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Second Annual Ocean Security Forum Jan 07, 2020

The Stephenson Ocean Security Project invites you to the second annual CSIS Ocean Security Forum on January 7, 2020. The annual forum highlights how marine resources disputes, exacerbated by climate change and ecosystem collapse, drive instability in key regions of the globe. This year’s event will feature keynotes from U.S. Coast Guard leadership and key members of Congress and will highlight opportunities to improve security and human rights in the global fishing industry. Speakers will explore two themes:

Opportunities to address human rights violations in the seafood supply chain through U.S. policy, emerging technologies, and corporate accountability.
Implications of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative port investments on ocean sustainability and on the security and sovereignty of developing coastal states.

Please follow us on Twitter @CSISOceans

Phil Stephenson, Founder, The Philip Stephenson Foundation
Dr. Whit Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project, CSIS

Dr. Dyhia Belhabib, Principal Investigator, Fisheries, Ecotrust Canada
Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow, Simon Chair in Political Economy, and Director, Reconnecting Asia Project, CSIS
Philip Chou, Senior Advisor, Oceana
Ernesto Fernandez Monge, Officer, Reducing Harmful Fisheries Subsidies, Pew Charitable Trusts
Moderator: Tabitha Mallory, Affiliate Professor, University of Washington, and CEO, China Ocean Institute

Roberta Elias, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, World Wildlife Fund
Bradley Soule, Chief Fisheries Analyst, OceanMind
Jenny Barker, Chief of Party, Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability, FishWise
Amol Mehra, Managing Director, The Freedom Fund
Moderator: Dr. Whit Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project, CSIS

Vice Admiral Daniel B. Abel, Deputy Commandant for Operations, U.S. Coast Guard
Dr. Whit Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project, CSIS

This event is made possible with the generous support of the Philip Stephenson Foundation.

Re-examining the History of Tiananmen Square Nov 22, 2019

Thirty years ago, as communism crumbled across Europe, more than one million Chinese protesters gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to demand greater political rights and more government accountability. After more than a month of rising demands and growing crowds, the Communist Party of China unleased a violent crackdown, killing hundreds, possibly thousands of Chinese citizens.
To mark this 30-year anniversary, CSIS’s Project on History and Strategy invites you to a discussion with Dr. Andrew J. Nathan of Columbia University, a leading scholar of Chinese politics and the sources of political legitimacy in Asia. Dr. Nathan will discuss the history of Tiananmen and explain how the legacy and lessons of 1989 have shaped Chinese politics over the past three decades.
Dr. Nathan is the author of several books on culture, rights and political participation in China and Asia more broadly.

This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

China's New Era in Techno-Governance Nov 06, 2019

Technology was once viewed as a liberating tool for individuals living under authoritarian regimes, yet today, illiberal governments around the world are developing, acquiring, and utilizing technologies to strengthen political control over their population. Perhaps more than any other authoritarian country, China is experimenting with new methods of integrating technology into its system of governance, with its near-total surveillance state in the western region of Xinjiang being the most extreme example. Please join the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies and the CSIS Human Rights Initiative for a discussion of how technology is changing the way the CCP governs China. The event will feature panelists Josh Chin and Kate O’Keeffe of The Wall Street Journal, and Christina Larson of the Associated Press.
This event is made possible through CSIS general support funds.

Taiwan's Close Watch on Hong Kong Protests Nov 04, 2019

By: Bonnie S. Glaser

In this episode, Jude invites CSIS Director of the China Power Project Bonnie Glaser. They discuss how the ongoing events in Hong Kong are impacting Taiwan’s own relations with mainland China, as well as how the continued unrest can affect Taiwan’s presidential elections coming up in January 2020.

Family Time Oct 29, 2019

By: Richard Miles

For one week last June, dozens of reporters in the USA Today network coordinated stories on migrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border in the article "One deadly week reveals where the immigration crisis begins - and where it ends." Daniel Gonzalez, a long-time immigration reporter for The Arizona Republic, tells what they found, and recounts some of his interviews in Guatemala and Mexico’s southern border. Most Central American families, he found, are fleeing economic misery rather than persecution. They are also lured in part by U.S. asylum law, a trend that saw a massive increase in apprehensions in 2019, especially in May and June.

Xi-Modi Summit in Chennai, India: A Conversation with Tanvi Madan Oct 23, 2019

By: Bonnie S. Glaser

This episode explores the current dynamics between China and India in light of Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi’s second informal summit in October 2019. Our guest, Dr. Tanvi Madan, analyzes the outcomes of this meeting and the key issues impacting the bilateral relationship. Dr. Madan explains India’s views on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and use of detention facilities in Xinjiang, as well as how U.S. policy toward India factors in to China-India relations. She also addresses continued points of contention like the Kashmir region and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Dr. Tanvi Madan is director of The India Project and a senior fellow for the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Madan’s work explores Indian foreign policy, focusing particularly on India's relations with China and the United States. She also researches the intersection between Indian energy policies and its foreign and security policies.

A Little Like a Refugee Oct 04, 2019

Featuring: Richard Miles

The Trump Administration has dramatically reduced the annual number of refugees that the U.S. will accept. Erol Yayboke of CSIS’s Project for Prosperity and Development tells us what being a “refugee” means in international law, and details the ebb and flow of post-World War II U.S. refugee policy. He also explains the effects the policy will have on Mexico and Central America, the largest sources of those seeking to enter the U.S. based on claims of violence and persecution.

Express Yourself Oct 03, 2019

African creatives are using their talents to represent the region and reshape African narratives. Host Judd Devermont chats with innovators Fati Abubaker, (Independent photojournalist) and Mike Achode (Crudo Volta), as well as academic Lindsey Green-Simms (American University) about perceptions of the continent and opportunities to impact U.S. policy. Plus, guests examine the rise of xenophobic violence in South Africa and what the Pope’s visit to Africa means for the future of the Catholic Church.

Rethinking Nigeria's Response to the Boko Haram Crisis Sep 19, 2019

The ongoing violence in northeastern Nigeria continues to generate substantial humanitarian consequences and shows no signs of abatement. The Government of Nigeria has been inconsistent in its campaign, alternating between disengagement and the disproportionate use of force to counter Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa. Its response to humanitarian challenges have been equally problematic; Nigerian officials have herded civilian populations into so-called garrison towns. This policy misdiagnoses the underlying drivers of the conflict and is deeply counterproductive. It has created fear and distrust in part because the government has alleged that civilians who chose not to move are Boko Haram sympathizers. This approach has implications for U.S. policy toward Nigeria in general and its assistance programs in the northeast region in particular. The panel will examine North East Nigerian current conflict dynamics, government policies toward the region, and opportunities and challenges for U.S. political, security, and humanitarian engagement.
Panelists will include: Brandon Kendhammer, Ohio University; Fati Abubakar, Documentary Photographer & Public Health Worker; Ambassador Alexander Laskaris, former Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, U.S. Africa Command; Dafna Hochman Rand, Vice President for Policy and Research, Mercy Corps
Moderator: Judd Devermont, Director, Africa Program, CSIS

This event was made possible through the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Humanitarian Implications of Cyber Conflicts Sep 19, 2019

How does cyber conflict affect civilians? The threat and risks of cyber conflict are increasing, but it is unclear how principles of international humanitarian law apply. Cyber attacks can be precise in their effect, but many have caused unanticipated consequences, disrupting shipping companies, national healthcare systems or city services. With the advent of the internet of things, where many more devices and services will be vulnerable to cyber attack, civilian populations are more connected and digitally exposed than ever. Does increasing cyber conflict between states risk unanticipated humanitarian costs? Conversely, could cyber operations reduce the risk to civilian populations by giving states an alternative to traditional kinetic options? What kind of rules are possible to best reduce risk and guide state behavior? Join us for an interactive discussion of the humanitarian implications of cyber conflict.
Panelists will include: Colonel Gary Corn, Director and Adjunct Professor, American University, Washington College of Law; Shanthi Kalathil, Senior Director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies, National Endowment for Democracy
Moderator: James Andrew Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director, Technology Policy Program, CSIS

This event was made possible through the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism: The Importance of Religious Freedom Sep 10, 2019

The CSIS Asia Program cordially invites you to "Reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism: The Importance of Religious Freedom"

Featuring remarks by
Lobsang Sangay President of the Central Tibetan Administration

Followed by a discussion moderated by

Michael J. Green Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.

Influence Operations Aug 22, 2019

This week, Jude and Andrew discuss last Sunday’s mass migration of Hong Kong protesters in a peaceful march, and what it might indicate for the future. They also analyze the growing role of social media within the conflict, as well as within potential cyber threats from China, and how the White House and U.S. Congress is—or isn’t—responding to it all.

Preventing Radicalization: A Personal Perspective Aug 09, 2019

Host Amy Lehr talks with Hadiya Masieh. Hadiya joined Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir when she was in college. After a decade, she severed those ties, dedicating her time and energy to speaking out against the ideas promoted by such radical groups. She uses her insights and experience to deter young people from taking the same path, using technology as one tool in that effort.

A Human Rights-based Approach to A.I. Jul 25, 2019

Initiatives and partnerships to promote “ethical A.I.” are proliferating within the A.I. community. While ethics provide a critical framework in addressing challenges posed by A.I., it is not a replacement for human rights. Host Amy Lehr discusses the human rights impact of A.I. and what governments and companies can do to make human rights integral in the design and use of A.I. with guests David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and Vivek Krishnamurthy, Counsel in the Boston office of Foley Hoag LLP and lecturer on law at Harvard Law School as part of the Berkman Klein Center.

Transatlantic Human Rights Cooperation: An Armchair Discussion with the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Jul 17, 2019

The Human Rights Initiative at CSIS invites you to an armchair discussion on transatlantic human rights cooperation with the EU Special Representative on Human Rights.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, will discuss the EU’s human rights priorities and opportunities for transatlantic cooperation. He will focus on the EU’s approach to issues such as the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, additional ways to protect human rights defenders and civil society amidst rising authoritarianism, and human rights abuses across the world including in China.
At a time when the need for multilateral institutions is being questioned, the EU remains deeply committed to them. Why does the EU continue to believe that these institutions are essential to defending our values and interests, and how can the EU and US work together to improve the human rights situation globally?
This event is made possible through general support.

AI for Good Jul 12, 2019

There is a preconceived notion that artificial intelligence has predominantly negative implications for human rights. However, artificial intelligence can also positively impact human rights --a point that’s often neglected and not given the attention they deserve. Humanity, Wired host Amy Lehr talks with Sherif Elsayed-Ali, Director of Partnerships at AI for Good, and Element AI, about the positive impacts of AI, and the role of business in this space. Element AI’s AI for Good lab provides dedicated, world class AI and engineering expertise to organizations working for the public benefit. He is also co-chair of the World Economic Forum's global future council on human rights and technology, and a fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy School.

The Global Peace Index 2019 Launch Jun 20, 2019

The Human Rights Initiative of CSIS invites you to a public launch event of the 2019 Global Peace Index (GPI). The Global Peace Index is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness, ranking 163 countries and territories according to their level of relative peacefulness. Created by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the report presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to-date on trends in peace and its economic value.

The report findings will be followed by a panel discussion considering the implications of closing civic space and inequality for peace. It will look particularly at the factors that IEP has found to be necessary preconditions for peace in its Positive Peace Report, many of which rely on an active civil society and limits on inequality.
This event is made possible by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP).

Educating Girls: Building Kenya’s Future Jun 19, 2019

Beverly Kirk talks with Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya about starting a school to educate young girls in her Kenyan hometown and keeping them out of forced early marriages. Two of her students also join the conversation to talk about their aspirations and goals.

Rules in War – A Thing of the Past? May 10, 2019

Rapid changes in warfare pose stark, complex challenges for international humanitarian law (IHL). Indeed, they raise fundamental questions about the relevance, normative power, and impact of IHL in today’s dangerous world.
Proliferating conflicts are increasingly intractable, lasting for years or decades, causing protracted human suffering on a mass scale. Battles waged in densely populated cities suddenly put huge numbers of vulnerable civilians at-risk. Non-state armed groups – ISIS, Al Qaeda, and others – wage asymmetric war. Security partnerships and proxy wars, often embedded in a new Cold War of intensified Great Power confrontation, magnify the scale of wars and have obscure chains of command. New technologies – “killer robots,” A.I., cyber weapons – are no less opaque and problematic. Meanwhile, the surge of deliberate, targeted violence against aid workers, health facilities and schools, often with utter impunity, disrupts humanitarian access, destroys critical infrastructure, and propels mass migration.
As the 70 anniversary of the Geneva Conventions approaches in August, how does this vitally important body of law relate to today’s – and tomorrow’s – realities, a world in which the liberal international order of the past seven decades seems to be fading?
Please join us for a keynote address and armchair conversation with Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Formerly serving as the Swiss Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs for the Swiss Foreign Ministry, Mr. Maurer has a wealth of diplomatic experience with humanitarian crises. He will speak to the continued relevance of IHL, including the centrality of humanitarian principles to gain access to vulnerable populations. He will also address a question of considerable import and timeliness: how are we to achieve a global reaffirmation of the Geneva Conventions, including the enlistment of powerful new advocates, in the face of populist nationalism, historic migration flows, and increasing state fragility?

Women and Market Mechanisms in North Korea Apr 29, 2019

The growth of markets is one of the most significant socioeconomic developments to occur in North Korea over the past two decades. While many understand that North Korea now has a thriving market system, the important role that the women of North Korea play is not as well known or appreciated.

The CSIS Korea Chair and the North Korea Freedom Coalition invite you to join us for a special event featuring expert discussions on markets and civil society in North Korea as well as a presentation of Beyond Parallel's mapping of 436 officially sanctioned markets across North Korea. The panel discussion will be followed by testimonies from North Korean escapees on the importance of women's roles and experiences in North Korea's markets.

2:00 PM | WELCOMING REMARKS
Mr. H. Andrew Schwartz, Chief Communications Officer, CSIS
Dr. Suzanne Scholte, Chair, North Korea Freedom Coalition

2:05 PM | SESSION I: Markets and Civil Society in North Korea
Ms. Amy Lehr, Director, Human Rights Initiative, CSIS
Dr. Victor Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair, CSIS; D.S. Song-KF Professor of Government, Georgetown University
Dr. Andrew Yeo, Associate Professor and Director of Asian Studies, The Catholic University of America
Ms. Olivia Enos, Policy Analyst, Asian Studies Center, The Heritage Foundation

2:55 PM | SESSION II: Women in the Markets
Dr. Suzanne Scholte, North Korea Freedom Coalition
Ms. Lee, Hyo-joo, North Korean Escapee with Experience as Wholesale Market Vendor and Diesel Oil Trader
Ms. Park, Ji-hye, North Korean Escapee with Experience as Rice and Corn Trader
Ms. Heo, Cho-hee, North Korean Escapee with Experience as Small Consumer Goods Trader
Ms. Kim, Ji-young, North Korean Escapee

4:00 PM | ADJOURNMENT

This event is made possible by the general support to CSIS.

2019 Global Development Forum: "Preparing for Tomorrow, Today" Apr 11, 2019

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations*

The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.
Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area.

8:00 AM—Registration opens
8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde

8:45 AM—Opening Remarks
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister

9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID
James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID
Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America
Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium
Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC
Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard
Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break
11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1
Development Finance and Debt Sustainability
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/...

2019 Global Development Forum: "Preparing for Tomorrow, Today" Apr 11, 2019

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations*

The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.
Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area.

8:00 AM—Registration opens
8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde

8:45 AM—Opening Remarks
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister

9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID
James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID
Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America
Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium
Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC
Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard
Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break
11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1
Development Finance and Debt Sustainability
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/...

2019 Global Development Forum: "Preparing for Tomorrow, Today" Apr 11, 2019

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations*

The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.
Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area.

8:00 AM—Registration opens
8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde

8:45 AM—Opening Remarks
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister

9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID
James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID
Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America
Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium
Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC
Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard
Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break
11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1
Development Finance and Debt Sustainability
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/...

2019 Global Development Forum: "Preparing for Tomorrow, Today" Apr 11, 2019

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations*

The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.
Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area.

8:00 AM—Registration opens
8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde

8:45 AM—Opening Remarks
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister

9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID
James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID
Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw

Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America
Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium
Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC
Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard
Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS

10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break
11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1
Development Finance and Debt Sustainability
Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/...

Everything in Moderation: The Unintended Consequences of Regulating Hate Speech Apr 10, 2019

The Human Rights Initiative of CSIS invites you to a public event, “Everything in Moderation: The Unintended Consequences of Regulating Hate Speech.”

Over the past year, the topic of what speech should be permitted online has been heavily debated. Attacks on ethnic minorities, harassment of female journalists, and the recent live-streamed terrorist attack in New Zealand have led to calls in the US and globally to impose penalties on technology companies that fail to take down harmful content. For instance, recent EU and Australian proposals threaten severe fines or even jail time if content is not removed rapidly.

The event will explore the double-edged sword of regulating speech online. For instance, efforts to minimize hate speech and discrimination online may accidentally limit the free expression of civil society actors. Striking the right balance is essential, but challenging.

The event will explore how different companies regulate online speech and varied perspectives on whether and when tech companies should be liable for online speech. It will seek to identify paths forward that protect human rights and society.

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

Mexico’s Melting Pot Feb 22, 2019

As global forced migration increases rapidly, Mexico has transitioned from just an exporter of people north to a transit and a recipient country all in one. While significant challenges remain, Mexico has an opportunity for regional leadership on migration. Erol Yayboke, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow at the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development, and CSIS Americas’ Moises Rendon discuss their recent research trip to Mexico City and Tapachula. They focus on how Mexico’s government and society are responding to the growing migration flows from Central America and other countries to Mexico.

Know Your (Human) Rights Feb 22, 2019

Human rights violations persist across Africa. How can the global community engage national governments to reverse this trend? Judd Devermont (CSIS) puts the question to experts Carine Kaneza Nantulya (Human Rights Watch), Amy Lehr (CSIS), and Chidi Odinkalu (The Open Society Justice Initiative). Protests in Zimbabwe and Senegalese elections also feature on this episode.

All in the Family Feb 14, 2019

By: Richard Miles

Ambassador Jay Anania, born two blocks from the State Department, was drawn to the U.S. Foreign Service partly by the examples of his NSA dad and CIA mom. His 30-year career started in Tijuana and ended in Paramaribo, with stops along the way in Amman, Havana, Abu Dhabi, Berlin, Hong Kong, and Baghdad. He and host Richard Miles discuss changes on the U.S. southern border as well as the effectiveness of the Organization of American States, where Jay served as the senior management official from 2015-2017.

The View from Europe Feb 11, 2019

In this episode, experts discuss the upcoming Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi. CSIS's Korea Chair, Victor Cha, and host H. Andrew Schwartz welcome Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Institute for European Studies and Reader in International Relations at King's College London. Pardo offers the view from Europe.

Download transcript here.

Who’s on First, What Comes Next? Feb 07, 2019

By: Richard Miles

Juan Guaidó, the 35-year old legitimate head of the Venezuelan National Assembly, is facing off against Nicolas Maduro, who clings to his illegitimate power. Venezuela experts Moises Rendon of CSIS and Eric Farnsworth of the Council of the Americas are back to describe the role of the United States, the international community, and the Cubans. Guaidó himself, according to Moises, has a promising political future and may be the rarest of creatures in the Bolivarian Republic; someone who can unite factions against the government. If he can convince the military that it won’t be unfairly prosecuted by a successor government, we may be in the final throes of the Maduro regime.

Coming Home Jan 24, 2019

By: Richard Miles

Images of migrants charging the U.S. border obscure a larger trend. Many Mexican and Central American migrants are returning home, whether they want to or not. Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, returns to talk about who is coming and who is going. What are the governments of Mexico and the Northern Triangle doing to handle this reverse influx and what does it mean for U.S. immigration policy? Finally, will Americans support an immigration deal anytime soon?

Truth, Lies, and Journalism Jan 09, 2019

Journalism remains a vital but dangerous profession in sub-Saharan Africa. Rodney Sieh (FrontPage Africa), Jon Temin (Freedom House) and Siobhan O’Grady (Washington Post) join Judd Devermont (CSIS) to discuss Rodney's recent book, Journalist on Trial, and unpack challenges facing the continent’s media. But first, checkups for South African foreign policy and Gambian democracy.

Targeted Sanctions on Human Rights Abusers and Kleptocracies Dec 13, 2018

Please join the Human Rights Initiative for reflections from U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), the author of the Global Magnitsky Act. He will be followed by a panel examining the impact of the Global Magnitsky sanctions, opportunities to improve implementation, and how the sanctions fit within financial sector approaches to human rights and corruption. These sanctions enable targeted designations based on human rights abuse and corruption around the world, and have been imposed on officials and companies in a number of recent high profile situations, including Myanmar, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nicaragua.

Keynote Speaker
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)

Panel
Robert Berschinski
Senior Vice President Policy at Human Rights First
Robert Peri
Director of US Sanctions at Citibank

Joshua White
Director of Policy and Analysis at The Sentry
Andrea Prasow
Deputy Washington Director, Human Rights Watch
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

Will We See More Caravans? Nov 20, 2018

By: Richard Miles

Caravans from Central America. They were big news for a while, now not so much. But they are sure to return to the front pages. Manuel Orozco, Director of Migration at the Inter-American Dialogue, joins Richard for a discussion on what is causing Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans to leave their countries. He argues that bad governance, not just gang violence, is a big contributor. Do U.S. policymakers have any good options?

Music is the Weapon of the People Nov 07, 2018

Judd Devermont sits down with renowned Afro-beats star and fearless activist, Bobi Wine, to discuss how his music is inspiring Ugandan youths to challenge state repression. Damola Durosomo (OkayAfrica) and Lauren Ploch Blanchard (Congressional Research Service) join in on the conversation. Also in store, an update on Nigeria’s 2019 elections and Melania Trump’s not-so-memorable trip to four African countries.

Celebrating World Humanitarian Day Aug 20, 2018

Please join us to celebrate World Humanitarian Day with Administrator Mark Green of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). World Humanitarian Day is an international celebration that commemorates both the accomplishments and sacrifices of humanitarian aid personnel who work in difficult and dangerous environments. Without their dedication to humanity, the delivery of life-saving aid and technical support to millions across the globe would not be possible. The discussion will focus on the future of humanitarian assistance, evolving challenges in the aid community, and U.S. leadership within this sector moving forward. We look forward to your attendance and participation to celebrate this special day.

Forging the Future of Jobs: A Conversation with Guy Ryder, Director General of the ILO Jul 19, 2018

The world faces complex challenges posed by a growing and aging population, forced migration, persistent poverty, urbanization, and a series of technological disruptions impacting labor. The world needs 600 million new jobs over the next 15 years just to keep up with current demand. If channeled correctly, population growth could lead to a demographic dividend. Otherwise, this wave of human energy will be lost. The adage remains true: the best social program (and best national security policy) is a job.

Institutions like the International Labor Organization (ILO) have many roles to play in this changing world: agenda setter, capacity builder, convener, and trusted partner. A tri-partite organization made up of government, labor, and the private sector, the ILO seeks to bridge differences and build a common approach. The ILO was stood up in the belief that societies are interdependent and that labor unions need thriving businesses that, in turn, want clear rules of the game and a productive and happy workforce.

As the ILO approaches 100 years of service, it has formed a Global Commission on the Future of Work. The Global Commission has convened several national dialogues seeking to understand the future of work and the changing roles of diverse stakeholders in society. Please join us for a discussion with Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the ILO as we discuss the role of the ILO in this changing context.
This event is made possible by generous support from the International Labor Organization.

The Consequences of Ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Jun 21, 2018

Please join the CSIS Americas Program for a discussion on the current state of the Temporary Protected Status program, and its potential future impact on the Latin American and Caribbean region. Following the decision of the Trump Administration not to extend TPS for Hondurans announced on May 4, 2018, some 300,000 TPS recipients from Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti are in jeopardy of deportation over the next year and a half, along with their dependents, including some 267,000 U.S.-born children.

The event will feature a panel of ambassadors from the Latin American and Caribbean countries most affected by TPS, and the discussion will center on two major outstanding questions: first, what are the likely political, economic and human consequences in their home countries of actually deporting those individuals; and second, what are the implications for the United States of those likely developments in Central America and Haiti.

The panel will feature El Salvador Ambassador Claudia Ivette Canjura de Centeno and Honduras Ambassador Marlon Ramsses Tábora Muñoz. Brief presentations by each of the panelists will be followed by a moderated discussion and audience Q&A.

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

Where Do We Go from Here? Jun 19, 2018

Special guests Ambassador Robert King, the former special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, and Joseph Kim, a young man who defected from North Korea in 2006, discuss human rights in North Korea and the Trump administration’s position on the issue in the aftermath of the Singapore Summit. Download transcript here.

Combatting Transnational Threats: Policing Crime and Terrorism in a Borderless World Jun 14, 2018

Join Andrew Colvin, Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), as he discusses the implications of destabilization in fragile and failed states for combatting transnational terrorism and organized crime in the West. After Commissioner Colvin’s remarks, Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair and Director of the CSIS Transnational Threats Project, will host a moderated armchair discussion. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

Destination: Maghreb – Part 2 Jun 01, 2018

After following the path of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in part one, we now join them as they try to navigate life in the Maghreb where different countries have different strategies for welcoming their new arrivals. With Haim Malka. Hosted by Colm Quinn.

Check out Haim’s report here: Destination Maghreb: Changing Migration Patterns in North Africa.

Music credit: “Sidi Habibi” is from the Tsikago album by Lamajamal, a Chicago-based music ensemble, and published by Intercultural Music Production.

Subscribe to our new podcast on all things North Korea, The Impossible State.

Confronting the Global Forced Migration Crisis: Report Launch May 30, 2018

The size and scope of the global forced migration crisis are unprecedented. Almost 66 million people worldwide have been forced from home by conflict. This global crisis already poses serious challenges to economic growth and risks to stability and national security, as well as an enormous human toll affecting tens of millions of people. People in almost every region of the world are being forced from home by armed conflict and violence, persecution, political oppression, economic malfeasance, environmental, climate, and human-induced disasters, or food insecurity and famine. The consequences of inaction are real and relevant to the United States and its allies. Addressing root causes—and the underdevelopment and poor governance so often at their core—requires longer-term, strategic thinking.
Please join us for an event to launch CSIS’s new report on confronting the global forced migration crisis. The report contains the findings of a high level, bi-partisan task force and consolidates field research in Bangladesh, Jordan, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, and cities across the United States including Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Diego. It is in the U.S. domestic and national security interests to confront these issues abroad now to mitigate greater challenges later; this report illustrates the complex crisis, why it is important, and what we can do about it.
The report and event were made possible by the generous support of the Ford Foundation.

The Impact of De-risking on Nonprofit Organizations and Their Beneficiaries in Conflict Areas May 07, 2018

Please join the CSIS Human Rights Initiative, Charity and Security Network, and The Humanitarian Forum for the launch of a series of country case studies on de-risking in conflict zones. Global financial institutions are increasingly terminating or restricting relationships with U.S. nonprofit organizations (NPOs), financial intermediaries, and local organizations in various regions of the world, a trend called “de-risking.” This practice, combined with a complex terror environment, poses enormous challenges to organizations working to deliver aid in areas that need it most, as well as to government policies centered around financial institutions. As work progresses towards finding solutions for NPOs' financial access difficulties, it is integral to ensure that these solutions have a global reach. At the same time, efforts are being made to document the consequences of de-risking of foreign NPOs and their beneficiaries. During this event, expert panelists will discuss the findings of the country case studies, with a focus on Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Palestine.

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

Of U.S.-Russia Relations and What is to be Done – Russian Roulette Episode 55 Apr 10, 2018

In the spirit of history, Russian literature, and other things the CSIS Russia team holds dear, we bring you a Russian Roulette episode that is both deeply gloomy and highly entertaining. Olya and Jeff sit down with Matthew Rojansky, director of the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, to discuss the state of U.S.-Russia relations, historical cycles in the relationship, signaling, and ways out of the current downward spiral.
Note: this episode was recorded on April 2, before the Trump administration’s April 6 announcement of new sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs, and before reports emerged of a new chemical weapons attack in Syria. (It’s 2018. We can’t keep up. Can anyone?)
To hear more from Matt, check out his bio and recent publications, here: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/matthew-rojansky
As always, keep sending us mailbag questions! If you would like to have your question answered on the podcast, send it to us! Email rep@csis.org and put “Russian Roulette” in the subject line. And, if you have one, include your Twitter handle, so we can notify you publicly when we answer your question (or, if you don’t want us to, tell us that). We look forward to hearing from you.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen Apr 05, 2018

Yemen’s unprecedented humanitarian crisis cannot be understood in isolation from the country’s complex political and economic dynamics, International Rescue Committee (IRC) president and CEO David Miliband and other experts agreed at an event on “The Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen” on April 5, 2018 hosted by the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda in partnership with the CSIS Middle East Program. Yemen’s humanitarian emergency is both a product and a potential driver of political instability, Miliband argued. Political and diplomatic actors share an urgent responsibility to address the drivers of that instability.
A subsequent panel discussion analyzed the context for Yemen’s humanitarian emergency and the consequences of its persistence. The participants were Barbara Bodine, director of Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and former U.S. ambassador to Yemen, Peter Salisbury, senior consulting fellow with Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program, and Abdulrahman al-Eryani, a Yemeni international economist and development specialist.
The speakers agreed that Yemen is a relatively low priority for global powers but argued it should not remain so. Should Yemen’s humanitarian crisis be left to deteriorate, they warned, the consequences will be far-reaching and long-lasting. Charting a constructive path forward requires sustained diplomatic engagement to facilitate aid provision and conflict resolution and to draw a broad base of Yemenis into a process to forge a framework for the future.

In its complexity, its protracted nature, and its devastating toll on civilians, the conflict plaguing Yemen since 2015 embodies what Miliband called some of the most perilous patterns in modern wars. As al-Eryani noted, Yemen’s preexisting fragility was a factor in lowering Yemen’s resilience to the impacts of conflict. Yet, a convergence of factors have made the conflict more harmful to civilians and more complex to resolve. Miliband argued, “This is a manmade conflict with very deep roots and very, very acute consequences.”
One factor, the speakers held, is the failure of warring parties to uphold rules of war that protect civilians. Miliband cited information collected by the Yemen Data Project that since the start of Yemen’s conflict, essential infrastructure has been hit by at least 4,500 air strikes, while 342 strikes have hit educational buildings and 68 have hit hospitals and health clinics. Miliband also framed the blocking of aid delivery as not merely a logistical issue, but also a political one. “The problem is strangulation, not access,” he argued. He further asserted that a stable humanitarian supply chain rests on the “permanent” opening of ports to humanitarian and commercial shipments including food, fuel, and medicine.
Second, the complex and fragmented nature of Yemen’s conflict has complicated its resolution. It is a gross oversimplification, the speakers agreed, to characterize the war as merely a two-sided contest between the government of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Houthi rebels, nor is it principally a proxy war between a Saudi-led coalition that supports Hadi and Iran, which supports the Houthis. In reality, sub-conflicts are playing out along local, national, regional, and increasingly global axes, and parties often switch sides opportunistically.

Even actors ostensibly allied with each other possess a wide range of agendas and priorities and sometimes come into direct competition with one another, explained Salisbury. He described tensions within the Saudi-led coalition between a “tribal military faction” in the North that has aligned with Islah, Yemen’s leading Islamist party, and a subset of forces backed by the United Arab Emirates in the South that is broadly hostile to Islah. The Houthis are also far from a monolith, Salisbury argued. The political wing leading the negotiations has waning...

Celebrating Women and Girls: Change Agents for Food and Nutrition Security in Conflict Settings Mar 28, 2018

Current social movements have focused an overdue spotlight on the disadvantages faced by women and girls around the world. Join us for a discussion of both the challenges of persistent gender inequality and the inspiring strength and resilience of women and girls, especially vis-à-vis their contributions to food and nutrition security in unstable environments.

Natural and manmade disasters often reinforce and even augment gender disparities, undermining women’s prospects for recovery. The long-term and intergenerational consequences of malnutrition are also disproportionately borne by women. In light of compelling evidence that gender-sensitive investments yield impressive returns in agricultural and nutrition programming, are development stakeholders sufficiently focused on women’s empowerment? How can we better harness and leverage the strength of women as change agents in both the humanitarian and development context?

This dialogue is part of the joint CSIS Global Food Security Project and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Liaison Office for North America speaker series on agricultural development.

Counterterrorism Measures and Civil Society Mar 22, 2018

Please join the Human Rights Initiative for the launch of a new report: Counterterrorism Measures and Civil Society: Changing the Will and Finding the Way. To combat the global threat of terrorism, countries have passed and implemented numerous laws that inadvertently or intentionally diminished the space for civil society. States conflate terrorism with broader issues of national security, which is then used as a convenient justification to stifle dissent, including civil society actors that aim to hold governments accountable. As the global terror landscape becomes more complex and dire, attacks on the rights to the freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly only increase. This report analyzes the impact of counterterrorism efforts on civic space, examines its manifestations in various socioeconomic and political contexts, and explores various approaches to disentangle and reconcile security and civil society.

The launch event will feature a keynote speech by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. The speech will be followed by an expert panel discussion on aligning security and civic space.
This event is made possible by generous support from the Oak Foundation and the Mott Foundation.

The My Lai Massacre: History, Lessons, and Legacy Mar 15, 2018

On 16 March 1968, elements from Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, of the 11th Infantry Brigade under the Americal Division, killed at least 350 South Vietnamese civilians in the village known as My Lai. While evidence of the war crime was covered up for a year, it eventually came to light and was thoroughly investigated by the Army. Thirteen officers and enlisted men were charged with war crimes. Another twelve officers were charged with having actively covered up the murders. Ultimately, however, only six soldiers were prosecuted at courts-martial. All were found not guilty, except for Calley. My Lai became a flashpoint in the debate over American involvement in Vietnam and remains a dark moment in American military history. Join the CSIS Project on Military and Diplomatic History and the U.S. Army Center of Military History for a panel discussion with leading historians and military legal experts to discuss the important legacy and lessons of the My Lai tragedy.

This event was made possible through partnership with the U.S. Army Center of Military History and by donations in support for the Project on Military and Diplomatic History.

Managing Fragility for Peace, Security, and Sustainable Development Feb 13, 2018

Countries experiencing significant fragility, while amounting to about 20 percent of the world’s population, are projected to be home to 80 percent of the world’s extremely poor by 2035. Societies affected by poor governance, limited institutional capability, low social cohesion, and weak legitimacy tend to exhibit erosion of the social contract, diminished societal resilience, and low levels of economic and human development. Spillover effects of fragility include increased risks of armed conflicts, forced migration, spread of diseases, organized crime, and terrorism. Ambassador Michel’s report places these challenges to security and development posed by fragility in the context of centuries-long trends toward declining violence and increased prosperity and freedom.
Please join us for the report launch and an expert-panel discussion on Managing Fragility and Promoting Resilience to Advance Peace, Security, and Sustainable Development.
This event was made possible by general support to CSIS.

Russia’s Post-Authoritarian Future: A Conversation with Russian Presidential Candidate Ksenia Sobchak Feb 06, 2018

Please join us for a conversation with Ksenia Sobchak, Candidate for President of the Russian Federation, on prospects and hopes for Russia's post-authoritarian future. Dr. John J. Hamre, President and CEO of CSIS, will make introductory remarks. Following a presentation from Ms. Sobchak. Dr. Olga Oliker, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at CSIS, will moderate discussion.

Check-in and registration will occur from 8:45 - 9:30 AM.
Russian Speaker Series events are made possible by the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York.

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