Peace Picks | January 18-22 2021

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

1. Truth and Accountability Post-Insurrection: Where does the country go from here? | January 19, 2021 | 10:00 AM- 11:30AM ET | Brookings Institute | Register Here

On January 6, following a rally where President Trump urged his supporters to “fight much harder” against “bad people” and “show strength,” a mob of rioters aiming to halt the count of Electoral College ballots that would formally seal Joe Biden’s victory violently stormed and overtook the United States Capitol. One Capitol police officer and four pro-Trump extremists lost their lives as a result.

Now, in the aftermath of the insurrection, lawmakers are exploring ways to strip the president of his authority, hold those who participated accountable, and investigate the massive security failures that jeopardized the lives of elected officials and legislative staff. The House of Representatives impeached President Trump for the second time in his term in the absence of Vice President Mike Pence invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from power. Senate leaders are now hashing out parameters for Trump’s trial in the Senate. Some lawmakers are also urging the expulsion of Republican lawmakers who participated in the efforts to overturn the election via the 14th Amendment.

On January 19, Governance Studies at Brookings will host a webinar to discuss the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection. Panelists will assess the options lawmakers are exploring to remove President Trump from office, the impeachment process, how the insurrection affects American democracy, and what it all means for President-elect Biden’s first 100 days in office.

Speakers:

John Hudak: Deputy Director Center for Effective Public Management and Senior Fellow for Governance Studies

Susan Hennessey: Senior Fellow for Governance Studies and Executive Editor of Lawfare

Elaine Kamarck: Founding Director Center for Effective Public Management and Senior Fellow for Governance Studies

Rashawn Ray: David M. Rubenstein Fellow for Governance Studies

Molly E. Reynolds: Senior Fellow for Governance Studies


2. Defeating Corruption and Promoting Democracy: The Role of USAID | January 19, 2021 | 2:00 PM- 3:00 PM ET | CSIS | Register Here

USAID has been working on anti-corruption issues for more than 20 years. CSIS published a paper in April of 2020 suggesting that given the Great Power Competition, the United States needs to “get back at the front of the anti-corruption parade” and lead on these issues. Globally corruption is a vote-moving issue. There are enormous costs to corruption, and it holds back private investment and jobs. Ultimately, civil society, religious institutions, the private sector, and governments need to create coalitions to defeat corruption. USAID is a catalytic funder, a convenor, a talent developer, and a policy partner to help make these sorts of changes and coalitions happen. In line with USAID’s longstanding anti-corruption work in Eastern Europe, USAID will be launching its new US-Albania Transparency Academy at this event.

Speakers:

Brock Beirman: Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia USAID

Susan K. Fritz: Former Regional Mission Director to Ukraine and Belarus, USAID

Frank Brown: Director of the Anti-Corruption and Governance Center, CIPE

Juela Hamati: Former President, European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN)

3. The Impact of European Policy on the Migration Crisis | January 19, 2021 | 10:00 AM-11:00 AM ET | European Council on Foreign Relations |Register Here

The Paris office of the European Council on Foreign Relations is delighted to invite you to a virtual seminar on the migration crisis and European cooperation.

This is the third seminar of a partnership between the H2020 project MAGYC and ECFR Paris, entitled “Crises, migration and European cooperation”. The recordings of the first two seminars, “How the Covid-19 shaped European migratory governance?” and “Migration and climate change: what can European cooperation achieve?“, are available online.

Speakers:

Thibaut Jaulin: Researcher at Science Po University

Andrew Lebovich: Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations

Gerasimos Tsourapas: Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham

Rym Momtaz (Moderator): France Correspondent, POLITICO

4. United States Presidential Inauguration | January 20, 2021 | 12:00 PM ET | United States Capitol- Live Streamed | Watch Here

Per the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Inauguration Day is set for January 20th every four years — that’s a Wednesday in 2021.

The theme of this year’s inauguration is “America United,” an issue that’s long been a central focus for Biden but one that’s taken on added weight in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. The Presidential Inaugural Committee said that the theme “reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future.

5. U.S Pakistan Relations in the Biden Era: A Conversation with Moeed Yusuf | January 21, 2021 | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM ET | Wilson Center | Register Here

After a tense period during the first part of the Trump administration, U.S.-Pakistan relations have improved over the last few years amid the launch of a peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. However, with U.S. troops drawing down, the future of U.S. relations with Pakistan-which in Washington have long been viewed through the lens of Afghanistan-is uncertain. This online-only event will feature a discussion with Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s national security advisor and special assistant to the prime minister on national security and strategic policy planning. He will discuss Islamabad’s expectations for U.S.-Pakistan relations in the Joe Biden era, and what the situation in Afghanistan may mean for the relationship moving forward. This conversation is moderated by Michael Kugelman.

Speakers:

Moedd Yusuf: National Security Advisor to the Prime Minsiter of Pakistan

Michael Kugelman: Deputy Director and Senior Associate for South Asia Program at the Wilson Center