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Peace Picks | October 26 – October 30, 2020

Notice: Due to public health concerns, upcoming events are only available via live stream. 

1. Elevating Humanitarian Action in Sudan’s Democratic Transition | October  27, 2020 | 10:30 – 11:30 AM EDT | CSIS | Register Here

On October 19, the White House announced it was taking steps to delist Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism (SST), clearing the way for increased international assistance and opportunities for development financing. Removing Sudan from the SST list is long overdue and comes at a pivotal moment for its nascent political transition. Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated that 9.3 million people in Sudan would need humanitarian assistance in 2020. Now, months of heavy flooding have led to increased displacement, while high levels of inflation are making it increasingly difficult for people to purchase food and limiting the services humanitarian organizations can provide.

Sudan’s ongoing democratic transition has enabled increased humanitarian access for multilateral aid organizations, yet restrictions on NGOs remain, and prospects for enhanced access are uncertain. As peace negotiations and the democratic transition continue, political leaders in Sudan must ensure that meeting humanitarian needs remains at the forefront of their agenda.

In a follow-up to our recent commentary, this webinar will highlight the enduring humanitarian needs in Sudan and examine how Sudanese political actors can prioritize humanitarian needs during the state’s democratic transition. To help understand these issues, we will be joined by Dr. Suliman Baldo, Senior Advisor at The Sentry, and Hala Al-Karib, Regional Director at the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa.

Speakers:

Dr. Suliman Baldo: Senior Adviser, The Sentry

Hala Al-Karib: Regional Director, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa

2. Local Elections, National Implications: Ukraine at the Ballot Box | October  27, 2020 | 12:00 PM EDT | Atlantic Council | Register Here

Ukraine’s local elections on October 25 are highly contested and impossible to predict. Following President Zelenskyy’s landslide victory last year, he and his party have fallen in the polls, with approval ratings hovering below 35 percent. With deadlocked peace talks, a continued war in the Donbas, stalled reforms, and increased coronavirus cases devastating the economy, a 2019-style victory for Servant of the People is increasingly unlikely. The new electoral code, which bars independents from running in districts with more than 10,000 citizens, further complicates the picture.

Mykhaylo Shtekel, Odesa correspondent and Donbas reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Ukrainian Service, Nataliya Sedletska, editor-in-chief and host of RFE/RL’s “Schemes: Corruption in Detail”, Adrian Karatnycky, Eurasia Center senior fellow and managing partner at Myrmidon Group LLC, and Brian Mefford, Eurasia Center senior fellow and managing director at Wooden Horse Strategies LLC, will analyze the results and what they mean for Ukraine’s future. Melinda Haring, deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, moderates.

Speakers:

Mykhaylo Shtekel: Odesa correspondent and Donbas reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Ukrainian Service

Nataliya Sedletska: editor-in-chief and host of RFE/RL’s “Schemes: Corruption in Detail”

Adrian Karatnycky: Eurasia Center senior fellow; managing partner at Myrmidon Group LLC

Brian Mefford: Eurasia Center senior fellow; managing director at Wooden Horse Strategies LLC

Melinda Haring: Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center

3. Election 2020: Driving Forces and Possible Outcomes | October  27, 2020 | 2:00 – 3:30 PM EDT | Brookings Institute | Register Here

As voters begin casting their ballots in the 2020 election, many issues still have the potential to transform the political landscape and determine the outcome of the presidential election, as well as congressional, gubernatorial, and statehouse races across the country. Voters go to the polls with several serious policy issues on their mind including an economy in recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, health care, race relations, social justice, women’s rights, and the future of the judiciary. These issues raise a number of questions that will determine the outcome of the election.

During a campaign season colored by the pandemic, will congressional leadership and the White House strike a deal for another round of economic stimulus before Election Day? And how will delays in a relief package affect House members and senators in tough reelection fights?

With a Supreme Court nomination in process that has the potential to shape the country for years, will Republican voters show up at the polls on election day to reward GOP Senate candidates like Lindsay Graham, Cory Gardner, and Joni Ernst for voting to confirm Amy Coney Barrett? Will Democratic backlash hurt those senators’ chances for reelection?

Long lines, postal delays, concerns about voter intimidation and suppression, and the possibility of contested elections have raised concerns about the integrity of the U.S. elections process. How will political leaders and courts respond when the influx of mail-in ballots might extend election day to several weeks? And will efforts to disrupt voting strike a chord with voters in affecting their drive to vote and their vote choice?

On October 27, one week before election day, Governance Studies at Brookings will host a webinar to discuss the driving forces and possible outcomes of the 2020 election. Expert panelists will offer their analysis on these and other pressing issues and answer questions from viewers.

Speakers:

John Hudak, moderator: Deputy Director – Center for Effective Public ManagementSenior Fellow – Governance Studies

William A. Galston: Ezra K. Zilkha Chair and Senior Fellow – Governance Studies

Sarah A. Binder: Senior Fellow – Governance Studies

Elaine Kamarck: Founding Director – Center for Effective Public ManagementSenior Fellow – Governance Studies

Rashawn Ray: David M. Rubenstein Fellow – Governance Studies

Vanessa Williamson: Senior Fellow – Governance StudiesSenior Fellow – Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center

4. Kyrgyzstan’s Unfinished “Revolution”: How the Upheaval from 2020 Is Different | October  28, 2020 | 10:00 – 11:30 AM EDT | United States Institute for Peace | Register Here

For the third time in 15 years, protesters in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek have seized and set fire to the “White House,” the seat of parliament and presidential staff. The chaotic situation has toppled President Jeenbekov and is still rapidly evolving, with political actors jockeying for power. It’s a scene all too familiar to Kyrgyzstan, which since 2005 has experienced several cycles of protests and calls for advancing democracy followed by backsliding into authoritarianism. But this time around, even with all the familiar players and moves, there are also strong differences that are worth thorough assessment.

Join USIP for a discussion of the ongoing situation in Kyrgyzstan and its implications for peace and stability in Central Asia. The conversation will examine how organized crime, youth mobilization, social media, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have factored into the crisis. The discussion will also analyze how the United States and the region, including Kyrgyzstan’s Central Asian neighbors and Russia, are assessing and responding to the developments.  

Speakers:

Scott Worden, welcoming remarks: Director, Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs, U.S Institute of Peace 

Dr. Mariya Omelicheva: Professor of Strategy, National War College

Jonathan Henick: Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau for South & Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Dr. Andrew Kuchins: President, American University of Central Asia

Dr. Ivan Safranchuk: Leading Research Fellow, Institute for International Studies, MGIMO

Keneshbek Sainazarov: Central Asia Program Director, Search for Common Ground

Dr. Gavin Helf, moderator: Senior Expert, Asia Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

5. Women, Democracy, and Peace:​​​​​ ​A Conversation with First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani and Former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush | October  28, 2020 | 8:00 AM EDT | Atlantic Council | Register Here

Afghanistan is entering a new phase, with ongoing talks offering an opportunity for peace and stability after years of conflict. As the government and the Taliban negotiate peace, questions remain regarding the future of gender equality and minority rights in the country. What will it take to ensure long-term security without compromising on the rights of women and minorities in Afghanistan? How do the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic impact the ability to sustain democratic institutions in the country?

Building upon their longstanding partnership to promote women’s rights in Afghanistan, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and the George W. Bush Institute invite you to join us on October 28 at 8:00 A.M. (EDT) / 4:30 P.M. (Kabul) for a virtual conversation with First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani and former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush on these issues and to lend their insight into what will need to be done to ensure an equitable and inclusive peace.

Speakers:

H.E. Rula Ghani: First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Mrs. Laura Bush: Former First Lady of the United States

6. Negotiating Peace: Lessons from the Western Balkans | October  28, 2020 | 11:30  AM – 12:30 PM EDT | Wilson Center | Register Here

25 years ago, the Dayton Peace Accords ended conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, violence continued in the Western Balkans, which led to the Kosovo War and the international mediation needed to end it. Even after the conflict stopped, Serbia and Kosovo struggle with their relations. Today, the Western Balkans remains turbulent. Join us as two experienced European negotiators discuss what lessons can be drawn from efforts to negotiate peace in the Balkans, both for the region and elsewhere.

Speakers:

The Right Honourable Catherine Ashton, Baroness of Upholland: Bank of America Chair, Global Europe Program; Former Vice President of the European Commission and former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Carl Bildt: Former Prime Minister of Sweden; Former UN Special Envoy for the Balkans; Co-Chair, Dayton Peace Conference

Jane Harman: Director, President, and CEO, Wilson Center

7. The Implications of Brexit for Ireland: A Conversation with Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall | October  29, 2020 | 1:30 – 2:30 PM EDT | CSIS | Register Here

Please join us for a conversation with H.E. Daniel Mulhall, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, about the implications of Brexit for Ireland. This discussion will be moderated by Bill Reinsch, CSIS Scholl Chair and Senior Adviser, and Heather Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic and Director of the Europe Program at CSIS. 

With the deadline for reaching a trade agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom fast approaching, there is growing concern that new borders, customs procedures and tariffs may be imposed which will harm both the Irish and Northern Ireland economies.   The UK government has moved forward with legislation, the Internal Market Bill, which allows the UK government to breach its legal agreement with the EU on Northern Ireland.   The EU has recently initiated legal procedures against the UK for this legislation and prominent members of Congress have stated that the Internal Market Bill or anything else that jeopardizes the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, makes a future US-UK trade agreement impossible.  U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Mick Mulvaney, recently visited Dublin and Belfast to assess the impact of the Internal Market Bill.   Irish Ambassador to the U.S., Ambassador Daniel Mulhall will present the Irish government’s perspective on the situation, on prospects for an acceptable resolution, and the economic and political implications if one does not appear.

Speakers:

H.E. Daniel Mulhall: Ambassador of Ireland to the United States

Heather Conley: Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic and Director of the Europe Program at CSIS

Bill Reinsch: CSIS Scholl Chair and Senior Adviser

8. The Good, Bad, and Ugly: How the World Sees the United States | October  29, 2020 | 9:00 – 9:50 AM EDT | Carnegie Endowment for Peace | Register Here

Critics make a strong case that the United States has never been less respected or admired abroad than it is today. President Trump’s disruptive policies abroad and his mishandling of the pandemic at home have fundamentally undermined U.S. credibility in the eyes of both allies and adversaries in the short run, but will the damage last? And if Joe Biden wins in November, what will the world expect from U.S. leadership? 

Join us as three veteran foreign correspondents, Christiane Amanpour, Steven Erlanger, and David Rennie, sit down with Aaron David Miller to discuss the United States and its role in  the world.

Speakers:

Aaron David Miller: Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Christiane Amanpour: Chief International Anchor, CNN; Host, “Amanpour & Company”, PBS

Steven Erlanger: Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Europe, The New York Times. 

David Rennie: Beijing bureau chief,  The Economist

9. Ten Years On: A Post-Arab Spring Middle East | October  29, 2020 | 2:00 -3:00 PM EDT | Middle East Institute | Register Here

The conditions that led to the 2011 Arab Spring protests continue to linger in the Middle East and North Africa. Widespread corruption, political repression, human rights abuses, and economic difficulties proliferate throughout the region, and have been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tunisia is often considered an Arab Spring success story, but despite a number of notable improvements since 2011, its fragile democratic transition has had little impact on the day-to-day lives of average Tunisians, and the economic realities that led to the 2011 uprising largely remain unchanged. In countries such as Syria, Yemen, and Libya, civil conflict and foreign intervention have worsened these crises without addressing the root causes of instability. 

How have the Arab Spring protests changed the Middle East and affected regional stability over the past decade? What role does the United States play in the various crises throughout MENA and how does it affect American foreign policy goals? 

The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host its third event in a series to discuss the recently published briefing book, Election 2020: Challenges and Opportunities for US Policy in the Middle East. The briefs in this book offer policy insights from MEI scholars on key issues in the Middle East and serve as a contribution to the broader discussion about the challenges and opportunities for US policy in the region.

Speakers:

Nadwa Al-Dawsari: Non-resident Scholar, MEI

William Lawrence: Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, American University 

Charles Lister: Senior fellow and director, Countering Terrorism and Extremism and Syria Programs, MEI

Mirette Mabrouk: Director and senior fellow, Egypt program, MEI

Ibrahim Al-Assil, moderator: Senior fellow, MEI

10. Strengthening Global Safeguards and Security in an Advanced Nuclear Age | October  29, 2020 | 1:00 PM EDT | Atlantic Council | Register Here

The Atlantic Council and Third Way are co-hosting a virtual event highlighting the potential global market for advanced nuclear technologies, and the important role safeguards and security must play in ensuring US reactors are ready to compete.

We are delighted to invite you to join our virtual event on the afternoon of Thursday, October 29th, 2020, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. EDT. Over the last five years there has been significant technological, financial, and policy progress toward developing and commercializing advanced nuclear reactors in the US. But we are not alone in this pursuit. China and Russia are both developing new reactor designs aggressively to capture the emerging market for advanced nuclear and the global influence that will come with it. It is in the best interest of the world for safety, proliferation, and climate reasons, that the US leads the way.

To maintain the United States’ global leadership, advanced nuclear reactors should not only provide affordable, zero-carbon power; they should provide it in a way that builds upon the nuclear security architecture developed over the last five decades. The US government and advanced nuclear developers could be in the position to enhance global nuclear security and safeguards as a new set of aspiring nuclear countries looks at deploying a new generation of nuclear reactors.

The event will feature keynote remarks by Dr. Brent Park, Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Immediately following his remarks, Third Way will present a first-of-a-kind international advanced nuclear map and global market analysis, and we will  host a panel discussion on the critical role US clean energy innovation can play in reducing emissions in the US, addressing energy poverty around the world, and the challenges and opportunities presented by applying safeguards- and security-by-design to the next generation of nuclear energy technologies.

Speakers:

Keynote remarks

Dr. Brent Park: Deputy Administrator, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration

Panel Discussion

Laura Holgate, Ambassador (ret.): Vice President, Materials Risk Management, Nuclear Threat Initiative

Allison Johnston: Director, Office of International Nuclear Security,National Nuclear Security Administration

Christine King: Director, Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, Idaho National Laboratory

Kevin Veal: Director, Office of International Nuclear Safeguards, National Nuclear Security Administration

Jackie Kempfer, moderator: Senior Policy Adviser, Climate and Energy Program; Senior Fellow, Global Energy Center

Closing remarks

Dr. Jennifer Gordon: Managing Editor and Senior Fellow, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council