The Ultrasocial World, International Cooperation, and the Implications for Public Policy

Join Professor Mai’a K. Davis Cross and distinguished public policy thought leaders Dr. Esther Brimmer (Council for Foreign Relations), Gloriela Iguina-Colón (C40 Cities), and Dr. Divyansh Kaushik (Federation of American Scientists) for an engaging conversation about the public policy implications of Prof. Cross’s new book, International Cooperation Against All Odds: The Ultrasocial World. Moderated by Professor Tracy Corley, this author’s interview and critical discussion of the book recasts how we understand the power of possibility and breakthroughs in international cooperation and policy making. Northeastern University’s Center for International Affairs and World Cultures and the College of Social Science and Humanities invite you to our Arlington, Virginia, campus to explore how the human evolutionary predisposition to be “ultrasocial” as a species allows political ideas to succeed, transform, manipulate, and inspire at local, national, and global scales, transforming institutions and policies that impact us all.

An award-winning author, Mai’a Cross is the Dean’s Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Diplomacy as well as the Director of the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. She is an expert on international cooperation, especially in the areas of European foreign and security policy, epistemic communities, crises, diplomacy, soft power, and space policy. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. International Cooperation Against All Odds: The Ultrasocial World is her sixth book.

February 22, 2024, Arlington Campus 5:15-8pm ET

Program and Speakers

5:15-6:00pm: Doors Open and Networking

6:00-6:05: Introduction and Welcome

Jamie Miller, Northeastern University, Arlington Campus

6:05-6:10: Intro to the CIA(WC) and the Ultrasocial World

Tracy Corley, Northeastern University, Arlington Campus

6:10-6:30: Interview with the Author about Book’s Importance to International and Urban Affairs

Mai’a Cross, Northeastern University, Boston Campus
Tracy Corley

6:30-6:45: Practical Applications and Ideas for Shifting Policy Frameworks Toward Collaboration Rather Than Conflict

Esther Brimmer, Council on Foreign Relations
Gloriela Iguina-Colón, C40
Divyansh Kaushik, Federation of American Scientists

6:45-7:15: Opening Discussion with Audience

7:15-8:00: Closing Remarks and Reception

Speakers and Moderators

– Jamie Miller, Dean and CEO, Northeastern University, Arlington Campus

– Tracy Corley, Director of Programs; Professor of the Practice in Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University, Arlington Campus

– Mai’a Cross, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs; Director of the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures; Dean’s Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Diplomacy, Northeastern University, Boston Campus

– Esther Brimmer, James H. Binger Senior Fellow in Global Governance at the Council on Foreign Relations

– Gloriela Iguina-Colón, C40 Manager of US Health, Climate, and Equity

– Dr. Divyansh Kaushik, Associate Director for Emerging Technologies and National Security at the Federation of American Scientists

About the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures

This event is co-sponsored by the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures at Northeastern University, which seeks to enrich and support scholarship and timely analysis on how fostering international cooperation, empathy, and mutual understanding have contributed to and can contribute to solving major global challenges. CIAWC bridges theory and practice in the humanities and social sciences to deepen policy-oriented expertise and encourage global public engagement.

About the College of Social Sciences and Humanities

As a leader in the Experiential Liberal Arts, Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities combines experiential learning with the rigorous study of culture, society, policy, and ethics. To explore the past and shape policies for a better tomorrow, we practice humanics: the integration of traditional liberal arts capacities with quantitative tools and new digital proficiencies. In fields ranging from English and economics to philosophy, criminology, and public policy, we focus on the key issues of today: how to shape public spheres, how to build resilient and sustainable communities, and how to engage with cultures past and present.

About Northeastern University

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact.     

Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our 13 campuses worldwide. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment.  

Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind. 