and i think that folks on the hill saw some of that. she can be incredibly charming and she's and agile thinker. if there are ways to find common ground i think she can be helpful.

>> hello and welcome everybody welcome to tonight's conversation that are here to discuss the new book i will just hold it up for a second and has already been recognized as a piece in the new yorker that i saw yesterday and i will introduce my guest i want to give a quick shout out and that's a

great help to get the word out. and then to important buttons at the bottom of your screen one is a link to buy a copy and you can get 10 percent off on your entire order and to put that information in the chat and then there is a nascar question button a place to put your questions as you think of them i will take the chat down with you feel encouraged to that will help us to make sure we leave enough time for the q&a.

so if there were a nobel prize history and she would be my nominee. in upset. so just a few brief biographical details. with a professor of history here at princeton will list all of her claims that but really it is still at work with her new book. but then the ordeal elizabeth marsh we know her as an expert explorer

>> i should mention. this is a book that is truly global. but between the covers are the history of the islands and japan and russia and the united states and south america and nigeria.

these are poor white males. but democracy but why word i want to? so the idea that constitutions.

they can't be. because most states outside of the americas. and many of these already have forms of that constitution. they are using those. napoleon use that with a calculation.

and not writing and what they hope to do by issuing and sometimes writing the constitution and is quite happy to get that mail democracy.

communication but in addition, you've got various pressures to do often with war as i say at one level in those and one to raise more taxes. and the constitution isn't trying to contrast very often. we will give you more religious toleration, but in the terms you will expect [inaudible] but also you're getting pressure from the left. the only job tom manages to hold

onto is as a tax collector. he collects tax excise tax in england, and as he collects the taxes [inaudible] this is another way taxation, state demand is bleeding into the constitutional reform. begins to limit the cut off so they are not just giving taxes.

-- >> one of the other great figures that played a role in the book is jeremy benson, and those are the clichés about the constitution that you are speaking of and you've already eluded to how wonderful is this that they have a written set but you mentioned they were enthusiastic and they credit. where does he fit into this constitution writing? >> london particularly in the most direct way in south america

a vast city with the most advanced printing networks and biggest pork network. so, if you are a revolutionary and if you are a political exile, one is to come to london. on the whole if you model with british politics, often on the constitutional right takes place in london and holds a session of

people up to london and indeed beyond, coming to london using the transport information network of the global british empire to carry out. but out of the game and very much involved in the game. >> one of the anglo societies that plays a striking role, what do we need to know other than being able to located on a map. it is a very tiny gem where they

meet with their technician companions and on a tiny rock in the island in the south pacific. but then by the 1830s, you get them landing and say where is your charter, who do you belong to, can we come ashore? and at that point, a scottish naval captain arrives in 1838 and because for the first time

the constitution that endures until the 30s gives women a vote on the same basis as men. this is quite extraordinary, and i think it also shows how different places influenced each other in this constitutional game. the scottish naval captain -- that's part of the reason he does what he does, but also the main population had a strong set

[inaudible] it is only what -- it's a misstep of influences from different parts. >> there are many, many ways in which the constitutions are the means of taking rights away from people or any rights, granting rights to some by extension limit them to others or deny them to others. and yet you do show with tahiti and hawaii efforts by nonwhite men or women to assert themselves. now, how does that fit in with these questions about warfare and the empire and the way the

constitution can be a great mechanism for the gathering up of power by the ravenous states. how do these indigenous sovereigns manage the constitution to different ends? >> sometimes they try and fail. but sometimes not so much. great examples, which i talk about what happens in hawaii, which is clearly over the 19th century including being threatened by [inaudible] what the king of hawaii tried to do by issuing a constitution in 1840 and then varied the constitution after that, they

used the constitution that again, issued in different languages sent around the world to say luck, here we are, an independent monarchy and state. this is a sign of our modernity. we have a constitution. therefore, and they spell this out, we are not overtaking. we are not here to be colonized. we have shown we are modern, we govern ourselves in and advanced way, to house government,

certain constraints in the education, printing, and what happens is quite astonishing and lacking the benefit [inaudible] hawaiian nationalist movement. >> a quick example of the constitution in this way but also for empire building and war is japan. >> japan is increasingly

threatened by america's naval power by the agent citizens and the navy restoration. there are many revolutions and at that point it is determined by the victims which they implemented. this is a classic example and it's a monarchy. i also increasingly assume as they get the constitution and part of before that it starts increasing taxation, it's navy,

it's starts expanding into different parts of landmasses like korea. but it becomes like a poster child of many anticolonial and anti-western activists and in china it's modern in some ways but not in many others and [inaudible] but here is the case of a place creating a vibrant constitution that lasts until after the second world war.

also it encourages anticolonial forces because it seems [inaudible] >> so, going through the ark geographically in some senses of the book and it is sweeping in many ways. a project on this scale requires immense learning and dedication and research and also requires immense discipline and i wonder if you can give a little bit of insight you made the choice at some points along the way

[inaudible] what else could it be? >> i could have talked more about india. i could have talked more about germany but as you say, global history is fascinating and difficult to do.

[inaudible] i take this opportunity to thank my university for instance but also as a history department here because i've made myself a complete nuisance to many of my colleagues saying can you give me a reading list. if this is the only way as you and your self no for your work that no more you investigate the connection across the globe, the more you become dependent.

>> one of the things we discussed about global history before spread very wisely and one of the consequences to be written through the lens of economic politics, diplomacy, you know, it is a little bit more than that sort of granular type of history and historical work. you bring this a lag with different characters and personalities. how do you in your research process of thinking and writing, how does that relationship work for you, the separation of the scene or the character and the catching of that scene or character to a larger idea

driven concern? do you say yes this must be in the book, this is an animating moment? how does it work? >> again, a lot of it is serendipitous if you come across a beautiful example or wonderful character but, there's always a danger of letting it out of control and letting it. so i have to work out and organizing way because that is so important. i finally decided i would organize the book [inaudible]

that is how i did it and the last main chapter starts on the day of the japanese constitution. but i was determined to bring in twofold partly because i see this connects how we got the constitution out and i want to bring out the animus. many of the people involved themselves in the constitution

and many they may do other things. while also [inaudible] and he runs the newspaper and writes books. again and again and again how people are involved in other kinds.

[inaudible] nurturing the explosion at this time. >> they become one that people have in the households along with the bible and shakespeare and the dictionary and whatever it may be. yeah, thinking of it as a genre is very rich. >> yes. you know, the 1814 constitution is the second oldest will and norwegians are encouraged [inaudible] both conservative nation and

also says the symbolism is extreme. this is a way of domesticating the organization of that state. >> maybe i will ask just one more question before we turn to the audience that i'm sure has many questions for you. in britain, one of the things people argue what has held britain together is a combination of things that in the late 20th century were not evidence any more of the empire, the war with france and anti-catholicism and so on and sure enough many things followed from your arguments in britain. maybe part one of the question to you but part two is famously

in the u.s. before the constitution led over the last century or so [inaudible] the constitution has been amended in the ways of the civil war and so on but now there's this idea. coming back to the role of the war and the writing of the constitution, in the u.s. now i wonder if you see anything about the present state of affairs in the u.s. [inaudible]

there so many fascinating questions there that i don't know where to start. there are new challenges to the constitution and the idea is we make these changes to get more men to come up and fight and so on and so forth. but it isn't like that anymore. so, that another point it's very

difficult to amend and they thought that that was a good idea but it's also coming out of state and we compare this with the other long-lasting constitution not saying it is necessarily better but for a 21st century world in the way

the constitution no longer is. >> thank you for that. >> i also want to thank you both for this conversation. it's been wonderful to listen in on. and also it is such an absorbing book because the ideas it is all quite wonderful. there's a few questions here beginning with one since before

the beginning of the event. in what ways do you believe the written constitution has advantages over unwritten constitutions? >> the difference is often more rhetorical and many politicians [inaudible] conversely of course in the uk but there are lots of important

[inaudible] they are available to tell interested citizens [inaudible]

[inaudible] with the most. >> yes. picking up on these words they

advocate modernity or is there any access itself or if it is more useful rather than ask those categories. thank you for this wonderful talk. >> that again is a huge theoretical strategy. i use the modern word and realize it is almost a cliché because there are many using references for the most

[inaudible] to be identified and i credit saying it is now clear no state can be modern and suspect full without a written constitution. that isn't necessarily true. that said, to define what the state is and again it ultimately

failed but one of the things is the aspect of their own indigenous culture to have their cities and also saying we have a constitution. you can see they don't realize it in the way that it is now theorized but both see this traction in the constitution and also trying to work out this

instance. >> the questions are a couple invited to think about the more specific cases but i want to stay with the more general one for another minute here picking up on the point that they don't necessarily go hand in hand. it is a systematic difference with the relationship of the war and the constitution and nondemocratic. we think [inaudible]

>> it's the moments that it's right. >> i'm not sure if i fully understand the question. it is important but there are parts of the world not involving themselves in the constitution like in china and what that does not emulate the constitution

making in the same way but i think the question to put it to me again -- >> let's leave it at that. there is a follow-up question to ask as an advocate of the constitution currently reading a biography surprised to find as early as the 1820s as well as the constitution from poland.

it's more democratic and maybe [inaudible] >> no, and this is one more of the things that i leave out. but certainly it is a trend that you see in the state after because what can you do after the decades into the constitution all over the place we could turn back. we will make it part of our own

strategy. that is what the monarchy does. that is what that many of the germans do and to see constitution very much the electorate very small. these are very modest documents and they can then say [inaudible] in ice question here that invites us to think about the

writing of the constitution [inaudible] argument. >> lots of people use this constitution. sometimes as in china because they want to resist change, and i think it is clear the revolution but there is also

[inaudible] because there is an overview of where the move should stay that we can find that basically says it isn't written on tablet. [inaudible] middle-of-the-road people take this view that the instability that is happening in america and they say no [inaudible]

will provide for greater stability than what they call the paper constitution and they are not playing with the because around 1800, paper money is seen as pretty unmistakable and probably counterfeit. and that argument is sometimes applied to paper constitutions. it's much better to have political principles within. >> can i add a little question of my own that sort of connects with that and then i will pose the question -- sorry we don't have time for all of them. i'm thinking about all of the debates that goes into the writing of the constitution.

i was glad to remember that the american constitution, unlike the glitch of independence, but i wonder how prevalence and broad it is in the world's constitution and if that is one of those links of common debate. >> how can i put this, god tends to be more common in catholic constitution and the big change maker is that it's created with forms of many emerging republics but it's translated into lots of

other languages suggested but the makers of the constitution's include a large number that are determined while spain will now get its own written constitution, this will not endanger the catholic church and will not endanger the souls of true believers and so they were really very in the constitutions across the globe, but you see god after the first world war. they are not necessarily the

irish constitution in the 1930s it is the constitution that makes it a public is very explicit about god and again it is a catholic constitution and it's even sent to the pope. >> so interesting. we are at the hour. i'm going to close with a question that is about the inspiration for your book. is there a historian or a single word that most inspired the development of your book lacks. >> i suppose i got sucked into global history by lots of instances. but, like lots of people, i was very much interested in the global history of the 19th

century, and the rather different history of the 19th century. i learned so much from both of those so i also determined to write a different global history which is what i am trying to do. >> so, here it is again and it is not only my task to thank you for this hour that we've had together and everyone that has long gone. i'm so glad there's been so many of you. i want to invite you to future events if you find those on the website or to follow us on this platform so i wish that i could inform you -- stay well and be

healthy. thank you. contended immigration in europe has led to increased assault. a. >> we knew if we had a large number of men, to come in unguided, not socialized into the context they were coming into into problems like this one where the burden of putting up with this is put on the women and the women in poor neighborhoods and i think that that is just outrageous. it is just absolutely

outrageous. if you read the book you will see example after example i've spoken to so many women that see i am not anti-migrant. i have the same common passion and they feel sorry for the people of syria and afghanistan and for the people of somalia and elsewhere. they want to welcome them. there are so many volunteers in the countries who want to do good things for people in the difficult cases they also describe how the streets have changed, how the schools have changed when they vote in the

city council to say look at what is happening in my neighborhood, this and that is where the radical right come in and the radical islamists come in and all other fringe groups and extremists with an agenda. >> the world changed in an instance. but internet traffic soared and we never slowed down.

schools and businesses went first and we powered up a new reality. because of media, we are able to keep you ahead. a. >> along with these television companies supporting booktv on c-span2 and the public service. with booktv "after words" democratic senator tammy duckworth of illinois talks about her life and career as a military and u.s. senate. interviewed by politico congressional editor sure. >> thank you for joining us today, senator, to discuss your book. >> thank you for having me. i am excited to be here. >> i wanted to start, your entire life story is incredibly moving and has so many emotional moments. as a congressional editor, i loved the portion of the book where you say people tell me i'm the first senator to have a baby while in