Harvard College Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker, and Harvard Kennedy School Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment (and Pforzheimer House Faculty Dean), Erica Chenoweth kicked off the first of the Books Open, Gates Unbarred dinner and dialogue series with the conversation on War: Violence and Nonviolence By the Numbers.

Professor Pinker and Professor Chenoweth are sitting in chairs in front of the students.

Books Open, Gates Unbarred: Violence and Nonviolence by the Numbers

On Thursday, February 22, 2024, Harvard College Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker, and Harvard Kennedy School Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment (and Pforzheimer House Faculty Dean), Erica Chenoweth kicked off the first of the Books Open, Gates Unbarred dinner and dialogue series with the conversation on War: Violence and Nonviolence By the Numbers. The conversation touched on each faculty member’s analyses of violence in the past and present, as well as the ongoing debates about their ideas. Topics discussed included trends in war and violence over time, and whether violent resistance is necessary for oppressors to relinquish power. After the conversation, Professors Pinker and Chenoweth were joined by 30 College students, the Dean of Students, Tom Dunne, and the Director for Intellectual Vitality Initiatives, Camila Nardozzi, for dinner and further conversation. The evening ended with a Q&A between students and Professors Pinker and Chenoweth, and students went back to their Houses with each faculty member’s latest books.

Student Perspectives

Students engage with Professor Pinker during the Q&A.

“Thank you times a million for tonight! What an exciting set of speakers and guests. I genuinely felt so blown away and impressed to be there. A beautiful Harvard moment for me.” – Malachi Miller ‘27

Students discuss what they've learned throughout the evening and ask questions of each other. — Students discuss what they’ve learned throughout the evening and ask questions of each other.

“Last night was a truly incredible experience to get to know professors’ scholarship outside of the classroom and to dialogue with my peers on a topic we all came to with a different perspective. I was inspired by the dinner conversation, which ventured in directions unbounded by discipline, ideology and experience. Professors Pinker and Chenoweth modeled the spirit of rigorous and open inquiry by building on one another’s research and considering how and why they each had reached their own conclusions.” – Ari Kohn ‘26

Thank you so much once again for having us. It was a wonderful event. Hearing from professors Pinker and Chenoweth in such an intimate setting was a phenomenal experience, and it was a privilege to engage in dialogue with them. The discussion illuminated a number of perspectives on war that I had not previously considered. – Caleb Capoccia ‘25

**Photos of Books Open, Gates Unbarred with Professors Pinker and Chenoweth**

Director of Intellectual Vitality Initiatives, Camila Nardozzi, introduces Professors Pinker and Chenoweth. — Director of Intellectual Vitality Initiatives Camila Nardozzi introduces Professors Pinker and Chenoweth.

Dean of Students Tom Dunne and Frank Stanton, Professor of the First Amendment (and Pforzheimer House Faculty Dean) Erica Chenoweth engage in conversation.

Post-faculty dialogue, students and faculty further discuss the topic over a shared meal.

Post-faculty dialogue, students further discuss the topic over a shared meal.

Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker discusses his past and presents his research on War.

Books Open, Gates Unbarred participants engaging in dialogue. — *Books Open, Gates Unbarred* participants engaging in dialogue.

Students listen as Professor Erica Chenoweth answers questions.

Post-faculty dialogue, student administrators further discuss the topic over a shared meal.