Home Living Beyond Borders GZERO World Signal In 60 Seconds Puppet Regime GZERO World Podcast Contact Us About Us Careers Privacy Policy Terms

Niall Ferguson: Blame bureaucrats, not leaders, for mismanaging disasters

July 21, 2021

GZERO Staff

Niall Ferguson: Blame Bureaucrats, Not Leaders, for Mismanaging Disasters | GZERO World

youtu.be

When a government fails on disaster response, Stanford University historian Niall Ferguson says we often point the finger at the wrong person: the president — even if he's Donald Trump — instead of the mid-level bureaucrats who're actually responsible for most decisions. "When people are inclined to blame the person at the top, on closer inspection the point of failure is not there," Ferguson tells Ian Bremmer in the upcoming episode of GZERO World. Check local listings to watch on US public television.

From Your Site Articles

Podcast: How human history is shaped by disaster, according to Niall Ferguson - GZERO Media ›

GZEROMEDIA

Jordan arrests 16 accused terrorists

People gather after Friday prayers during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Amman, Jordan, on April 4, 2025.

REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak

Jordanian authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of 16 people accused of planning terrorist attacks inside Jordan. The country’s security services say the suspects had been under surveillance since 2021, and half a dozen of them were reportedly members of the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist organization.

About Us Careers Press Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use

Niall Ferguson: Blame bureaucrats, not leaders, for mismanaging disasters

GZEROMEDIA

More from GZERO Media

Trump versus the courts

A federal judge set up a showdown with the Trump administration on Wednesday with a ruling that threatens to find the government in contempt if it fails to comply with a judicial order to provide due process to Venezuelans deported to a prison in El Salvador.

California launches Canadian charm offensive

California governor Gavin Newsom kicked off a campaign to promote Canadian tourism in his state, pitching its sunny beaches, lush vineyards, and world-class restaurants.

Donald Trump has made Les Québécois love the Maple Leaf, at least for now

The Liberals, long the enemies of Quebec's sovereigntists, can only say, “Merci beaucoup, Donald."

Special interview: Canadians head to the polls — and into the Trump vortex

Pharma manufacturers face tariff uncertainty

Donald Trump’s administration announced that it is opening investigations into pharmaceutical and semiconductor supply chains, which will likely result in tariffs that will hurt suppliers in Europe, India, and Canada.

GZEROMEDIA

Hard Numbers: BoC warily holds rates, Canada lobbies China for tariff relief, Trump gives borderlands to the Army, Global growth forecasts fall, Major League Baseball struggles to attract Black talent

2.75: Canada’s central bank held its key interest rate steady at 2.75% this week, ending a streak of seven consecutive cuts.

Graphic Truth: The US trade deficit with China, from zero to now.

Hard as it is to imagine amid the harrowing US-China trade war these days, there was a time when the two countries hardly did any business with each other.

Young Democrats look to bulldoze the old guard ahead of the midterms

As the Democrats start plotting their fight back into power in the 2026 midterms, one issue has come up again and again.

Beating forecasts, bracing for a fall: China’s economy surges

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, expanding at an annual rate of 5.4% — 0.3 percentage points above forecasts — driven by strong consumer spending and industrial output.

Jordan arrests 16 accused terrorists

Niall Ferguson: Blame bureaucrats, not leaders, for mismanaging disasters

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

A federal judge set up a showdown with the Trump administration on Wednesday with a ruling that threatens to find the government in contempt if it fails to comply with a judicial order to provide due process to Venezuelans deported to a prison in El Salvador.

California governor Gavin Newsom kicked off a campaign to promote Canadian tourism in his state, pitching its sunny beaches, lush vineyards, and world-class restaurants.

The Liberals, long the enemies of Quebec's sovereigntists, can only say, “Merci beaucoup, Donald."

Donald Trump’s administration announced that it is opening investigations into pharmaceutical and semiconductor supply chains, which will likely result in tariffs that will hurt suppliers in Europe, India, and Canada.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

2.75: Canada’s central bank held its key interest rate steady at 2.75% this week, ending a streak of seven consecutive cuts.

Hard as it is to imagine amid the harrowing US-China trade war these days, there was a time when the two countries hardly did any business with each other.

As the Democrats start plotting their fight back into power in the 2026 midterms, one issue has come up again and again.

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, expanding at an annual rate of 5.4% — 0.3 percentage points above forecasts — driven by strong consumer spending and industrial output.