Tag: Africa
Peace Picks | November 18 – November 22
Responding to Armed Groups in Venezuela | November 18, 2019 | 9:30 AM – 11:15 AM | CSIS Headquarters, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
Please join CSIS’ Future of Venezuela Initiative for a discussion on how the presence of illegal armed groups affects the transition process in Venezuela, and what the United States, the international community, and other pertinent actors within Latin America can do to mitigate the effect of these groups.
The presence of armed groups in Venezuela significantly affects how policymakers consider addressing the Venezuelan political and humanitarian crisis. The Maduro regime seeks to benefit from Venezuela’s status as a hub for transnational crime and illicit activities, causing policymakers to doubt what the best approach to address the crisis would be. Illegal armed groups finding haven in Venezuela not only adds new threats to Venezuela’s internal security, but also threatens Colombia’s security and the region writ-large. Illegal armed groups in Venezuela include the National Liberation Army (ELN), remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), colectivos, garimpeiros, and other residual organized armed groups (GAO) and criminal gangs.
The event will feature keynote remarks from Colombia’s High Commissioner for Peace, Miguel Ceballos, and from Paul Ahern, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department. The remarks will be followed by a panel with former National Security Advisers to the White House and the former Vice President of Panama, and will be moderated by CSIS’ Moises Rendon.
FEATURING
Fernando Cutz
Senior Associate, The Cohen Group; Former National Security Council
Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado
Former Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Panama
Dan Fisk
Chief Operations Officer, International Republican Institute; Former National Security Council
Juan Cruz
Senior Adviser, CSIS Americas Program; Former National Security Council
Miguel Ceballos
High Commissioner for Peace, Government of Colombia
Paul Ahern
Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary, U.S. Treasury Department
CSIS Debate Series: Does the U.S. Need a Foreign Policy for sub-Saharan Africa? | November 20, 2019 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM | CSIS Headquarters, Floor 2, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
Does
democracy foster economic growth? Does great power competition hurt or empower
the continent? Does the U.S. even need a foreign policy for sub-Saharan Africa?
Since the 1990s, there has been a consensus about U.S. priorities and policies
toward the region. While continuity has its merits, it also acts as a brake on
creativity, innovation, and new thinking about U.S. interests in sub-Saharan
Africa. The CSIS Africa Debate Series offers an opportunity to question and
refine policy objectives to meet a changing political landscape.
The CSIS Africa Program with the support of the Open Society Foundations is
hosting a series of debates in Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities to
challenge old paradigms and identify new approaches to tackle pressing
U.S.-Africa policy issues. For its inaugural debate on November 20, 2019 from
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., CSIS will pose the question, “Does the United States
need a foreign policy in sub-Saharan Africa?” to former U.S. government
officials and African scholars. Experts will face off to identify the advantages
and disadvantages of U.S. engagement in Africa and to open a dialogue on a new
framework for U.S. foreign policy toward the region. Audience members will vote
key debate points as well as participate in a Question & Answer session.
Save the date, register, and subscribe to
the CSIS Africa Program distribution list to receive updates on the Debate
Series.
FEATURING
Africa Program Director, Wilson Center
Senior Managing Legal Officer, Open Society Justice Initiative
Founding
Partner, Total Impact Capital (TOTAL)
The State of Human Rights in Africa | November 20, 2019 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Brookings Institution, Saul/Zilkha Room 1775, Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
On a continent as vast and diverse as Africa, there are no simple narratives on freedom and human rights. Like many places in the world, there are hopeful trends and success stories, but also worrisome trends and signs of backsliding. While sincere efforts to enshrine human rights in law are found in most of Africa’s 54 countries, the actual protection of those rights often falls victim to corruption or to violent non-state actors with other designs in mind. But there are reasons for optimism as well as caution — and ample data to show observers where the trends are going. For instance, according to Freedom House, sub-Saharan Africa has about 10 “free” countries (most of them small), about 20 “partly free,” and about 20 more “not free” nations. Recent trends in The Gambia and Angola give rise to optimism, while repressive actions in Tanzania and Uganda suggest they have a ways to go.
On November 20, the Africa Security Initiative at the Brookings Institution will host a panel of experts on human rights trends in Africa. Questions will follow from the audience.
Speakers:
Moderator
Michael E. O’Hanlon
Senior Fellow – Foreign Policy
Director of Research – Foreign Policy
The Sydney Stein, Jr. Chair
Panelists
Mausi Segun
Executive Director, Africa – Human Rights Watch
Tiseke Kasambala
Chief of Party, Advancing Rights in Southern Africa Program – Freedom House
Jon Temin
Director,
Africa Program – Freedom House
Repairing the Damage: The future of U.S. relations with our Syrian Kurdish and the fight against ISIS | November 20, 2019 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Russell Senate Office, 2 Constitution Ave NE, Room 385, Washington, DC 20002 | Register Here
Turkey’s recent invasion of the predominantly Kurdish region (Rojava) in northeast Syria has upended the successful four year joint operation between the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS in Syria and left the Syrian Kurds and their partners at the mercy of Putin and Assad to seek protection against advancing Turkish forces.
Nearly 300,000 Kurds, Christians, and Arabs have been displaced and more than 700 people have been killed in the conflict which has also placed the anti-ISIS campaign at risk, including the potential escape of 1000s of ISIS prisoners in SDF-managed camps in eastern Syria. Alongside the Turkish military, radical jihadist fighters backed by Turkey have committed documented war crimes including the brutal murder of female Syrian Kurdish politician, Hevrin Khalaf.
Despite the U.S.-Turkish ceasefire agreement, Turkey and its proxies continue to bombard and invade areas outside the zone and Turkish President Erdogan has continued to reiterate his intention to ‘cleanse’ the area of local inhabitants. Confusion exists over the implications of the recent US decision to redeploy a small number of US forces back into eastern Syria to protect oil resources there.
The panel discussion will address the future relationship between the US and its Syrian Kurdish allies and the way forward to stop Turkey’s military operation, remove Turkish-backed jihadi proxies from the area and prevent the re-emergence of ISIS.
Opening Remarks — Honorable Senator Chris Van Hollen
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Najmaldin Karim, President of the Washington Kurdish Institute
Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Syrian Democratic Council
Dr. Amy Austin Holmes, Woodrow Wilson International Center &Visiting Professor at Harvard University
Dr. Aykan Erdemir, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Future Geopolitical Realities and Expectations in Syria | November 21, 2019 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045 | Register Here
On November
21st, the Turkish Heritage Organization will host President of the Independent
Syrian Kurdish Association Abdulaziz Tammo, Council of United Syrians and
Americans Executive Director Hamdi Rifai, and TRT World Middle East
Correspondent Sarah Firth for a discussion on “Future
Geopolitical Realities and Expectations in Syria”.
The Role of Women in Syria’s Future | November 21, 2019 | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM | Middle East Institute, 1763 N Street NW Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host a public event featuring a panel of influential Syrian women, which will focus on the important role of women within Syrian civil society and in local and international initiatives aimed at shaping a better future for Syria. The panel will focus particularly on the contributions made by women in Syria’s ongoing political processes, including the nascent Geneva negotiation track, as well as in the recently UN-convened Constitutional Committee.
Please join us for this timely discussion on the role of women at home and abroad, amid conflict and a continuing search for peace and justice in Syria.
Speakers
Sarah Hunaidi
Writer and human rights activist; member of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement
Rafif Jouejati
Co-founder and Director, FREE-Syria
Jomana Qaddour
Lawyer and analyst; co-founder, Syria Relief & Development
Vivian Salama
Journalist, The Wall Street Journal
Energizing India: Conversations on Energy Access and Security | November 22, 2019 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 1030 15th St NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC | Register Here
India faces various accessibility challenges in rural and urban regions. Smart grid and off-grid solutions subsidized by the Indian government have made the country one of the fastest electrifying in the world. While the Indian government claims 100 percent electrification, and thus significant transmission and distribution infrastructure, energy experts raise questions about the impact of these government-led efforts. As electrification grows among households, new solutions from both public and private sector entities must ensure long-term energy access and security.
Please join the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and South Asia Center on Friday, November 22, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a conversation with Shreerupa Mitra, Executive Director of The Energy Forum, about her new book, “Energizing India: Fuelling a Billion Lives.” followed by two expert panels on energy access and security in India.
Book Discussion: Energizing India: Fuelling a Billion Lives
Shreerupa Mitra
Executive
Director
The Energy Forum
Moderated by
Randolph Bell
Director, Global Energy CenterAtlantic Council
Panel I: Ensuring Energy Access
Dr. Johannes Urpelainen
Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Professor of Energy,
Resources and Environment; Director, Energy, Resources and Environment Program,
School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins University
Moderated by
Bina Hussein
Associate Director, Global Energy Center
Atlantic Council
Panel II: Ensuring Energy Security
Amos Hochstein
Former Special Envoy and Coordinator for International
Energy Affairs
US Department of State
Shreerupa Mitra
Executive Director
The Energy Forum
Moderated by
Dr. Irfan Noorruddin
Director, South Asia Center
Atlantic Council
*More speakers to be announced soon*
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Stevenson’s army, November 11
On this Veterans Day, all gratitude and honor to those who have served in uniform!
Get ready for Wednesday. In addition to the start of the impeachment hearings, Presidents Trump and Erdogan will meet and hold a news conference. [Usually these are limited to 2 questions from each country’s media. We’ll see.]
Meanwhile, Leader McConnell wants to know what sanctions Trump will favor. And NSA O’Brien suggests something punishing Russia S-400 purchase
Nikki Haley blames Kelly and Tillerson for thwarting Trump.
NYT has long articles documenting Russian interference in Madagascar and Biden’s activities in Ukraine.
And here’s a good history refresher on presidential cooperation with investigations.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. If you want to get it directly, To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Peace Picks | November 4 – 8
A Civil Society Approach to Preventing Terrorism and Targeted Violence | November 4, 2019 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM | New America, 740 15th St NW #900 Washington, D.C. 20005 | Register Here
On
October 28 – the day after the anniversary of the Tree of Life tragedy –
Parallel Networks will launch Ctrl +Alt +Del-Hate, a counter polarization, hate
and far right-wing e-magazine that replicates the pilot counter-jihadi e-zine
project they launched in July.That jihadi version has since been embedded in Telegram as
the first public e-narrative effort on the platform in English. Rather than
utilizing it as a stand-alone piece, they use it to initiate discourse, force
the hubs to communicate in groups, and deconstruct their arguments to engage in
one-on-one intervention-oriented conversations.
On November 4, join New America and Parallel Networks as they discuss Parallel Networks’ new initiative, the
changing threat landscape, the future of terrorism prevention practices, and
the utilization of “ecosystem approaches” for interventions to best combat
extremism in all forms. The panel will also discuss the relationship between
far-right wing and jihadism.
Follow the conversation online using #CtrlAltDelHate and following @NewAmericaISP and @Parallel_Net.
Speakers:
Mitch Silber
Former Director of Intelligence Analysis at New York Police
Department
Jesse
Morton
Co-founder, Parallel Networks
Brad
Galloway
Research and Intervention Specialist, Organization for
Prevention of Violence
Jeff
Schoep
Former leader of the Neo-Nazi group, National Socialist
Movement
Moderator:
Melissa Salyk-Virk
Senior Policy Analyst, New America
Jihadism in Africa | November 5, 2019 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Brookings Institute, Saul Zilkha Room, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC, 20036 | Register Here
Islamist-inspired radical groups in Africa have had an enduring presence on the continent despite decades of international efforts to contain and eliminate them. From the 1998 attacks against the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, to more recent insurgencies aimed at destabilizing national governments, organizations like al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Harakat al-Shabab, Boko Haram, and others have demonstrated remarkable staying power and show few signs of abating. However, the West has not paid sufficient attention to these groups and the potential they have to disrupt the continent’s development and export violence beyond.
On November 5, the Africa Security
Initiative at the Brookings Institution will host an event to discuss these
issues and their importance for contemporary discussions about security on the
African continent. The speakers will be Michael O’Hanlon, Senior Fellow at Foreign
Policy, and Stig Jarle Hansen, professor at the Norwegian University of Life
Sciences.
Building a Peace Regime on the Korean Peninsula | November 5, 2019 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | CSIS Headquarters, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
The
U.S. and South Korean dialogues with the North raise the important issue of
what a long-term process of building a “peace regime” would look like and what
the implications might be for the U.S.-ROK alliance. Up for debate is the fate
of U.S. troops in South Korea and other security and diplomatic arrangements
that have come to be taken for granted over the past 70+ years. It is hard to
overstate the importance of these arrangements: They have underpinned the
political and economic development of South Korea into one of the freest and
most prosperous states in the world even while keeping that state in nuclear
and military peril from the North.
Please join us for a special forum with leading U.S. and
South Korean experts to discuss these issues and to understand where we are
with North Korea today and the outlook of the future.
1:00 – 1:05
PM WELCOMING REMARKS
Dr. Victor Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair, CSIS; D.S. Song-KF
Professor of Government and Vice Dean, Georgetown University; Former National
Security Council
1:05 – 1:15
PM OPENING REMARKS
1:15 – 2:30
PM PANEL 1: The Peace
Regime and U.S.-ROK Alliance
Moderator:
Mr. Scott Snyder, Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program
on U.S.-Korea Policy, Council on Foreign Relations
Panelists:
Dr. Cho Seong-ryoul, Senior Adviser, Institute for National Security Strategy
Dr. Lee Sang-hyun, Senior Research Fellow, Sejong Institute
Mr. David Maxwell, Senior Fellow, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Dr. James Przystup, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Strategic Research,
National Defense University
2:30 – 2:45
PM COFFEE BREAK
2:45 – 4:00
PM PANEL 2: U.S.
and North Korea today and in the future
Moderator:
Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Senior
Fellow, CSIS Korea Chair; Former Senior Analyst, Central Intelligence Agency;
former Korea director, National Security Council
Panelists:
Amb. Mark Lippert, Senior
Advisor, CSIS Korea Chair; Vice President, Boeing International; Former U.S.
Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
Dr. Jung Pak, Senior Fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea
Studies, the Brookings Institution
Amb. Kathleen Stephens, President & CEO, Korea Economic Institute of America;
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
Ms. Kelly Magsamen, Vice President, National Security and International Policy,
Center for American Progress
Securing America’s Financial Borders | November 5, 2019 | 12:45 PM – 2:30 PM | Hudson Institute, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004 | Register Here
Hudson Institute will host an event to discuss strengthening U.S. national security through the prevention of illicit finance. Panelists will include Bank Policy Institute Senior Vice President Angelena Bradfield; U.S. Treasury Department Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Senior Policy Advisor Young Lee; and German Marshall Fund Fellow Josh Rudolph. The discussion will be moderated by Hudson Research Fellow Nate Sibley.
Kleptocrats, terrorists, drug cartels, and other transnational criminals exploit vulnerabilities in the U.S. financial system every day to launder the profits of crime and corruption. This has prompted recent efforts by U.S. policymakers for a more active approach to address illicit finance. Panelists will discuss recent anti-money laundering developments and additional measures that can be implemented as Congress considers updating the anti-money laundering regime and improving corporate transparency in the U.S.
Speakers
Angelena Bradfield
Senior Vice President, AML/BSA, Sanctions & Privacy, Bank Policy Institute
Young Lee
Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Josh Rudolph
Fellow for Malign Finance, Alliance for Securing Democracy, German Marshall Fund
Nate Sibley Moderator
Research Fellow, Kleptocracy Initiative, Hudson
Institute
Contesting the Indo-Pacific: Military Technology and the Shifting Offense-Defense Balance | November 7, 2019 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Stimson Center, 1211 Connecticut Ave NW, 8th Floor Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
China’s growing capability and influence across the Indo-Pacific provokes pressing questions for U.S. strategy in the region. With Asia undergoing major power transitions and advances in military technology potentially shifting the offense-defense balance, how should the United States, its allies, and its partners across the Indo-Pacific respond?
Eugene Gholz (University of Notre Dame) will present research suggesting that the trajectory of military technology may reinforce the US and its partners’ ability to create buffers against hostile powers, deny aggression, and enhance deterrence with the robust application of anti-access, area-denial (A2/AD) systems.
Featured Guest:
Eugene Gholz, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame
Discussants:
Yun Sun, East Asia Program Co-Director, Stimson Center
Evan Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Director of Research and Studies, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
Moderator:
Sameer
Lalwani, South Asia Program Director,
Stimson Center
Blurring the line: Politics and the military in a post-9/11 America | November 7, 2019 | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | AEI, Auditorium, 1789 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
Americans’ faith in political and social institutions has waned dramatically in recent years. But there is still one institution that US citizens overwhelmingly trust: the military. Politicians, voters, and the media alike increasingly turn to current and former members of the military to participate in public debate, assume leadership positions in the government, and even run for elected office. As the line between military and politics blurs, can the military maintain its revered tradition of nonpartisanship? And when it comes to public service, is there really such a thing as being apolitical?
Please join AEI for two panel discussions exploring these questions and the civil-military dynamics in the post-9/11 era.
Join the conversation on social media with @AEI on Twitter and Facebook.
If you are unable to attend, we welcome you to watch the event live on this page. Full video will be posted within 24 hours.
Agenda
7:45 AM
Registration
8:00 AM
Introduction:
Rebecca Burgess, AEI
8:05 AM
Panel I: ‘Second Service’: Electoral politics and the veteran
Panelists:
Rebecca Burgess,
AEI
Seth Lynn, Veterans Campaign
Jeremy Teigen, Ramapo College
Moderator:
Joe Kristol, US Marine Corps
(former)
8:45 AM
Q&A
9:00 AM
Panel II: A professional and a politician: Finding the ‘dash’ in the
civil-military dynamics
Panelists:
Nora Bensahel, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Jim Golby, US Army
Heidi
Urben, US Army
Moderator:
Giselle Donnelly, AEI
9:50 AM
Q&A
10:00 AM
Adjournment
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Peace Picks October 28-November 3
Africa in Transition: The Role of Women in Peace and Security|October 29, 2019|9:30am-11:30am|Wilson Center|1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 |Register Here
The prosperity of a nation cannot be divorced from the prosperity of its women. In sub-Saharan Africa, demographic trends, including rapid population growth and urbanization, ethnic tensions, and environmental degradation and climate change represent some of the compound security risks facing the region. A multisector and integrated approach that is inclusive of women is a precondition to curbing the underlying trends influencing instability in the region. When women are involved in security decision-making, the likelihood for conflict decreases, and peace negotiations last longer.
Please join the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program and Maternal Health Initiative, in partnership with The Population Institute, to discuss holistic approaches to complex security challenges in sub-Saharan Africa at the third public event in our three-part series, Africa in Transition.
Speakers
Moderator: Monde Muyangwa, Africa Program Director
Ambassador (ret.) Phillip Carter III, President, Mead Hill Group, LLC; former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea
Chantal de Jonge Oudraat , President, Women in International Security (WIIS)
Alex Ezeh, Professor of Global Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University
Elizabeth Leahy Madsen,Senior Program Director, International Programs, Population Reference Bureau
Israel’s Tightening Control of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza|October 30, 2019|12:30pm-2:00pm|Middle East Institute|1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036|Register Here
While some corners of Washington and the international community are waking up to the reality of Israel’s de facto annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and recurrent crisis in Gaza, few policymakers understand how the policies that have created this brutal and often tedious reality look like on the ground. This panel of seasoned Israeli experts will untangle the mess of occupation and annexation facing Palestinians living in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as the decisions required to address Gaza’s chronic problems.
This event is part of the George and Rhonda Salem Family Foundation Lecture Series.
Participant Biographies
Avner Gvaryahu is the Executive Director of Breaking the Silence as well as an M.A. candidate in the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia.
Daniel Seidemann is a practicing attorney in Jerusalem who specializes in legal and public issues in East Jerusalem.
Celine Touboul is the Co-Director General of the Economic Cooperation Foundation (ECF), an Israeli policy planning think-tank designing and advancing initiatives aimed at creating the conditions for the resumption of a genuine Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the realization of a viable two state-solution.
Dr. Bashar Azzeh (moderator) is a Member of the PLO Palestine National Council, PLO Center Council, PPSF Party international secretary and Advisor to the PLO.
Recent Trends in Democracy and Development in the Emerging World|October 31, 2019|10:00am-11:30am|Brookings Institution|Saul/Zilkha Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036|Register Here
By the end of 2019, more people will have cast a vote than ever before. Nearly 2 billion voters in 50 countries around the world will have headed to the polls to elect their leaders. At the same time, data show that citizens’ trust in governments is weak and political polarization is growing almost everywhere. Many are feeling left behind and find it hard to coexist with people who have different views. Social networks and echo chambers amplify this mistrust. Simultaneously, the world is getting richer, with just over half of the global population now middle class or wealthier. Many countries, ranging from autocracies to liberal democracies, are struggling to form political platforms that can satisfy a broad middle-class majority.
On October 31, the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings and the Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC) from Argentina will co-host an event to assess democratic trends in the developing world and tease out implications for growth and development, drawing from recent electoral results in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. The event will kick off with a brief presentation on global attitudes toward democracy by the Pew Research Center. A moderated panel with regional experts will follow.
Speakers
Homi Kharas (Welcome Remarks): Interim Vice President and Director, Global Economy and Development
Richard Wike: Director of Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Center
Julia Pomares: Executive Director, Centre for the Implementation of Public Policy for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC)
Landry Signé: David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Africa Growth Initiative
Irfan Nooruddin: Professor, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Richard Wike (Moderator): Director of Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Center
Iran Hostage Crisis 40th Anniversary Panel Discussion|October 31, 2019|10:30am-12:00pm|Wilson Center|1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 |Register Here
On November 4, 1979, a crowd of Iranian students charged into the US embassy in Tehran and took hostage 52 American diplomats and citizens. The resulting diplomatic standoff would last 444 days. Now, 40 years later, the Iran Hostage Crisis continues to loom as one of the defining moments in US-Iran relations. To mark the anniversary of this crucial event, a panel of US-Iran relations experts meet to discuss how the Crisis is viewed today and how it continues to play a role in US foreign policy.
The panel will be moderated by Haleh Esfandiari, former director and founder of the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program.
Dr. Esfandiari will be joined on the panel by:
Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow and Director of The Intelligence Project at the Brookings Institute.
Suzanne Maloney, Deputy Director of the Foreign Policy Program and Senior Fellow at the Center for Middle East Policy, Energy Security and Climate Initiative at the Brookings Institute.
John Limbert, retired US Diplomat and Distinguished Professor of International Affairs at the US Naval Academy. Ambassador Limbert was stationed in the US embassy in Iran in 1979 and was one of the diplomats held hostage, for which he received the Award of Valor.
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Peace Picks | September 23 – 27
1. How to Avoid the Arab Resource Curse | September 23, 2019 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Georgetown University-Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, 3700 O Street, N.W., 241 Intercultural Center (ICC), Washington, DC 20057, USA | Register Here
For over eighty years the Arab region has been deriving massive wealth from its natural resources. Nevertheless, its economic performance has been at the mercy of ebbs and flows of oil prices and its resources have been slowly depleting. The two critical questions are why and how Arab countries might escape the oil curse.
Institutions and Macroeconomic Policies in Resource-Rich Arab Economies focuses on the unique features of the Arab world to explain the disappointing outcomes of macroeconomic policy. It explores the interaction between oil and institutions to draw policy recommendations on how Arab countries can best exploit their oil revenues to avoid the resource curse. Case studies and contributions from experts provide an understanding of macroeconomic institutions (including their underlying rules, procedures and institutional arrangements) in oil-rich Arab economies and of their political economy environment, which has largely been overlooked in previous research.
The volume offers novel macroeconomic policy propositions for exchange rate regimes, fiscal policy and oil wealth distribution that is more consistent with macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability. These policy reforms, if implemented successfully, could go a long way in helping the resource-rich countries of the Arab region and elsewhere to avoid the oil curse.
Join CCAS for a book launch of the new volume, “Institutions and Macroeconomic Policies in Resource-rich Arab Economies,” featuring editors and contributing authors to the book.
Featuring
Joseph Sassoon (Discussion Chair) Professor, School of Foreign Service and History Department, Georgetown University
Ibrahim Elbadawi (Contributing Author) Minister of Finance and Economy, Republic of Sudan (joining via video call)
Shanta Devarajan (Contributing Author) Professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Hoda Selim (Volume Co-editor) Research Fellow, Economic Research Forum
Nada
Eissa (Discussant) Associate Professor,
McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University
2. A Climate of Concern: What Climate Change Means for Food Security and Political Stability in Africa | September 25, 2019 | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
Please join the CSIS Global
Food Security Project for a discussion with a panel of experts on the
relationship between climate change, political instability, and food security
using current events on the African continent as a lens. The emerging consensus
is that climate change poses significant national security
threats. However, specific linkages between climate change and
political instability are still opaque. As climate change reshapes the
agricultural landscape across Africa, there is concern that higher food prices
and falling yields will lead to widespread urban unrest and catalyze
participation in armed extremist movements.
Preceded by a keynote from Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), the discussion will
examine how climate change is interacting with demographic trends in Africa to
both heighten risks associated with agriculture in rural areas and those
associated with dependence on global markets in urban areas. Our panelists will
explore several issues such as how averting crisis in the face of climate
change and food insecurity will require:
- Better incorporation of agricultural production and food prices—both global and local—into risk assessments.
- Reinvestment in agricultural and transport infrastructure to reform global agricultural trade to make it more climate-resilient for consumers and producers in the developing world.
- Opportunities
to work with regional governments to develop more inclusive responses to manage
political and economic instability.
FEATURING
U.S. Senator (D-PA)
Vice President for Policy, U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP)
Director & Practice Head, Africa, Eurasia Group
Erin Sikorsky
Deputy Director, Strategic Futures Group, National Intelligence Council, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Professor, Korbel School of
International Studies (University of Denver) & Director, Sié Chéou-Kang
Center for International Security and Diplomacy
3. Beyond the Brink: Escalation Dominance in the U.S.-China Trade War | September 25, 2019 | 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM | 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 | Register Here
The U.S.-China trade war is unprecedented in size, scope, and importance. The potential economic costs of the conflict—and any decoupling it prompts—are enormous, not only to the United States and China but to the global economy. Nearly 18 months since escalation began, the path to resolution is still unclear.
In this event, senior experts will discuss the state of U.S.-China trade relations today and roll out a major CSIS report on escalation dynamics in economic conflict. The event will draw on game theory as well as observations of real-world escalation to help policymakers manage economic conflict with China.
Agenda:
Welcome
and Presentation of Findings
Matthew P. Goodman
Senior Vice President and Simon Chair in Political Economy, CSIS
Expert Panel Discussion
Scott Kennedy
Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, CSIS
William Reinsch
Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business, CSIS
Claire Reade
Senior Counsel, Arnold & Porter
Stephanie Segal
Senior
Fellow, Simon Chair in Political Economy, CSIS
4. Syria Study Group Releases Final Report | September 26, 2019 | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 | Register Here
Well into its ninth year, the conflict in Syria is a devastating humanitarian tragedy and a source of regional instability with serious implications for U.S. national security. Last year, Congress directed USIP to facilitate the bipartisan Syria Study Group (SSG) in order to examine the current state of the conflict and make recommendations on the military and diplomatic strategy of the United States going forward.
The release of the SSG’s final report follows months of extensive consultations across a broad range of stakeholders and experts, as well as travel to the region. It represents the consensus of all twelve Congressionally-appointed SSG members and offers a bipartisan roadmap for the way ahead.
Please join the Syria Study Group for a panel
discussion and presentation of the final report’s assessments and
recommendations. The event will include a keynote address from Senator Jeanne
Shaheen (D-NH), who spearheaded the creation of the bipartisan study group.
Stay tuned for additional speaker updates. The list of SSG members can be seen here.
5. The Future of Nuclear Arms Control | September 26, 2019 | 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW | Register Here
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is pleased to invite you to a discussion on The Future of Nuclear Arms Control with Mrs. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, of The Elders.
Founded by Nelson Mandela, The Elders are a group of former heads of state and senior United Nations officials who work together for peace, justice and human rights. Robinson and Brundtland will present some of the key insights and recommendations for minimizing the dangers posed by nuclear weapons contained in the recent paper, Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.
Following the brief presentation, George Perkovich will lead a discussion with Robinson and Brundtland and then open the floor for dialogue with audience participants. A lite lunch will be served.
6. Governing in a Post-Conflict Country in Transition | September 27, 2019 | 10 AM | Johns Hopkins University – Kenney-Herter Auditorium 1740 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 | Register Here
Since 2011 and the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011, Libya has been going through a difficult and often violent transition. Mr. Serraj, the head of Libya’s Presidential Council and Prime Minister, who assumed office at the end of 2015, will share with us his experience in governing in such difficult post-conflict circumstances, the prospects for the future of Libya, and what the US and International Community can do to help.
Mr. Faiez Sarraj was born in Tripoli, Libya, in 1960. He currently serves as the President of the Presidential Council of Libya and the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord.
Mr. Sarraj began his political career as a member of the National Dialogue Committee and he was elected to the House of Representatives for the District of Andalus in the city of Tripoli.
Mr. Sarraj had previously worked in the Libyan Social Security Fund, Department of Project Management. He served as a consultant in the Utilities Engineering Consultancy Office in Libya and worked in the private sector for an engineering project management firm. Moreover, Mr. Al-Sarraj worked as the chairman of the Housing Committee in the House of Representatives in Libya and was a member of the Energy Committee in the House of Representatives.
7. War Crimes in Syria: Identifying Perpetrators and Seeking Justice | September 27, 2019 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Middle East Institute, 1763 N Street NW Washington, District of Columbia 20036 | Register Here
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host a joint panel with the Pro-Justice to launch the new book, Blacklist: Violations Committed by the Most Prominent Syrian Regime Figures and How to Bring Them to Justice.
Blacklist identifies and provides detailed information on nearly 100 individuals accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria over the past eight years. The book also sheds light on the crimes themselves and outlines potential political and judicial avenues available to bring the perpetrators to justice.
A panel of experts will delve into prospects for promoting transitional justice and accountability in Syria as part of any post-conflict scenario.
Speakers:
- Anne Barnard is a New York Times journalist who covers climate and environment for the Metro desk.
- Wael Sawah is the president and director of Pro-Justice.
- Charles Lister is a senior fellow and director of the Countering Terrorism and Extremism program at the Middle East Institute.
- Joyce Karam (moderator) is the Washington Correspondent for The National, a leading English daily based in Abu Dhabi, and an adjunct professor at George Washington University, school of Political Science.
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Stevenson’s army, August 15
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes an almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. If you want to get it directly, follow the instructions below:
-A new Pew poll shows sharply negative US views of China over the past 2 years.
– WaPo calls Trump a “bystander” on Hong Kong.
-WSJ says Huawei helps some African governments monitor their opponents.
– Mark Perry notes Gen. Dunford’s retirement — “the last adult” leaving the administration.
– Israel may block visit by pro-Palestinian congresswomen.
To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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