Home | Munk Debates

Our society is dangerously polarized. We don’t listen to each other. Too many of us are seperating into ideological tribes. This has to stop. The future of our democracy depends on it. This is what the Munk Debates is all about. Opening minds to different points of view. Challenging group think. Debating controversial issues with rigor and honesty. Welcome to our community.

Feature Debate

Explore the debates

Our Mission is to help the world rediscover the art of civil and substantive debate by convening the sharpest minds and brightest thinkers to weigh in on the big issues of the day.

Become a Munk Member

Login

May 12, 2022

Russia-Ukraine War

Become a Munk Member

Login

Be it resolved, ending the world’s worst geopolitical crisis in a generation starts with acknowledging Russia’s security interests.

Pro: John Mearsheimer
Stephen Walt

Con: Michael McFaul
Radosław Sikorski

Go to Debate Page

Become a Munk Member

Login

December 4, 2019

Capitalism

Become a Munk Member

Login

Be it resolved, the capitalist system is broken. It's time to try something different...

Pro: Katrina vanden Heuvel
Yanis Varoufakis

Con: Arthur Brooks
David Brooks

Go to Debate Page

Become a Munk Member

Login

May 9, 2019

China

Become a Munk Member

Login

Be it resolved, China is a threat to the liberal international order...

Pro: H.R. McMaster
Michael Pillsbury

Con: Kishore Mahbubani
Huiyao Wang

Result: Con wins by a narrow margin of 2%

Go to Debate Page

Feature Dialogue

Explore the dialogues

The Winter 2022 Munk Dialogues explore the topic of reason and rationality, from the perspective of the individual to society at large. How do our brains actually work when it comes to our faculty to reason? What role does reason play in our evolution as a species and the development of the modern society? And, what is happening to reason and rationality today?

Become a Munk Member

Login

April 28, 2022

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Become a Munk Member

Login

Ayaan Hirsi Ali joined us on April 28 for an enlightening, members-only discussion on how many of our longstanding beliefs about reasoning and rationality are coming under attack at a time when they are needed most.

Go to Dialogue Page

Become a Munk Member

Login

April 7, 2022

Julia Galef

Become a Munk Member

Login

Julia Galef joined us on April 7 for a fascinating, members-only discussion on why embracing a scout’s mindset, one that champions curiosity and truth-seeking over knee jerk reactions, will give us the tools we need to make smarter decisions.

Go to Dialogue Page

Become a Munk Member

Login

March 17, 2022

Daniel Dennett

Become a Munk Member

Login

Daniel Dennett joined us on March 17 for a special members-only discussion on the origin of human consciousness, and how our minds have been shaped by natural selection and generations of cultural evolution.

Go to Dialogue Page

Feature Podcast

Explore the Podcast

We are the world’s first podcast dedicated to convening one-on-one debates between today’s biggest thinkers and sharpest minds.

August 2, 2022

Populism

August 2, 2022

Guests: Andrew Lawton, Tasha Kheiriddin

Go to Podcast Page

Jan-Werner Müller Dialogue

July 26, 2022

Guests: Jan-Werner Müller

Go to Podcast Page

Nuclear Energy

July 19, 2022

Guests: John Gorman
Martin Cohen

Go to Podcast Page

Kathryn Judge Dialogue

July 12, 2022

Guests: Kathryn Judge

Go to Podcast Page

See all Podcasts