Dr. Lawrence Mead

Professor of Politics and Public Policy at New York University

Dr. Lawrence Mead, Professor of Politics and Public Policy at New York University, presented a lecture at Texas Tech University on February 22, 2018. His lecture, "Burdens of Freedom," presents a radical argument that America's world dominance and also its chief challenges are rooted in cultural differences. The United States became rich and powerful largely because of an individualist culture, but it faces problems integrating the poor and immigrants largely because most of them lack that temperament. Individualism also promotes stronger government than in the non-West, so America must succor poor countries there. Thus freedom entails burdens. It becomes obligation. The world's freest country has become the most responsible.