Peace picks July 15-19

A busy midsummer week:

1. Real Politics of Iran: Views from Within, US Institute of Peace, Monday, July 15 / 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Venue: US Institute of Peace

2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

Speakers: Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, Kevan Harris, Farzan Sabet, Daniel Brumberg

Iran’s June 14, 2013, presidential election produced a result that surprised many Iran watchers: a first round win for Hassan Rouhani. A long-time regime stalwart who favors a political opening at home and abroad, his election may signal the return of a more contentious politics—one that could limit the growing influence of the security apparatus or create space for a more productive Western-Iranian dialogue.  To probe the implications of these changes for Iran’s internal politics and its foreign relations, on July 15 the United States Institute of Peace will host three distinguished Iran analysts, one of which has just returned from Iran. Drawn from the United States Institute of Peace’s (USIP) Internal Iran Study Group, they will highlight a range of dynamics in the universities, opposition, the economy and even the security apparatus that often escape the foreign headlines. Daniel Brumberg, Senior Program Officer on Iran and North Africa at USIP, will chair this timely discussion.

Register for the event here:

http://realpoliticsofiran.eventbrite.com/

2. Rethinking Civilian Stabilization and Reconstruction, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Tuesday, July 16 / 8:00am – 3:30pm

Venue: Center for Strategic and International Studies 1800 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Syria and Mali are not the first foreign conflicts the United States has tried to avoid intervening in militarily. Nor will they be the last. Despite common beliefs, U.S. leaders rarely use military power to respond to foreign crises. When they do, it’s only after exhausting civilian options.  Do U.S. civilian institutions have the right mix of support, funding, and capabilities to respond to major crises and political transitions? Can the United States protect its interests and prevent conflicts without using its military?

On July 16, 2013, CSIS, with IRD and AECOM, will host a distinguished group of U.S. experts and foreign recipients of U.S. assistance to take a deep look at where the United States stands in its civilian capacity for reconstruction and stabilization. What does it do well? What needs improvement? Where is more support for civilian capabilities needed?

Register through email to:

csisc3@csis.org

3. The Crisis in Syria: What are the Stakes for Syria’s Neighbors?, Middle East Policy Council, Tuesday, July 16 / 9:00am – 11:30am

Venue: Rayburn House Office Building

45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC

B339

Speakers: Steve Simon, Mona Yacoubian, Nabeel Khoury, Erol A. Cebeci

The Middle East Policy Council will hold its 73rd Capitol Hill Conference on the Crisis in Syria. Our distinguished panel includes Steve Simon (Executive Director of the International Institute of Strategic Studies and Former Senior Director for Middle Eastern and North African Affairs, National Security Council (2011-13), Nabeel Khoury (Senior Fellow for Middle East and National Security at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Former Director of the Near East South Asia office of Intelligence and Research, U.S. Dept. of State (2008-12), Mona Yacoubian (Senior Advisor on the Middle East for the Stimson Center and Former North Africa Analyst, U.S. Department of State (1990-97) and Erol A. Cebeci (Executive Director, Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA Foundation); Former Chairman of the Turkish Delegation, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe). It will be moderated by Thomas R. Mattair (Executive Director of the Middle East Policy Council).

Register through email to:

info@mepc.org

4. Safeguarding Human Rights in Times of Surveillance, New America Foundation, Tuesday, July 16 / 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Venue: New America Foundation

1899 L St., N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036

Speakers: Sascha Meinrath, Frank La Rue, Gene Kimmelman

As Brazil formally asks the U.S. to explain how American surveillance programs harm Brazilians, and the European Parliament insists that this serious violation of its peoples’ rights warrants an inquiry into state surveillance, the U.S. must confront its global human rights commitments to people beyond the purview of the U.S. Constitution.  The United States has increasingly played a leadership role in international internet human rights battles. A cross-regional statement that the U.S. signed on June 10 emphasized online security measures must be consistent with states’ obligations under international human rights law and full respect for human rights must be maintained. The tension between this stance and the recent surveillance revelations has created a moment, as a global society, to discuss and implement appropriate checks and balances for the protection of privacy and freedom of expression online. U.N. Special Rapporteur Frank la Rue offers an authoritative view on privacy and freedom of expression, setting global standards for international behavior.

Register for the event here:

http://www.newamerica.net/events/2013/human_rights_surveillance

5. The Historical Roots of China’s Rise, Asia Society, Wednesday, July 17 / 12:30pm – 1:45pm

Venue: George Washington University

2201 G Street, NW Washington, D.C. Funger Hall,

Room 108

Speakers: Orville Schell, John Delury

After a long and painful period of dynastic decline, intellectual upheaval, civil war, and revolution, China has had an impressive burst of development and wealth creation. Join Orville Schell and John Delury, authors of Wealth and Power: China’s Long March to the Twenty-First Century, in a discussion on China’s progression from 19th century decline to its current boom. The authors will also offer their views on how this history helps to explain the great dynamism of the contemporary Chinese economy and society, as well as the challenges facing the country today.

6. Google Hangout on Youth and the Post-2015 Development Agenda with John Podesta and Tawakkol Karman, Center for American Progress, Thursday, July 18 / 8:30am – 10:00am

Venue: Online only

Speakers: Tawakkol Karman, Casey Dunning

A year ago, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened a panel of 26 eminent people, including Center for American Progress Chair John Podesta and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, to make recommendations for an ambitious global development agenda beyond the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals the shared global antipoverty targets co-signed by all U.N. member states at the end of 2015. In its report Released May 30, the U.N. High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda seeks to build a new framework for global development that continues the progress of the Millennium agenda while also building a new spirit of global partnership.

The panels report recognizes in particular the important role young people will play in shaping and realizing the post-2015 agenda. If you are a young person shaping the post-2015 agenda at a national, regional, or global level, please join us for a Google Hangout with John Podesta and Tawakkol Karman to discuss youth issues and the post-2015 development agenda.

Podesta and Karman will answer questions about their work with the U.N. High-Level Panel and will provide an opportunity for youth to engage on the issues most pressing to them as the world moves into the next phase of global poverty eradication.

If you wish to direct a question to Podesta or Karman, please submit your question in advance of the event via Twitter, Facebook, or email at amalknecht -at- americanprogress.org. Tweets should mention @johnpodesta with #Youth2015.

The medium of the conversation will be English. A link to the Google Hangout and specifications on how to join are available here.

7. Hearing: Benghazi: Progress on State Department Accountability? U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Thursday, July 18 / 10:00am

Venue: Rayburn House Office Building

45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC

Room 2172

Speakers: Mr. Raymond D. Maxwell, The Honorable Ronald E. Neumann

8. Subcommittee Hearing: Global al-Qaeda: Affiliates, Objectives, and Future Challenges, U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Thursday, July 18 / 2:00pm

Venue: Rayburn House Office Building

45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC

Room 2172

Speakers: Seth Jones- Ph.D., Frederick W. Kagan- Ph.D., Mr. Thomas Joscelyn

9. A Fierce Domain: Conflict in Cyberspace, 1986 to 2012, Homeland Security Policy Institute, Thursday, July 18 / 3:30pm – 5:00pm

Venue: George Washington University

1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20052

The Alumni House

Speakers: Jason Healey, Frank J. Cilluffo

Please join HSPI for a Policy & Research Forum event on July 18th featuring Jason Healey, Director of the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council. Healey is the editor of “A Fierce Domain: Conflict in Cyberspace, 1986 to 2012,” which identifies key lessons for policymakers, and, most importantly, where these lessons greatly differ from popular myths common in military and political circles. The book, published by the Cyber Conflict Studies Association, in partnership with Atlantic Council, pulls these lessons from case studies of previous cyber incidents and other countries’ experiences.

Register for the event here:

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e7ql8kps69827ea0&llr=mysjo9cab

10. The Way Forward in Egypt, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Friday, July 19 / 10:00am – 12:00pm

Venue: Rayburn House Office Building

45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC

B-340

Speakers: Karim Haggag, Randa Fahmy Hudome, Alex Shalaby, Marina Ottaway, Diane Singerman, John Duke Anthony

On July 19, 2013, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee are hosting a public affairs briefing on “The Way Forward in Egypt” featuring Professor Karim Haggag, Visiting Professor, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies and Former Director, Egyptian Press and Information Office in Washington, DC; Ms. Randa Fahmy Hudome, Board Member, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and General Counsel, American Egyptian Strategic Alliance; Mr. Alex Shalaby, Chairman, The Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (Mobinil) and Former President, American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt; Dr. Marina Ottaway, Senior Scholar, Middle East Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; and Dr. Diane Singerman, Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs, American University. Dr. John Duke Anthony, Founding President & CEO, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, will serve as moderator.

Register through email to:

rsvp@ncusar.org

11. The Korean War, Sixty Years On: Whither the U.S.-South Korean Alliance and Relations with North Korea, Cato Institute, Friday, July 19 / 12:00pm

Venue: Cato Institute

1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

Hayek Auditorium

Speakers: H. E. Ahn Ho-Young, Scott Snyder, Doug Bandow, Christopher Preble

The Korean War ended six decades ago, but so far hopes for reform and liberalization in North Korea have been frustrated. On the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice, South Korea’s ambassador to the U.S. will address the future of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, which also turns 60 this year. Two Korea experts will follow with commentary on relations between Washington and Seoul, as well as appropriate policy towards Pyongyang. Should America pursue more intense involvement or turn the North Korean “problem” over to its neighbors, including China?

Register for the event here:

http://www.cato.org/events/korean-war-sixty-years-whither-us-korean-alliance-relations-north-korea