (By contrast, New York State, a territory with roughly the same population, has lost over 19,000 lives.) What makes Taiwan's success even more remarkable is that it lies only 100 miles from mainland China, where the virus originated. What are the secrets behind Taiwan's success? Asia Society Policy Institute Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy Daniel Russel speaks with two experts — Syaru Shirley Lin from the University of Virginia and Dr. Chunhei Chi of Oregon State University — about what Taiwan's successful smothering of COVID-19 means for its future.

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Video: Artificial Intelligence: Past, Present, and Future

ASIA SOCIETY KOREA, April 9, 2020 — Asia Society Korea Program Committee member Scott Orrantia speaks with Professor Kyung Jun Lee, an artificial intelligence expert who teaches information systems at Kyung Hee University in South Korea.

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Video: Bank of America Women's Leadership Series: Technology Trailblazers

ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER, February 8, 2018 — Female leaders in the tech sector discuss what inspired them to enter the field, challenges they face as women, and methods to increase female engagement in innovation and technology. Speakers include tech entrepreneur and artist Susie Lee, Station Houston Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer Grace Rodriguez, and LinkedIn Director, North America, Talent Solutions Shirin Sharif.

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Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, United Airlines, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearts Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

About Asia Society at Home

We are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.