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**Please note that the views expressed by our guest lecturers do not necessarily reflect the views of The Institute of World Politics.**
About the Lecture: Pig Butchering, a slang Chinese term for the process of “fattening the pig before the slaughter”, has become synonymous with crypto investment scams. Investment scams have become the most costly cyber-enabled crime reported to the FBI, with reported losses exceeding $4.5B. Across the globe, some studies estimate losses over $63B. In this discussion, we will differentiate between investment scams and Pig Butchering scams, and also learn about the implications to national security and global security from Pig Butchering and its ties to organized crime and nation state threats. About the Speaker: Robin J. Pugh is the President of DarkTower, a bespoke threat intelligence firm that leverages University partnerships and research to provide managed threat intelligence services to industry leaders in banking, insurance, law enforcement, and ecommerce. DarkTower focuses on disrupting internet-enabled crime and training the next generation of cybercrime fighters. In 2023, Robin brought together a team of cybercrime fighters and launched Intelligence for Good, a non-profit organization whose mission is to address the explosion of internet-enabled crimes against individuals including crypto investment scams, romance scams, sextortion and other crimes with “no natural predator.” Robin received her degree in Business Administration from Montreat College and resides in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area with her husband and three children.
About the Lecture: The delicate balance between deterrence and reassurance in managing tensions in the Taiwan Strait calls for balanced action and management of measured risks. The talk will examine how strategic diplomacy, military readiness, and multilateral engagement can prevent conflict, while fostering stability and mutual trust and emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach that strengthens deterrence to dissuade aggression, while simultaneously engaging in diplomatic efforts to reassure all parties, aiming for a new equilibrium that preserves peace and security in the region. About the Speaker: Jason Hsu is a visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute, leading the Indo-Pacific Technology and Geopolitics practice. He also serves as Senior Advisor on Policy and International Partnerships for Liquid AI, RunSafe Cybersecurity, Rhombus Power, and the American Frontier Fund. From 2016 to 2020, he was a legislator in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, where he championed key legislation on defense, technology, and cybersecurity. Hsu has also held research and teaching roles at Harvard, Yale, and other prestigious institutions, focusing on semiconductor policy, export controls, and Taiwan Strait contingencies. His work is widely published and recognized, including contributions to major global media outlets and think tanks. He was mentioned in the U.S. Congressional Record for his role in creating the Indo-Pacific Technology Security Alliance. Hsu holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School and is a recipient of multiple fellowships, including the Eisenhower Fellowship and Stanford’s Draper Hills Summer Fellowship.
About the Lecture: Since the time of Chairman Mao, the Chinese Communist Party has recognized Africa’s importance. Especially under President Xi Jinping, the continent has become crucial to some of the CCP’s most cherished ambitions. In his presentation, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey will explain how Africa fits into the CCP’s strategy to reorder the international system, gain for China an unassailable lead on the technologies it believes will dominate the future global economy, and refine its domestic systems of control. About the Speaker: Joshua Meservey is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute where he focuses on great power competition in Africa, African geopolitics, and counterterrorism. He was previously a research fellow for Africa at the Heritage Foundation. Before joining Heritage, he worked at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center and at the US Army Special Operations Command where he helped write an Army concept paper. He also worked at Church World Service (CWS) based out of Nairobi, Kenya, and traveled extensively in East and Southern Africa interviewing refugees. He ended his time at CWS responsible for a multinational team of nearly 100 staff. He is a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in Zambia and extended his service there to work for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has testified twice before the Senate, five times before the House of Representatives, and once before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He is lead author of a monograph on al-Shabaab’s insurgency and contributed a chapter to the book War and Peace in Somalia, published by Oxford University Press. He has written for a wide range of publications including Foreign Affairs, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the National Interest, The Hill, and various journals. His commentary is often featured in various print and digital media outlets, and he has presented at the National Defense University and the State Department. Mr. Meservey holds a master of arts in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a BA in history from the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and children.
About the Lecture: Luke M. Perez will give a Constitution Day lecture on the topic of Constitutional Thinking in the Early Cold War About the Speaker: Luke M. Perez is an Assistant Professor in the School of Civic and Economic Thought at Arizona State University. His scholarship examines religion, ethics, and US national security. He was previously a postdoctoral fellow at the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri. A fourth-generation native of California, he attended The Ohio State University and completed his doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a 12-year veteran of the Air National Guard.
About the Lecture: James Lawler’s talk, titled “Soulcatcher,” delves into the complex and often disturbing motivations that drive ordinary people to commit espionage. Drawing from his extensive 25-year career as a senior CIA case officer, during which he earned prestigious honors such as the Donovan Award, the CIA Director’s Award, the HUMINT Collector of the Year Award, and the Trailblazer Award, Mr. Lawler provides a vivid, hard-hitting account of the realities of intelligence work. Through real-life examples, he reveals the psychological and emotional triggers that lead individuals to betray their countries, and discusses the crucial role that recruiting these intelligence sources plays in safeguarding the national security of the U.S. and its allies. While maintaining the unclassified nature of his presentation by omitting specific details like the time, place, and nationality of the spies he recruited, Mr. Lawler offers valuable insights into the methods he used to convince these individuals to cooperate. He also touches on his role in the takedown of the A.Q. Khan nuclear weapons network, one of the most significant intelligence operations in modern history. Though he must avoid many of the sensitive aspects of this operation, he speaks in general terms about the challenges and successes of disrupting this dangerous network, which involved Pakistan and Libya. Having delivered this talk twice at Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies to great acclaim, Mr. Lawler believes it would be equally compelling and appropriate for an audience at IWP. About the Speaker: James Lawler is a national security consultant and Senior Partner at MDO Group, where he provides HUMINT training to the Intelligence Community and the commercial sector, with a focus on WMD, counterintelligence, technical, and cyber issues. A noted speaker on insider threats in government and industry, he has appeared on numerous national podcasts. Mr. Lawler served as a CIA operations officer for 25 years, with five overseas assignments from 1982 to 1994, and later as Chief of the Counterproliferation Division’s Special Activities Unit. A member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service (SIS-3) from 1998 until his retirement in 2005, he specialized in recruiting foreign spies, dedicating much of his career to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. As Chief of the A.Q. Khan Nuclear Takedown Team, Mr. Lawler led the effort to dismantle the most dangerous nuclear weapons network in history. His leadership earned him the CIA’s Trailblazer Award in 2007, and high praise from former DCI George Tenet, who stated, “What you and your team have achieved will rank up there as one of the most spectacular intelligence accomplishments in the history of the CIA.” Former DDCI John McLaughlin called it “the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a perfect intelligence operation.” Mr. Lawler also received the Director’s Award, the U.S. Intelligence Community’s HUMINT Collector of the Year Award, and the Donovan Award. Before joining the CIA, he practiced law and served as president of a steel components company in Texas. A graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Lawler is also an accomplished author, with two CIA-cleared espionage novels, *Living Lies* and *In the Twinkling of an Eye*. He is currently working on his third novel, *The Traitor’s Tale*. Mr. Lawler is married with three children and seven grandsons.
About the Lecture: 800 years have passed since the death of Master Wincenty (ca. 1150–1223), called Kadłubek, the first Polish jurist known to us. In his outstanding literary work, the Chronicle of the Poles he told us about Poland forever. The success of Wincenty's political narrative was made possible by the fact that his Chronicle of the Poles was a history textbook until the 19th century, rewritten and interpreted by historians. The cultural code written there was thus introduced into the bloodstream of Poles. However, his work was also a rhetoric textbook at the Krakow Academy since the 15th century. Why? Wincenty told us about Poland using legal categories and this left its mark on our identity and mentality. Freedom and law, justice and mercy, solidarity and loyalty play in the Polish soul to this day. Wincenty is the first to apply the concept of a republic (res publica) to the Polish state. He treated the need to renew the spirit and introduce reforms seriously, but he knew that not everything that came from the West was Christian, and the rational customs of the ancestors should be respected. Two wings: faith and reason are the basis of his actions. He had an open mind, but also a practical sense and knew the Polish soul and its flaws well. To understand Poland and its political and cultural context even today, you have to understand Master Wincenty. About the Speakers: Dr. Grzegorz Blicharz is the Director of the Centre for Law Religious Freedom and Assistant Professor at the Department of Roman Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration of Jagiellonian University in Kraków. His work focuses on Roman law in comparative perspective, on comparative freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and especially on the impact of religious freedom on the development of private law and legal doctrine. He has held visiting appointments at the Institute of European and Comparative Law at the University of Oxford (2020) and at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University (2021). Professor Franciszek Longchamps de Bérier is a professor law and the Head of the Department of Roman Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration of Jagiellonian University in Kraków. He also teaches at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw. He has an LL.M. from Georgetown University. He is a Catholic priest and an expert on bioethics for the Polish Episcopal Conference as well as a member of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission. For the past 20 years, he has also lectured and conducted research on U.S. freedom of speech and religion.
About the Book: In public life, Dr. Winthrop Bell of Halifax was a Harvard philosophy professor and wealthy businessman. But as MI6 secret agent A12, he evaded gunfire and shook off pursuers to break open the emerging Nazi conspiracy in 1919 Berlin. His reports, the first warning of the Nazi plot for WWII, went directly to the man known as C, the mysterious founder of MI6. Throughout this, a powerful fascist politician quietly worked to suppress Bell’s alerts. Nevertheless, agent A12’s intelligence sabotaged the Nazis in ways that are only now being revealed. The Harvard philosophy instructor Winthrop Bell, aka British secret agent A12, was a star student of Edmund Husserl, the founder of modern German phenomenology. Bell was the first spy to fight the Nazis, in 1919, and the first to warn against their plans for the Holocaust, in 1939. His papers were held under classification for many years and were only recently declassified. They show how he dealt severe blows to the earliest Nazis, hindering them from taking over the world. How can this history help us to combat antisemitism today? About the Author: Jason Bell is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of New Brunswick in Canada. He has taught in the graduate program at the Higher Institute of Philosophy at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and at Mount Allison University in Canada. He has served at the University of Göttingen in Germany as Fulbright Professor, as scholar-in-residence at Boston University, as Research Fellow at the Husserl Archives-Leuven, and as d’Alzon Fellow at Assumption University. He was awarded the doctorate in philosophy at Vanderbilt University.
Jan Jekielek explains many facts/realities about CCP policies, activities, and laws. The first was the 2017 National Intelligence Law and the second the concept of Military-Civil Fusion, one of Xi Jinping’s seven national priorities. He discusses much of what we’ve learned about how TikTok works, and about what TikTok is, and how it is likely being used given these realities and precedents.
About the Lecture: Glenn Corn will provide a ground-level perspective of the current situation in Ukraine and discuss why it's important for the U.S. to support the Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion. About the Speaker: Glenn Corn is a 34-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence and Foreign Affairs communities. Prof. Corn served for over 20 years abroad, including tours in Russia, Turkey, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. He also held senior leadership positions within the Intelligence Community in the U.S. and is a graduate of multiple specialized training programs in the fields of Intelligence, Security, Adult Education and Training and Executive Leadership. He is a founding partner of the Strategic Advisory and Consulting firm “Varyag” and Expert contributor to the “Cipher Brief”. He has a master’s degree in Russian Language and Literature from American University and a bachelor’s degree in Russian Studies from Hofstra University, and he is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Russian Institute. He speaks Russian and Turkish.
An Alexander Hamilton Society student roundtable discussion focusing on current affairs in East Asia, what would happen leading up to an invasion of Taiwan or conflict breaking out in the South China Sea, the policy implications behind it for the region, the United States, and the rest of the world, and then identify unique policy responses outside of what the current thinkers are considering. About Michael Sobolik Michael Sobolik is a Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies for the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC). His work covers American and Chinese grand strategy, regional economic and security trends, America’s Asian alliance architecture, and human rights. Michael also serves as editor of AFPC’s Indo-Pacific Monitor e-bulletin, AFPC’s review of regional developments. His analysis has appeared in The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, The Hill, Jane's Defence Weekly, The National Interest, National Review, Newsweek, Providence, and RealClearDefense. Before joining AFPC, Michael served as a Legislative Assistant in the United States Senate from 2014 to 2019. While in the Senate, Michael drafted legislation on China, Russia, India, Taiwan, North Korea, and Cambodia, as well as strategic systems and missile defense. Michael is an undergraduate student at Texas A&M University, where he studied political philosophy. He also earned his Master of International Affairs degree in American grand strategy and U.S.-China relations at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.
About the Debate: In Nov 1945, the U.S. joined UNESCO, a new post-WWII organization designed to promote world peace and security. In Dec 1984, President Reagan took the U.S. out of UNESCO citing corruption and mismanagement. In Oct 2003, President George Bush rejoined UNESCO to advance human rights, tolerance, and learning. In Dec 2018, President Trump took the U.S.out of UNESCO citing anti-Israel bias, and the U.S.’s mounting arrears to UNESCO resulting from Palestine’s election as a full member. In July 2023, President Biden rejoined UNESCO for the third time to combat increasing Chinese influence at the organization. Given the problematic relationship between the U.S. and UNESCO, and the organization’s history of controversial initiatives, was this a wise decision? What are the pros and cons for the U.S. of being a member of UNESCO once again? About the Presenters: Gerald C. Anderson served as Director of Administration and Finance at the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, DC, from March 2014 to July 2021. Prior to joining PAHO, Mr. Anderson served from 2011-2014 as Secretary for Administration and Finance at the Organization of American States in Washington DC. Mr. Anderson served the United States Foreign Service from 1980 - 2010, completing his serviced as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Organizations. Mr. Anderson also served in Foreign Service posts in Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Jerusalem, and at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Anderson served in the United States Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa, and in the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. Anderson holds a Master of Arts degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, DC, (1980) and a Bachelor of Arts from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois (1976). Stephen Engelken is a veteran of 38 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. Notably, he was Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to UNESCO in 2007-2010, serving as Charge’ d’Affaires for seven months in this period. Engelken went on from there to serve as Deputy Chief of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan (2010-2011). Prior to those senior assignments, he served postings abroad in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Italy; France, and Australia and at the State Department in Washington as Director of Pakistan/Bangladesh Affairs, Director of the Office of Proliferation Threat Reduction, Deputy Director of the office of Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Operations, and Deputy Director of Arabian Peninsula Affairs. Since his retirement in 2012 while Principal Officer in Peshawar, Pakistan, Mr. Engelken has taught at Foreign Service Institute, the State Department’s training center. Mr. Engelken is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a resident of Washington, D.C. He holds a B.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University. He is also a graduate of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in France. Mr. Engelken speaks French, Italian, and Arabic.
This lecture is part of the Student Speaker Series About the Lecture: China's advancements in space technology and orbital operations are second only to the U.S. Historically assisted by the Soviet Union, China's space program has set an impressive timeline of space launch milestones, meeting every spacefaring goal for the past 30 years. Under the guise of scientific research, PLA documentation and dual-use technology has demonstrated that even commercial space activities serve military interests. As investment in launch capabilities increases and China's presence in cislunar space becomes more of a concern, what are the intentions, plans, and capabilities behind China's interest and activities in space? With tensions rising in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, will China start utilizing space operations to support terrestrial military activity? Does China's capacity to operate in space match its strategic interests? How does China's advancing capabilities create more risk for U.S. space interests? This lecture will discuss a brief history of China's accomplishments in space and highlight PLA ambitions and operations in three areas: counterspace weapons in orbit, a permanent lunar presence, and interest in the future space economy. The lecture will also discuss the risk these three areas pose to U.S. interests and the proposed strategies for deterrence in what the DoD, NATO, and the PLA define as a new "warfighting domain." About the Speaker: Carlos Alatorre is an M.A. candidate for Statecraft and National Security Affairs at IWP with a specialization in Defense. Prior to joining IWP, he was a middle school teacher who spent five years teaching English in South Korea and China before deciding to make a transition to the national security and intelligence field. He brings his experience of Chinese political culture and East Asian geography (as well as his Mandarin skills) to complement his studies in Chinese military and geopolitical affairs in the Indo-Pacific. His research focuses on China's usage of emerging technologies, specifically the PLA's research in and implementation of AI, space/cislunar operations, and hypersonic missiles. Originally from Southern California, he earned his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
***This lecture is sponsored by the IAFIE Washington DC Chapter and the IWP IAFIE Alpha Student Chapter*** About the Lecture: For a long time, the Australian Signals intelligence (or Sigint) story has been kept secret. Until now… Why does Australia have a national signals intelligence agency? What does it do and why is it controversial? And how significant are its ties with key partners, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, to this arrangement? Revealing Secrets is a compelling account of Australian Signals intelligence, its efforts at revealing the secrets of other nations, and keeping ours safe. It brings to light those clever Australians whose efforts were for so long entirely unknown or overlooked. Blaxland and Birgin traverse the royal commissions and reviews that shaped Australia’s intelligence community in the 20th century and consider the advent and the impact of cyber. In unearthing this integral, if hidden and little understood, part of Australian statecraft, this book increases our understanding of the past, present and what lies ahead. About the Speakers: John Blaxland is Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC), Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University (ANU). He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales. He was also formerly a military intelligence officer, Head of SDSC and Director of the ANU Southeast Asia Institute. He is the author and editor of several publications on military history, intelligence and international security affairs. Clare Birgin’s career in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spanned 30 years, with a focus on national security and intelligence. She had postings in Warsaw, Moscow, Geneva, and Washington DC as the Liaison Officer of the Office of National Assessments, followed by postings as Ambassador in Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Subsequently she was a Visiting Fellow at the ANU before joining John Blaxland’s history writing team. She has been awarded the Polish Government’s Knight’s Cross Medal and the Bene Merito Medal by the former Polish Foreign Minister.
About the Lecture: **This lecture is part of the Asia Initiative Lecture Series** For 25 years after the end of the Cold War, most of the national security community assumed that nuclear weapon use was unlikely to be part of any future war. But over the last few years, North Korea has made regular threats of nuclear weapon use and Russia also threatened nuclear weapon use associated with its invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, the Chinese nuclear weapon force is rapidly expanding. These developments appear to make future nuclear weapon use more possible, especially limited nuclear weapon use. The escalatory implications of limited nuclear weapon use have not been well researched. This situation forces us to reevaluate more broadly the national security risks in many regions, and especially in Korea. This briefing addresses four major security developments on the Korean peninsula that contribute jeopardy to the national security of South Korea, the United States, and other U.S. allies. Nuclear weapon use is of course a major issue, but so is North Korean instability. Another issue is the dramatic decline in the size of the ROK Army, the result of demographic challenges and political choices, especially when coupled with the ROK decision to only partially fund its plan to offset its manpower reductions with technology versus manpower tradeoffs. And the potential for third party intervention, and especially Chinese intervention, further complicates Korean security. These four issues are developed, and suggestions made for how South Korea and the United States can at least partially mitigate these challenges.” About the Speaker: Bruce W. Bennett is a Senior International/Defense Researcher at The RAND Corporation. He is an expert in Northeast Asian security issues, having visited the region over 125 times and written much about Korean security. His research addresses issues such as the North Korean military threats, countering the North Korean nuclear threat and provocations, future ROK military force requirements, Korean unification, the Korean military balance, and potential Chinese military intervention in North Korea. Dr. Bennett specializes in “asymmetric threats” such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and how to counter those threats with new strategies, operational concepts, and technologies. He has recently completed reports on the current North Korean nuclear, chemical, biological, and cyber threats, and teaches a class at the Pardee RAND Graduate School on “Understanding Nuclear Forces.” He has worked with the Pentagon and with US commanders in Northeast Asia and the Persian Gulf on these subjects. He has facilitated a large number of seminar/war games to address these issues. Dr. Bennett received a Ph.D. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School (1979 dissertation on “Uncertainty in ICBM survivability”) and a B.S. in economics from the California Institute of Technology.
About the Lecture: The Wagner Group has operated as a manifestation of Russian influence, supporting critical Russian interests in key domains across the globe. The organization, originally founded in 2014 by oligarch businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin as a private mercenary force, has become one of the more prolific instruments of power projection in the Russian geopolitical arsenal. About the Speaker: Dr. John R. McCarthy is currently the Senior Program Advisor with the US Navy’s only explosives, weapons, and foreign materiel Technical Exploitation command. In 2006, John was recruited from the private sector by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division and subsequently mobilized as a naval reserve officer to initiate programmatic, infrastructure, and organizational development for the newly established Technical Support Detachment (TSD), which was to specialize in investigating, exploiting, and attacking the improvised explosive device (IED) manufacturing network on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. The command, renamed Expeditionary Exploitation Unit ONE (EXU-1), now spans the globe working with Combatant Commanders, Special Operations Command and forces, and the Intelligence Community supporting technical exploitation, technical intelligence collection, counterterrorism, and irregular warfare activities. Prior to his return to active-duty military and current federal service, John held a senior leadership position supporting business and financial operations at a non-profit healthcare organization and was a technical business development executive for a global specialty chemical manufacturer serving the industrial sector, for over 16 years. In addition, he has served as an adjunct professor and part time faculty of leadership & management and other business and intelligence disciplines for a number of universities, since 2004. Educationally, Dr. McCarthy holds a Graduate Certificate of Intelligence Studies (Strategic Intelligence in Special Operations concentration), a Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence (MSSI) degree, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organization and Management with a specialization in Leadership studies. Always seeking to enhance and broaden his knowledge base, Dr. McCarthy remains engaged in continuous learning opportunities and is a currently enrolled in IWP’s Certificate of Graduate Study program focusing on Statecraft and National Security.
About the Lecture: The current state of politics is divisive, and navigating this is no easy task. As we enter an election year, with over 15 years of non-profit, trade association, multi-client, corporate lobbying experience, and a current advisor to dozens of politicians, political candidates, and past presidential campaigns, Brian Johnson is a captivating speaker who will share with us his insights on lobbying and the current state of the political landscape. About the Speaker: Brian Johnson is an experienced government and public affairs executive with over 15 years of non-profit, advocacy, trade association, multi-client representation, political campaign/fundraising, and management experience. Throughout his career, Brian has developed and executed numerous strategic government and public affairs campaigns, drafted and had countless pieces of legislation introduced, secured tens of millions of dollars in targeted Appropriations, worked intimately on, and helped pass, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and was named to “The Hill’s Top Lobbyist 2020” list. Currently, Brian serves as the Vice President of Government & Public Affairs for Veterans Guardian, the largest veteran-owned and operated disability claims consulting company in the world, helping tens of thousands of veterans every year secure benefits they are legally, ethically, morally and medically entitled. In this capacity Brian manages all lobbying, public affairs campaigns, and political giving as head of the company's Washington, DC operations. Politically, Brian advises on dozens of political campaigns, serves on several elected officials’ Steering Committees, and is heavily involved in local politics. As a policy expert he has testified before Congress and his expert commentary has been featured on BBC, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News, Fox Business News, PBS, Real Clear Politics, and many more.
About the Lecture: In 1991, Ukraine’s independence set the tombstone for the USSR, and the U.S. regained its global primacy. Where are we today? How is it possible that In 2004, a top American expert argued, “stop criticizing Putin and start helping him”? Or that In 2021, Ukraine was not even mentioned in the new administration’s Interim Global Security Guidelines? And what do our dealings with Moscow from the end of WWI through 1991 tell us? About the Speaker: Mr. Victor Rud practiced law for forty years and served as special counsel to a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Madrid Review Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Before the fall of the Soviet Union, he represented, in the West, Soviet dissidents persecuted by the KGB. Mr. Rud has spoken, domestically and internationally, before various audiences on issues bearing on U.S./Russian relations, including specifically Ukraine. Among them are the State Department, West Point, American University Kyiv, and the UN. His analysis and commentary have been carried by The Hill, Center for European Policy Analysis, The Messenger, Kyiv Post, and Forbes, among others. Mr. Rud is past Chairman of the Ukrainian American Bar Association, and Senior Advisor to the Centre for Eastern European Democracy in Canada, and to Open Court, an NGO in Ukraine. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and law degree from Duke University.
About the Speaker: Jim Carter is a Senior Fellow with the America First Policy Institute’s Center for American Prosperity. Previously, as Director, he oversaw the Center’s operations, including research and policy development impacting economic growth, tax and budget policy, regulation, trade, and labor productivity. For nearly a decade, Jim was Vice President of Government Affairs at Emerson, a diversified global manufacturing and technology company based in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to managing Emerson’s global, federal, and state government affairs, Mr. Carter’s lobbying portfolio included tax policy, international trade, and management of the company’s political action committee. Before joining Emerson, Mr. Carter served in the Bush and Clinton Administrations, as a senior staff member on the Senate Budget Committee, and as a policy advisor to former Senators John Ashcroft, Sam Brownback, and Connie Mack. Jim has served as a Deputy Undersecretary at the Department of Labor, a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Treasury, and Associate Director of the National Economic Council at the White House. While at the Treasury Department, he received the Secretary of the Treasury’s “Exceptional Service Award” and a separate award for his work on behalf of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Mr. Carter has been published more than 200 times on fiscal policy, economics, and other public policy matters for leading publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investor's Business Daily, Politico, The Hill, The Daily Caller, and USA Today. He is a frequent speaker, including as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University and as a lecturer in the Public Management program at Johns Hopkins University. Jim is a 2014 recipient of Johns Hopkins University’s “Excellence in Teaching” award. He also appeared in season three of House of Cards, playing a U.S. senator. Jim recently served on the board of directors for both the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the National Capital Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. He is a former president of the Business-Government Relations Council, a non-profit organization that seeks to increase governmental awareness of the role of business in national affairs. He holds degrees from George Mason University and Truman State University.
About the Book: What starts as a minute-by-minute account of a disaster in a war zone quickly turns into an uplifting story of survival and triumph in FINDING WAYPOINTS: A Warrior’s Journey Towards Peace and Purpose by Terese Schlachter and Col. Gregory D. Gadson, (Ret.). Emmy Award winning television producer Schlachter was working at the Pentagon Channel when she attended a press event at Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Military Advanced Training Center (MATC) in 2007 after a decade covering national news for NBC and MSNBC in Washington. There, the co-authors met for the first time. Their resulting book is the result of their extraordinary relationship, a hybrid of biography and autobiography, that tells the story of a man who survived the worst and has used his experience to enrich the lives of others. ***Copies of the book will be made available for purchase at the conclusion of the event and can be signed by the author.*** Purchase the book here. About the Authors: Terese Schlachter is a Washington, D.C., based writer and producer of videos and documentaries (NBC News, Dept of Defense) who first met Colonel Gadson when covering the new veterans facility at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2007. She became his fast friend and confidante during his painful recovery and rehabilitation. Terese is a three-time Emmy Award-winning television producer and founder and Chief Storyteller of Ridgeback Communications. Her short film "Picture Perfect" was nominated for "Best Short" at the 2017 DC Indie Film festival as well as a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy. She lives in Shady Side, Maryland, with her husband Jon, and Lillian, a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog. Colonel Gregory Gadson, (Ret.) was grievously wounded in an IED attack in Iraq in 2007 while he and his unit were returning from a service for two fallen soldiers. He subsequently lost both legs and severely injured his right arm, and, in the course of his rehabilitation and recovery, he became a source of inspiration and motivation for other war-wounded at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Due to his longtime connection with West Point as a football player there, and his friendship with the coach of the then-struggling NY Giants in 2007, Gadson soon became a motivational co-coach and spiritual guide, helping the team go from nearly last place to Superbowl Champions in 2008. Gadson subsequently starred in a major Hollywood movie, Battleship, and has been an admired motivational speaker and coach for numerous organizations, both civilian and military, for several years now. An avid outdoorsman and enthusiast of skiing, cycling, and deep-sea fishing, he has led numerous adventure-travel expeditions for wounded veterans. He is the recipient of the 2010 NCAA Inspiration Award and the 2017 Henry Biscardi Achievement Award. In his honor, in October 2022, the new veterans center at Wayne State University was named the Colonel Gregory Gadson Office of Military and Veterans Academic Excellence. When not traveling around the country as a motivational speaker, Gadson enjoys time at home in Alexandria, VA, with his wife, children, and grandchildren, and continues to pursue his acting career and his love of photography.
About the Lecture In the struggle to adopt the US Constitution, the philosopher Montesquieu’s book, Spirit of the Laws, was frequently cited by both proponents and opponents of ratification. Highly regarded at the time of America’s founding, this 1748 masterpiece has fallen into unjust neglect which Professor Allen’s fresh translation and commentary should do much to rectify. Professor Allen will discuss Montesquieu’s thought on matters of special importance for IWP students, including national security, economics, political and constitutional order, and their moral, cultural, and religious implications. Professor Allen will highlight Montesquieu’s account of the conflict between freedom and slavery, a conflict which intersects with the greatest questions of our own age. About the Speaker W. B. Allen, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy and Dean of James Madison College at Michigan State University, served previously as Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He is General Editor of The State of Black of America (2022) and resident scholar and former Chief Operating Officer of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education in Washington, D.C. His latest publication is the newly released Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws: A Critical Edition, Parallel Text and Commentary (Anthem Press). Recognized for excellence in liberal education on the 1997 Templeton Honor Roll and as a 2014 Salvatori Prize laureate, he has published extensively, including George Washington: A Collection (Liberty Fund, Inc.), Rethinking Uncle Tom: The Political Philosophy of H. B. Stowe (Lexington Books), George Washington: America’s First Progressive (Peter Lang, Inc.) and scores of essays.
About the Lecture: This discussion will focus on how and why the world is shifting into a multipolar world. The speaker will cover how the United States will need to maneuver to not only keep its current place as the main pole, but also survive the ever coming change. About the Speaker: Mr. Robert T. Roseberry holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Intelligence and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Psychology, as well as a Master of Strategic Intelligence Studies from IWP. He has followed world events over the past year and how the globe is changing. Through his research he believes he can give insight on how the United States can travers these unknown waters. Robert currently lives in South Carolina and enjoys traveling and a good Irish whiskey. He is looking to join the United States Airforce this year.
About the Lecture: Dr. Bulcsu Hoppal would like to highlight some philosophical aspects of the nature of the European Union. He will argue that philosophical personalism (personalistic understanding of the human being) played a decisive role in the formation of the EU. He will address theoretical issues and discuss how Europe is a philosophical phenomenon. About the Speaker: Dr. Bulcsu Hoppál is an associate professor at the Corvinus University of Budapest at the department of Political Science, visiting DC for this month only.
About the Lecture If America’s center, its citizenry, is not strong, our nation cannot lead internationally: If the United States falters, despotic regimes, led by the People’s Republic of China, will fill the void created, heralding ruin. America can only succeed in this quest if it works most diligently with established as well as new allies. This requires that a new global alliance for freedom be built, which links together established and nascent alliance structures that venerate liberty and the primacy of the individual. To act boldly, America must marshal an integrated strategy that spans the entirety of hard, sharp, and soft power in order to protect freedom, security, and prosperity in the face of unprecedented threats, which may be recognized, emergent, or liminal in nature. The building blocks for this renaissance in global leadership already exist but are only partially assembled. To erect this structure, timeless values must be fused with emerging technologies and geopolitical realities, to induce needed change. Book Synopsis America’s future will be unlimited if we return to wholesomeness, gratitude, and vision, for we must rise as one people, or we shall fall as many. Pillars for Freedom charts a brave path forward to imbue America with strength, economic security, and virtue. The American Experiment is unique in history in its conception of liberty, which is freedom from oppressive government and its yoke. We are a nation that rests on the rule of law and not the imperfections present in all humankind. Today, the bureaucratic state, which controls our government, relies on diversion, untrue narratives, and misdirection to cover incompetence and gross misdeeds. This cannot be our country’s standard. The maintenance of liberty rests upon our faith, our Founding, our families, and our commitments to uncorrupted education and science. Pillars for Freedom describes in consummate detail the powers America must reconstitute and wield in order to reclaim our destiny. Through marshaling our priceless heritage, we can rebuild our military, secure economic strength, and reassert energy dominance, as we erect our civil society. The book describes the actions America must take in all these spheres. Purchase the book here About the Speaker Richard B. Levine served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Technology Transfer and Security Assistance. He directed the Department of the Navy’s organization in these matters during the Reagan administration. Richard previously served on the National Security Council staff, in the White House, as Director, International Economic Affairs, and as Director, Policy Development. Richard holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, with honors, from the Johns Hopkins University. Richard is the recipient of two presidential letters of commendation and the Department of the Navy’s highest honor given to a civilian employee, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award. Richard serves as a senior advisor to former government officials, including Michael R. Pompeo, on matters involving national security, strategy, and international economics. He is the author of the new book, Pillars for Freedom. He is the coauthor, with Vice Admiral John M. Poindexter and Robert C. McFarlane, of America’s #1 Adversary. Richard lives in North Carolina with his wife, Terry.
About the Speakers: Maria Schwaz, a certified social worker, spent 5 years working in psychiatric facilities. While on maternity leave to care for her six children, she received training in Christian pedagogy and has since been teaching at schools and parishes. The European migration crisis of 2015 spurred her on to study the core tenets of Islam. In 2018, she assumed the role of managing director at the International Center for the Study of Political Islam in Austria. In this position, she began extensive lecturing activities on both national and international levels, working with governmental and non-governmental organizations. Johann Turnau was born in Austria in 1954. He graduated with a Doctor of Law from the University of Innsbruck in 1979. He spent the next few years working for the Federal Chamber of Commerce and the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs. From 1985 to 1988, he was the First Secretary at the Austrian Embassy in Lagos/Nigeria, and he was the Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy here in Washington, D.C., from 1988-1992. From 1998 to 2001, he served as the Austrian Ambassador to Algeria. From 2001 to 2006, he was the Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia, also accredited to Singapore and Timor Leste. From 2006-2012, he worked in the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and European and International Affairs. From 2012-2016, he served as the Ambassador to Japan. He then served as the Ambassador to Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru and was the Austrian Ambassador designate to the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Tuval from 2016-2019. As of 2020, he is a Senior Consultant and member of the Austrian Senior Experts Pool (ASEP), President of the Rotary Club Gastein, and Chairman of the Inter Country Committee Austria – Ukraine. He is also certified by the OSCE and registered with the EU for election monitoring and observation.
About the Lecture Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson will discuss the interconnection between the American Civil Rights movement and international human rights yesterday and today. Jackson grew up in segregated Dallas, Texas. In 1965, he marched for Civil Rights on Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. The relationship between foreign affairs and the American Civil Rights story was highlighted in an address by Secretary of State Dean Rusk in 1963 and remains true today. “As the matters stand, however, racial discrimination here at home has important effects on our foreign relations. This is not because such discrimination is unique to the United States. Discrimination on account of race, color, religion, national or tribal origin may be found in many countries. But the United States is widely regarded as the home of democracy and the leader of the struggle for freedom, for human rights and human dignity.” -Secretary of State Dean Rusk before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, 1963 (The Department of State Bulletin, Volume 49: “Fulfilling Our Basic Commitments as a Nation, Statement by Secretary Rusk”) About the Speaker Secretary Alphonso Jackson, former Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, has decades of experience in housing and community development. His expertise includes the development of affordable and market-rate housing, handling complex urban development issues, and housing finance. Jackson was appointed by President George W. Bush as the 13th Secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2004. Before being appointed Secretary, Jackson served as the Deputy Secretary of HUD, managing the daily operations of the $36 billion agency. After his government service, Jackson served as Vice Chairman of Mortgage Services with JP Morgan Chase, followed by Senior Advisor to the CEO at First Data Corporation(now Fiserv Corporation). Early in his professional career, he was president and COO of American Electric Power-Texas, a $13 billion utility company and subsidiary of American Electric Power. From 1988-1996, he was president and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Dallas, ranked among the best-managed large-city housing agencies during his tenure. As a college student, Jackson volunteered as a student protester in Alabama on Bloody Sunday in March 1965, a civil rights protest from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Jackson serves on the United States Institute for Peace International Advisory Board and Ford’s Theater Society Board of Trustees. He also recently served on the United States Department of State Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board(Chair). He is a member of The Alfalfa Club and Horatio Alger Association(Board of Directors). He has been awarded numerous civic awards and eleven honorary degrees from colleges and universities, including his alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master’s in Education Administration from Truman State University. He also has a Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, MO.
About the Lecture: From the Black Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean, war and counterterrorism operations define this century. The stakes in this vast, interconnected region are high and growing, and the U.S. needs a better policy and set of statecraft strategies. Russia, joined by help from Iran, wages war against Ukraine. Russian troops occupy part of Georgia. They now have naval, air, and ground bases in Syria. Iran has mounted attacks against U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq since at least 2005 and against U.S. and coalition personnel in Syria since at least 2015. Tehran has amped up funding, equipping, and training Hizballah, Hamas, and Houthi militants since the Arab Spring. Turkey, responsible for protecting NATO’s southeastern flank, now deeply mistrusts the U.S. alliance with the YPG and Peshmerga, blames the U.S. for shielding Fethullah Gülen in Pennsylvania, and rejects U.S./NATO sanctions against its decision to buy Russian S-400s and Russian and Iranian energy. This highly volitile region is on fire. What actions and relationships will calm the waters? Or are we careening towards WWIII? Or…given the sophistry over our definitions of modern warfare and counterterrorism operations, are we already in WWIII? If so, how do we organize ourselves to win? Come share your ideas and hear ways we might realign U.S. policy architectures and statecraft practices. About the Speaker: Paula Doyle has over 30 years of national security and foreign policy experience with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the U.S. Department of State. Her areas of deep subject matter expertise include Turkey, Iran, Russia, Foreign Cyber Programs and Capabilities, Counterintelligence, Nuclear Weapons and Proliferation Programs, the Middle East, and NATO. Ms. Doyle teaches a 700-level course on Turkey, Russia, and Iran at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, Center for Security Studies Program. She serves on the Board of Directors for the OSS Society, on the Board of Directors for the Central Intelligence Retirees Association, and as a Fellow at the National Security Institute, housed at George Mason University.
About the Lecture: Mr. Dave Horvath brings his background in business and the military to the lectern at IWP to discuss private investment as it relates to U.S. national security. In this lecture, he will discuss the importance of American private capital to fill gaps left by traditional government efforts and how private investment fills that gap. He will also discuss private investment and finance as a post-government career. About the Speaker: Dave Horvath graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2009. After graduating, Dave served 10 years on active duty, first as a Ranger-qualified Field Artillery Officer and Military Intelligence Officer, and later as a Special Operations Officer, with extensive service overseas. After transitioning from active duty, Dave pursued his MBA at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and embarked on a career in strategy consulting, private equity, and now late-stage technology investing at Disruptive, an Austin, TX-based growth equity firm. Dave currently leads the Washington, DC, office for Disruptive, in addition to a large portion of the firm’s National Security and Dual-use technology portfolio.
***This lecture is sponsored by the IWP IAFIE Alpha Student Chapter*** About the Lecture: "The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences” is a presentation in association with Dr. Gentry's recent book, Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences (Armin Lear Press, 2023). Beginning in 2016 and continuing into 2021, current and former U.S. intelligence officers engaged in domestic partisan politics to an unprecedented extent. This discussion will describe and assess what happened at various agencies, the causes of the politicization, consequences for the agencies and national decision-making, and prospects for renewed politicization in 2024. ***Copies of Dr. Gentry's book will be made available for purchase at the conclusion of the event and can be signed by the author.*** Purchase the book here. About the Author: Dr. John A. Gentry teaches for the School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University. He was for 12 years an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he mainly worked on economic issues associated with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries; for two of those years, he was a senior analyst on the staff of the National Intelligence Officer for Warning. He is a retired U.S. Army Reserve officer, with most assignments in special operations and intelligence arenas. He was mobilized in 1996 and spent much of 1996 as a civil affairs officer in Bosnia. Dr. Gentry formerly taught at Georgetown University, Columbia University, and the National Intelligence University. He has an economics background and received a Ph.D. in political science from George Washington University. He writes regularly on intelligence and security issues. His most recently published book is Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences (Armin Lear Press, 2023).
Step into the intriguing world of intelligence and deception as we delve into the psychological tactics of warfare. About Speaker: Dr. Enrico Suardi (IWP Class of 2019, Executive MA in National Security Affairs) is director of psychiatry at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, director of forensic services at the Ross Center in Washington, D.C., and the 2024-25 president-elect of the Washington Psychiatric Society. A diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry, on faculty at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Georgetown University, and George Washington University, he has served as chief child and family psychiatrist at the U.S. State Department. Dr. Suardi studied political psychology with Jerrold Post, completed his M.D. and a residency in preventive medicine in Milan, Italy, and obtained an MSc in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. About Lecture: This presentation is part of a series of lectures on the behavioral sciences in US national security and public safety. The premise is that the human factor is the basis of crises and the source of solutions. Dr. Suardi will provide an overview of the psychology of HUMINT and intelligence analysis. He will explore the complexity of the spy-agent relationship, recruitment and handling. He will review the psychological literature on counterespionage, starting from Jerrold Post's declassified article on the anatomy of treason. He will conclude discussing the psychology of intelligence analysis and some of the analytic techniques developed to counter human cognitive limitations and biases. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Mr. Fred Rustmann, an IWP Chancellor’s Council Member and Retired Senior CIA Operations Officer, discusses "Wither the CIA?" This video is part of the 2023 Annual Chancellor's Council Meeting sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. James S. Robbins, IWP's Dean of Academics, provides introductory remarks for the 2023 Chancellor's Council Meeting. This video is part of the 2023 Annual Chancellor's Council Meeting sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
James Rice, IWP Alumnus, discusses "Ukraine's Return to Europe and the Death Throes of an Empire." This video is part of the 2023 Annual Chancellor's Council Meeting sponsored by the Institute of World Politics. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
The IWP Student Chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society welcomes Mr. Ilan Berman to speak on the relationship between Russia and Iran. About the Lecture: The IWP Student Chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society welcomes Mr. Ilan Berman to speak on the relationship between Russia and Iran. The lecture will go over the history of the Iranian-Russian strategic relationship, where it is today, what challenges it poses to U.S. national security interests, and what U.S. policy makers can do to address these challenges in the future. About the Speaker: Mr. Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) in Washington, D.C., and is an expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Russia. He has consulted in the past for the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Departments of State and Defense. He has assisted various governmental agencies and congressional offices with foreign policy and national security issues. Mr. Berman is also a member of the Associated Faculty at Missouri State University's Department of Defense and Strategic Studies. A frequent writer and commentator, he has written for the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post, and USA Today, among many other publications. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Enrico Suardi, IWP Class of 2019 and Chief of Psychiatry at St. Elizabeths Hospital, discusses "Foreign Leaders Analysis: A Profile of Narendra Modi of India." This video is part of the 2023 Annual Chancellor's Council Meeting sponsored by the Institute of World Politics. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
This video introduces the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium, titled "Intermarium and Trimarium - Concepts and New Realities." This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz discusses "Reflections about Oskar Halecki." This lecture is part of the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium, titled "Intermarium and Trimarium - Concepts and New Realities." About the Speaker At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz holds the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. He teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He also leads directed studies. Dr. Chodakiewicz was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Dr. Chodakiewicz has authored numerous works in both English and Polish. While at the University of Virginia, he edited the Kosciuszko Chair’s bulletin: Nihil Novi. Dr. Chodakiewicz writes weekly columns for popular Polish press and has published on foreign policy in various venues, including The Journal of World Affairs, American Spectator, and National Review Online. He is the author of numerous scholarly monographs and books, including Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas, which is a depiction of the Eastern Borderlands of the West on the rim of the former Soviet Union. His interests include the post-Soviet zone, the Second World War and its aftermath, Europe in the 19th and 20th century, Western civilization and its intellectual tradition, extremist movements in history, conspiracy theory and practice, and comparative civilizations. About the Symposium This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. John Lenczowski discusses "The Implications of U.S. Policy for Russia’s Strategic Decision Making on Ukraine." This lecture is part of the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium. About the Speaker From 1981 to 1983, Dr. Lenczowski served at the State Department in the Bureau of European Affairs and as the Special Advisor to Under Secretary for Political Affairs Lawrence Eagleburger. From 1983 to 1987, he was the Director of European and Soviet Affairs at the National Security Council. In that capacity, he was the principal Soviet affairs adviser to President Reagan. He has been associated with several academic and research institutions in the Washington area, including Georgetown University, the University of Maryland, the American Enterprise Institute, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Council for Inter-American Security, and the International Freedom Foundation. He has also served on the staff of Congressman James Courter. Dr. Lenczowski attended the Thacher School, earning his B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He founded The Institute of World Politics in 1990 and served for President until 2021. He now serves as President Emeritus and Chancellor at the Institute. About the Symposium This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Professor Marek Kornat discuss "Oskar Halecki in the independent Poland (1918-1939)." This lecture is part of the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium. About the Speaker Marek Kornat is a historian. He graduated with his PhD from the Jagiellonian University (UJ) in Kraków in 2000, and subsequently obtained the title of Professor of Humanities in 2015. His scholarly activity focuses on history of Polish diplomacy and international relations in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the issues of the Second Polish Republic (1918-1939). He also deals with the history of Polish political thought, the historiography of totalitarian regimes and the origins and significance of the Sovietology. Since 2011, he has been employed in the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), as Head of the Chair of 20th Century History. Since 2008, he has also been lecturing at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW) in Warsaw. He has delivered lectures at foreign research centers including Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris, Harriman Institute at Columbia University in New York and Institut für Wissenschaften vom Menschen in Vienna as well as Europäische Institut in Mainz. He has been granted scholarships by the Foundation for Polish Science, the De Brzezie Lanckoronski Foundation, the Kościuszko Foundation and the British Academy. He is the author of 10 books and over 300 articles concerning the above issues. About the Symposium This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Professor Marek Kornat discuss "Oskar Halecki in the independent Poland (1918-1939)." This lecture is part of the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium. About the Speaker Marek Kornat is a historian. He graduated with his PhD from the Jagiellonian University (UJ) in Kraków in 2000, and subsequently obtained the title of Professor of Humanities in 2015. His scholarly activity focuses on history of Polish diplomacy and international relations in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the issues of the Second Polish Republic (1918-1939). He also deals with the history of Polish political thought, the historiography of totalitarian regimes and the origins and significance of the Sovietology. Since 2011, he has been employed in the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), as Head of the Chair of 20th Century History. Since 2008, he has also been lecturing at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW) in Warsaw. He has delivered lectures at foreign research centers including Centre National de la Recherche (research) Scientifique in Paris, Harriman Institute at Columbia University in New York and Institut für Wissenschaften vom Menschen in Vienna as well as Europäische Institut in Mainz. He has been granted scholarships by the Foundation for Polish Science, the De Brzezie Lanckoronski Foundation, the Kościuszko Foundation and the British Academy. He is the author of 10 books and over 300 articles concerning the above issues. About the Symposium This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Professor Tadeusz Rutkowski discusses "People's Poland towards Oskar Halecki and his works (1945 - 1990)." This lecture is part of the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium. About the Speaker Tadeusz Paweł Rutkowski is a historian of modern history, professor at the University of Warsaw. He specializes in the history of Poland and Eastern Europe in the 20th century, including science policy and the history of historiography. Author, among others, „Nauki historyczne w Polsce 1944 – 1970. Zagadnienia politycznej i organizacyjne”, ("Historical sciences in Poland 1944 - 1970. Political and organizational issues"), Warsaw 2007, „Adam Bromberg i „Encyklopedyści”. Kartka z dziejów inteligencji polskiej w PRL”, ("Adam Bromberg and "Encyclopedists". A page from the history of the Polish intelligentsia in the Polish People's Republic"), Warsaw 2010, „Pańska, szlachecka, faszystowska. Polska w sowieckiej propagandzie, kulturze i historiografii 1917 – 1945” („Pańska”, noble's, fascist. Poland in Soviet propaganda, culture and historiography 1917 – 1945”), Warsaw 2020. About the Symposium This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Professor Thaddeus V. Gromada discusses "Oskar Halecki , a Political Activist?" This lecture is part of the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium. About the Speaker Dr. Thaddeus Vladimir Gromada, a prominent figure born in Passaic, New Jersey, to Polish immigrant parents with a rich cultural heritage, boasts an extensive career in academia and community leadership. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in East Central European History from Fordham University under the mentorship of renowned historian Oskar Halecki. Dr. Gromada served as a full Professor of Modern European History at New Jersey City University and was instrumental in establishing the Multi-Ethnic and Immigration Studies program there. He also held various roles in the Polish Institute of Arts & Sciences of America (PIASA), culminating in his tenure as Executive Director and President, actively fostering academic connections between Polish and American institutions. Dr. Gromada played a pivotal role in expanding PIASA's reach by affiliating it with the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, organizing scholarly conferences, and strengthening ties with other ethnic groups. Additionally, he facilitated collaborations with Polish academic and cultural organizations, resulting in the development of professional archives and library resources. Under his leadership, PIASA successfully paid off its mortgage and established cordial relations with the Polish Embassy and Consulate General. Dr. Gromada's contributions were recognized through various awards and honors, including the Commander's Cross of Merit from Poland, solidifying his legacy as a dedicated scholar and cultural ambassador. About the Symposium This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Alexander M. Jablonski discusses "Professor Oskar Halecki - Polish Scholar In-Exile (1939 - 1973)." This lecture is part of the 16th annual Kościuszko Chair Conference and the 4th Oskar Halecki Symposium. About the Speaker Dr. Alexander Maciej Jabłoński, P.Eng. received his BSc & MS (civil engineering) from the Technical University of Cracow, Poland (1970), MS (mechanics and materials engineering) from the University of Illinois at Chicago (1982) and PhD (structural dynamics) from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada (1989). He has more than 50 years of experience in various fields of engineering, reconnaissance projects, project management and strategy planning, and about 130 publications. He worked as engineer in Poland, Finland, Norway, Germany, the USA, and Canada. Since 1992, he has been working as Research Scientist, Research Engineer, and Manager in Canadian federal laboratories. He is working now at the David Florida Laboratory, Canadian Space Agency. He is also an Adjunct Research Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Carleton University in Ottawa. He is Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI), Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Member of Aerospace Division (ASD) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASD ASCE), and recipient of various engineering and scientific awards. Since his early life in Poland, he has studied Polish and world history for decades. He writes historical essays and presentations, especially on the modern history of Poland, including World War II and the post-war era of the Soviet occupation. Currently, he is the President of the Oskar Halecki Institute in Canada and a member of the Program Council of the Institute of Heritage of the National Thought (IDMN), Warsaw, Poland. About the Symposium This virtual joint symposium is organized by The Institute of World Politics, in Washington, D.C., USA, and The Oskar Halecki Institute in Ottawa, ON, Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Professor Oskar Halecki. Sponsors The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C., United States The Oskar Halecki Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Co-Sponsors Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IH PAN) Institute of Heritage of the Polish National Thought (IDMN) Instytut Historii USKW (Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski University) ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Investigative reporter Douglas Burton will discuss the rise of genocidal terrorist movements in Nigeria. About this event Join IWP and Douglas Burton for a public lecture on Christian Genocide in Nigeria: its Causes and Reasons It Continues, A Report of Initial Findings from Investigative Reporting. About the Speaker: Douglas Burton is an award-winning conflict reporter specializing in Nigerian war news. Doug mentors conflict reporters in North-Central Nigeria as the Managing Editor of TruthNigeria.com. Since 2019, he has authored scores of reports with The Epoch Times, Zenger News, and The Catholic News Agency. His work has been featured in Fox Nation, American Thought Leaders, The Westminster Institute and The Washington Times. Doug was honored by the Catholic Media Association in Jun, 2023 as a First Place Winner for Best Coverage of Religious Liberty Issues. Having served the Washington Times Corporation as an assignment editor for two decades, Doug brought his skills to Baghdad in 2005 to support the U.S. occupation there for two years. From 2015 he began covering the campaign against the Islamic State as an independent reporter until 2017 and switched to reporting the persecution of Christians in Nigeria shortly thereafter. He produced the most complete story about the blasphemy murder of Deborah Emmanuel on May 12, 2022, in Nigeria’s northern city of Sokoto. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Matthew Jenkins ('23) will discuss what drives states to pursue a space policy and the competitive landscape that is outer space. About the Lecture: The lecture provides a historical overview of space competition, highlighting what drives states to go to space. The lecture concludes with an overview of the new landscape of space power competition in 2023 and highlights the role of non-state actors, commercial space, and dual-use systems including how they all combine to make space less transparent, and more unstable than it has ever been. About the Speaker: Dr. Matthew Jenkins (’23) had spent 16 years serving in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, where he built and operated satellites to support the military and the Intelligence Community. He was ready to learn additional skills beyond engineering. After falling in love with strategic-level policy during an assignment on Capitol Hill, he decided to pursue IWP’s Doctor of Statecraft of National Security to connect his technical expertise to an in-depth understanding of space policy issues. As a result, he has interfaced with the National Space Council at the Executive Office of the President and briefed the House Homeland Security Committee staff on emerging space challenges. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Robert T. Roseberry ('23) will discuss what the world post-Putin could look like. About the Speaker: Mr. Robert T. Roseberry holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Intelligence and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Psychology, as well as a Master of Strategic Intelligence Studies from IWP. He has studied Eastern European history and its political workings since he was a teenager. As a native Ukrainian, he has followed the developments of the war between Ukraine and Russia and has formulated who might be the next successor after Vladimir Putin and the Russian power structure. Robert currently lives in South Carolina and enjoys traveling and a good Irish whiskey. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Mr. Janusz Bugajski will discuss the state of Russia today and the consequences a failed Russian state may have on the world. About the Lecture: The Russian Federation is a failed state. It has proved unable to transform itself into a nation-state, a civic state, or a stable imperial state. Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the process of state rupture through economic decline, falling revenues, elite conflicts, military incompetence, and regional and ethnic disquiet. Russia confronts an existential paradox. Without economic reform and regional autonomy, the federal structure will become increasingly unmanageable. But even if democratic reforms are undertaken by a weakening central state several regions can exploit the opportunity to secede. The prospects for violent internal conflicts substantially increase if reforms are indefinitely blocked. Growing fractures in the Russian Federation will also have a major impact on all neighboring countries for which Western policymakers are not prepared. About the Speaker: Mr. Janusz Bugajski is a Senior Fellow at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington DC and host of television shows broadcast in the Balkans. Bugajski has authored 21 books on Europe, Russia, and trans-Atlantic relations. His recent books include Failed State: A Guide to Russia’s Rupture (2022), Eurasian Disunion: Russia’s Vulnerable Flanks (with Margarita Assenova) (2016); and Conflict Zones: North Caucasus and Western Balkans Compared(2014). His forthcoming book is titled Pivotal Poland: Europe’s Rising Strategic Player. He is a contributor to several media outlets in the US and Europe and has testified before a number of US congressional committees including: the Helsinki Commission, Senate Foreign Relations, Senate Armed Services, House Foreign Affairs, and House Defense Appropriations. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Gordon W. Rudd will discuss the staff structure of Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) and comparable U.S. agencies focused on the region. ***This lecture is part of the Asia Initiative Lecture Series.*** About Lecture: INDOPACOM is a U.S. regional Combatant Command covering most of Asia and the Pacific. It is based in Hawaii and has an Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine, and Special Forces Component Commands, also located in Hawaii. All of these commands have formations located in Asia and the Pacific. These commands have an integrated staff system – to be covered in this presentation. The Department of State and other USG Agencies have comparable regional offices that only loosely align with INDOPACOM, but are not subordinate to it. Theater engagement, i.e. working with friends and allies in the region, is critical to the success of INDOPACOM. About the Speaker: Dr. Gordon W. Rudd has served as Professor of Strategic Studies, U.S. Marine School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) since January 1998. Prior to working with SAW, he spent two years (1996-1998) as Professor of Strategic Studies with the U.S. Marine Command and Staff College. During the period 2003-2004, he was detached for nine months to serve as field historian in Iraq with Office of Reconstruction & Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). From 1972 to 1995, he served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. He has had troop service in infantry, airborne, mech, and Special Forces formations. He has served as a Joint Service Officer (JSO) and Foreign Area Officer (FAO). Overseas assignments include: Panama, Lebanon, Israel, Korea, Iraq, Bosnia, and Turkey. His operational experience includes participation in Lebanon 1984-85 (UNTSO), northern Iraq 1991 (PROVIDE COMFORT), and Bosnia 1994 (UNPROFOR). His military training and education courses include: Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses; Ranger, Special Forces, Scuba, and HALO courses; DLI – French; USA Command & General Staff Course (non-res); USN Command & Staff Course (resident). In addition to his full-time teaching, Dr. Rudd has taught military history courses at the Darden School of Business of the University of Virginia and for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. While at SAW, he has taught classes at the Marine the Expeditionary Warfare School, the Marine Command and Staff College, and the Marine Corps War College. Dr. Rudd is the author of two books: - Humanitarian Intervention: Assisting the Iraqi Kurds in Operation Provide Comfort, 1991, published in 2004. - Reconstructing Iraq: Regime Change, Jay Garner, and the ORHA Story, published in 2010. His current research interests include military history, particularly WWII, comparative politics, and regional studies. Dr. Rudd earned his doctorate in history from Duke University in 1993. He earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Virginia Polytechnic & State University in 1972. He has earned masters degrees from the Naval War College (1988), Duke University (1990), and St. John’s College (1999). ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Rebecca Burgess discussed the impact of the Constitution on spiritedness and the unique role of soldiers and citizens to defend it. This event is sponsored by the Jack Miller Center. About the Lecture: Soldier-Citizens and Citizen-Soldiers: Spiritedness and the Constitution - The Founding generation was famously concerned about the dangers to liberty that a standing army could pose. Less well remembered is how that generation’s general ambivalence about professional soldiers along with the government’s inability to pay them resulted in soldiers besieging Congress in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, demanding redress. Congress fled to Princeton. But the “Pennsylvania Mutiny” resulted in long-lasting effects for both the nation’s civilians and military: It showcased significant cracks in the Articles of Confederation government, helping set in motion the Constitutional Convention and the inclusion of a constitutional provision for Congress to support federal armies and a navy. Later on, Alexis de Tocqueville would observe that “it is through the soldiers above all that one can pride oneself on having a democratic army pervaded by the love of freedom and respect for rights that one was able to inspire in the people themselves.” This lecture will consider the ties between the US military and the Constitution, and the mutual contributions of soldiers and citizens to defend their Constitution. About the Speaker: Rebecca Burgess is senior editor of American Purpose, acting director of the Classics in Strategy and Diplomacy project, and an SME consultant for the George W. Bush Institute's Veterans and Military Families program. A visiting fellow in national security with the The Independent Women's Forum, she is a 2021 National Security Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. She’s an Advisory Board Member of Combined Arms and of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello, and a SME for the NEH Educating for American Democracy: A Roadmap for Excellence in History and Civics Education project. Additionally, she serves on the Reader Review Board of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Journal. Rebecca researches the political and social institutions of democratic governance, including civics and national security, civil-military relations and the military life cycle, veterans and politics, and theories of political decay, war, empire and expansion. She has nearly two decades of combined public policy, administrative, and academic experience, holding the position most recently as a research fellow both in Foreign and Defense Policy and Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. A Ph.D. (ABD) in politics at the University of Dallas, her work has been solicited for congressional testimonies, and been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, Military Times, Law & Liberty, The American Interest, The Strategy Bridge, and War on the Rocks, among others. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Rebecca Burgess will discuss the impact of the Constitution on spiritedness and the unique role of soldiers and citizens to defend it. This event is sponsored by the Jack Miller Center. About the Lecture: Soldier-Citizens and Citizen-Soldiers: Spiritedness and the Constitution - The Founding generation was famously concerned about the dangers to liberty that a standing army could pose. Less well remembered is how that generation’s general ambivalence about professional soldiers along with the government’s inability to pay them resulted in soldiers besieging Congress in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, demanding redress. Congress fled to Princeton. But the “Pennsylvania Mutiny” resulted in long-lasting effects for both the nation’s civilians and military: It showcased significant cracks in the Articles of Confederation government, helping set in motion the Constitutional Convention and the inclusion of a constitutional provision for Congress to support federal armies and a navy. Later on, Alexis de Tocqueville would observe that “it is through the soldiers above all that one can pride oneself on having a democratic army pervaded by the love of freedom and respect for rights that one was able to inspire in the people themselves.” This lecture will consider the ties between the US military and the Constitution, and the mutual contributions of soldiers and citizens to defend their Constitution. About the Speaker: Rebecca Burgess is senior editor of American Purpose, acting director of the Classics in Strategy and Diplomacy project, and an SME consultant for the George W. Bush Institute's Veterans and Military Families program. A visiting fellow in national security with the The Independent Women's Forum, she is a 2021 National Security Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. She’s an Advisory Board Member of Combined Arms and of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello, and a SME for the NEH Educating for American Democracy: A Roadmap for Excellence in History and Civics Education project. Additionally, she serves on the Reader Review Board of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Journal. Rebecca researches the political and social institutions of democratic governance, including civics and national security, civil-military relations and the military life cycle, veterans and politics, and theories of political decay, war, empire and expansion. She has nearly two decades of combined public policy, administrative, and academic experience, holding the position most recently as a research fellow both in Foreign and Defense Policy and Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. A Ph.D. (ABD) in politics at the University of Dallas, her work has been solicited for congressional testimonies, and been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, Military Times, Law & Liberty, The American Interest, The Strategy Bridge, and War on the Rocks, among others. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Peter J. Boettke, Professor of Economics and Philosophy at George Mason University, discussed his book, "The Road to Socialism and Back: An Economic History of Poland, 1939–2019." About the Author Peter J. Boettke, Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute, is a Professor of Economics and Philosophy at George Mason University, the director of the F.A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism at the Mercatus Center. He received his Ph.D. from George Mason University. Prof. Boettke has developed a robust research program that expands an understanding of how individuals acting through the extended market order can promote freedom and prosperity for society, and how the institutional arrangements shape, reinforce, or inhibit the individual choices that lead to sustained economic development. His most recently published books include F. A. Hayek: Economics, Political Economy and Social Philosophy; and The Four Pillars of Economic Understanding. Prof. Boettke is the editor of numerous academic journals, including the Review of Austrian Economics and the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, and of the book series, Cambridge Studies in Economics, Choice, and Society. He has served as President of the Southern Economic Association, the Mont Pelerin Society, the Association of Private Enterprise Education, and the Society for the Development of Austrian Economics. About the Book The Road to Socialism and Back: An Economic History of Poland, 1939–2019 For four decades during the latter half of the 20th century, Poland and its people were the subjects of a grand socio-economic experiment. Under the watchful eye of its Soviet masters, the Polish United Workers’ Party transformed the mixed economy of this nation of 35 million into a centrally planned, socialist state (albeit one with an irrepressible black market). Then, in the closing decade of the 20th century, under the leadership of Polish minister of finance Leszek Balcerowicz, the nation was transformed back into a mixed economy. In this book, we document the results of this experiment. We show that there was a wide chasm between the lofty goals of socialist ideology and the realities of socialism as the Polish people experienced them. We also show that while the transition back from a socialist to a mixed economy was not without its own pain, it did unleash the extraordinary productive power of the Polish people, allowing their standard of living to rise at more than twice the rate of growth that prevailed during the socialist era. The experiences of the Poles, like those of so many behind the Iron Curtain, demonstrate the value of economic freedom, the immiserating consequences of its denial, and the often painful process of regaining lost freedoms. Read more: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/the-road-to-socialism-and-back-an-economic-history-of-poland-1939-2019 Download the book for free:https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/road-to-socialism-and-back-an-economic-history-of-poland-1939-2019.pdf This event is sponsored by the Center for Intermarium Studies and the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Thomas Cromwell, author of "Why Ukraine Must Win," gave a discussion about his book at The Institute of World Politics on September 5, 2023. Thank you to our sponsors who made this event possible: Jennifer London Malcolm McNaughton Kirk Vazal John Czop About the speaker: Mr. Thomas Cromwell is a native of England who spent 25 years in the Middle East before settling near Washington, DC. As publisher and editor of the Middle East Times for 18 years, he spent long periods in Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. He has traveled to Communist countries for first-hand experience of life under totalitarianism, and visited 130 countries altogether. He worked in Ukraine before the Maidan Revolution. He is the author of several books that examine patterns of human behavior in history based on the interplay of religion, politics and ideology. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Featuring: Dr. Christopher C. Harmon, IWP Professor and Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare Distinguished Fellow at Marine Corps University. About the Lecture: Terrorist groups have used a fantastic variety of means to seize attention, explain themselves, and seek recruits and support: song and speech, “guerrilla theater,” leaflets, radio, cable TV, newspapers, print ads, books, videos, web sites, e-zines… Social media is only their latest endeavor. This training will cover the modern terrorist propaganda techniques being used today so you can recognize them in your work. This training is developed from the recent book: The Terrorist Argument. The Terrorist Argument: Modern Advocacy and Propaganda, a recent book for the Brookings Institution, is a highly original merging of media studies & terrorism studies. Christopher C. Harmon and Randall G. Bowdish paired a medium of strategic communication with a named terrorist group. Examined in successive chapters are propaganda works of nationalists such as the Algerians and Irish; Maoists; secular Iranian dissidents; eco-terrorists, and other groups such as the potent Islamist organizations Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and ISIS. Highlights from this multi-year study will be offered in an illustrated lecture and Q&A session by the lead author, Dr. Harmon of the Institute of World Politics. About the Speaker: Dr. Christopher C. Harmon ran counterterrorism studies programs for the U. S. government in two of our Defense Department’s regional academic centers (Garmisch Germany & Honolulu Hawaii). His work on “how terrorist groups end” was explored in a lecture series in the Washington, D.C. area from 2004 onward, with overseas dates including INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon, France (2010). Dr. Harmon is the lead author or editor of seven books about revolutionary warfare, insurgency, terrorism, or counterterrorism. The latest is just now out from Marine Corps University Press, entitled Warfare in Peacetime. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Mr. Mohammed Motiwala will discuss the importance of multilateral cooperation on AI and the U.S. government's efforts in this year. About Lecture: Are you curious about the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and how they are shaping the world? As AI rapidly advances, it is increasingly clear that cooperation among nations is essential for maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks of this powerful technology. Join us for a lecture on the importance of multilateral diplomacy in AI cooperation, presented by Mohammed Motiwala, a Foreign Service Officer with extensive experience in international relations. In this talk, you will learn: The current state of AI technology and its potential applications in various fields. The challenges and risks associated with AI, such as biases, privacy concerns, and cyber attacks. The importance of international cooperation in promoting trustworthy AI. Examples of successful multilateral initiatives in AI cooperation and their impact on global governance This lecture is open to anyone interested in the intersection of technology and diplomacy, whether you are a student, a researcher, a policymaker, or a curious citizen. Join us and discover how multilateral diplomacy can help us navigate the future of technology and build a better world. About the Speaker: Mohammed Motiwala is a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service. He is currently in the Cyberspace and Digital Policy Bureau covering the OECD and the Global Partnership on AI. Mohammed's most recent assignment was a graduate program at the National Intelligence University where he focused on Eurasia. Prior to that, he was an Analyst focusing on Russia in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the State Department’s component of the Intelligence Community. His last overseas assignment was as an Assistant Cultural Affairs officer in Kyiv, Ukraine. His other overseas assignments were in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Lebanon. Prior to joining the Department of State, Mr. Motiwala worked as a hedge fund analyst at MTB Capital in New York City. Mr. Motiwala has a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Enrico Suardi ('19) will discuss state and non-state actors' attempts at developing tools of psychological coercion and manipulation. About the Lecture: This presentation is part of a series of lectures on the behavioral sciences in US national security and public safety. The premise is that the human factor is the basis of crises and the source of solutions. Is the human mind the new, sixth domain of operations, or has it been the main domain of operations since Sun-Tzu advised winning without fighting? Nation-states and non-state actors have attempted to develop tools for brainwashing. These efforts have yielded no truth serum, no recruitment pill. Group pressure and psychological manipulations under conditions of deprivation break down most of us over time. However, false confessions are elicited and the coerced individuals are psychologically maimed. Dr. Suardi will start off by providing a historical overview of coercive persuasion, and will then discuss the psychology and neuroscience of coercion and ethical persuasion. He will conclude with highlights of the ongoing 21st-century cognitive warfare. About the Speaker: Dr. Enrico Suardi (IWP Class of 2019, Executive MA in National Security Affairs) is director of psychiatry at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, director of forensic services at the Ross Center in Washington, D.C., and the 2024-25 president-elect of the Washington Psychiatric Society A diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry, on faculty at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Georgetown University, and George Washington University, he has served as chief child and family psychiatrist at the U.S. State Department. Dr. Suardi studied political psychology with Jerrold Post, completed his M.D. and a residency in preventive medicine in Milan, Italy, and obtained an MSc in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Mr. Henry Sokolski and Mr. Ezra Cohen will discuss ongoing efforts and recommendations for reforming security classification policy. About the Speakers: Mr. Henry D. Sokolski is the Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, a Washington-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to promote a better understanding of strategic weapons proliferation issues among policymakers, scholars, and the media. He teaches graduate-level classes on nuclear policy in Washington, D.C. He is also a Senior Fellow for Nuclear Security Studies at the University of California at San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy. From 1989 to 1993, Sokolski served as the Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, for which he received the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Prior to this, he worked in the Secretary of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment on strategic weapons proliferation issues. In addition to his Executive Branch service, Mr. Sokolski worked on the Hill from 1984 through 1988 as senior military legislative aide to Senate Armed Services Committee member Dan Quayle and from 1982 through 1983 as special assistant on nuclear energy matters to TVA Subcommittee Chairman Senator Gordon J. Humphrey. He also worked as a consultant on nuclear weapons proliferation issues to the Intelligence Community’s National Intelligence Council; received a Congressional appointment to the Deutch Proliferation Commission, which completed its report in July 1999; served as a member of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Senior Advisory Panel from 1995 to 1996; and was a member of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, which operated until 2010. Mr. Sokolski has been a resident fellow at the National Institute for Public Policy, the Heritage Foundation, and the Hoover Institution. He also has taught political science courses at the University of Chicago, Rosary College, Georgetown, and Loyola University. On January 11, 2021, President Donald J. Trump appointed Mr. Ezra Cohen to a three-year term on the PIDB and designated him to serve as Chair for a two-year term that ended on January 10, 2023. Prior to his appointment to the PIDB, Mr. Cohen served in senior leadership positions at the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community, most recently as the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security and Director for Defense Intelligence, Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2020 to January 2021. In this role, he exercised authority, direction, and control over the Defense Intelligence Enterprise and Combat Support Agencies. Additionally, he served as the principal civilian intelligence advisor to the Secretary of Defense on all military intelligence related matters, including signals intelligence, human intelligence, sensitive activities, geospatial intelligence, sensitive reconnaissance, counterintelligence, law enforcement, and security. His previous government positions include Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC); Principal Deputy Assistance Secretary of Defense for SO/LIC; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counter-Narcotics and Global Threats; Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Intelligence Programs on the National Security Council; Deputy Defense Intelligence Officer for South Asia at the Defense Intelligence Agency; and as a DoD Operations Officer. Mr. Cohen began his government service as an intern researching 1820’s tariff legislation in the Center for Legislative Archives, a part of the National Archives and Record Administration. Mr. Cohen has also worked in the private sector for Oracle Corporation. Mr. Cohen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Will H. Flanagan will discuss proposed nuclear safeguards for mass-produced nuclear energy and the risks involved in doing so. About the Lecture: In the nuclear era, a single weapon snuck through a border is able to significantly shift geopolitical balances. In 2007, Congress mandated the use of radiation detectors on all inbound containers but there is currently no way effectively meet this goal. Nuclear safeguards exist at all major ports of entry, though they are not always able to scan every item of cargo. Cerium Laboratories is addressing one aspect of this problem by producing a semiconductor-based “neutron intercepting system on a chip” (NISoC). Such detectors are made a modern semiconductor fabrication facilities in batches of 10,000 with a cost of a few dollars per device. This has the potential to shift nuclear safeguards in a direction where a detector can be placed on every inbound container ship. The current status of this effort will be discussed as well as future prospects. About the Speaker: Dr. Will Flanagan received his undergraduate education at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Lured from astronomy research by the fascinating connection between cosmology and particle physics, he began doing Large Hadron Collider (LHC) phenomenology at Texas A&M through a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship. Dr Flanagan later returned to Texas A&M for his PhD, searching for dark matter at the CMS experiment along the LHC beam line. His hitchhike through the field of particle physics has included various neutrino experiments as well as development of novel particle detectors. Dr Flanagan’s current focus is developing a solid-state neutron detector with Austin-based Cerium Labs. The team recently completed a short journal publication and is actively developing future prototypes with applications from nuclear nonproliferation to hydrogen exploration. Before joining Cerium, Dr. Flanagan was an assistant professor at University of Dallas and remains an affiliate professor there with an active lab. Dr. Flanagan is also a member of the Texas Army National Guard as is currently activated to teach physics at the United States Military Academy at West Point. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Amb. Kristjan Prikk will discuss Estonia's views on the War in Ukraine and how the conflict is about much more than just Ukraine. About Lecture: - The tragedy unrolling in Ukraine right now is not a result of a temporary misunderstanding but rather of a long-term Russian strategic gamble - The immediate impact of the war is mostly felt in Ukraine and in her neighboring countries but the consequences are considerably wider - This is a European war. However, U.S. global vital interests are clearly in play more than in any recent conflict. - The strategic objective and how to reach it. About the Speaker: Amb. Kristjan Prikk has served as Estonia´s Ambassador to the United States since May 2021. This is his third diplomatic posting to Washington, DC. Before assuming his current duties, Prikk served for nearly three years as the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense. In this role he was responsible for the management of the Ministry and for the coordination of activities of the agencies under the Ministry, including the Estonian Defense Forces, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Centre for Defense Investments. Prior to becoming the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Prikk worked as Undersecretary for Defense Policy in the Ministry of Defense from July 2017 to August 2018. From 2015 to 2017 Mr. Prikk was the Director of National Security and the Defense Coordination Unit of the Estonian Government Office, coordinating the development and implementation of the whole-of-government interagency approach to national defense in Estonia and advising the Prime Minister on these issues. He also served as Deputy Director of the same office for two years prior to becoming the Director in 2015. His previous Ministry of Defense assignments include serving as Defense Counsellor at the Estonian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (2010-2013) and as Director of International Cooperation Department in Tallinn (2007-2010). Prior to joining the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Prikk worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on NATO issues mainly pertaining to its enlargement and its partnership with Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia in the Security Policy and Arms Control Bureau (2006-2007). Additionally, he has held assignments as a diplomat covering trade and economic issues at the Estonian Embassy in Washington (2002-2006) and as a foreign trade and World Trade Organization specialist at the Foreign Ministry’s headquarters in Tallinn (1999-2002). Mr. Prikk holds a Master’s degree from the Strategic Studies Program of the United States Army War College (2013) and a Bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Tartu, Estonia (2000). In 2000-2001, Mr. Prikk performed his required military service in the Estonian Defense Forces, where he remains a reserve officer, and is also a member of Estonia’s voluntary defense organization Kaitseliit (Estonian Defense League). He has been decorated with the Order of the White Star (4th Class) by the President of the Republic of Estonia, the Cross of Merit (1st Class) of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia, as well as other decorations from the Estonian Defense Forces, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, among others. Mr. Prikk is married to Liis, with whom he has two daughters and a son. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Christopher C. Harmon discusses "Maoist Revolutionary War Outside China," a topic on which he is offering a class at IWP (IWP 706, https://www.iwp.edu/courses/maoist-revolutionary-wars-outside-china/). ***This event is part of IWP's China Series, organized by the China/Asia Program.*** About the Lecture: The ideas of Mao tse Tung had a powerful impact—whatever one may think of their morals or their intellectual value. Maoism created the modern People's Republic of China and was then sent on outward marches to influence others around the world. The “export” of Maoist revolutionary warfare began by 1950, was refreshed with the 1965 pamphlet of Defense Minister Lin Biao “Long Live the Victory of People’s War,” and has recently been re-examined by scholar Julia Lovell’s 2019 volume Maoism: A Global History. Dr. Harmon is lecturing on Wednesday, May 17th about this phenomenon, bringing forward examples of Maoist revolutions in Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Peru. The lecture draws upon the substance of his new syllabus at the Institute of World Politics, a course on the theory and practice of Maoism, to commence this summer (2nd term; July-August). About the Speaker: Christopher C. Harmon directed “Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism” at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, a program detailed in Jane’s Intelligence Review (“Regional Teamwork,” September, 2018). Dr. Harmon lectured on Maoist revolutionary warfare for many years at the staff college for Majors at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, where he later held three academic chairs. He has published on the Peruvian Maoists of “Shining Path” in the journal Small Wars and Insurgencies. Harmon’s eighth book--Warfare in Peacetime, is forthcoming this spring. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. William Inboden discusses President Reagan's strategy and approach to defeating the Soviet Union towards the end of the Cold War. About the Lecture: With decades of hindsight, the peaceful end of the Cold War seems a foregone conclusion. But in the early 1980s, most experts believed the Soviet Union was strong, stable, and would last into the next century. Ronald Reagan entered the White House with a different view. Rather than seeing the Soviet Union as a rival superpower to be contained, Reagan viewed Soviet Communism as a vile idea to be defeated. Accordingly, he developed a comprehensive strategy designed to deter Soviet strengths, exploit Soviet weaknesses, and bring Soviet communism to a negotiated surrender. About the Speakers: Dr. William Inboden is Executive Director and William Powers, Jr. Chair at the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas-Austin. He also serves as Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Editor-in-Chief of the Texas National Security Review. Inboden’s other roles include Associate with the National Intelligence Council, Member of the CIA Director’s Historical Advisory Panel, and member of the State Department’s Historical Advisory Council. Previously he served as Senior Director for Strategic Planning on the National Security Council at the White House, at the Department of State as a Member of the Policy Planning Staff, as a staff member for Representative Tom DeLay and Senator Sam Nunn, and as a Civitas Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and his commentary has appeared in numerous outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Review, NPR, CNN, and BBC. Inboden is the author or co-editor of four books. His most recent book is The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink (Dutton, a Penguin Random House imprint 2023). Inboden received his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in history from Yale University and his A.B. in history from Stanford University. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
After being formally inducted as the third President of The Institute of World Politics, Ambassador Aldona Woś gave remarks to the Class of 2023, highlighting IWP’s mission and the graduates’ critical role in making the world better, safer, and more harmonious. Ambassador Woś also called the graduates to stand together to defend the values of freedom and democracy. This event took place on May 13, 2023 at the Fairmont. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Chen Guangcheng, Chinese human rights activist and Distinguished Fellow at the Catholic University of America, gave the keynote address at IWP's Presidential Investiture and Commencement for the Class of 2023. Mr. Chen was honored by IWP for his moral courage in the face of totalitarian coercion and received a Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, from the Institute. In his remarks, Mr. Chen discussed how he resisted the Chinese Communist Party and encouraged our graduates to stand firm in their values even when those in power attempted to suppress them. This event took place on May 13, 2023 at the Fairmont. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Kevin Phelan was recognized as the Valedictorian of the Class of 2023, and Gillian Hand was recognized as the Salutatorian. IWP's Presidential Investiture and Commencement Ceremony took place on May 13, 2023 at the Fairmont in Washington, D.C. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Panelists discuss issues concerning global energy security and Canada's role in supplying an alternative solution. This lecture took place at The Institute of World Politics on April 17, 2023. Speakers: Mr. James Rajotte Alberta’s Senior Representative to the United States Mr. Craig Weichel Counsellor and Program Manager for Energy and Environment at the Embassy of Canada Dr. Sara Vakhshouri Founder and President of SVB Energy International; Adjunct Professor of Energy Security at The Institute of World Politics About the Lecture: Topics discussed throughout the panel will include: (1)Russia’s war, the current global energy crisis and the need for alternative energy sources. Can Canada be a new energy partner for Europe?; (2) Canada’s “responsible” energy production strategy; (3) Energy transition and the need for reliable, sustainable and responsible resources. Where does Canada stand during this?; and (4) The importance of the U.S.- Canada energy partnership in the context of the long-term energy integrity and security of the two countries and North America in general transitions. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. James S. Robbins, IWP Dean of Academics, gave a lecture on "The Myths and Realities of the 1968 Tet Offensive" at IWP's campus in Reston, VA on April 13, 2023. This lecture is part of the Asia Initiative Lecture Series, organized by IWP's China/Asia Program. About the Lecture: Most of what Americans have heard about the Tet Offensive is wrong. That the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces were handily defeated was considered immaterial by the press; that it could mount attacks at all was deemed a military triumph for the Communists. This persistent view of Tet is a defeatist storyline that continues to inspire America’s foreign enemies and its domestic critics of the use of force abroad. James S. Robbins provides an antidote to the flawed Tet mythology still shaping the perceptions of American military conflicts against unconventional enemies and haunting our troops in combat. In his re-examination of the Tet Offensive, Robbins analyzes the Tet battles and their impact through the themes of terrorism, war crimes, intelligence failure, troop surges, leadership breakdown, and media bias. The result is an explosion of the conventional wisdom about this infamous incident, one that offers real lessons for today’s unconventional wars. Without a clear understanding of these lessons, we will find ourselves refighting the Tet Offensive again and again. About the Speaker: Dr. James S. Robbins is a national security columnist for USA Today and Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council. Dr. Robbins is a former special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 2007 was awarded the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He is also the former award-winning Senior Editorial Writer for Foreign Affairs at The Washington Times. His work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, and other publications. He appears regularly on national and international television and radio. Dr. Robbins holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and has taught at the National Defense University and Marine Corps University, among other schools. His research interests include terrorism and national security strategy, political theory and military history. Dr. Robbins is the author of five books, including The Real Custer: From Boy General to Tragic Hero, This Time We Win: Revisiting the Tet Offensive, and the critically acclaimed Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point. Purchase Dr. Robbins' book, "This Time We Win: Revisiting the Tet Offensive": https://www.amazon.com/This-Time-Win-Revisiting-Offensive/dp/1594036381 ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Event recorded live at IWP, DC, on February 16, 2023. This lecture is part of the Asia Initiative Lecture Series. About the Lecture: The North Korean regime’s increasing rate and diversity of missile launches shows that Pyongyang is making significant progress toward implementing a more capable and flexible nuclear strategy, including pre-emptive strikes with strategic, tactical, and battlefield nuclear weapons. North Korea’s exponential increase in missile launches, combined with extensive military exercises and provocations close to the inter-Korean border, have increased regional tensions and risk triggering a military crisis that would involve the United States and its allies. Pyongyang continues to reject all attempts by the U.S., South Korea, and Japan for diplomatic dialogue. Washington and its allies must respond resolutely to the growing North Korean threat while simultaneously seeking ways to reduce the potential for stumbling into war. About the Speaker: Mr. Bruce Klingner specializes in Korean and Japanese affairs as the senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center. Klingner’s analysis and writing about North Korea, South Korea, and Japan, as well as related issues, are informed by his 20 years of service at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Klingner, who joined Heritage in 2007, has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He is a frequent commentator in U.S. and foreign media. His articles and commentary have appeared in major American and foreign publications and he is a regular guest on broadcast and cable news outlets. He is a regular contributor to the international and security sections of The Daily Signal. From 1996 to 2001, Klingner was CIA’s deputy division chief for Korea, responsible for the analysis of political, military, economic, and leadership issues for the president of the United States and other senior U.S. policymakers. In 1993-1994, he was the chief of the CIA’s Korea branch, which analyzed military developments during a nuclear crisis with North Korea. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Event recorded live at IWP, DC, on March 7, 2023. About the Speaker As the Ambassador of Belgium, Jean-Arthur Régibeau represents His Majesty the King of the Belgians and Belgium’s federal government in the United States of America and in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He is responsible for the direction of the Embassy and its Consulates. Ambassador Régibeau is both a Belgian and Swiss citizen, he studied law, international law, and International Relations in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. In the ‘80s, he began his career in the banking world in New York, he also escorted groups of Belgian tourists visiting the United States. After a few years of working for private business and as a legal advisor, Jean-Arthur Régibeau joined the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998. He was the diplomatic advisor to the Minister of Defense from 1999 to 2002 and he went on to be First Secretary at the Belgian Embassy in Berlin. From 2003-2007, Mr. Régibeau returned to Brussels as Head of the Private Office of the Minister of Defense. In 2007, he was appointed Director-General in charge of Multilateral Organizations at the Foreign Ministry. In this capacity, he managed some aspects of the Belgian presidency of the European Union in 2010. He was also Deputy Commissioner for the commemoration of World War I. In 2016, he took up his role as Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, and Uzbekistan. Ambassador Régibeau has been a guest professor on European institutions, Europe, and Globalization at the University of Liège (Belgium). Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Event recorded live at IWP, DC, on March 9, 2023. About the Lecture With the inaugural anniversary of the Marcos Jr. administration coming up, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez will elaborate on what’s in store for the Philippine-US relations on topics of PH-US bilateral relations, PH foreign policy priorities, PH perspectives on global and regional security challenges, the PH-US alliance within the context of the Indo-Pacific, and prospects for future relations. About the Speaker Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America in July 2017 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. On 29 November 2017, he presented his credentials to US President Donald J. Trump and formally assumed office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Additionally, as the head of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Romualdez is concurrently the Philippines’ emissary to the Commonwealth of Jamaica, Republic of Haiti; Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Dominica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and Saint Lucia. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Romualdez was designated as a special envoy of the Philippine President to the United States. He also served as a member of several Philippine business delegations visiting the United States, China, Japan and New Zealand from 1989 to 2012. Ambassador Romualdez has extensive experience as a media practitioner and business executive. He used to be the Chief Executive Officer of Stargate Media Corporation and Publisher of People Asia Magazine (The Philippine Star affiliate). He was president of the Manila Overseas Press Club and vice-president of Rotary Club of Manila. Ambassador Romualdez writes columns for The Philippine Star. All his columns have a wide following of readers both in the Philippines and abroad. Born and raised in Manila, Ambassador Romualdez received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from De La Salle College in 1970. An avid golfer, he is affiliated with Manila Golf and Country Club and the Manila Polo Club. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
LCDR Chris D. Glass ('18), Lead Analyst for the Kennedy Maritime Analysis Center’s Fleet Operations Integration Division at ONI, discussed "The Free World’s Response to a Sino-Taiwanese War" at The Institute of World Politics on April 2, 2023. This event is part of IWP's China Lecture Series. About the Lecture: In the aftermath of the calamitous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, America’s authoritarian rivals increasingly discerned an upset to the global order. Furthermore, recent years of nationalistic and quasi-isolationist rhetoric, an ongoing economic downtown, and a global pandemic have exacerbated the international perception of America’s decline. These factors likely contributed to Russia’s seemingly miscalculated invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and are very likely impacting the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) own strategic assessments regarding a forceful reunification with Taiwan. This has been evidenced by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) increasingly bellicose rhetoric in addition to nascent civil-military fusion between the Chinese military and state-owned enterprises (SOE); the latter of which could potentially enable the PRC to advance its timeline for an invasion of Taiwan. In response to this evolving threat, it is incumbent on the U.S., coalition partners, and the free world to consider a range of options to deter Beijing during the current competition phase; de-escalate, demonstrate substantial cost, and force the CCP to recalculate in the window of a crisis; and should such a crisis escalate to a Sino-Taiwanese conflict, execute operations to aid Taiwan. About the Speaker: As a Navy civilian at ONI, Mr. Glass previously worked as an all-source intelligence analyst with the Global Maritime Environment Division’s Transnational Threat Department providing fleet and national decision-makers with in-depth knowledge of the maritime domain in USINDOPACOM and USSOUTHCOM. Mr. Glass presently runs a large and growing team of U.S. Naval officers, enlisted, and civilians as the lead analyst for ONI Kennedy Maritime Analysis Center, Fleet Operations Integration Division’s primary line of effort. He has authored a significant number of products and briefs in direct response to increasing signal demands from the DoD and IC writ large. Customers have included the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Commander ONI, and the Commander of USINDOPACOM among others. Chris also currently oversees a DoD and IC-wide monthly community of interest which includes more than 40 individual offices and 400 members which have equities informing senior leaders in the IC, U.S. Military, and Federal Government. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Event recorded live at IWP, DC, on March 2, 2023. This event is part of the China Lecture Series About the Lecture Throughout Russia’s war in Ukraine, Chinese messengers have surprised many Western observers by framing the conflict on Putin’s terms, promoting pro-Kremlin narratives, and embracing Russian disinformation campaigns, including falsely suggesting that the United States is funding biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine. Though the Ukrainian war is the starkest example of China and Russia’s interest alignment in the information space, China’s drift towards Russian narratives—and its adoption of Russia’s information manipulation tactics—has been evident since at least 2019, when the Hong Kong protests and the start of the global pandemic inspired a more confrontational Chinese approach to global messaging. Understanding the implications of this alignment, its global reach, and its limitations, is critical in formulating an effective, democratic response. About the Speaker Bret Schafer is a senior fellow and head of the Alliance for Securing Democracy’s information manipulation team. Bret is the creator and manager of Hamilton 2.0, an online open-source dashboard tracking the outputs of Russian, Chinese, and Iranian state media outlets, diplomats, and government officials. As an expert in computational propaganda, state-backed information operations, and tech regulation, he has spoken at conferences around the globe and advised numerous governments and international organizations. His research has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, and he has been interviewed on NPR, MSNBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, and the BBC. Prior to joining GMF, he spent more than ten years in the television and film industry, including stints at Cartoon Network and as a freelance writer for Warner Brothers. He also worked in Budapest as a radio host and in Berlin as a semi-professional baseball player in Germany’s Bundesliga. He has a BS in communications with a major in radio/television/film from Northwestern University, and a master’s in public diplomacy from the University of Southern California, where he was the editor-in-chief of Public Diplomacy Magazine. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Rainer Zitelmann discussed his new book, "In Defense of Capitalism: Debunking the Myths" at The Institute of World Politics on March 31, 2023. About the Speaker: Rainer Zitelmann is a historian, sociologist and multiple bestselling author, whose books include Hitler’s National Socialism and The Power of Capitalism. He published 26 books. His books have been translated into numerous languages around the world. In recent years, he has written articles and been the subject of interviews in leading media such as Forbes, Newsweek, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, Le Monde, Corriere della Sera, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, and numerous media in Latin America and Asia. His latest book In Defense of Capitalism is to be published in 30 languages. About the Book, In Defense of Capitalism: "One of the most important books in decades defending capitalism... Adam Smith would have been impressed – and proud.” -Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media "The many myths critical of capitalism are refuted with a wealth of facts and cogent arguments that the critics will not be able to effectively answer. Anyone who wants to know the truth about capitalism should read this book.” -John Mackey, Whole Foods Markets Founder Purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Capitalism-Rainer-Zitelmann/dp/164572073X ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Baiju Gandhi, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist and IWP student, discussed "Developing Deradicalization Programs for US Domestic Extremism" on March 30, 2023 at The Institute of World Politics. This lecture is part of IWP's Student Speaker Lecture Series. About the Lecture: In recent years, the United States homeland has seen an increased threat from domestic terrorism and extremism. Addressing this unique threat requires utilizing new tools to supplement law enforcement. Deradicalization programs may be one of these tools. Such programs’ goals are to disengage radicalized or radicalizing individuals from acting violently and slowly pull that individual’s mindset toward a less extreme state. While these programs have been in place in Europe for many years, development in the United States is in its infancy. In this lecture, we will review psychological theories of radicalization and deradicalization, describe existing deradicalization programs in Europe, and address suggestions for development of deradicalization programs in the United States. About the Speaker: Dr. Baiju Gandhi is a physician with a specialization in general psychiatry and sub-specialization in the psychiatric care of the medically ill. He graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and Harris School of Public Policy in 2009 with a joint M.D.-M.A. in public policy. His interests include the intersection of behavioral science and national security. He is currently a student at IWP (Institute of World Politics), pursuing a graduate certificate in non-violent conflict. ***Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Event recorded live at IWP, DC, on February 21, 2023. About the Lecture In his State of the Union Address of 1941, President Roosevelt proclaimed “Four Freedoms.” Eighty years ago this month, the publication of four paintings by the Vermont artist Norman Rockwell inspired Americans. The Office of War Information launched a major information campaign directed at both domestic and foreign publics. The Four Freedoms became shorthand for the war goals of the Allies. Both FDR’s Four Freedoms and the famous paintings by Norman Rockwell are, however, fading from public memory. Mr. Bishop will review the campaign’s antecedents, the State of the Union address of 1941; the impact of Norman Rockwell’s four paintings; elaboration of Four Freedom themes in sculpture, music, and film; OWI’s messaging directed at domestic and foreign audiences, and the impact of the Four Freedoms in the postwar period. About the Speaker An Air Force Vietnam veteran who also served in Korea and on the Air Force Academy faculty, teaching history, Mr. Bishop joined the U.S. Information Agency as a Foreign Service Officer in 1979. During a 31-year career in USIA and State, he served in Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Capitol Hill, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and twice in China. At the Pentagon, he was the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and then the USAF Chief of Staff before a final year at the American Embassy in Kabul. He is now a Krulak Center Distinguished Fellow at Marine Corps University in Quantico. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
*This lecture is part of the Student Speaker Series* About the Lecture As Russia and Ukraine clash for the survival of their civilizations there are many lessons that can be learned from this war. These lessons should be studied if the United States desires an advantage against the rising threat of China. The areas covered in this presentation will include the will to fight and the how to fight. In these sections there are many factors that could hinder the United States should a conflict erupt with China Finally, several possible solutions to the dilemmas that are before the United States will be discussed. About the Speaker Mr. Robert T. Roseberry holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Intelligence and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Psychology and is completing his Master of Strategic Intelligence Studies from IWP. He has studied Eastern European history and its’ political workings since he was a teenager. As a native Ukrainian he has followed the developments of the war between Ukraine and Russia and has formulated theory that could be useful should China assume a more aggressive posture that would quickly escalate. Robert currently lives in South Carolina and enjoys traveling and a good Irish whiskey. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
*This event is presented in partnership with Baylor University* About the Lecture Is American politics and foreign policy being militarized? Is the health of American civil-military relations being compromised? With former military officers occupying traditionally civilian political positions and retired officers stepping into the partisan political fray, these dangers cannot be dismissed out of hand. One danger, some argue, is an increased chance of war because the military mind is too focused on using force to solve problems. Others see the military mind as inherently parochial, always seeking more resources, prestige, and autonomy for its organization, even at the expense of sound strategy and foreign policy. To understand the full implications of increased military influence in American politics, strategy, and foreign policy, we need a more complete picture of the military mindset. Peter Campbell argues that this can be accomplished by using the theory of Military Realism to identify some of the underappreciated tendencies of the military mind. When considering the use of force, the military realist focuses on the interactive nature of violence, the ever-present frictions in war, and the uncertainty generated by the use of force for political ends. Campbell argues that President Ulysses S. Grant’s approach to foreign policy was informed by a Military Realist perspective. At times, Grant’s military realism and political inexperience were a liability in foreign policy. Overall, however, Grant’s military realist outlook tempered calls for the use of force in foreign policy during his administration. Along the way, Campbell shows that Grant was a preeminent strategic thinker and that unique aspects of his character also shaped his leadership and foreign policy. When we appreciate the military realist perspective, we can better assess the potential implications of military influence on American politics, strategy, and foreign policy in the future. About the Speaker Dr. Peter Campbell is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Baylor University. He holds an M.A. in war studies from King’s College London and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of Military Realism: The Logic and Limits of Force and Innovation in the U.S. Army (University of Missouri Press, 2019). His areas of research include national security decision-making, civil-military relations, strategy, international relations scholarship and policy relevance, insurgency and counterinsurgency, the just war tradition, and cyber warfare. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/Web…31090&id=18
About the Speaker Mr. Bill Bruner is the co-founder and CEO of New Frontier Aerospace, a technology development company in Seattle, Washington. NFA is developing a range of applied technologies for the aviation, space, and energy markets – to include a renewably fueled, vertical takeoff & landing hypersonic aircraft that will deliver passengers and cargo anywhere on Earth in less than two hours. From 2007 to 2009, Bill was the Assistant Administrator for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA) at NASA. Under Bill’s leadership, the 30-person OLIA team directed all of NASA’s relations with the U.S. Congress, governors, state legislators and local governments. Prior to joining NASA, Bill had a distinguished career as an aviator in the United States Air Force, from which he retired as Colonel. Among his decorations is the Bronze Star, awarded for service in the First Gulf War. He then served in several key positions in Washington — among them as a space and airpower expert on the staff of the Secretary of the Air Force; as a Military Fellow in the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and as an Office Director within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he won the Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul H. Nitze Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs. Bill is a graduate of the National War College, the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, and the Air Force’s School of Advanced Air and Space Power Studies — where his thesis topic was “National Security Implications of Inexpensive Space Access.” He has earned master’s degrees, with distinction, in National Security Strategy and Airpower Arts and Sciences. His bachelor’s degree in Physical Science (Astronomy) is from San Francisco State University. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
About the Speaker Ambassador Morse H. Tan served as the first Asian-American Ambassador at Large in U.S. history. A unique position in world history, Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice Tan pursued preventative, mitigating and accountability-seeking justice throughout the world for mass atrocity crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The top policy position in the entire U.S. government in this area, Ambassador Tan advanced this mission in places such as Rwanda, Kosovo, Syria, Burma, China, Iraq, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Nagorno-Karabakh, North Korea, Sudan, Lebanon, and El Salvador. The foremost legal scholar on North Korea, Ambassador Tan published “North Korea, International Law and the Dual Crises” (Routledge) and more law review articles on this subject than any other scholar. Named “Korean-American of the Year” and an Emerging Leader by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, he has participated in a range of media engagements, such as the National Law Journal and United Press International (UPI). His speaking invitations include Cornell Law School, the Tiffany Memorial Lecture and the National Press Club. Ambassador Tan has worked in legal academia for close to two decades. His journey in legal academia began as a founding faculty member at the first American Juris Doctor program in Asia, Handong International Law School. Ambassador Tan has served as a visiting scholar at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and the University of Texas Law School, and Professor of Law at Northern Illinois University College of Law, and he currently serves as Dean at Liberty University School of Law. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
(NOTE: The main mic feed was lost at 44:00. We apologize for the change in sound quality.) This lecture is part of the China Lecture Series and was recorded live on January 25, 2023 at the Reston Campus of The Institute of World Politics. About the Speaker Dr. John Lenczowski is the Founder, President Emeritus, and Chancellor of The Institute of World Politics, an independent graduate school of national security, intelligence, and international affairs in Washington, D.C. IWP is dedicated to developing leaders with a sound understanding of international realities and the ethical conduct of statecraft, based on knowledge and appreciation of American founding principles and the Western moral tradition. Offering a doctoral program, seven Master’s degrees, and eighteen certificate programs, IWP is the only academic institution dedicated to teaching all the arts of statecraft, including: military strategy, the art of diplomacy; public diplomacy, opinion formation, political warfare; intelligence, counterintelligence, economic strategy, and moral leadership, and how these arts are integrated into national strategy. From 1981 to 1983, Dr. Lenczowski served in the State Department in the Bureau of European Affairs and as Special Advisor to Under Secretary for Political Affairs Lawrence Eagleburger. From 1983 to 1987, he was Director of European and Soviet Affairs at the National Security Council. In that capacity, he was the principal Soviet affairs adviser to President Reagan. He has been associated with several academic and research institutions in the Washington area, including Georgetown University, the University of Maryland, the American Enterprise Institute, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Council for Inter-American Security, and the International Freedom Foundation. He has also served on the staff of Congressman James Courter. Dr. Lenczowski attended the Thacher School, earned his B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of Soviet Perceptions of U.S. Foreign Policy (1982); The Sources of Soviet Perestroika (1990), Cultural Diplomacy: A Multi-faceted Strategic Asset of Soviet Power (1991); Full-Spectrum Diplomacy and Grand Strategy (2011) and numerous other writings and addresses on U.S. foreign policy, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, counter-propaganda, political warfare, Soviet/Russian affairs, comparative ideologies, intelligence, strategic deception, counterintelligence, and integrated strategy. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/Web…31090&id=18
About the Lecture America can escape “forever” wars, but it cannot escape “forever” debates about American foreign policy. The debate today about Ukraine reflects four time-tested ways of thinking about America’s role in the world. Nationalists urge America to stay out of Ukraine and conflicts in general outside the western hemisphere. Realists, now called Restrainers, envision a “frozen conflict” or status quo outcome that splits the difference between western and Russian/ Chinese interests in Ukraine and Taiwan. Liberal internationalists appeal to diplomacy and the Minsk process to reach a cease fire, demilitarization and gradual settlement of disputes through peaceful processes and institutions. Finally, conservative internationalists address the conflict in ideological terms, authoritarian versus democratic governments, and insist that freedom “wins” in Ukraine and Taiwan through a Cold War process of balancing power and eventual negotiations that tilt toward freedom. About the Speaker Henry R. Nau is an Emeritus Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University. He holds a B.S. degree in Economics, Politics and Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He taught at Williams College (1971-73) and George Washington University (1973-2019) and as visiting professor at Columbia University, Stanford University and Johns Hopkins SAIS. His books include Conservative Internationalism: Armed Diplomacy Under Jefferson, Polk, Truman, and Reagan (Princeton 2013, paperback with new preface 2015); The Myth of America’s Decline (Oxford 1990, paperback with new preface 1991); At Home Abroad (Cornell 2002); and Perspectives on International Relations (Sage 2021, 7th edition 2021). His latest articles include “Why Reagan Matters,” The National Review, July 10, 2022; “Why Nation-Building is Inevitable,” Providence, August 31, 2021; and “What Trump Gets Right about U.S. Foreign Policy,” The National Interest, April 30, 2020. From January 1981 to July 1983, he served on President Reagan’s National Security Council as senior staff member and White House sherpa for the Annual G-7 Economic Summits at Ottawa (1981), Versailles (1982), Williamsburg (1983) and a special summit with developing countries at Cancun, Mexico (1982). Dr. Nau also served, in 1975-1977, as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Department of State and, from 1963-65, as Lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. From 1989-2016 he directed the U.S.-Japan-South Korea Legislative Exchange Program bringing together semiannually legislators from the U.S. Congress, Japanese Diet and South Korean National Assembly, the only forum for regular off the record political discussions among these three major Asia allies. In recognition of this Program, the Japanese Government awarded Professor Nau The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, presented by the Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States, Kenichiro Sasae, at the Japanese Embassy, September 29, 2016. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/Web…31090&id=18
About the Lecture This is a segue of my overview of the involvement of the behavioral sciences in US national security. The premise of this series is that the human factor is the basis of crises and the source of solutions. International politics at the highest levels is to an extent personal. The assessment of foreign leaders has been part of the original mission of the U.S. Intelligence Community since teams led by William Langer and Henry Murray were tasked with profiling Adolph Hitler. With his intellectually influential work in government and academia, Jerrold Post later developed the multidisciplinary psycho-biographical method. Current approaches include psycho-biographies as well as computer-based systems built on empirical research, the studies of Alexander George on operational codes, and Margaret Hermann’s Leader Trait Assessment content-analytic technique. I will review how the IC has assessed foreign leaders since WWII and I will present a profile of the Chinese Communist Party’s General Secretary Xi Jinping. I will highlight how Xi Jinping’s personal history of trauma and growth aligns with China’s historical narrative of order and chaos. I will discuss strategic empathy as a tool of statecraft and full-spectrum diplomacy. A conversation may follow about the strengths, weaknesses, and influence of leadership analysis in U.S. national security and foreign policy-making. About the Speaker Dr. Enrico Suardi (IWP Class of 2019, Executive MA in National Security Affairs) is director of psychiatry at Saint Elizabeths Hospital and director of forensic services at the Ross Center in Washington, D.C. A diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry, on faculty at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Georgetown University and George Washington University, he has served as chief child and family psychiatrist at the U.S. State Department. Dr. Suardi studied political psychology with Jerrold Post. He completed his M.D. and a residency in preventive medicine in Milan, Italy and obtained an MSc in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
This lecture is a part of the Annual Pearl Harbor Day Lecture Series and is presented in collaboration with IWP's China/Asia Program. Recorded live on November 29, 2022 at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.. About the Lecture Xi Jinping is not only implementing the fastest military buildup since the Second World War, but he is also mobilizing the Chinese people for war. He has just created a new war cabinet. He talks about war all the time. The American political and military establishments, however, are not taking Xi seriously, and in Washington, there is an evident lack of sense of urgency. This mismatch will have severe consequences. About the Speaker Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Great U.S.-China Tech War and Losing South Korea, booklets released by Encounter Books. His previous books are Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World and The Coming Collapse of China, both from Random House. Chang lived and worked in China and Hong Kong for almost two decades, most recently in Shanghai, as Counsel to the American law firm Paul Weiss and earlier in Hong Kong as Partner in the international law firm Baker & McKenzie. His writings on China and North Korea have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The National Interest, The American Conservative, Commentary, National Review, Barron’s, and The Daily Beast. He is a columnist at Newsweek and writes regularly for The Hill. He has spoken at Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Yale, and other universities and at The Brookings Institution, The Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, RAND, the American Enterprise Institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, and other institutions. He has given briefings at the National Intelligence Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the Pentagon. He has also spoken before industry and investor groups including Bloomberg, Sanford Bernstein, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia. Chang has appeared before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Chang has appeared on CNN, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNBC, MSNBC, PBS, the BBC, and Bloomberg Television. He is a regular co-host and guest on The John Batchelor Show. Outside the United States, he has spoken in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, The Hague, London, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver. He served two terms as a trustee of Cornell University. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
This event is part of the Student Speaker Lecture Series and was recorded live at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. on November 14, 2022. About the Lecture Navigating terrain is difficult. Navigating terrain in an unknown land, without a local guide, surrounded by hostile parties, in an arid climate, and dangerously low on supplies makes the journey significantly more perilous. However, the trek throughout these lands and the skills – both brain and brawn – needed to safely traverse a course back home requires unparalleled knowledge in how to adapt to and strategize for the usage of the geography around oneself. Utilizing the account of Xenophon’s, and his fellow Greek mercenaries’, trials throughout Anatolia and Mesopotamia at the turn of the 5th century B.C.E. helps illustrate the critical importance of geography. This talk looks at providing an analysis for an ancient account of strategy in unfamiliar territories to highlight those principles that transcend time and should be considered even in contemporary operations. About the Speaker Sean Honesty is an M.A. candidate in the Statecraft and National Security Affairs program with a concentration in Public Diplomacy and Strategic Influence. His primary interest of study centers around Mediterranean geopolitics, particularly concerning the cross-cultural challenges facing Europe and MENA, and their effects on U.S. national security considerations for the Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
This lecture was recorded live on November 7, 2022 at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.. About the Lecture Information warfare is an essential part of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) defense doctrine. The PRC uses cyber to carry out information operations. Washington should analyze the PRC’s cyber attacks on Taiwan to understand its cyber capabilities and intentions against the United States. This presentation will analyze the PRC’s 2020 attack on Taiwan’s telecom and gas sector, its 2021 attack on Taiwan’s financial sector, and its disinformation operations regarding COVID-19. These attacks reveal that the PRC is likely to attack the United States’ critical infrastructure sector as a way to halt vital services and psychologically degrade the American public’s trust in the government. Additionally, the PRC’s attacks on Taiwan reveal that the PRC is successful at attacking adversaries on the narrative battlefield by using social media. Today, the United States is not prepared to successfully counter or prevent such attacks. This presentation will explain the four actions the United States needs to perform to curb PRC cyber attacks and information operations in the cyber domain: encourage the private sector to develop a robust cybersecurity system through incentive mechanisms, use the principle of reciprocity for actions the government will take against the PRC if cyber attacked, pursue long-term offensive cyber measures such as network reconnaissance against the PRC, and educate the public on PRC disinformation capabilities through a nationwide public affairs campaign. About the Speaker Gillian Hand is a current graduate student at The Institute of World Politics and is set to graduate in December of 2022 with a Masters in Statecraft and National Security Affairs. She is currently working as an analyst at Rockwood Company where she helps government clients work through complex problems to achieve mission success. She has extensive experience in research and analysis through completing several national security research projects for high-ranking government officials. Her areas of expertise include emerging threats and China studies. At IWP, she has focused heavily on understanding how to properly implement the tools of statecraft and create an integrated strategy. Gillian has spent substantial time studying abroad in China to improve her Mandarin skills. She earned her B.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University. She is also a National Military Foundation Scholar (2021) and Association of Former Intelligence Officers Scholar (2021). Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Diana West discusses "Secrets of the Archives: Reconsidering Research of Bukovsky & Romerstein." This event is a Herb Romerstein Memorial Lecture on Propaganda and Deception in collaboration with the Intermarium Lecture Series. About the Speaker: Diana West is an award-winning journalist and the author of The Red Thread: A Search for Ideological Drivers Inside the Anti-Trump Conspiracy (Center for Security Policy Press, 2019), American Betrayal: The Secret Assault on Our Nation's Character (St. Martin's Press 2013) and The Death of the Grown-Up: How America's Arrested Development Is Bringing Down Western Civilization (St. Martin's Press 2007). In Fall of 2013, West brought out a companion volume to American Betrayal titled: The Rebuttal: Defending American Betrayal from the Book-Burners, which includes essays by Vladimir Bukovsky and M. Stanton Evans, among others. Honors include one of Newsmax's 50 Best Conservative Blogs; the Hero of Conscience Award from the American Freedom Alliance; and the Center for Security Policy's Mightier Pen Award. Both American Betrayal and The Red Thread have been showcased at The Pumpkin Papers Irregulars Dinner, a club of intelligence experts and writers that meets every Halloween in Washington, D.C. A journalist since graduating from Yale, West began writing a weekly newspaper column at the Washington Times, where she also wrote editorials under Editorial Page Editors Helle Dale and the late Tony Blankley. The column would be nationally syndicated for 15 years. A collection of West's columns came out under the title, No Fear: Selected Columns from America's Most Politically Incorrect Columnist (Bravura Books). West is also one of 19 co-authors of Shariah: The Threat to America, a publication of the Center for Security Policy, West's work has appeared in many publications and news sites including The American Spectator, Breitbart News, The Daily Caller, Dispatch International, The Epoch Times, Family Security Matters, Gates of Vienna, Manhattan, Inc., M, Inc., National Wildlife Magazine, The New Criterion, The Public Interest, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, The Washington Post Magazine, The Weekly Standard, and her fiction has appeared in the Atlantic Monthly. She has made numerous television, documentary and radio appearances, and addressed audiences including at the American Legion, the Danish Parliament, the Heritage Foundation, the Hudson Foundation, ICON, Institute for the Study of Strategy and Politics, Judicial Watch, the National Vietnam Veteran and Gulf War Coalition, the Naval War College, the Union League Club, and Yale. She blogs at dianawest.net, and is now making videos at https://www.patreon.com/DianaWest. Having earned her permanent Twitter suspension, Diana now thinks aloud and uncensored at Gab @realDianaWest. Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/ Make a gift to IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Dr. Norman Bailey discusses "MENA: A Summary and Forecast." This event is part of a virtual series on the MENA region with Dr. Bailey. The other lectures may be found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvtOVOq0jLNIqDJhubnW_1ACbx-EQm1O5 About the speaker: Dr. Norman Bailey is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security at The Institute of World Politics and a Professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration. *IWP Admissions* https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ *Support IWP* https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
This lecture was recorded live on October 24, 2022 at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.. About the Lecture This lecture will discuss how intelligence capabilities and operations have evolved to enable our national government leaders and military forces to seamlessly counter and/or defeat a near-peer adversary capable of contesting the U.S. in all domains [air, land, maritime, space, and cyberspace] in both competition and armed conflict. This evolution has changed the way tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence capabilities support both national strategy and military operations. It also requires simultaneous, integrated, and synchronized intelligence operational planning and execution, at the speed and scale needed to avoid surprises, gain the advantage, and satisfy all types of intelligence consumers in near-real-time. Today’s intelligence community has adapted our ability to seamlessly analyze, fuse, and share what was once domain-centric information into a single ecosystem that supports the national leadership and military commanders across all domains and all levels of competition/war. About the Speaker Col. Stephen Iwicki has served in the U.S. Intelligence community in both a military and industry capacity for the last 35 years. He began his intelligence career when he was commissioned as an Army Intelligence Officer in 1985 after an ROTC Scholarship for his undergraduate studies. Over the next 20 years, he served in positions of increasing responsibility with extensive experience in managing every facet of the intelligence process from raw intelligence collection and processing to strategic-level analysis supporting White House Cabinet members. He is experienced in employing both foreign and domestic intelligence capabilities in support of national security. IWP Admissions https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
This lecture is part of the *Kosciuszko Chair/Center for Intermarium Studies* Lecture Series and was recorded live on October 24, 2022 at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.. About the Lecture In the past, emerging and disruptive technologies were often created by the Government and their benefits were largely controlled by the Government. Over the last few decades, the Government lost the ability to control the development and spread of innovative technologies, so the key focus has become on getting access to these innovations. The defense industry has been a slow adopter of new technologies, particularly in Europe. Further, the established ways of innovating the defense industry, such as the reliance on foreign investment and prime contractors are increasingly less suitable in the modern world. Recently, NATO has launched a new Innovation Fund and DIANA accelerator program to stimulate public-private collaboration in the defense industry. They model their fund after IQT, a CIA venture capital fund established in 1999. Yet, the US has a mixed recent history of attracting innovators for defense purposes. The Pentagon is working to update its procurement law to stimulate small technology companies to work on defense projects, yet venture capital investors are reluctant to support companies with a defense focus. How to address the innovation adoption problem? What are the key obstacles in the US and what are the lessons for the wider NATO Alliance? What are the successful case studies and what were the key drivers of success? About the Speaker Mr. Mikolaj Firlej is a Lecturer in AI and Regulation at the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI and School of Law, University of Surrey. He is also a Research Affiliate at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford. Mikolaj’s research focuses on providing a deeper understanding of the role of human factors in the increasingly algorithmic decision-making across various sectors. Specifically, he focuses on the operationalization of the emerging legal principle of meaningful human control over the use of autonomous systems, typology of standards applicable to AI systems, and legal issues of privacy-preserving technologies. Mikolaj graduated from the University of Oxford and Warsaw with degrees in law, socio-legal studies, public policy, and philosophy. IWP Admissions https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series and was recorded live at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 17, 2022. About the Lecture After spending time on the ground in Ukraine as a guest of Ukrainian law enforcement, and after visiting bombed-out police stations and learning something of the trauma that a country endures when lawlessness takes over, she came to believe that one of the great unmet needs in Ukraine today is helping law enforcement recover from the invaders’ attempts to destroy it. In this lecture, Mitzi will share information on what the invaders did, how this has encouraged human trafficking, and what it’s meant for the proliferation of the sale of irradiated scrap metal poached from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. She’ll end with reasons why she believes the Ukrainians will prevail. For a hint, the reasons involve breadcrumbs, colorful nail polish, and a large yellow rose. About the Speaker Mitzi Perdue is an anti-human trafficking advocate, a former rice farmer, past president of the 40,000-member American Agri-Women and a US Delegate to the United Nations Decade on Women Conference in Nairobi. In the 1990s, and early 2000s her nationally syndicated column, “The Environment and You,” was the most widely syndicated environmental column in the US. Recently she’s written a biography of Mark Victor Hansen, the Chicken Soup for the Soul guy. Hansen is in the Guinness Book of Worlds’ Records for selling half a billion books. Royalties for Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless will go to supporting Law Enforcement in Ukraine. IWP Admissions https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=
Dr. David Charney discussed "Countering the Threat of Insider Spies" at the IWP Chancellor's Council Meeting on September 28, 2022. Learn more about the Chancellor's Council: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/chancellors-council/
Wall Street Journal columnist Walter Russell Mead discussed "The World Crisis and American Grand Strategy" as the keynote address at IWP's Gala on September 28, 2022. Learn more about IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/about/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=13
Rebeccah Heinrichs, IWP Adjunct Professor, discusses "The U.S. Nuclear Deterrent and the Military Buildup of our Adversaries" at the IWP Chancellor's Council Meeting on September 28, 2022 Learn more about the Chancellor's Council: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/chancellors-council/
This event was streamed live at The Institute of World Politics, D.C. on Thursday, October 13, 2022. About the Lecture In the world of espionage, North Korea remains one of the hardest targets as it remains the most reclusive and enigmatic communist regime on the planet. The question remains, then, how did North Korea develop its Modus Operandi (M.O.) in order to achieve its ultimate foreign policy goal? – which is the “revolutionization” of South Korea through reunification under Kim Jong Un. In this lecture, first, North Korea’s exploitation of its unique Juche ideology as a tool of indoctrination will be discussed – specifically, North Korea’s totalitarian and monolithic dictatorial system, known as suryong, meaning Supreme Leader, will be assessed. Second, the evolution of North Korea’s conduct of espionage during and after the Cold-War will be highlighted, including traditional espionage operations – recruitment of South Koreans – as well as special operations, such as terrorist attacks. Third, several cases of North Korea’s exploitation of its intelligence officers will be addressed – those who were brainwashed to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the regime until their defection to the U.S. or South Korea to pursue their life of freedom. About the Speaker Dr. Amanda Jihyun Won recently graduated from The Institute of World Politics’ (IWP) Doctor of Statecraft and National Security (DSNS) program, and has been serving as Director of the China Asia Program at IWP since September 2022. Amanda is also the founder of IWP’s Asia Initiative Lecture Series (AILS) through which diverse scholar-practitioners have presented their expertise on Asia. Amanda also holds an M.P.S. in Arts and Cultural Management from the Pratt Institute in New York and an M.A. in Government (with a specialization in National Security Studies) from Johns Hopkins University. Her professional experience includes having worked in both the NGO and government sectors, serving as a legislative assistant at the New York City Council and as a Diplomatic & Consular Affairs and Partnership intern at the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. She has also worked at the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) where she was a contributor to that organization’s publication: The Parallel Gulag: North Korea’s “An-Jeon-Bu” Prison Camps. Dr. Won will also be teaching a course at IWP on the topic of North Korean Espionage starting in the Spring Semester of 2023. IWP Admissions https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
This lecture is in partnership with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and was recorded live on September 29, 2022 at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.. About the Lecture Dr. Adrian Zenz will discuss how under Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party is resorting to Mao Zedong's playbook of using ideology to oppress and assimilate ethnic groups. He will describe the suppression of religious and other freedoms especially among Uyghurs and Tibetans, and describe what can be done today to promote human rights for those who suffer under this regime. About the Speaker Dr. Adrian Zenz is Senior Fellow and Director in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Washington, D.C. (non-resident). His research focus is on China’s ethnic policy, Beijing’s campaign of mass internment, securitization and forced labor in Xinjiang, public recruitment and coercive poverty alleviation in Tibet and Xinjiang, and China’s domestic security budgets. Dr. Zenz is the author of Tibetanness under Threat and co-editor of Mapping Amdo: Dynamics of Change. He has played a leading role in the analysis of leaked Chinese government documents, including the “China Cables,” the “Karakax List,” and the “Xinjiang Papers.” Dr. Zenz is an advisor to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and a frequent contributor to the international media. Dr. Zenz obtained his Ph.D. in social anthropology from the University of Cambridge. He conducted ethnographic fieldwork in western China in Chinese and regularly analyses original Chinese source material. Dr. Zenz has provided expert testimony to the governments of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. After the publication of his research on forced labor in cotton picking, the U.S. government banned the import of goods made with cotton from Xinjiang. Following his research on population optimization and birth prevention, an independent Tribunal in the United Kingdom determined that China’s policies in the region constitute genocide. Dr. Zenz’s work on parent-child separation in Xinjiang prompted The Economist to feature this atrocity on its cover page and to refer to it as “a crime against humanity” that represents “the gravest example of a worldwide attack on human rights.” Dr. Zenz has acted as an academic peer reviewer for a wide range of scholarly journals, including The China Journal, Asian Studies Review, International Security (Harvard University), China Perspectives, Central Asian Survey, the Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Asian Ethnicity, China: An International Journal, the Journal of Chinese Political Science, Issues and Studies, and Development and Change. Dr. Zenz is a member of the Association of Asian Studies. He has published opinion pieces with Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. IWP Admissions https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
This event is part of a virtual series on the MENA region with Dr. Bailey. About the speaker Dr. Norman Bailey is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security at The Institute of World Politics and a Professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration. *IWP Admissions* https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ *Support IWP* https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
This lecture was recorded live at The Institute of World Politics on September 15, 2022. This lecture was sponsored by the Jack Miller Center. ( https://jackmillercenter.org/ ) About the Lecture The Constitution of the United States of America is a practical document, laying out rules for managing public affairs through the offices of government. Although the Constitution does not mention the word “virtue”, George Washington and John Adams, among many others, asserted that the republic could not function without it. But how does virtue function civically? In other words, what is civic about virtue? This address will explore the civic character of virtue, trying to understand not why it is necessary, but how it operates. About the Speaker Dr. Geoffrey M. Vaughan is a professor of political science at Assumption University and a Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program for American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. His publications emphasize the modern period from Hobbes to Habermas, but he has also published on literature with a forthcoming piece on the Natural Law in the tales of Sherlock Holmes. He is writing on the role of the philosopher-king in modern political thought and a book on the meaning of American citizenship. IWP Admissions https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
This event was recorded live on September 14, 2022 at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. _About the Lecture_ The paper sets the stage for the stressors the Soviet Union was dealing with in the 1980s and dives into how Chernobyl not only accelerated, but caused the collapse of the Soviet Union. The straw that broke the camel’s back as it were. The Soviet Union’s love of secrets and deception would become their undoing as their web of lies became exposed to the world following the accident. _About the Speaker_ *Wendell P. Bryant III* is an M.A. candidate for Statecraft and National Security Affairs, focusing on National Defense. His primary interest is the emerging technologies in cyberwarfare namely Artificial Intelligence and Mass Data Collection, and ultimately their significant importance in continuing to ensure U.S. national security now and into the future. Originally from Tennessee and a Captain in the United States Army, he enjoys all sports with a special place in his heart for Ultimate Frisbee, an avid lover of movies and shows, video games, reading, writing, food experimentation, socializing, poker, and politics. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
_About the Lecture_ This event was recorded live on September 8, 2022 at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.. With one year going by after the Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan, the fundamental question remains in the minds of the people most affected: is the Taliban able to bring stability to the nation and form a legitimate government in the country? A short introduction covering The Bonn Agreement (Post-9/11 and the U.S.’s sacrifices and achievements in Afghanistan) and The Doha Agreement (Failures of the peace process, the withdrawal of American forces, collapse of the Afghan government, and violent return of Taliban) will begin the lecture. The first part of this lecture will focus on “a blind spot in the world and a voiceless nation,” addressing questions of what happened to the government, the democratic institutions, and values that led to the culminating point of the Taliban’s takeover and their rule thus far? How has the Taliban behaved toward women; ethnic, religious, and political groups; and former members of government and ANDSF in the past year? Topics of unemployment, poverty, and the current security situation including the resurgence of ISIS and other terrorist groups’ activity over the past year will be discussed. The second part of the lecture will focus on the reaction of the Resistance forces in opposition to the Taliban, which includes former government members, and defense and security forces in their ranks. The final part of the lecture will address the salient question of whether the Taliban has fulfilled its end of the Doha Agreement’s commitments. These commitments can be categorized into three parts: the Taliban and its connection to international terrorist organizations; the establishment of a genuine Intra-Afghan peace process; and the Taliban’s (as a would-be legitimate governing entity) relationship with the surrounding region and its actors. The lecture will conclude with suggestions and solutions for the failings of the Taliban and their governing system in Afghanistan. _About the Speaker_ *Mr. Mohibullah Noori* is a modern and moderate politician resisting on behalf of democracy and regional integration within Afghanistan. He is the leader of the Heart of Asia Nations Integration Movement and former Policy Director at the National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Mr. Noori has written several books on regional integration policy and has been an advocate for this idea since 2001. He is known in Afghanistan for his ideas on the Fajristan Civilizational Region, Heart of Asia Regional Order, and Government of Peace. He believes that, in order to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan, there is a need for a Government of Peace based on three principal agreements: national agreement on a moderate, democratic, and decentralized system to appropriately reflect the diversity of the country; partnership with the neighboring countries on a regional integration policy; and global agreement on a neutrality policy with the great powers to prevent Afghanistan’s “Ukrainization.” IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
About the Lecture Not many events of the late 20th century are as important and foreboding as the seizing of 11 athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Black September, a Palestinian group, held the Israeli captives during a long drama observed over T.V. by as many as one billion people. Then, at a nearby airfield, German police botched a counterterrorism effort and the hostages were murdered by their Palestinian captors. While five of the terrorists perished in the ensuing firefight with German authorities, three escaped overseas and, in a style archetypal for the business of terrorism, they gave a press conference. Politics, sentiment about Germany, feeling for and against Israel, strategy, media, and counterterrorism were all themes of that month – and years of discussions and plans that ensured. The Germans set about forming an elite CT team – which in turn helped stand up U.S. and European counterparts. States were stirred to begin countering terrorism: appeasement was rebalanced by some aggressiveness in official postures and law-making. Even so, using force remained rare – except in the case of Israel which opened a careful assassination plan against terrorist infrastructure overseas. About the Speakers Dr. Christopher Harmon wrote his political science dissertation on terrorism in the early 1980s and continued that work as Legislative Aide for Foreign Policy to a member of Congress and, much later, director of counterterrorism studies programs at the Marshall Center in Germany for the U.S. government. A professor at civilian and military graduate schools including the Naval War College, Dr. Harmon began teaching courses at The Institute of World Politics after 9/11 — on terrorism, and later on counterterrorism. He now serves as a full-time professor at IWP. Lead author or editor of eight books, he serves as Distinguished Fellow at the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare at Marine Corps University. Mr. Aaron Danis is a career terrorism and counterterrorism specialist, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Military Studies and a Master’s degree in Security Policy Studies. He is a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer, and has served in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Treasury Department, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
(NOTE: we apologize for the drop in sound quality at the end of the Q&A, but we decided to keep the section because of the importance of the content) This event took place at The Institute of World Politics on September 1, 2022. About the Lecture: The U.S. and Europe have regarded the economic relationship with China as that of a trading partner, but China views things far more seriously, seeming to view the U.S. as an opponent or worse. As an executive who was at the table when Lucent transferred its operations to China and when British Telecom deployed Huawei’s gear into its networks, Jon Pelson has unique insights into the benefits and risks of relying on networks provided by a company so close to the Chinese Communist Party. His access to intelligence officials also illuminated the little-known realities of Huawei’s deployments around America’s nuclear missile sites and the extent of the CCP in directing China’s leading equipment companies to serve the geopolitical allies of China, from North Korea to Iran. But as Pelson describes, the answers to the technology conflict may not lie in political maneuvering, but in unleashing the power of free countries to innovate and surpass even the massive R&D capabilities of China’s technology sector. By creating the right partnership between government and private sector, America can deliver greater solutions, faster, and help free countries retake the lead. About the Speaker: Mr. Jonathan Pelson, a telecom industry veteran and author of Wireless Wars: China’s Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We’re Fighting Back, tells the story of how the U.S. lost the wireless market to China and describes a path to retake the lead. The former Chief of Convergence Strategy for British Telecom and leader of organizations at other global telecom companies, he uses his extraordinary access to tell the stories of the executives who faced Huawei and China’s other telecom equipment companies, describing the grave consequences to freedom and security if we don’t respond to the threat of China’s global ambitions. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Dr. Norman Bailey, IWP Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security, discusses "Internal Conflicts in the MENA Region." This lecture took place on August 25, 2022 and is part of a series on "The MENA Region: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Part 1, “The MENA Region in May 2022: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," may be found here: https://soundcloud.com/theiwp/the-mena-region-in-may-2022-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly Part 2, “The Abraham Accords: What do they Mean for MENA," may be found here: https://soundcloud.com/theiwp/the-abraham-accords-what-do-they-mean-for-mena Part 3, "External Conflicts in the MENA Region," can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/theiwp/external-conflicts-in-the-mena-region About the speaker: Dr. Norman Bailey is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security at The Institute of World Politics and a Professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Mr. Arthur Kwon Lee, Resident Artist at the McLean Project for the Arts, discusses the role of moral relativism and ideological subversion by artists and galleries in the contemporary mass media culture. This event took place at The Institute of World Politics on August 10, 2022. About the Speaker: Arthur Kwon Lee is a Korean American painter whose gestural mark making harmonizes expressive color palettes with world mythologies. His work has won awards from George Washington University, the Korean Artists Association, the Corcoran Gallery of Art and most recently the inaugural title of ‘Artist of the Year’ by the Eileen Kaminsky Family Foundation. Lee draws inspiration from a broad range of sources including Jungian psychoanalysis, local religious traditions, and his lifelong commitment to martial arts. Prior to developing a love for painting, Lee was a Division One athlete who placed in the US Tae Kwon Do Nationals for three consecutive years. Lee has carried this martial intensity into his artwork where it translated into large-scale works and a diversity of dynamic brushstrokes. The resulting compositions attest to an artist who uses his entire body to paint symbolically evocative works that contain oblique references to archetypal myths from around the world. Luminous colors, gestural expressionism, and philosophical acumen bring a refreshing sentiment to art that draws our sometimes compartmentalized and fractured times into a synthetic, representative whole. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=18
Mark Metcalf, Lecturer in Global Commerce at the McIntire School (UVA), discusses "How the PLA Applies Sunzi’s Art of War to Contemporary Warfare." This lecture took place at The Institute of World Politics on July 21, 2022. About the Lecture: Over the past decade, PLA-affiliated authors and publishers have produced numerous academically-rigorous texts that are used to teach its members about Sunzi and how his teachings should be regarded in the context of modern warfare. Many of the perspectives that are discussed are distinctly Chinese, not apparent to most Western readers, and provide unique insights into the ways that the PLA views modern warfare. About the Speaker: Mark Metcalf joins the McIntire School in 2020 as a Lecturer in Global Commerce teaching “Doing Business in China,” a seminar that investigates the historical, political, and sociological roots of business practices and norms in the PRC. Since 2014, he has taught courses in Chinese literature in UVA’s Department of East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, including a semester-long seminar on The Art of War. Prior to UVA, Professor Metcalf spent over 25 years as a contractor working as a Signals Analyst, Systems Engineer, Project Manager (PMP), Technical Translator (Russian and Chinese), and Intelligence Analyst in support of the Department of Defense and other U.S. government agencies; assignments involved extensive travel to Europe, Asia, and Australia. This was preceded by service as a Naval Officer, during which he was initially assigned aboard a frigate homeported in Japan, where he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. He subsequently transferred to the Naval Security Group and spent the majority of his naval career as a Naval Cryptologist, retiring at the rank of Commander. Professor Metcalf’s current research is focused on contemporary Chinese military perspectives regarding strategy and ethics. He enjoys translating and analyzing Chinese military texts in order to better understand the PRC military’s approaches to decision making. He is particularly interested in understanding the uniquely Chinese historical and philosophical roots that engender such practices, perspectives that are often misunderstood in the West. Professor Metcalf has published his research in academic and professional journal articles and book chapters. He has been invited to the U.S. Naval War College to give presentations about topics ranging from the role of technical standardization in Chinese PLA Navy ship construction, to Chinese perspectives on the relevance of The Art of War to modern warfare. Since 2017, he has participated in the annual Regional Security Working Group held at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Maria Juczewska (’19) discusses the role of anti-Ukrainian propaganda and disinformation campaigns in Poland’s political and social arena. This is a recording of a lecture that was originally given at The Institute of World Politics on June 23, 2022. It is part of the Intermarium lecture series. About the Speaker: Maria Juczewska is a communication specialist with a versatile international experience. Her education in linguistics, culture studies, and international affairs, combined with years of living abroad, makes her point of view unique and comprehensive. Mrs. Juczewska worked for the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies from 2014-2020, and she is a graduate of IWP’s M.A. program. At present, she is working on her Ph.D. in political philosophy. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Dr. Norman Bailey, IWP Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security, discusses "External Conflicts in the MENA Region." This lecture took place on July 20, 2022 and is part of a series on "The MENA Region: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Part 1, “The MENA Region in May 2022: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, may be found here: https://soundcloud.com/theiwp/the-mena-region-in-may-2022-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly Part 2, “The Abraham Accords: What do they Mean for MENA”, may be found here: https://soundcloud.com/theiwp/the-abraham-accords-what-do-they-mean-for-mena About the speaker: Dr. Norman Bailey is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security at The Institute of World Politics and a Professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Gary Brode, Founder of Deep Knowledge Investing, discusses "The Strategic and Economic Implications of Anti-Russian Sanctions,” as well as how U.S. policy is failing to protect the dollar's reserve currency status and its effect on American consumers. This event took place on June 29, 2022 as a part of The Institute of World Politics' lecture series. About the Speaker: Gary Brode has spent three decades in the hedge fund business. Most recently, he was Managing Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager for Silver Arrow Investment Management, a concentrated long-only hedge fund with options-based hedging. In 2020, he launched Deep Knowledge Investing, a research firm that works with portfolio managers, RIAs, family offices, and individuals to help them earn higher returns in the equity portion of their portfolios. The firm provides actionable high-return investment ideas with a focus on what the market is missing, as well as timely market commentary. Deep Knowledge Investing advised subscribers to short the market in February of 2020 just before the Covid shutdowns and again in January of 2022 just ahead of Federal Reserve rate hikes. The firm has a large and accomplished Board of Advisors with wide expertise. Their work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, and in appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg West, and RealVision. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Col. David Maxwell (ret.), Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), discusses "Beyond Nuclear Crisis: New and Long-Term Strategy for the Korean Peninsula." This lecture was part of the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. It took place on July 7, 2022. About the Lecture: The Yoon and Biden administrations have an opportunity for a new approach to the Korean security challenge. The Alliance way ahead is an integrated deterrence strategy as part of the broader strategic competition that is taking place in the region. There is a need for a Korean “Plan B” strategy that rests on the foundation of combined ROK/U.S. defensive capabilities and includes political warfare, aggressive diplomacy, sanctions, cyber operations, and information and influence activities, with a goal of denuclearization but ultimately the objective must be to solve the “Korea question” (e.g., the unnatural division of the peninsula) with the understanding that denuclearization of the north and an end to human rights abuses and crimes against humanity will only happen when the Korea question is resolved that leads to a free and unified Korea, otherwise known as a United Republic of Korea (UROK). About the Speaker: Colonel David S. Maxwell (ret.) is the Editor-in-Chief of Small Wars Journal. He is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation(where he focuses on a free and unified Korea), and a Senior Advisor to the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy. He is a 30-year veteran of the US Army, retiring as a Special Forces Colonel. He has worked in Asia for more than over 30 years, primarily in Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. Colonel Maxwell served on the United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command / United States Forces Korea CJ3 staff where he was a planner for UNC/CFC OPLAN 5027-98 and co-author of the original ROK JCS – UNC/CFC CONPLAN 5029-99 (North Korean instability and regime collapse). He later served as the Director of Plans, Policy, and Strategy and then Chief of Staff for the Special Operations Command Korea. He commanded the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JSOTF-P), served as the G3 for the United States Army Special Operations Command, and culminated his service as a member of the military faculty at the National War College. Following retirement, he served as the Associate Director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Colonel Maxwell is a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies, an advisory to Spirit of America, and on the Board of Directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, the International Council of Korean Studies, the Council on Korean-US Security Studies, the Special Operations Research Association, the OSS Society, and the Small Wars Journal. He earned a B.A. in political science from Miami University, and an M.A. in Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and an M.S. in National Security Studies from the National War College. Colonel Maxwell teaches Unconventional Warfare and Special Operations for Policy Makers and Strategists. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Dr. Norman Bailey discusses “The Abraham Accords: What do they Mean for MENA?” This lecture took place on June 23, 2022. It is part of a series on the MENA region with Dr. Bailey. His first lecture in the series may be found here: https://www.iwp.edu/events/the-mena-region-in-may-2022-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ About the speaker: Dr. Norman Bailey is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security at The Institute of World Politics and a Professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Dr. Gábor Csizmazia discusses “America on Europe’s Eastern Frontier.” This event took place at The Institute of World Politics on June 21, 2022. About the Lecture: Dr. Csizmazia will discuss current U.S. foreign policy trends relating to the Eastern-Central European region. About the Speaker: Dr. Csizmazia is an assistant lecturer at the Institute for American Studies at the University of Public Service in Hungary and a consultant for EuroAtlantic Consulting & Investment Plc. He also was a visiting scholar at George Washington University, with a focus on U.S. foreign and security policy concerning Central and Eastern Europe. Dr. Csizmazia has written numerous publications on international relations regarding U.S policy and East-Central Europe. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Chief Executive Officer of CGAI Mr. Kelly Ogle and IWP adjunct professor Dr. Sara Vakhshouri discuss "The Russia-Ukraine War and Global Energy Security." This event took place at The Institute of World Politics on June 21, 2022. About the lecture: Mr. Kelly Ogle and Dr. Sara Vakhshouri will discuss global energy issues with the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. About the speakers: Mr. Kelly Ogle is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Among being an entrepreneur, scholar, and published author, Mr. Ogle manages the Energy Security Forum and hosts Energy Security Cubed, a weekly podcast discussing all facets of energy security. He has held positions as a board member of several companies, public, private and non-profit, such as the board of the Humboldt Broncos hockey club. Mr. Ogle received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Strategic Studies from the University of Calgary and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Canadian Directors. Dr. Sara Vakhshouri is the founder and president of SVB Energy International, a strategic energy consulting firm with offices in Washington DC and Dubai. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Energy Security at The Institute of World Politics. Dr. Vakhshouri has about two decades of experience of working in the energy industry with extensive experience in global energy market studies, energy security, and geopolitical risk, and she has consulted numerous public and private sector energy and policy leaders. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Dr. Enrico Suardi, IWP Class of 2019 and Director of Psychiatry at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, discusses "The Behavioral Sciences in U.S. National Security." **Sound improves around 4:33. This event took place at The Institute of World Politics on May 25, 2022. About the lecture: Dr. Suardi will provide a historical overview of the involvement of the behavioral sciences in addressing society’s security needs during peacetime and wartime. The U.S. Constitution entrusts to the government the responsibility for the common defense and general welfare of the nation. National security is today understood as the response to threats by nation-states and non-state actors to the domestic tranquility. The organization of national security requires shared efforts at federal, state, and local levels. From the beginnings in WWI, when psychologists helped assess, select, and place military service members based on their suitability, the scope of the contributions of the behavioral scientists has broadened to include a variety of clinical and consultative roles in national security organizations. The multi-domain, hybrid threats of the 21st century command our best effort to shed light on the human factor, focus on preventative approaches in managing threats, and maintain ethical standards in our professional conduct. About the speaker: Dr. Enrico Suardi (IWP Class of 2019, Executive MA in National Security Affairs) is director of psychiatry at Saint Elizabeths Hospital and director of forensic services at the Ross Center in Washington, D.C. A diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry, on faculty at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Georgetown University and George Washington University, he has practiced psychiatry for over 15 years in public and private settings, including serving as chief child and family psychiatrist at the U.S. State Department. Currently, he is the secretary of the Washington Psychiatric Society and the treasurer of the D.C. Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. Dr. Suardi studied medicine and public health in Milan, Italy and obtained an MSc in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. His interest in political and operational psychology stems from a longstanding passion for international affairs and diplomacy. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
IWP professor Dr. Henry P. Williams discusses "Turkey’s President Erdogan’s Balancing Leading to the 2023 Elections." About the lecture Dr. Henry P. Williams will discuss how Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is walking a tightrope leading up to the 2023 national elections, as well as the implications for the Western alliance and NATO. About the speaker Dr. Henry P. (Phil) Williams III is originally from Michigan. He received degrees and diplomas from Culver Military Academy, the University of Virginia, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, the University of Florence, Italy, and two Masters and a Doctorate in International Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, a joint Tufts and Harvard Program. He has lived in four foreign countries and has studied and worked professionally in four foreign languages: French, Greek, Italian, and Turkish. Formerly a Wall Street and International Investment Banker, he currently operates a small consulting business and lectures on a variety of topics, including American History, Turkey, and the Middle East. He has been featured on National Public Radio related to several of his interests, has written news commentary pieces on Turkey and the Middle East, and has published scholarly articles on Ottoman and Turkish Law. He has recently spent two semesters (2016-17) in Istanbul teaching a course at Koç University titled “Turkey and America, East and West – Where the Twain Meet.” Dr. Williams is a past National Board member of the English-Speaking Union, a Past Virginia State President of the Sons of the American Revolution, and has served on the board of the American Friends of Turkey for over twenty-three years. He is the author of Turkey and America: East & West – Where the Twain Meet. At IWP, Dr. Williams teaches The Turks: Relations with the MENA, Europe and America, Then and Now, which IWP plans to offer in summer 2022. IWP Admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/ Support IWP: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3
Author Douglas MacKinnon discusses his book "THE 56: Liberty Lessons From Those Who Risked All to Sign The Declaration of Independence." This event took place on May 23, 2022 at The Institute of World Politics. About the book: "THE 56: Liberty Lessons From Those Who Risked All to Sign The Declaration of Independence" by Douglas MacKinnon honors the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence and details why the genius and vision of these admittedly imperfect men are just as relevant today. This is a book that also serves as a plea not to cancel our shared American history. As the author stresses: “If our history is bad, let us condemn it and learn from it. If it is good, let us praise it and build upon it. But let us never twist, censor, or cancel our shared American history.” Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/56-Liberty-Lessons-Declaration-Independence/dp/1637584245 About the author: Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and bestselling author working with other former government officials to establish a Foundation to preserve the history and protect the reputations of our Founding Fathers. Make a gift to IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/ IWP admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/
Dr. Norman Bailey, IWP Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security, discusses The MENA Region in May 2022: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. About the Speaker: Dr. Norman Bailey is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and National Security at The Institute of World Politics and a Professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration. Make a gift to IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/ IWP admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/
Ethan S. Burger, IWP Cyber Intelligence Instructor and International Attorney, discusses "Ukrainian National Identity and Russian Intelligence Failure." About the Lecture: Upon independence in 1991, Ukraine was divided by linguistic and geographic fault lines. This situation existed throughout Ukrainian society and presumably its institutions. Over the subsequent 30 years, the extent of social cohesion changed. The schools began to teach about Ukrainian history and emphasize the Ukrainian language and literature. Throughout Ukrainian society, a civic culture evolved where the concept of “citizenship” supplanted ethnic or linguistic identity in importance. Whereas Russian President Putin maintained his post-Soviet persona, a majority of Ukrainians were educated in an independent Ukraine that was more influenced by Western than Russian values. President Putin believed that his armed forces could exploit fault lines that remained in Ukraine to achieve a decisive military victory in a short amount of time and with light casualties. Most specialists believed that the Russians intended to decapitate the leadership of the Ukrainian government and put a “friendly” government into power. Both Russia and the NATO countries undervalued Ukraine’s social cohesion political culture and hence its willingness and ability to resist Russian aggression militarily. Clearly, Russia’s military setbacks can be attributed to intelligence failures when assessing Ukrainian societal unity. Similarly, the NATO countries might have been more forthcoming with military assistance to Ukraine if it had confidence that Ukraine, if properly armed, could resist Russian aggression. About the Speaker: Ethan S. Burger, Esq. is an Instructor and Advisory Board Member for IWP’s Cyber Intelligence Initiative. He is a Washington D.C.- based international attorney and educator with a background in cybersecurity, transnational financial crime, and Russian legal matters. He has been a full-time faculty member at the American University (School of International Service — Transnational Crime Prevention Center) and the University of Wollongong (Australia) (Faculty of Law — Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention), as well as an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, Washington College of Law, and the University of Baltimore. He oversaw a program on transnational crime and corruption for US Department of Justice at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University and gave lectures in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odessa. Mr. Burger earned his J.D. at the Georgetown University Law Center, A.B. from Harvard University, and obtained a Certificate in Cybersecurity Strategy from Georgetown University. Make a gift to IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/ IWP admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/
Dr. Lucja Cannon discusses "War in Ukraine: Geopolitical Implications for Europe and the United States." This lecture is part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. About the lecture: Analysis of far reaching effects that the war in Ukraine is having on foreign policies of Western Europe, mainly Germany, and Eastern Europe, mainly Poland, and the increasing distance between the two. Repercussions for European integration and the position of the United States are also explored. About the speaker: Dr. Lucja Swiatkowski Cannon is a strategist, expert and author on Eastern Europe, Russia and US-East European relations. She has a BA, M.Phil. and Ph.D. in international relations and Russian/East European studies from Columbia University. Make a gift to IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/ IWP admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/
In this video, Dr. Marcin Romanowski discusses "Current Discussions on the Rule of Law in Poland – In Light of Changes in the Judiciary after 1989." This lecture is part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. About the lecture: Since 2015, the United Right (Zjednoczona Prawica) has won the presidential and parliamentary elections twice, gaining a majority that allows for self-rule. The reforms, in particular in the area of the judiciary, met with fierce resistance from liberal and post-communist opposition parties and judges from higher courts. The central institutions of the European Union (the Commission, the EU Parliament, and the CJEU) are also involved in the dispute, interfering – in the opinion of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal – with the constitutional competencies of the EU Member States in a way that goes beyond scope of the competences conferred upon the EU by its Members in the Treaties. However, the real source of the aggressive opposition to judicial reforms is the fact that the Polish judiciary has not been transformed since 1989 when communism has officially fallen in Poland. As a result of the so-called “Round Table,” agreements were made in 1989 between a part of the opposition and the communist party, leaving the judiciary unchanged, becoming a de facto guarantee of the status quo for post-communist interest groups. Since 2015, Poland has been struggling with many unresolved problems from the communist era. Settlements with the past were implemented after 1989 to a very small extent, which influenced and still affects the quality of political, social, and academic life, and media, making Poland a country of “late post-communism.” The judiciary, the reform of which is under dispute, is one of the most important areas of this “late post-communism.” The lecture will present the causes of contemporary disputes over the Polish rule of law. About the speaker: Dr. Romanowski is an assistant professor at the Department of Theory and Philosophy of Law of the Faculty of Law and Administration within the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. He has a doctoral degree in law from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. The main areas of his research interest are the law of settlement with the past lawlessness in countries, the natural law and the non-positivist concepts of law, the theory of European and global law, and legal anthropology and its applications in the creation and application of the law. During his professional career, Dr. Romanowski was the Director of the Institute of Justice (2016-2019), an expert of the parliamentary investigative commission to investigate allegations of corruption cases disclosed in the media during work on the amendment of the Broadcasting Act (2003-2004) and a co-author of the report prepared by this commission and, in the years 2005-2007 and 2015-2019, advisor to the Minister of Justice. Since 2019, he has served as Poland’s Deputy Minister of Justice. Make a gift to IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/ IWP admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/
This lecture is part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. About the lecture: In early 1919, newly reborn Poland was virtually a landlocked country. Border conflicts caused by the geopolitical earthquake of World War I had brought international trade to a standstill. The only hope for economic relief and humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged nation was access to the Baltic sea through German-controlled Danzig. In the late winter of 1919, the small Mission to Danzig, led by the first chief of the American Relief Administration in Poland, Colonel William R. Grove, and the versatile Chief Delegate of the Polish Government, Mieczysław Jałowiecki, would play an indispensable role in opening Poland's economy to the world, before the decisive showdown with Bolshevik Russia in 1920. About the speaker: Nicholas Siekierski earned his PhD at the Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. His dissertation, "Operations of the American Relief Administration in Poland, 1919-1922", tells the story America's critical role in the early history of the Second Polish Republic. Dr. Siekierski is also a translator, most recently of 485 Days at Majdanek, the memoir of concentration camp survivor Jerzy Kwiatkowski, published last year by the Hoover Institution. It was the subject of a presentation at last year's Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium at IWP.
This lecture is part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. About the lecture: In Ukraine, Russia has presently redeployed a trusty Soviet propaganda trope: “liberation from Nazism.” This narrative is, of course, mendacious. Yet, every lie contains a kernel of truth. Our objective here is to extract it and put it in its proper context. We shall consider “liberation” and “Nazism” separately. “Liberation from Nazism” is standard Soviet cliche originating in the Second World War. However, Moscow also lustily employed it during the crushing of the Polish Poznan uprising in June 1956, the Hungarian insurrection in November 1956, and the Czechoslovak upheaval in August 1968. In fact, throughout its history, the USSR justified its imperialist aggression invariably in terms of bringing “liberty” and annihilating evil. Usually, the target was “fascism/Nazism/Hitlerism” but there were derivatives such as “imperialism,” “oppression,” and so forth. Often the Soviets would refer to their actions as “rendering fraternal assistance.” All those propaganda threads are present today in the war in Ukraine. A more sophisticated iteration of “liberation from Nazism” focuses on the Western public, while its cruder form targets domestic, Russian audiences. About the speaker: Dr. Chodakiewicz holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
This lecture is part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. About the lecture: The current crisis in Ukraine has understandably evoked not only worldwide sympathy for the appalling plight of the Ukrainian people but also admiration for the magnanimous Polish response to the consequent mass exodus of refugees. These developments, however, serve to obscure the complex historical reality of Polish-Ukrainian relations in the modern era. This presentation offers an objective and impartial assessment of a generally tense and often violent symbiosis. About the speaker: Peter Stachura held a Personal Chair in Modern European History at the University of Stirling (UK), where he was also Director of The Centre for Research in Polish History. He is now Director of the independent Research Centre for Modern Polish History and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, London. Professor Stachura has published extensively in his primary research specialisms of Weimar Germany and the Second Polish Republic.
This lecture event is part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. About the lecture: This talk will provide a broad overview of Germanic expansion into Eastern Europe which provides the historic background to Hitler’s Eastern Dream. About the speaker: Joseph Poprzeczny holds a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Western Australia, where he also majored in Economics. He has been a part-time tutor (American and Soviet Politics), 1971-1972, at the University of Western Australia; full-time Teaching Fellow (British and Chinese Economic History), 1973-1975, Monash University, Melbourne; and part-time tutor (South-East Asian history course), 1982, Murdoch University, Perth. He has worked for various federal politicians as an electoral officer and researcher. This eventually led him to become a journalist with various State and national publications before he retired in 2015. In 2004 his book, Hitler’s Man in the East, Odilo Globocnik, was published in America. He is currently working on two other unconnected research projects.
Dr. John Lenczowski gives a lecture on "Strategic Deception and Active Measures." This is the 10th Annual Ronald Reagan Intelligence Lecture sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the speaker: Dr. John Lenczowski is Founder, President Emeritus, and Chancellor of The Institute of World Politics, an independent graduate school of national security, intelligence, and international affairs in Washington, D.C. From 1981 to 1983, Dr. Lenczowski served in the State Department in the Bureau of European Affairs and as Special Advisor to Under Secretary for Political Affairs Lawrence Eagleburger. From 1983 to 1987, he was Director of European and Soviet Affairs at the National Security Council. In that capacity, he was principal Soviet affairs adviser to President Reagan. He has been associated with several academic and research institutions in the Washington area, including Georgetown University, the University of Maryland, the American Enterprise Institute, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Council for Inter-American Security, and the International Freedom Foundation. He has also served on the staff of Congressman James Courter. Dr. Lenczowski attended the Thacher School, earned his B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of Soviet Perceptions of U.S. Foreign Policy (1982); The Sources of Soviet Perestroika (1990), Cultural Diplomacy: A Multi-faceted Strategic Asset of Soviet Power (1991); Full-Spectrum Diplomacy and Grand Strategy (2011) and numerous other writings and addresses on U.S. foreign policy, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, counter-propaganda, political warfare, Soviet/Russian affairs, comparative ideologies, intelligence, strategic deception, counterintelligence, and integrated strategy. Make a gift to IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/ IWP admissions: https://www.iwp.edu/admissions/
About the lecture: Author, James Farwell will review the precepts of strategy and leadership that the military uses, and applies them to the business world. This presentation will show commercials that companies use, and that the book describes, in terms of effective communication and loyalty-building strategy. About the speaker: James P. Farwell is an author, attorney, and national security expert who has advised the U.S. Government on global initiatives and actions, communication strategy, cyber policy development and authorities, and cyber security. He holds a B.A. from Tulane University, a J.D. in Law from Tulane University, and a D.C.L.S. in Comparative Law from the University of Cambridge (Trinity College). He is an Associate Fellow at King’s College, London, and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. He is a Visiting Scholar at A.B. Freeman Tulane School of Business.
About the lecture: David Satter discusses the origins of Russia’s war on Ukraine, its likely evolution, and what the U.S. can do to help Ukrainians prevail. About the speaker: David Satter is a former Russia scholar, Moscow correspondent (Financial Times of London), and author of five books on Russia and the Soviet Union. More about IWP: Learn more about our graduate programs: www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/. Learn more about supporting the work of IWP: www.iwp.edu/donate/.
This event is a part of the Intermarium Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a war on Ukraine. Building upon its aggressive strategy, which began in 2014, Russia continues its attack, encroaching upon Ukraine’s sovereignty and leaving disaster in its wake. Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz will discuss the situation and give insight into what is going on in Ukraine. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University. More about IWP: Learn more about our graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academic-programs/. Learn more about supporting the work of IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/.
About the lecture: Nearly two-thirds of Algeria’s population is under the age of 35. Growing up during or soon after the violent conflict that wracked Algeria in the 1990s, and amid the powerful influences of global online culture, this generation views the world much differently than their parents or grandparents do. An exploration of this generation, their hopes for the future, and the frustrations that brought them into the streets en masse since 2019 reveals much about the politics, economy, and society of North Africa’s sleeping giant—and its future. The event is moderated by Dr. Zak Allal (’18), non-resident scholar at IWP. About the speaker: Andrew G. Farrand is a non-resident senior fellow covering North Africa at the Atlantic Council and author of The Algerian Dream (2021). He lived and worked in Algeria from 2013 to 2020, implementing youth development programs across the country alongside a range of creative projects. “An expert on North Africa” (The New Yorker), he is the translator of Inside the Battle of Algiers (2017) by Zohra Drif, a contributor to Uncommon Alger (2016), and author of numerous articles on Algeria. He is well known in Algeria as a travel writer, photographer, and media personality. A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, he is a proficient Algerian Arabic and French speaker. In 2020 he served as host of Andi Hulm (“I Have a Dream”), Algeria’s first entrepreneurship reality television show.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow The World is a gripping history of China’s deteriorating relationship with Hong Kong, and its implications for the rest of the world. For 150 years as a British colony, Hong Kong was a beacon of prosperity where people, money, and technology flowed freely, and residents enjoyed many civil liberties. In preparation for handing the territory over to China in 1997, Deng Xiaoping promised that it would remain highly autonomous for fifty years. An international treaty established a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with a far freer political system than that of Communist China―one with its own currency and government administration, a common-law legal system, and freedoms of press, speech, and religion. But as the halfway mark of the SAR’s lifespan approaches in 2022, it is clear that China has not kept its word. Universal suffrage and free elections have not been instituted, harassment and brutality have become normalized, and activists are being jailed en masse. To make matters worse, a national security law that further crimps Hong Kong’s freedoms has recently been decreed in Beijing. This tragic backslide has dire worldwide implications―as China continues to expand its global influence, Hong Kong serves as a chilling preview of how dissenters could be treated in regions that fall under the emerging superpower’s control. About the speaker: Mark L. Clifford is the author of Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World: What China’s Crackdown Reveals About Its Plans to End Freedom Everywhere and the president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong. He holds a PhD in history from the University of Hong Kong and a BA from the University of California Berkeley. A Walter Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, he lived in Asia from 1987 until 2021. Previously, Clifford was executive director of the Hong Kong-based Asia Business Council, the editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), and publisher and editor-in-chief of The Standard (Hong Kong). He held senior editorial positions at BusinessWeek and the Far Eastern Economic Review in Hong Kong and Seoul. He has won numerous academic, book, and journalism awards. Follow him @MarkLClifford or see more information at www.markclifford.org.
About the lecture: The U.S. has been through three waves of de-industrialization since the 1970s. Manufacturing sectors — ranging from cars to machine tools, semiconductors to electronics, and pharmaceuticals and personal protective equipment — have weakened in comparison to our economic competitors. The deficits in U.S. capacity manifested itself during the first year of COVID on the medical front. Other U.S. shortfalls should be the subject of deep national concern with respect to our aerospace and defense sectors, which provide much of the country’s military systems and critical infrastructure. Dr. Jeb Nadaner will discuss the U.S. industrial base, its relative decline, and where it’s going. About the speaker: Dr. Jeffrey (Jeb) Nadaner is the Executive Director of SAFE’s Commanding Heights initiative, which is focused on advancing and defending U.S. and allied critical supply chains. He also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, the Director of the USMC Krulak Center of Innovation, and Vice President of Engineering and Technology at Lockheed Martin.
This event is part of the China Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: With the rise of totalitarian China, it is more important than ever to understand a historical tendency towards the concentration of not only political, but economic and informational forms of power. Dr. Anders Corr’s latest book, The Concentration of Power: Institutionalization, Hierarchy & Hegemony, is a theoretical analysis of trends in world history that he has developed over the past thirty years of international research and scholarship. He argues that from the beginning of the archeological and textual evidence in history, power is organized around twelve theories of hierarchy that affect every segment of society. From international politics, to unions, associations, corporations, and the military, Dr. Corr breaks them down and provides readers with a sense of what the world could face if we allow hierarchy to continue its historical development toward a global and illiberal hegemony. Be it in China, the United States, or the European Union, all are vying for global influence and the utilization of the structure of the United Nations, or other newer international institutions, to promote either the principles of human rights and democracy, or in the case of Beijing, the exact opposite. This clash between democracy and autocracy on a global level is part of a “ratchet process” of history that Dr. Corr describes, and that could turn to a war of massive proportions, or a continued trend towards a global and illiberal hegemony. As the world slips towards what could be an “end of history” in a Beijing-led international system, no greater stakes have ever imposed themselves on an unsuspecting global public. About the speaker: Anders Corr (B.A. Yale 2001 Summa, Ph.D. Harvard 2008) founded Corr Analytics Inc to provide clients with business intelligence and strategic analysis of international politics. He is Publisher of the Journal of Political Risk, which works with a wide variety of authors, from Ivy League professors to Filipino peasants. His areas of expertise include Asia, historical analysis, grand strategy, social movements, quantitative analysis, public opinion, and international security. Dr. Corr has studied and researched in Kenya, Britain, and Italy, and analyzed China, Russia, Romania, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Pakistan and Israel for private clients. He led the U.S. Army Social Science Research and Analysis group in Afghanistan, which oversaw 600 Afghan contract employees on 44 survey projects and conducted quantitative predictive analysis of insurgent attacks. Dr. Corr conducted analysis for US Pacific Command (USPACOM), US Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC), and US European Command (EUCOM) on risks to U.S. national security in Asia and Europe, including in the Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Ukraine. Dr. Corr conducted red team modeling and simulation for the Defense Department of terrorist attacks against extremely sensitive military facilities and worked on social networking for early warning of pandemics and biological weapons of mass destruction. His current research focuses on great power grand strategies, alliance politics, military strategy, authoritarian political influence, international organizations, and the effects of military technology on the likelihood and outcome of war. He authored No Trespassing: Squatting, Rent Strikes, and Land Struggles Worldwide (South End Press, 1999), and edited Great Powers, Grand Strategies: The New Game in the South China Sea (U.S. Naval Institute Press, 2018). He has peer reviewed for the Journal of Conflict Resolution, the Journal of Urban History, and Routledge Press. He frequently appears in the media, including the Financial Times, New York Times, CNBC, UPI, AFP, Bloomberg, Fox, Forbes, Epoch Times, Al Jazeera, Japan Times, South China Morning Post, Straits Times, and Institutional Investor.
This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: On December 13, 1981, the Communist regime imposed martial law in Poland. The objective was to crush “Solidarity,” a Polish national liberation movement which was masking as the Soviet Bloc’s first independent, self-governed trade union. Thousands were imprisoned, and hundreds died when the red riot police and military assaulted industrial plants, mines, offices, and universities. Inspired by John Paul II and assisted by the Catholic Church, the Poles resisted underground. Afterwards the Communists claimed that they saved Poland from a Soviet invasion. They had no choice but destroy “Solidarity” because the Soviets were going to attack otherwise. However, Moscow preferred for Warsaw to restore order itself. In fact, Poland’s Communist dictator General Wojciech Jaruzelski himself begged the Kremlin to intervene. Ultimately, Jaruzelski himself carried out the Soviet Union’s orders and destroyed overt “Solidarity.” He did not do it for “Poland” or “the Poles.” He lashed out at “Solidarity” because he feared punishment by the Kremlin. Woven into our analysis, we supply also some personal recollections, naming names of our confederates and sharing the events that we participated in. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
This event is co-sponsored by the Movement for the Renaissance of Vietnam, the National Bureau of Asian Research and The Institute of World Politics About the Lecture: “Conquest Without War: The Threat of Communist Chinese Political Influence Operations” is focused on the multifaceted threat of Communist Chinese influence operations: propaganda, disinformation, psychological disarmament operations, commercial cooptation of business leaders, and influence over politicians, the media, Hollywood, and academia. About the Speaker: Dr. John Lenczowski is the Founder, President Emeritus, and Chancellor of The Institute of World Politics, a Graduate School of National Security, Intelligence, and International Affairs based in Washington, D.C. with a satellite campus in Reston, VA.
About the lecture: In today’s competitive world our prosperity and our way of life depend on unity among the world’s democracies. Given the strength of the transatlantic economy and the success of NATO, the dynamic relationship between Europe and America is the engine of the global economy and the force supporting the rules-based world order. How we grow together or if we grow apart will determine our individual and collective fate. About the speaker: Michael Ryan served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy in the Pentagon following a distinguished career in the United States Air Force and the Senior Executive Service. A graduate of the Air Force Academy, Colonel Ryan began his career as a fighter pilot flying the A-10 in Europe during the Cold War. His extensive background in World Affairs includes service at NATO headquarters, the U.S. Mission to the European Union, U.S. European Command headquarters, and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He is a graduate of the French War College in Paris, was a National Defense Fellow at the U.S. Congress, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the Joint Military Intelligence College. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and has lectured extensively in Europe and the United States. His latest articles on transatlantic relations appeared recently in The National Interest.
The 24th Annual Pearl Harbor Day Lecture. About the lecture: The discussion will examine the current security environment, the growth of Chinese military capabilities, and efforts by the United States and its allies and partners to strengthen deterrence and compete more effectively below the threshold of armed conflict. About the speaker: General Joseph L. Votel is a retired U.S. Army Four Star officer and most recently the Commander of the U.S. Central Command – responsible for U.S. and coalition military operations in the Middle East, Levant and Central and South Asia. During his 39 years in the military, he commanded special operations and conventional military forces at every level. His career included combat in Panama,Afghanistan and Iraq. Notably, he led a 79-member coalition that successfully liberated Iraq and Syria from the Islamic State Caliphate. He preceded his assignment at CENTCOM with service as the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command. Votel was recognized with the Distinguished Military Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council, the U.S. – Arab Defense Leadership Award from the National Council on U.S. – Arab Relations, the Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the SGT James T. Regan Lifetime Achievement Award from the “Lead the Way” Foundation and the Freedom Award from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. In January of 2020, General Votel became President & CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS). He is a Strategic Advisor for Sierra Nevada Corporation as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for Noblis Corporation. Votel is a nonresident Distinguished Fellow at the Middle East Institute and the Belfer Center at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and advises the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He sits on the Executive Board of Freedom House and the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL). He serves on the Board of Directors for Service to School, Minnesota Wire, Digital Force Technologies and Owl Cyber Defense. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Votel is a 1980 graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned master’s degrees from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College. He is married to Michele; and they have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. The Votels reside in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
About the lecture: The May 2021 conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas generated headlines around the world. However, much of the reporting ignored the history, funding, political dynamics, and other key components of the story. Jonathan Schanzer explores the hidden headlines of the recent conflict, while drawing lines between the history of decades past and current events in one of the most volatile territories in the Middle East. About the speaker: Jonathan Schanzer, former terrorism finance analyst at the United States Department of the Treasury, is senior vice president for research at Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He is the author of the new book Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War. Purchase book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1956450017/.
About the lecture: Just because the “Russian collusion” between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump turned out to be a hoax, it doesn’t mean that Russia did not intervene in 2016 election, and in two subsequent elections. Not only Moscow’s covert influence operations poisoned American politics, the Kremlin also sowed confusion about the real Russian threat to the United States. In today’s presentation, Ms. Koffler will speak about Putin’s long-range plan— his “playbook”—to destabilize, weaken and subdue the United States, preparing for the war that he believes is inevitable. She will also reveal how unprepared the U.S. lumbering bureaucracy is to defend America from Putin’s threat. About the speaker: Rebekah Koffler, the author of Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America, is a former intelligence officer who served as a Russian Doctrine & Strategy specialist in the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2008 until late 2016. She has delivered classified briefings to top U.S. military commanders, NATO ministers, the directors of the CIA and DIA, the White House National Security Council, and senior congressional staff. In her post-public service career, Rebekah is a writer, commentator, and national security consultant whose work has been published on the Fox News website, The Hill, the New York Post, the Daily Caller, and the Washington Times. She has appeared on Fox News, Newsmax, One America News, and the Sean Hannity nationally syndicated radio show. Purchase book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZZJ8HF4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1.
About the lecture: Syria has seen an internecine civil war for the last decade. It has involved 4 out of the 5 Permanent Security Council members on either side of the conflict making it international, throwing to the wind the cardinal principles of the UN Charter particularly, sovereignty, non-interference, and self-defense. It sets an extremely retrograde principle for the conduct of international relations. About the speaker: Ambassador Rajendra Abhyankar is Visiting Professor at the College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University, Lafayette. From 2012 to 2019, he was Professor of Practice of Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University. Amb. Abhyankar was in the Indian Foreign Service from June 1968 and retired in August 2005. He was Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2001 to 2004, retiring as Ambassador to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg. He has been Indian Ambassador to Cyprus, Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Consul General in San Francisco. From 2005 to 2009 he was Professor/ Director of Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi. He has written seven books on Indian diplomacy and related issues. His latest book is Syria, The Tragedy of a Pivotal State (Palgrave, 2020).
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The problems arising from the presence of North Korean refugees in China warrant a human security approach, meriting protection from the UN and the international community. There are three scenarios dreaded by the refugees: first is being caught by North Korean border patrol while trying to escape; second is being subjected to human trafficking ring; and third is being repatriated after being caught by either the Chinese police or North Korea’s own secret police operating in China. Despite the 1995 agreement between the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and China, which provides the UNHCR unimpeded access to all refugees within China, the UNHCR has been passive in exerting its mandate to protect the North Korean refugees. One possible solution is the construction of a refugee camp in China or Mongolia. If China allowed for this, it would catapult itself as a genuine “soft power” deserving of the much-coveted G2 status. Otherwise, China’s leadership ambition, UNHCR’s reputation, and most importantly, human rights of the refugees will remain in jeopardy so long as the discriminatory sŏngbun system in North Korea continues. About the speaker: Ambassador Jung-Hoon Lee is Dean and Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University. He is formerly the ROK government’s Ambassador for Human Rights as well as its inaugural Ambassador-at-Large for North Korean Human Rights. On campus, he served as Dean of the Underwood International College and the Office of International Affairs. He has also served as Director of the Institute of Modern Korean Studies, the Yonsei Human Liberty Center, the Center for American Studies (IEWS), and the Center for European Studies (IEWS). His other academic affiliations include a visiting professorship at the Dept. of Politics, Faculty of Law, Keio University, and a senior fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. Ambassador Lee has advised South Korea’s National Unification Advisory Council, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security Council, and the National Assembly. In the case of the Ministry of Unification, he chaired the Advisory Committee for Humanitarian Affairs. His current domestic commitments include his role as Chairman of SaveNK, an NGO that helps the defector community, Senior Advisor to the Future Korea Weekly, a current affairs magazine, and Chairman of the Board of Tongwon Educational Foundation. Internationally, he is a Board Member of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) based in Washington, D.C., an International Patron of the Hong Kong Watch, a UK-based organization that promotes Hong Kong’s democracy, and an Advisory Council Member of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, also based in London. He received his BA from Tufts University, MALD from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, and D.Phil. from the University of Oxford (St. Antony’s College). In 2017, he published Tongbukah Kyŏkrang ui Hanbokp’anesŏ [In the Midst of a Northeast Asian Current]. His most recent journal contributions include “Déjà Vu in South Korea? Lessons from the 1992 Philippines Withdrawal” in The Washington Quarterly (2020), “The UN’s Human Security Challenge: The Plight of North Korean Refugees in China” in the Journal of International Politics (2020), and “North Korea’s Nuclear and Human Rights Conundrum: Implications for South Korea’s Unification Goal” in Pacific Focus (2020).
This lecture event is part of the 14th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference presented by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: On July 10, 1941, the Germans burned alive most of the Jewish population of Jedwabne in north-eastern Poland. Some of the local Christians assisted in the crime but the nature of their exact involvement and deeds remains obscure. In fact, recently declassified documents suggest it was more negligible than some scholars argued before. However, we shall not know the precise details of the crime and the exact perpetrators without an exhumation and further forensic study of the victims. Dr. Chodakiewicz will discuss new evidence and present a documentary collection he co-edited: over 2,000 pages of newly accessible evidence of the crime. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
This lecture event is part of the 14th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference presented by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: Dr. Radzilowski will discuss the Invasion of Poland in 1939 by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and the seemingly deliberate amnesia about the campaign that persisted for almost 80 years. He will examine Poland’s defensive strategy and its successes and failures and why historians have failed so often to understand the campaign’s importance. He will draw on recent scholarship on the topic as well as comparisons with another campaign that is similarly misremembered, the Sino-Japanese War that began in 1937. Lastly, Dr. Radzikowski will examine the role of Cold War politics and efforts of Western countries to save face after their inadequate response to the threats of totalitarianism in the 1930s and 1940s in shaping popular perceptions of these campaigns. About the speaker: Dr. John Radzilowski has taught history, art history, and geography at University of Alaska Southeast on the Ketchikan campus since 2007. Prior to moving to Alaska, he taught history courses at the University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, and Anoka-Ramsey College in Minnesota. Dr. Radzilowski also served as assistant project director at Center for Nations in Transition, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota where he helped design and administer USAID and State Department-sponsored training programs for business, economics, and political science faculty and NGO leaders in Ukraine and east central Europe. Dr. Radzilowski’s research and teaching interests are wide-ranging and diverse: immigration and ethnicity, military history, war and genocide, the impact of technology on the history and geography of the Great Plains and Midwest, local and regional studies, and the history of Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and central and eastern Europe.
This lecture event is part of the 14th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference presented by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: This lecture will focus on the forgotten human aspect of the 1940 Katyń massacre of Polish officers by the NKVD. Dr. Alexander Jabłoński will discuss the life of one Polish officer – Major Władysław Julian Siemek, a staff member of the highly regarded pre-war military institution, the Military Geographical Institute (Wojskowy Instytut Geograficzny) in Warsaw, Poland. More than 30% of its staff perished during WWII, with the majority killed in Katyń forest. About the speaker: Alexander M. Jabłoński received his BSc & MS in civil engineering at the Technical University of Cracow, Poland (1970), MS in mechanics and materials engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1982) and PhD in structural dynamics at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada (1989). He has more than 50 years of experience in various fields of engineering, and reconnaissance projects, project management and strategy planning. He worked as an engineer in Poland, Finland, Norway, Germany, and in the USA. Since 1992, he has been working as Research Scientist, Research Engineer and Manager in Canadian Public Service. He was one of Managers of the Space Plan Task Force (SPTF) for the development of the Long-Term Space Plan III for Canada (1999-2009). Currently, he is working at the David Florida Laboratory, Canadian Space Agency in Ottawa. He is also an Adjunct Research Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Carleton University in Ottawa. He is Fellow of CASI, Associate Fellow of AIAA, Member of Aerospace Division of ASCE, and recipient of various engineering and scientific awards. Since his early life in Poland, he has studied the Polish and world history for decades. He writes historical essays and presentations, especially on the modern history of Poland including the World War II and the postwar era of the Soviet occupation. Currently he serves as President of the Oskar Halecki Institute in Canada and as a member of the Program Council of the newly established Institute of the Heritage of the National Thought in Warsaw, Poland.
This lecture event is part of the 14th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference presented by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: Prof. Grzegorz Kucharczyk will summarize the analysis of communism provided by the Cardinal Wyszyński, Primate of Poland. Shortly before WWII, Rev. Stefan Wyszynski pointed to the destructive role played by Western intellectuals infatuated with communism, calling them “strange people.” In 1934, Stefan Wyszynski first drew attention to a new strategy of the international communist movement, which aimed its efforts at intelligentsia as a class very much prone to fall into this trap. More than thirty years later, in 1967, Cardinal Wyszyński warned against “a new type of communism reflected in the youth revolution.” As the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Wyszynski not only correctly analyzed communism but also knew what means were to be employed to achieve victory against this ungodly ideology. This victory was to be achieved over long distances, and therefore, strategic perspective was very much needed. In 1981, the Cardinal said, “When you go to war, and we are in a war, you have to use binoculars.” The latter, in the form of the Great Novena and the Millennial celebration of 1966, was efficiently used by the blessed Cardinal Wyszyński. About the speaker: Grzegorz Kucharczyk is a professor at the Institute of History, Polish Academy of Sciences, at the Gorzow Academy of Jacob of Paradyz and in the Center for Totalitarian Studies at the Pilecki Institute. His main research fields include: history of Germany (particularly Prussia) in the 19th and the 20th century, history of anti-Catholicism, and the history of Polish political thought.
This lecture event is part of the 14th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference presented by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: It was initially believed that active measures would disintegrate and disappear with the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, it has become evident that active measures have not disappeared, but rather have only largely transferred to the digital domain. The term active measures was coined in the 1920’s; however, Russia has practiced these political warfare tactics for centuries. Through all this time the message has stayed the same, Russia hopes to sow divisions between societies and allies, but ultimately wants citizens to lose hope in liberal democracies. The end goal is to make the world a safer place for Putin’s authoritarian regime. Through analyzing active measures that have taken place in both the near abroad nations and the United States from the Cold War years until today, it becomes evident that active measures have not disappeared, but rather have only evolved in their technique and form. About the speaker: Ms. Agnes Tycner recently graduated from The Institute of World Politics with a master’s degree in Statecraft and International Affairs with a specialization in Russia and Central/Eastern Europe. She will be working for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation starting January as a Research Fellow in Polish Studies. Agnes also plans to continue her education by attending law school.
Hon. James H. Anderson gave an inaugural address after a formal inauguration ceremony installing him as the second President of The Institute of World Politics. The event took place on October 27, 2021 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
GEN (Ret.) Keith Alexander, Founder & Co-CEO of IronNet Cybersecurity, former commander of USCYBERCOM, and former director of the National Security Agency, gave the keynote address at The Institute of World Politics' 30th (+1!) Anniversary Gala on October 27th at the Mayflower Hotel.
Prof. Paul Davis gave a talk on "Cyber Terrorism: Current Threats and Responses" at IWP's annual Chancellor's Council Meeting, which was held on October 27, 2021 at the Mayflower Hotel. Prof. Davis is an Adjunct Professor at IWP, Vice President of Government Business Development for SecureDAM, and Founder and President of JANUS Think. At IWP, he teaches Cyber Terrorism and Intelligence (IWP 692). Learn more about joining the Chancellor's Council: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/chancellors-council/
Prof. Alan Messer gave a talk on "Defectors and Intelligence" at IWP's annual Chancellor's Council Meeting, which was held on October 27, 2021 at the Mayflower Hotel. A former CIA Analyst and Operations Officer with with 32 years of combined experience, Prof. Messer teaches a course at IWP entitled "A Counterintelligence Challenge: The Enigmas and Benefits of Defectors" (IWP 676). Learn more about joining the Chancellor's Council: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/chancellors-council/
Dr. Anne Rathbone Bradley discussed "Economic Freedom: The Forgotten Weapon in the War on Terror" at IWP's annual Chancellor's Council Meeting, which took place on October 27, 2021 at the Mayflower Hotel. Dr. Bradley is an Adjunct Professor at IWP, and serves as the George and Sally Mayer Fellow for Economic Education and Academic Director at the Fund for American Studies. She formerly served as an Economic Analyst for the CIA’s Office of Terrorism Analysis. At IWP, she teaches a course on Economics for Foreign Policy Makers (IWP 642/IWPO 642). Learn more about joining the Chancellor's Council: https://www.iwp.edu/donate/chancellors-council/.
About the interview: Dr. John Tierney, IWP professor, gives a historical perspective on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He discusses potential consequences, strategic culture, and how the U.S. should respond to August 16th. About the speaker: Dr. John Tierney is a Professor Emeritus at The Institute of World Politics and teaches History of American Foreign Policy, History of International Relations, Peace, Strategy and Conflict Resolution, and U.S. Foreign Policy: Current and Future Challenges. Dr. Tierney is a Former Special Assistant and Foreign Affairs Officer for the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (1981-1993); He formerly participated in various national security negotiations for the U.S. Government. He was Executive Director of the Congressional Caucus on National Defense and the National Security Research Group, U.S. House of Representatives. He is former Chairman of the Politics Department at Catholic University and former Professor of International Relations at University of Virginia and The Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of Chasing Ghosts and The Politics of Peace.
About the lecture: This lecture will review the nuclear weapons policies established by various administrations of both parties, focusing on the areas of bipartisan continuity and possible upcoming changes being considered by the current administration. About the speaker: The Honorable David J. Trachtenberg is Vice President of the National Institute for Public Policy, a nonprofit research center located in Fairfax, Virginia. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 17, 2017 as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and served in this capacity until his retirement from government service in July 2019. From October 2017 until January 2018, he also served as the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of Defense on defense policy matters. His duties spanned a range of regional and functional portfolios, including homeland defense, space, cyber, nuclear, and missile defense policy, technology security policy, and strengthening security cooperation activities with allies, friends, and partners abroad. He was also the senior Department of Defense civilian official responsible for developing, coordinating, and overseeing compliance with DoD policy regarding civilian casualties resulting from military operations.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Colonel David S. Maxwell will discuss the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime, why the regime poses a threat to the Republic of Korea, and why it is in the US national interest to ensure there is a strong ROK/US alliance to deter war. He will outline the “Big Five” — war, regime collapse, human rights, asymmetric threats, and unification. He will underline that the only way the world will see an end to the North’s nuclear program, threats, human rights abuses, and crimes against humanity is through unification and the establishment of a United Republic of Korea. About the speaker: David S. Maxwell is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).* He is a 30-year veteran of the US Army, retiring as a Special Forces Colonel with his final assignment teaching national security at the National War College. He served over 20 years in Asia, primarily in Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. Colonel Maxwell served on the ROK/US Combined Forces Command staff and the Special Operations Command Korea. He is the co-author of the first CONPLAN 5029, the plan for North Korean Instability and Regime Collapse. He commanded the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines and was the G3 at the US Army Special Operations Command. Following retirement, he served as the Associate Director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He is on the Board of Directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, the International Council of Korean Studies, the Council on Korean-US Security Studies, the Special Operations Research Association, the OSS Society, and the Small Wars Journal. He earned a B.A. in political science from Miami University, and an M.A. in Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and an M.S. in National Security Studies from the National War College. Colonel Maxwell has taught Unconventional Warfare and Special Operations for Policy Makers and Strategists at graduate schools in the DC area. * FDD is a Washington-based nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
This event is in honor of Constitution Day and co-sponsored by the Jack Miller Center About the lecture: The American Founders had a coherent philosophy of foreign policy, which was informed by the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Those principles provided guides for statesmen to achieve the overarching goals of American foreign policy: securing the rights and interests of the United States and its citizens, and satisfying the demands of justice. About the speaker: Christopher Burkett is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program for undergraduate students at Ashland University. He is editor of Ashbrook’s 50 Core American Documents and has written on the American Founding, Progressivism, and American Foreign Policy.
This event is part of the China Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Today’s space race is different than the Cold War-era race between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve symbolic space milestones to prove the superiority of our market-based economic system for the benefit of unaligned nations. Space 2.0 or the new space race, primarily between the United States and China, is about the economics of space-derived capabilities, access to space resources, and the technologies for acquiring and controlling them. Strategic competition with China is occurring 24/7 on across all domains of which space is increasingly becoming America’s Achilles heel. China aims to be the dominant space power by 2050 – just 30 years from today. The United States can either prepare and position itself to shape a future with American strategic leadership in space or resign itself to second-class. Thus, the new space race is a high-stakes economic competition that will influence our modern way of life and the prospect of democratizing American society for millions will be threatened by authoritarianism. About the speaker: Dr. Mir Sadat has more than 25 years of experience in private industry and government. Mir is a former policy director at the U.S. National Security Council, where he led interagency coordination on defense and space policy issues. In this role, Mir supported the establishment of both the US Space Force and US Space Command, and reviewed national security decisions involving civil space (NASA) and the US commercial space sector. Mir is also a naval officer with intelligence and space qualifications and in his preceding two naval assignments; he served as a space policy strategist with Chief of Naval Operations and as a space operations officer with U.S. Tenth Fleet. Mir has a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University and has taught at various universities in California and Washington, DC.
About the lecture: As a general, Ulysses S. Grant was often dismissed as a butcher of men and no strategist. This reputation is undeserved, however. Ulysses S. Grant’s memoir of the Civil War is a treasure trove of insights for the strategist. In its pages, Grant invites his reader to contemplate with him the constant struggle to reconcile military means with political ends, the way military maxims crumble under the weight of the reality of war, and, most importantly, the vital role that character and personality play in the design and execution of military operations and strategy. About the speaker: Peter Campbell is Associate Professor of Political Science at Baylor University. He holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of Military Realism: The Logic and Limits of Force and Innovation in the U.S. Army (University of Missouri Press, 2019). His areas of research include national security decision making, civil-military relations, strategy, international relations scholarship and policy relevance, insurgency and counterinsurgency, the just war tradition, and cyber warfare.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Based on an excerpt from his recently published book, Japanese Foreign Intelligence and Grand Strategy (Georgetown University Press), Dr. Williams will discuss Japan’s intelligence cooperation with the United States during the Cold War. Drawing from and modifying a generic framework presented by H. Bradford Westerfield, the presentation assesses the impact of bilateralism – defined as “behaving [primarily] in the international system within the remit of the bilateral [US-Japan] alliance” (Hook et al. 2005, 72) – on Japan’s foreign intelligence-related institutions and activities across four core mechanisms of liaison: institution building and collaborative operations, facilities access, information sharing, and support via training and equipment provisions. It highlights how the United States initially assisted in establishing intelligence organizations in Japan that would serve as liaison partners and engage in various forms of collaborative operations in pursuit of regional geostrategic objectives during the Cold War. Other liaison mechanisms served a similar function and were also employed as a means of keeping a junior ally under Washington’s intelligence umbrella. While Japanese foreign intelligence largely adhered to bilateralist norms, the relationship did occasionally cause tensions between the respective intelligence communities and their political overseers. About the speaker: Dr. Brad Williams is an associate professor in the Department of Asian and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong. He has studied, taught, and conducted research in Australia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Taiwan, and the US. Brad has published on a diverse range of issues in Japanese politics and foreign policy and is also the author of Resolving the Russo-Japanese Territorial Dispute: Hokkaido-Sakhalin Relations (Routledge 2007, 2011).canva
About the book, "Ethics, Law, and Natural Hazards: The Moral Imperative for Intervention Post-Natural Hazard": This book argues that the international community has a moral duty to intervene on behalf of a population affected by a natural hazard when their government is either unable or unwilling to provide basic, life-saving assistance. The work draws on law, international relations theory, and political philosophy to articulate that non-response to a natural hazard is unethical. In providing policy suggestions the author articulates what should happen based on an ethical analysis. Readers will thus gain an ethical lens with which to view intervention in the aftermath of a natural hazard. The book encourages readers to consider the nuances of arguments from various disciplines about whether or not intervention is appropriate. Whilst arguing throughout that an intervention policy in response to natural hazards should be developed by the international community, the study also accounts for why intervention should only be used in very limited situations. This interdisciplinary approach makes the book essential reading for researchers, academics, and policy-makers working in the areas of international law, humanitarian studies, human rights, international relations, and political science. About the speaker: Dr. Lauren Traczykowski is an American living in Birmingham, England. She started her education at Boston University studying International Relations. Whilst completing her undergraduate degree, she studied American Foreign Policy at IWP for one summer. After completing her degree and with three internships under her belt – the U.S. Department of State, Fine Gael HQ (Dublin), and Demos (London) – Dr. Traczykowski moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to contribute to the Hurricane Katrina response and recovery from within the Office of International Affairs. Dr. Traczykowski then moved to the U.K. to do an MA in International Studies: Globalisation & Governance. Later, she completed a Ph.D. in Global Ethics focusing on the research she will present. Whilst still working on her Ph.D., Dr. Traczykowski taught modules on Bioethics, Contemporary Ethics, Politics and the State, Professional Ethics, and Medical Ethics at institutions around the West Midlands of the United Kingdom. Dr. Traczykowski now teaches at Aston University (Birmingham, U.K.) as a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor). Her main teaching is in Business Ethics and Ethics in a Crisis. Dr. Traczykowski is also editing a collected work on Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching to be submitted to Edward Elgar Publishing later this year.
About the lecture: As head of three Asian countries’ flagship firms, Mr. McCarthy learned the secrets to being successful in other cultures. Often, he was the only American working with 3,000 local employees, giving him a peek into the Zeitgeist of the local business and government leaders that most Americans never see. He learned how to succeed in turnarounds where many others had failed and how to first think like a local then gain their trust. He developed a set of skills and tactics that allowed him to build strong high-performing local teams. In this lecture, he will explain his use of “Sunau or Ting Hua” and other recommendations for how to succeed overseas that will surprise many Americans. About the speaker: Mr. Timothy F. McCarthy’s career has been evenly divided between the U.S. and overseas. During the ’90s, he was President of Fidelity Investment Advisor Group prior to becoming President of Charles Schwab and Co. In 2000, Mr. McCarthy became Chairman of Good Morning Securities Group in South Korea then Chairman and CEO of Nikko Asset Management in Japan. These were the first times each country’s government approved a foreigner to lead one of their flagship financial services companies. Also, notably, during this tenure at Nikko, he co-founded the Rongtong JV in China. His firms attracted over 8 million Asians to invest $300 billion in fund assets. He is now active in venture capital high-tech investing. Mr. McCarthy is fluent in 6 languages. He has published two books – one a best seller in Japanese. Mr. McCarthy’s academic history includes an MBA from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business as a Baker Scholar in 1978 and a BA in Economics and International Relations from the University of California, Davis, with honors in 1973.
Full title: Incels as a Domestic Terrorist Group Within the Violent Non-State Actor Framework About the lecture: This presentation will define and analyze the threat of incels as an emerging domestic terrorist threat within the Violent Non-State Actor framework. In an era of online recruitment and social media radicalization, incels have created a community that centers around getting revenge as a result of being rejected by women in the past. This online network of disgruntled individuals has served as the breeding ground for lone actor violence that has claimed more than 50 lives in the United States and Canada. About the speaker: Hannah Wilk works as an Investigative Analyst and is pursuing her master’s degree at The Institute of World Politics. She is studying Statecraft and National Security Affairs with a concentration in Public Diplomacy and Strategic Influence. In 2019 she received her bachelor’s degree in Criminology from George Mason University with a concentration in Homeland Security and a double minor in Intelligence Analysis and Forensic Psychology. In her free time Hannah enjoys spending time with friends and family, baking, and trying out new brunch spots in the Washington, D.C. area.
About the Lecture: Muqtada al-Sadr is the leader of the Sadrist Movement, a Shia political group with a militia called the Mahdi Army. Al-Sadr has a complicated history with the United States but is now in a position to create a stable democracy and protect Iraq from Iranian influence. While the U.S. looks to thwart Iranian efforts in the region, it needs to consider how to work with political actors like al-Sadr. About the Speaker: Caroline Hickey is a graduate student at IWP where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Statecraft and International Affairs. Her regional interest is in the Middle East and has focused her studies on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Full title: Avenging Angels: Russia’s Legacy of Female Terrorism in Revolution and the Chechen Conflict About the Lecture: Female-perpetrated terrorism is a compelling subject largely for the shocking dichotomy between traditional perceptions of femininity and brutal, premeditated violence. From the fiery revolutionaries of the 1800s to modern-day Chechen suicide bombers, Russia’s legacy of women’s involvement in terrorist activity is remarkable for its violence, fervor, and popular mythologization. This presentation will discuss what in Russia’s political history and society has encouraged such distinctive, violent female political actors by assessing the revolution’s “avenging angels” and modern “black widows” as part of the same legacy. It will also explore the personal, ideological, and cultural disparities between female terrorists in Russia’s revolutionary era and those in modern-day Chechnya. About the Speaker: Emily Miller is an international development professional with five years of experience in business development, communications, and program design/implementation. She graduates this semester with an M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from IWP, with a specialization in Public Diplomacy and Strategic Influence. Her graduate research has focused on pre-Soviet and Soviet Russia, the influence of non-state actors on international security, and the intersection of policymaking and ideology.
About the book review: In certain ways China has moved off its Maoist model. But Maoism has had strong and unexpected roles in the violent underground in many places outside China. The best known cases may be the revolutionary wars of the latter 20th c. in Malaya, Vietnam, and Cambodia. But other contests by ideological Maoists opened up in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and even the western hemisphere's Peru. What is Maoism's appeal to foreigners? To what degree has it been exportable? In this new podcast, Professor Christopher C. Harmon will offer his insights into "Maoism Overseas" and discuss the admirable new book on the topic by Julia Lovell. About the Speaker: Dr. Harmon holds the Bren Chair of Great Power Competition at Marine Corps University and is also a professor at IWP, where he teaches courses on Military Strategy and Terrorist Advocacy and Propaganda.
About the lecture: Ethan S. Burger will share his views of the most surprising feature of the long-awaited unclassified version of the National Intelligence Council’s Intelligence Community Assessment “Foreign Threats to the 2020 US Federal Election,” March 10, 2021, principally that is it contained few if any surprises. Perhaps its discussion of China and Iran influence campaigns are noteworthy — the former country did not “take sides” in the presidential contest and the latter engaged in an effort targeting individual voters. To date, no one has systematically examined what if any impact foreign influence campaigns have there been on the 2020 Congressional elections. Compared with its efforts in 2016, Russia’s actions seemed not to affect the election outcome in the form of influencing opinions or suppressing turnout. In a sense, this reflects that its objective of sowing further discord within American society has achieved a level of success previously not anticipated. Nonetheless, at least throughout the summer, the Russian leadership seems to believe that Mr. Trump would be re-elected. Shortly before being fired by President Donald Trump after the election, Christopher Krebs, the Department of Homeland Security Director saw that his agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, had achieved its goal of ensuring “the most secure [presidential election] in American history.” Indeed “t]here is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.” Mr. Burger will seek to put China’s, Iran’s, and Russia’s efforts into a historical context, where their objectives are similar to those of many countries’ attempts to sway voters in foreign countries to place into power a “friendly government,” albeit with less sophisticated tools. In the future, the principal cybersecurity threats are likely to be attacks on infrastructure, governmental institutions, and financial crimes. About the Speaker: Ethan S. Burger, Esq., is a Washington-based international legal consultant and an cyber instructor with IWP's Cyber Intelligence Initiative, where he teaches a seminar about the international law governing cyber operations. His lectures at the IWP have included: The Application of International Law to Cyber Operations, Better Understanding Russian Use of Mercenaries to Advance Foreign Policy Goals, and Contextualizing Russian Interference in the 2016 UK Brexit Referendum and the U.S. Presidential Election. His areas of interests include corporate governance, transnational crime (corruption, cybercrime, and money laundering), and Russian affairs. After working as an attorney on Russian commercial, investment, and risk issues, he segued into academic, and advisory roles. He has taught at Vilnius University about cybersecurity issues while on a Fulbright Foundation grant during which time he participated in the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence’s, a seminar on the international law governing cyber operations. He was a full-time faculty member at the Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (American University — School of International Service) and the Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention (Wollongong University — Faculty of Law).He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Diplomacy with North Korea must factor in an understanding of the Kim regime’s fears and insecurity. Pyongyang’s military actions and negotiating gambits jeopardize the United States, South Korea, and other nations’ vital interests and policy goals. Accordingly, the study of North Korean threat perceptions—how Kim Jong-un thinks about the utility of force and about threats to his regime—is essential for averting strategic surprise and buttressing diplomacy. Dr. Cronin will address North Korean threat perceptions by examining the ruling elite’s basic instincts of fear and insecurity. Drawing on the more than seven-decade of war and cold war on the Korean peninsula, he will offer constructive ideas for diplomacy, crisis management, and security policy. About the speaker: Patrick M. Cronin is the Asia-Pacific Security Chair at Hudson Institute. Dr. Cronin’s research program analyzes the challenges and opportunities confronting the United States in the Indo-Pacific region, including China’s total competition campaign, the future of the Korean peninsula, and strengthening U.S. alliances and partnerships. Dr. Cronin was previously senior advisor and senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), and before that, senior director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at the National Defense University, where he simultaneously oversaw the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs. Dr. Cronin has a rich and diverse background in both Asian-Pacific security and U.S. defense, and foreign and development policy. Prior to leading INSS, Dr. Cronin served as the director of studies at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). At IISS, he also served as editor of the Adelphi Papers and as the executive director of the Armed Conflict Database. Before joining IISS, Dr. Cronin was senior vice president and director of research at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In 2001, Dr. Cronin was confirmed by the United States Senate to the third-ranking position at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). While serving as Assistant Administrator for Policy and Program Coordination, Dr. Cronin also led the interagency task force that helped design the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). From 1998 until 2001, Dr. Cronin served as director of research at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Prior to that, he spent seven years at the National Defense University, first arriving at INSS in 1990 as a senior research professor covering Asian and long-range security issues. He was the founding executive editor of Joint Force Quarterly, and subsequently became both deputy director and director of research at the Institute. He received the Army’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award upon his departure from NDU in 1997. He has also been a senior analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, a U.S. Naval Reserve intelligence officer, and an analyst with the Congressional Research Service and SRI International. He was associate editor of Strategic Review and worked as an undergraduate at the Miami Herald and the Fort Lauderdale News. Dr. Cronin has taught at Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program, Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and the University of Virginia’s Woodrow Wilson Department of Government. He read international relations at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, where he received both his M.Phil. and D.Phil. degrees, and graduated with high honors from the University of Florida. He regularly publishes essays in leading publications and frequently conducts television and radio interviews.
This event is part of the China Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The United States is party to several security alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Theater. These relationships vary in scope and commitment, but they are all rooted in shared concerns about the PRC’s hegemonic ambitions. Collectively, they have the potential to provide the United States with clear, long-term advantages over the PRC, diplomatically, economically, and militarily. Leveraging these advantages will require sustained U.S. leadership and innovative statecraft. About the speaker: The Honorable James H. Anderson is a former Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and a twice confirmed presidential appointee. In August 2018, the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Anderson as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. In June 2020, the U.S. Senate confirmed him as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Prior to his most recent Pentagon service, he served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Marine Corps University and Dean of Academics at the Marine Corps War College. He has also worked as Professor at the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies, Director of Middle East Policy at the Pentagon, Project Manager at DFI International, Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and Associate Professor at Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University. Dr. Anderson is the co-author of Leading Dynamic Seminars: A Practical Handbook for University Educators (Palgrave Macmillian, 2013), and the author of America at Risk: The Citizen’s Guide to Missile Defense (Heritage Foundation, 1999). He has written more than eighty articles and op-eds on a wide range of national security topics. Earlier in his career, Dr. Anderson served three years on active duty as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps. Dr. Anderson earned his Doctorate in International Relations and Masters of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts University. He is a recipient of numerous professional awards, including the Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Department’s Highest Award for non-career Federal employees.
Full title: “The Pygmy Among the Giants”? – Polish Eastern Policy in the Eyes of the British Political Elite (1919–1923) This lecture event is part of the 11th Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and the American Institute of Polish Culture (AIPC) established the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP in 2008. The Kościuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including learning, teaching, researching, and writing about Poland's culture, history, heritage, religion, government, economy, and successes in the arts, sciences, and letters, with special emphasis on the achievements of Polish civilization and its relation to other nations, particularly the United States. We remain grateful for Lady Blanka’s leadership in founding this Chair at IWP. About the lecture: The Treaty of Versailles established the new order in Western Europe, but its clauses did not bring peace to independent Poland. The young state was struggling with external threats. First of all, from Soviet Russia, the Ukrainian national self-determination was endangering the Polish state’s security; in 1919, the Polish-Lithuanian antagonism sprang to life. In reality, its political, social, and military situation was anything but “stable.” Those conditions made the Polish-British inter-state diplomatic relation the essential factor in Polish foreign policy. This discussion attempts to explain the evolution of the British political elite’s perception of Polish Eastern policy. The speaker will introduce the British attitude towards Poland since the Peace Conference in Paris, which commenced its proceedings from 18th January 1919 until 15th March 1923, when Britain recognized Polish Eastern borders. The talk seeks to answer the following questions: what kind of factors—a geopolitical theory or a strategic necessity—determined British policy towards Polish Eastern policy? Moreover, what factors influenced the British approach towards Poland? Finally, according to the British officials, what role did the Eastern border’s recognition play in the Anglo-Polish reciprocal relationship? What was the importance of this fact in the perception of Poland’s role as one of the factors of stability in East-Central Europe? About the speaker: Dr. Jolanta Mysiakowska carried out her graduate work at the University of Warsaw (2005). She has a doctorate in modern history from the Polish Academy of Sciences (2010). In 2015, she won a research grant from the Polonia Aid Foundation Trust. In 2020, she won a research grant from Lanckorońskis’ Foundation. Currently, she works with the Institute of National Remembrance, Warsaw, Poland. She is also editor-in-chief of Glaukopis—a scholarly periodical produced in cooperation with The Institute of World Politics (Washington, D.C., USA). She is a historian of 20th century Poland, with a particular interest in developing independent Poland after the First World War, its political and domestic situation, and its inter-state diplomatic relationship with Great Britain. She also has research interests in political ideology from the late 19th to the first half of the 20th century—Member of British International Study Association and Britain and the World association. Much of her recent research is focused on the perception of independent Poland among the British political and intellectual elite (1919–1926).
This lecture event is part of the 11th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and the American Institute of Polish Culture (AIPC) established the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP in 2008. The Kościuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including learning, teaching, researching, and writing about Poland's culture, history, heritage, religion, government, economy, and successes in the arts, sciences, and letters, with special emphasis on the achievements of Polish civilization and its relation to other nations, particularly the United States. We remain grateful for Lady Blanka’s leadership in founding this Chair at IWP. About the lecture: Revolutionary history abounds with ruse, deception, disinformation, manipulation, diversion, and a variety of devious mechanisms in the struggle by political visionaries, from gnostics to secret societies to anarchists to Marxists and others, to impose their utopian schemas on the unsuspecting. A technique encompassing that genre of mayhem that stands out and has been raised to the level of art is provocation (provokatsiya in the Russian). Provocation was a mainstay of the Tsarist counterintelligence service, the Okhrana, and then perfected up to the strategic level by the Soviet security services from the Cheka, through the KGB, and now to the FSB, SVR, the GRU of the Russian Federation. And, of course, it prospers in other counterintelligence-state cultures as well, such as Islam and China. Simply put, provocation is a key element of political warfare and is a characteristic of the counterintelligence-state. Provocation connotes operational counterintelligence techniques that create conditions to instigate real or imagined opponents — especially notional ones — into some action that will further the state’s objectives at the expense of the opponent(s). The idea here is to instigate something that otherwise would not occur, control the opponent, and ultimately put him out of action – or, better yet, keep controlling him long-term for some other political or operational purpose. This may be at the tactical level (a double agent operation aimed at discrediting an enemy intelligence service) or at the strategic level (the Trust and WiN operations focused on both domestic enemies and foreign intelligence services simultaneously). This presentation will focus on foundational examples of provocation up through recent instances where the art of provocation produced grand scale political, military and strategic outcomes beneficial to Marxist movements and regimes, and state-related terrorist structures. It will also briefly examine how the art of provocation has entered into the ethos of western security/intelligence services as well. About the speaker: Dr. Jack Dziak is a consultant in the fields of intelligence, counterintelligence, counter-deception, and national security affairs. He has served over five decades as a company president and as a senior intelligence officer and senior executive in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and in the Defense Intelligence Agency, with long experience in counterintelligence, hostile deception, counter deception, strategic intelligence, weapons proliferation intelligence, and intelligence education. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of World Politics, and has taught at the National War College, National Intelligence University, Georgetown University, and The George Washington University; and lectures on intelligence, military affairs, and security issues throughout the US and abroad.
This lecture event is part of the 11th Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and the American Institute of Polish Culture (AIPC) established the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP in 2008. The Kościuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including learning, teaching, researching, and writing about Poland's culture, history, heritage, religion, government, economy, and successes in the arts, sciences, and letters, with special emphasis on the achievements of Polish civilization and its relation to other nations, particularly the United States. We remain grateful for Lady Blanka’s leadership in founding this Chair at IWP. About the lecture: Feliks Dzierzynski was a Polish Catholic nobleman, a social democrat, and a monster. He committed national apostasy to advance his international utopian ideas. Having embraced a socialist revolution, he followed the logical path to death and mayhem. His destiny led him to establish and lead Soviet Russia’s secret police, the dreaded Cheka and its avatars. However, the roots of his murderous pathologies reach his teen years when he abandoned the Catholic faith and the cause of Poland’s independence in favor of extreme leftism. He increasingly alienated himself from his background, rejected his inheritance, and transformed himself, first, into an internationalist and, then, into a Soviet Russian chauvinist. Our story focuses on the first stage of the monster’s transformation. Rejecting all that was decent, Dzierzynski embarked on a journey of no return to Communist utopia. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
This lecture event is part of the 11th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and the American Institute of Polish Culture (AIPC) established the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP in 2008. The Kościuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including learning, teaching, researching, and writing about Poland's culture, history, heritage, religion, government, economy, and successes in the arts, sciences, and letters, with special emphasis on the achievements of Polish civilization and its relation to other nations, particularly the United States. We remain grateful for Lady Blanka’s leadership in founding this Chair at IWP. About the lecture: Bolesław Piasecki is considered one of the most controversial Polish politicians of the 20th century. A few years ago, I had the honour of presenting a critical review of one of Piasecki's newer biographies at the Kościuszko Chair symposium at the IWP. As I write a biography of this politician, I wish to share my findings with you. I want to focus on one of the least known episodes in Piasecki's biography – his eight-month stay in a communist prison at the turn of 1944-1945 and the meeting with Stalin's governor in Poland's occupied territories NKVD General Iwan Sierow. This event, both mysterious and sensational, is considered the beginning of Piasecki's agent involvement in cooperation with the Soviets and the foundation of his later position in communist Poland. I will try to verify this view and how these talks could have looked like, and whether Piasecki's last activities' agent-based nature is possible. About the speaker: Wojciech J. Muszyński, PhD, is a historian and a researcher at the Institute of National Remembrance (Warsaw, Poland). His research focuses on the history of political and ideological movements in the Second Polish Republic, Polish-Jewish relations, and military history. He is a Member of the Team to Assess Requests to Recognize Opposition Activity during the People's Republic of Poland at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. He is the author or co-author of many monographs, including Białe Legiony 1914–1918. Od Legionu Puławskiego do I Korpusu Polskiego (2018); Białe Legiony przeciwko bolszewikom. Polskie formacje wojskowe w Rosji 1918–1920 (2019), Toreadorzy Hitlera. Hiszpańscy ochotnicy w Wehrmachcie i Waffen-SS 1941–1945 (2019). He is also the co-author of the 2018 Award-Winning History Book on the history of the National Military Union, Przeciwko PAX Sovietica (2018).
This lecture event is part of the 11th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and the American Institute of Polish Culture (AIPC) established the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP in 2008. The Kościuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including learning, teaching, researching, and writing about Poland's culture, history, heritage, religion, government, economy, and successes in the arts, sciences, and letters, with special emphasis on the achievements of Polish civilization and its relation to other nations, particularly the United States. We remain grateful for Lady Blanka’s leadership in founding this Chair at IWP. About the lecture: Jerzy Kwiatkowski survived 485 days in the Majdanek concentration camp. Months after World War II ended, Jerzy began writing his reminiscence of the horrors he had witnessed. Over 50 years since the first Polish edition was released, an English translation of the gripping memoir has been published by the Hoover Institution Press. This new edition serves as the basis for a discussion of Jerzy Kwiatkowski's early life, his camp experience and his efforts to leave a written testament for his fellow prisoners who never left the gates of Majdanek. About the speaker: Nicholas Siekierski is a PhD candidate at the Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. He is writing his dissertation on Herbert Hoover and the American Relief Administration in Poland after the First World War. He is also a translator.
This lecture event is part of the 11th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium studies. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and the American Institute of Polish Culture (AIPC) established the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP in 2008. The Kościuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including learning, teaching, researching, and writing about Poland's culture, history, heritage, religion, government, economy, and successes in the arts, sciences, and letters, with special emphasis on the achievements of Polish civilization and its relation to other nations, particularly the United States. We remain grateful for Lady Blanka’s leadership in founding this Chair at IWP. About the lecture: Today's crisis in Europe and the Western world is, above all, a religious crisis. We live nowadays in times of unusually fierce religious intensification. It holds not only to Islam; instead to various contemporary ideologies and social movements, which religious or quasi-religious characters can be seen easily in their missionary zeal. In Europe and also America, a religious war takes place - a war of life and death. It is not a conflict between religious and non-religious people, but a clash of Christianity – or rather, what remains of it – and Neopaganism. Rivalry with Islam is here of secondary significance. A question arises concerning the proper shape of the political order: is it at all possible for individuals and communities, differing in religion – and if so, then how – to live together in peace and harmony within the framework of one political organism? The proper answer was brought to the world by Christianity: the common life of different communities will be possible if we reject the program of forceful conversion, guaranteeing everybody the right to religious freedom instead. Here religious freedom is understood as freedom to practice one's religion, openly express one's most profound religious beliefs and take action in the public space, motivated by these beliefs. Still, an opposite interpretation of the idea has been widespread – the idea of freedom from religion behind which hides a program for the expulsion of all religious signs and symbols referring to the transcendent dimension of human existence from public space. Which of the two visions of organizing public life wins? The future shape of the Western world depends on the response to this question. About the speaker: Zbigniew Stawrowski (born 1958 in Szczecin, Poland) is a political philosopher, professor at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw and the director of the Tischner Institute in Cracow. He is the author of Państwo i prawo w filozofii Hegla [The State and its Rights in the Philosophy of Hegel] (1994), Prawo naturalne a ład polityczny [Natural Law and Political Order] (2006), Niemoralna demokracja [Immoral Democracy] (2008), Solidarność znaczy więź [Solidarity means a Bond] (2010), Wokół idei wspólnoty, [Concerning the Idea of Community] (2012).
About the lecture: Servants of the Devil: the Facilitators of the Criminal and Terrorist Networks, was published in February of this year. It details the ways in which respectable professionals, businesses, financial institutions, non-profits, and hi-tech companies work with and for criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations, greatly enhancing their ability to pursue their objectives. Recommendations include urging that the facilitators be pursued and prosecuted as well as the criminals and terrorists. About the speakers: Prof. Norman A. Bailey is Professor of Economic Statecraft at the IWP. He currently resides in Israel, where he has taught at three different institutions of higher learning. Prof. Bailey has a background in the armed forces, business, finance, consulting, and academia. He is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the City University of New York. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia University. He is the author, co-author, or editor of seven books and hundreds of articles, both academic and journalistic. He is the recipient of various honorary degrees, medals, awards, and orders of knighthood. Mr. Bernard Touboul, is for the last 30 years an International Expert in Customs Administration and Enforcement, Border Management, and International Trade Facilitation. He was involved in institutional and governmental development in many countries including in Africa, Asia, Central Asia, western Balkans specially in policy making and strategy crafting for combating illicit trafficking and Trade Based Money Laundering related frauds. He was an official of the French Customs Service. He also holds several graduate degrees in International Trade, Business Administration, and Political Sciences specialized in national security. He is author and co author of several articles related to money laundering and terrorism financing topics.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: For decades, every incoming U.S. President has inherited a more dangerous North Korea than his predecessor. President Biden is no exception. During the past four years, North Korea’s nuclear, missile, conventional, and cyber threats increased in scope and sophistication. Pyongyang has historically ramped up tensions early in a new U.S. or South Korean administration to force concessions, which could pose an early foreign policy challenge for the new U.S. administration. North Korea will remain an intractable problem, but President Biden will need to develop a policy of deterrence, containment, pressure, and diplomacy. About the speaker: Bruce Klingner specializes in Korean and Japanese affairs as the senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center. Klingner has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He is a frequent commentator in U.S. and foreign media. His articles and commentary have appeared in major American and foreign publications and he is a regular guest on broadcast and cable news outlets. He is a regular contributor to the international and security sections of The Daily Signal. From 1996 to 2001, Klingner was CIA’s deputy division chief for Korea, responsible for the analysis of political, military, economic and leadership issues for the president of the United States and other senior U.S. policymakers. In 1993-1994, he was the chief of CIA’s Korea branch, which analyzed military developments during a nuclear crisis with North Korea. Klingner is a distinguished graduate of the National War College, where he received a master’s degree in national security strategy in 2002. He also holds a master’s degree in strategic intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middlebury College in Vermont.
About the lecture: This talk focuses on Martin’s “ATOP” theory of mental manipulation, the four-step process historically used to transform and control human behavior on every level of civilization, from obscure cults to entire nations. About the speaker: Professor Sean Elliot Martin is an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of Undergraduate and Graduate Intelligence Studies at Point Park University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has a diverse academic background, as well as a range of collaborations with military and law enforcement entities. He applies creative, interactive methods to teach courses in Intelligence Analysis, Psychological Operations, survival combat, and related subjects.
This lecture is in Memoriam of Herb Romerstein. About the lecture: When Natalie Grant (Wraga) died in November 2002 at the age of 101, few people other than family, friends, and some intelligence professionals were aware that one of the keenest minds on the horrid Soviet experience was lost to the western world. Mrs. Grant (Wraga was the surname of her husband Richard) was born in Tsarist Russia. She witnessed and survived the Russian Civil War, one of the bloodiest of modern history; trained some of the early State Department cadres of Soviet specialists; served as a Foreign Service Officer; and wed a storied former Polish counterintelligence officer with whom she partnered in producing some of the most penetrating and original studies on Soviet political warfare — specifically; deception, disinformation, and the whole panoply of active measures. One of the products of that partnership is the book Disinformation, just published by Leopolis Press. Natalie’s husband Richard died in 1967 before she started drafting Disinformation. But she and Richard had been diving deep into the myriad cases of Soviet deception operations for decades, calling attention to what is now termed information warfare, fake news, etc., all of which have a pedigree dating to the earliest years of the USSR and well before. This presentation will focus on Natalie Grant’s story and how she came to write such a seminal work on Soviet political warfare and the difficulties she faced in getting the right people in government, media, and academia to accept the realities of deception and disinformation. Her book couldn’t get traction with publishers, notwithstanding the help of numerous intelligence friends, scholars, family members, and others, Herb Romerstein and this writer included. Given its long gestation period due to lack of publisher interest, Natalie kept on writing and revising until legal blindness made that just too difficult. Fortunately, Leopolis Press brought her efforts to fruition, almost twenty years after her passing. Disinformation is presented to the reader by Leopolis Press as she wrote it, other than the necessary copy-editing process and the need to handle the vagaries of transliteration of the myriad Russian personalities and place names. About the speaker: Dr. Dziak is a consultant in the fields of intelligence, counterintelligence, counter-deception, and national security affairs. He has served over five decades as a company president and as a senior intelligence officer and senior executive in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and in the Defense Intelligence Agency, with long experience in counterintelligence, hostile deception, counter deception, strategic intelligence, weapons proliferation intelligence, and intelligence education. He received his Ph.D. in Russian history from Georgetown University, is a graduate of the National War College, and is a recipient of numerous defense and intelligence awards and citations. He was the co-developer and co-director of the master’s degree program in Strategic Intelligence at the Defense Intelligence School, the original predecessor to the current National Intelligence University. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of World Politics, and has taught at the National War College, National Intelligence University, Georgetown University, and The George Washington University; and lectures on intelligence, military affairs, and security issues throughout the US and abroad. Dr. Dziak is the author of the award-winning Chekisty: A History of the KGB, numerous other books, articles, and monographs, including The Military Relationship Between China and Russia, and Soviet Perceptions of Military Power. He currently is preparing a book on foreign counterintelligence systems.
This event is part of The Cyber Intelligence Initiative Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: RPA is currently the fastest-growing enterprise technology, according to Gartner. RPA is also the core of hyper-automation, the number 1 strategic technology trend for 2020. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is the technology allowing every level of government to deploy software robots to perform specific tasks in an automated way. RPA software uses a combination of integrations, advanced technologies, and cognitive processes. RPA can be used to mimic or emulate selected tasks allowing agencies to liberate their workforce from mundane, tedious, and boring tasks and move to what the Office of Personnel Management calls higher-valued work. These may include manipulating data, passing data to and from various applications, triggering responses, or executing transactions. The power of RPA is it securely acts as the workflow for other digital technologies. The UiPath fully automated enterprise is broadly deployed across 79 agencies and 11 states. Agencies are using RPA and other digital labor to bridge the gap between new technologies and legacy systems, to digitally transform government, supplement a shrinking workforce while increasing compliance, reducing errors, saving tax-dollars, and serving citizens better. This discussion will cover the history of RPA in the federal government, provide demonstrations, and look to the future of the fully automated enterprise as hyper-automation takes hold in the government’s automation era. If you have questions, please feel welcome to contact JOLT Advantage Group: Contact page: https://www.joltag.com/contact. RPA Page: https://www.joltag.com/robotic-proces.... Knowledge Hub: https://www.joltag.com/knowledge-hub. About the speakers: Mr. James Walker, a former Army Artillery Officer and federal employee, is currently UiPath’s Evangelist and Public Sector CTO. He served as the Deputy CIO and Services Portfolio Manager at NASA’s Shared Services Center (NSSC) and had key IT positions at DISA, the US Missile Defense Agency, and counter-drug task force in Key West. Jim is a Federal Computer Weekly “Federal 100” alumni and runner-up in Government Computer News “DigIT 2017” award for Robotics, Automation, and Unmanned Systems. He holds a Chief Information Officer certification from the National Defense University and a Graduate degree in Telecommunications. Mr. Brett Fraser has over 20 years of experience working with RPA, cognitive, and AI technologies. Brett brings a wealth of knowledge on automation best practices, lessons learned, and use cases across the public and private sectors.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: In 1949, to the surprise of Americans who had hoped that WWII had marked the end of world conflicts, the Soviet Union exploded a nuclear weapon Identical to the bomb the US had dropped on Nagasaki. It was identical because the bomb’s nuclear technology had been stolen through massive espionage by America’s Russian communist wartime ally. Thus the calculus of power that overshadowed the new conflict—nuclear weapons and strategic intelligence operations– set the strategic framework of the fifty-year Cold War conflict. Also in 1949, the People’s Republic of China began pursuing a similar hegemonic course, also relying on stolen nuclear weapons designs and strategic intelligence activities. Just as an aggressive Soviet Union was unwilling to accept either the American position as the world power or even peaceful standards of international behavior, so too does the PRC appear intent on replacing America as the sole remaining superpower in the twenty-first century. The presentation will review key developments in these Chinese efforts and where US policy stands today at the current crossroads in US policy towards the PRC. About the speaker: Kenneth E. deGraffenreid has over 40 years of leadership responsibility as a senior national level expert, practitioner, writer, and teacher in the areas of strategic defense and intelligence policy, and operations; counterintelligence and protective security; continuity of operations; and infrastructure, cyber, telecommunications and information protection. He has served as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy; Deputy National Counterintelligence Executive and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs as White House Senior Director of Intelligence and Security Programs on the Ronald Reagan National Security Council. A retired Navy Captain, he also served on the Professional Staff of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He has been a Senior Group VP of an R&D and systems engineering firm and VP of a high level policy analysis firm supporting sensitive USG programs in counterintelligence, telecommunications, and security. He is Professor Emeritus at IWP, a graduate school in Washington, D.C. where he developed and directed the first MA degree in Intelligence and security studies to be offered in the United States. Currently, he is a Distinguished Fellow in Intelligence Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The United States of America has been the most powerful country in the world for over seventy years, but recently the U.S. National Security Strategy declared that the return of great power competition with Russia and China is the greatest threat to U.S. national security. Further, many analysts predict that America’s autocratic rivals will have at least some success in disrupting-and, in the longer term, possibly even displacing-U.S. global leadership. Brilliant and engagingly written, The Return of Great Power Rivalry argues that this conventional wisdom is wrong. Drawing on an extraordinary range of historical evidence and the works of figures like Herodotus, Machiavelli, and Montesquieu and combining it with cutting-edge social science research, Matthew Kroenig advances the riveting argument that democracies tend to excel in great power rivalries. He contends that democracies actually have unique economic, diplomatic, and military advantages in long-run geopolitical competitions. He considers autocratic advantages as well, but shows that these are more than outweighed by their vulnerabilities. Kroenig then shows these arguments through the seven most important cases of democratic-versus-autocratic rivalries throughout history, from the ancient world to the Cold War. Finally, he analyzes the new era of great power rivalry among the United States, Russia, and China through the lens of the democratic advantage argument. By advancing a “hard-power” argument for democracy, Kroenig demonstrates that despite its many problems, the U.S. is better positioned to maintain a global leadership role than either Russia or China. A vitally important book for anyone concerned about the future of global geopolitics, The Return of Great Power Rivalry provides both an innovative way of thinking about power in international politics and an optimistic assessment of the future of American global leadership. About the speaker: Dr. Matthew Kroenig is the deputy director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council and the director of the Center’s Global Strategy Initiative. He is also a tenured professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University. A 2019 study in Perspectives on Politics ranked him one of the top 25 most cited political scientists of his generation. He is the author or editor of seven books, including The Return of Great Power Rivalry: Democracy versus Autocracy from the Ancient World to the US and China (Oxford University Press, 2020) and The Logic of American Nuclear Strategy (Oxford University Press, 2018). His articles and commentary have appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Politico, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and many other outlets. He co-authors the bi-monthly “Its Debatable” column at Foreign Policy. Dr. Kroenig provides regular commentary for major media outlets, including PBS, NPR, BBC, CNN, and C-SPAN. He previously served in several positions in the US government, including in the Strategy office in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Strategic Assessments Group at the Central Intelligence Agency. He regularly consults with a range of US government entities. He has previously worked as a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a research fellow at Harvard University and Stanford University. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Hertog Foundation, and the Stanton Foundation. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds an MA and Ph.D. in political science from the University of California at Berkeley.
This event is part of The Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The defensibility of the Baltic states has been a subject of much discussion since the Russian invasion and occupation of parts of Ukraine. A 2016 report by the RAND Corporation caused a stir when it determined that NATO was unprepared to defend the Baltics against a Russian attack, with Russian forces able to reach the outskirts of Tallinn in 60 hours. However, while American strategic thinking is focused on conventional military defense, due to its size, geography, and history, Estonia’s National Security Concept embraces a “total defense” principle. This is important for U.S. strategic thinkers and policymakers to understand and integrate into allied defense strategy and assistance. About the speaker: James A. Rice is the Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, for whom he has worked since June 2000. In this role, James serves as the chief advisor to Senator Grassley on foreign policy matters, including in Senator Grassley’s capacity as co-chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus. James’s previous professional experience includes positions in the Iowa Senate, an internship with the British Conservative Party, and work on various political campaigns. James has been recognized by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his contributions to public diplomacy. James received a B.A. from Drake University with majors in political science and history and a M.A. in Statecraft and International Affairs at the Institute of World Politics. He is a native of Davenport, Iowa.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Since their 1949 victory, the Chinese Communist Party has been highly successful in making mainland China a very hard target for foreign espionage. But hitherto, China’s security and intelligence agencies have often endured a lack of interagency coordination, turf battles, and internal corruption. Under Mao Zedong, they were attacked and dismantled during the Cultural Revolution, taking decades to recover. During China’s corruption crisis of the 1990s and 2000s, intelligence and counterintelligence operations were hobbled by internal graft, leading to high-level penetrations by the CIA’s China Program. However, Xi Jinping has systematically attacked these problems since his ascent in 2012. His famous anti-corruption drive was partly intended to blunt alleged American efforts to provide cash for their agents within the Chinese state to secure corrupt promotions. Beijing’s drive to regain “information dominance” (制信息权, zhi xinxi quan) over an increasingly fluid, networked, and technologically sophisticated society appears to be broadly successful. Interagency coordination looks more robust under strengthened party oversight by the new Central State Security Commission. Meanwhile, an intelligence and military reorganization that was launched in 2015 has resulted in a sharper mission focus by the Ministry of State Security and the intelligence units of the People’s Liberation Army. This presentation will review these efforts, and what problems still exist. It will evaluate the possibility that the 2020s will be a decade of better coordinated and more aggressive espionage operations by Beijing, and the extent to which the increasingly successful surveillance state might expand and grow ever stronger inside China. About the speaker: Dr. Matthew Brazil is the researcher and writer. He pursued Chinese studies as an undergraduate at U.C. Berkeley, as an Army officer with tours in Korea and NSA, and as a graduate student at Harvard in their Regional Studies East Asia program. After a stint as the China specialist for the Commerce Department’s Office of Export Enforcement, he was assigned as a Commercial Officer with the U.S. Embassy, Beijing, where he both promoted and controlled U.S. high technology exports to China. Afterward, Matt spent 20 years as a security professional, performing investigations in China for a chip manufacturer, and leading the development of a security organization in China for an American specialty chemicals firm. His PhD dissertation at the University of Sydney (2013) described the place in the Chinese Communist Party of their intelligence organs. That and further research led to his contribution as the coauthor of Chinese Communist Espionage, An Intelligence Primer (2019). Matt has begun research on a second book intended to be an integrated narrative history of intelligence operations in the Chinese Communist movement.
About the lecture: Ethiopia today is at a crossroad, the government of Ethiopia recently launched a campaign to uphold the rule of law in order to keep the peace and security of its citizens. The government is also gearing up to conduct its first election in the Post-TPLF era in June 2021. All eyes will be on the reformist leader Abiy Ahmed, a 2019 Nobel peace prize laureate who promised to bring his nation of over a hundred million people back to its historical prominence by unlocking the country’s untapped natural resources. Our panelist will analyze the challenges facing the Prime Minister as he embarks on his goal to achieve making Ethiopia a middle-income nation by 2025. One of these challenges currently is the conflict between the federal government of Ethiopia and TPLF leadership in Tigray. About the panelist: Dr. Gedion Timothewos Hessebon, is the current attorney general of Ethiopia. Bronwyn Bruton, a democracy and governance specialist with extensive experience in Africa was a 2008-2009 international affairs fellow in residence at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Ms. Bruton has also served as a program manager on the Africa team of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Transition Initiatives, as a policy analyst on the international affairs and trade team of the Government Accountability Office, and as a program officer at the Center for International Private Enterprise. Yoseph Mulugeta Badwaza is the Senior Regional Advisor at Freedom House, having formerly served as the Senior Program Officer for Ethiopia. Besu Feleke has been a human rights and democracy advocate for 18 years. He is on the board of Friends of Angola, PRO Leadership Inc, Global Innovation Network, Senior Policy Advisor at Solidarity Movement for New Ethiopia, and Community Advisor to the Chief of Police in Alexandria, Virginia. Besu works in various Peacebuilding initiatives and programs in the US and Africa. Professor Jon Abbink is an anthropologist-historian and carries out research on the history and cultures of the Horn of Africa (Northeast Africa), particularly Ethiopia. Learn more about the panelists: https://www.iwp.edu/events/38022/.
This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The book Children of the Borderlands, by Lucyna Kulinska Ph.D., is not just a collection of eyewitness accounts of people who survived the savage genocide of the Polish population committed by Ukrainians, but is also a case study relevant to the multi-ethnic United States that faces numerous ethnic tensions, pressures, and challenges. It illustrates the involvement of numerous intelligence services in this genocide and the creation of the present Ukrainian state and its identity. About the speaker: Paul Szymanski is a naturalized citizen of the United States. He was born in Gdansk and immigrated from Poland in 1989. He graduated from the Loyola University of Chicago in 1995 and obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration. He works as a Cybersecurity Engineer and is certified as a Project Management Professional. Mr. Szymanski translated short stories by renowned American climber, John Long, into Polish and published them in the book titled Opowiesci z Krainy Largo (The stories from Laro’s world). This translation was a part of a project to obtain a new helicopter for the Tarta’s Mountain Rescue Squad. (The previous helicopter crashed during a rescue of high school students who unfortunately perished in an avalanche.) The book Children of the Borderlands was his first translation from Polish to English. He translated it with Jakub Zarazka and the poems were translated by Sister Jadwiga Szczechowicz from the Albertine Sisters convent. Sister Jadwiga is a former sergeant of the US Marine Corps. Mr. Szymanski enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering, skiing, scuba diving, and has completed four half-ironman triathlons.
About the lecture: Jack Sacco’s presentation (based on his award-winning book, Where the Birds Never Sing), details his father’s heroic journey through the greatest battles of World War II with a special focus on the liberation of Dachau. His testimony bears witness to the truth of the Holocaust while honoring both the victims and liberators. About the speaker: Jack Sacco is the award-winning and Amazon #1 bestselling author of Where the Birds Never Sing and Above the Treetops. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He is the winner of the Alabama Library Association’s 2005 Author Award for Where the Birds Never Sing. Past winners of this prestigious award include Harper Lee for To Kill a Mockingbird and Walker Percy for The Second Coming. Where the Birds Never Sing, published by HarperCollins, is a nonfiction account of his father Joe Sacco’s experiences during the Second World War, including his part in the liberation of the notorious Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. The book has been praised by critics and readers alike, including Senator Bob Dole, who contributed the Foreword. In addition, scholars of the Holocaust have been enthusiastic in their praise. Where the Birds Never Sing has been endorsed by Rabbi Abraham Cooper on behalf of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. Where the Birds Never Sing was nominated for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and rose to become an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Jack Sacco is in demand as an accomplished public speaker who lectures widely throughout the United States and abroad. He has lectured at Yale University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Southern California, UCLA, Loyola Marymount University, the University of Texas, and George Mason University, as well as other colleges and conferences throughout the nation. He has been chosen to deliver the keynote presentation at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau. He was also chosen to give a special presentation before the Royal Families of Europe, including the Habsburg, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein families.
About the lecture: Most politically active Poles welcomed the outbreak of the Great War as a chance to regain independence for their nation. Polish politicians and their followers were deeply divided among themselves. There were several orientations among them vying for influence. "Russian" Poles were pro-Western and counted on the victory of the Entente and sovereignty at best, or autonomy at worst. "Austrian" Poles pursued an "Austro-Polish solution," hoping that Vienna would unite all Polish lands under the scepter of the Habsburgs. Yet, the Austro-Hungarians increasingly yielded to Prussian prerogatives. Berlin at most entertained an idea of a dwarf Polish puppet state in the central provinces of Poland. Notwithstanding, the Poles raised several armed forces by the sides of the Russian, Austrian, and, lastly, Prussian armies. Meanwhile, emigre Poles, in particular in the United States supported the pro-Entente orientation. They also fielded the largest Polish force in the field which fought first in France and then, from 1919, in Poland itself. As the empires collapsed, it was both the diplomatic effort of the Poles in the West and the valor of Polish arms at home that facilitated the resurrection and defense of the Commonwealth. Ultimately, although they enjoyed some material assistance from the United States, France, and Hungary, it was the valor of Polish arms alone that secured the reborn nation's freedom. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the lecture: It took Poland 123 years to regain its independence in 1918. Since 1772 each generation witnessed lost wars, uprisings, conspiracies, and defeats. Each new generation would continue the struggle afresh. And so it was again in 1905 and between 1914 and 1921. The Poles fought to restore the Old Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania-Ruthenia. They benefitted from the collapse of the three empires: Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary; however, they also had to contend with folk nationalism of the non-historic nationalities, peasant nations of the Intermarium, who asserted their rights to self-determination. Warsaw was thus forced to fight several border wars, including against Germany. But it was the war against the Soviet Union that proved to be the most existential challenge not just to Poland, but to everyone else in the Intermarium. Unfortunately, the Bolshevik menace failed to unite the successor states and the Poles faced Lenin's legions virtually alone. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the lecture: The autocratic system's inefficiencies, Russia's economic backwardness, the opposition's maximalist dissatisfaction, ghoulish slaughter at the front, and food supply failures combined to trigger a revolution in the empire in February 1917. The tsar abdicated and his regime yielded to a dual power system: the center-left provisional government and the leftist revolutionary Soviet. The new arrangement led to the paralysis of the country and the collapse of law and order. Deserters and bandits, along with the peasants, wreaked havoc from below; revolutionary parties fostered anarchy from above. Eventually, after October 1917, when the Bolsheviks seized power, deposing the liberals, chaos was further exacerbated by Lenin's government fostering Red Terror as state policy. In the ensuing Civil War, all possible political orientations raged against one another and against innocent bystanders. Everyone was caught in mayhem and violence, in particular helpless civilians, including traditional elites and Jews. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the lecture: Germany's final thrust to the east, coupled with revolutionary turmoil in Russia, which Berlin exacerbated greatly by its support of the Bolsheviks, brought victory to the Second Reich. The treaty of Brest Litovsk of March 1918 was an unmitigated triumph for the Germans. It not only allowed them to dominate most of the European part of the collapsing empire of the Tsars but also to establish a springboard to the future domination of the Caucasus and the Middle East. All that collapsed, however, because the United States entered the war and came to the rescue of the beleaguered and wavering Entente Powers. By August 1918 it became obvious that Germany had lost the war. Alas, instead of taking Berlin, the Powers agreed unwisely to an armistice in November 1918. Accordingly, hostilities terminated in the west, but they continued unabated in the east. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: “Thus Heaven I’ve forfeited, I know it full well. My soul, once true to God, is chosen for Hell.” So wrote Karl Marx in an 1837 poem. Those lines were, for Marx, at least partly biographical. Likewise disturbing were his openings lines in his Communist Manifesto: “A specter is haunting Europe, the specter of communism. All of the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this specter.” Karl Marx unleashed more than a mere economic program. The man was less an economist than a revolutionary. Marx had a favorite line from Mephistopheles, the devil character in Goethe’s Faust: “Everything that exists deserves to perish.” What Marx wanted was not a mere economic revolution; he wanted a revolution against human nature, to annihilate the entire order, to burn down the house, to undermine “all religion, all morality.” He called for the “forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions.” What Marx advocated had a destructive dimension, a spiritual dimension, even a diabolical dimension. In his latest book, The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism’s Long March of Death, Deception, and Infiltration, Dr. Paul Kengor explores this chilling side of Marx and the Marxist revolution that still rages today. Join us to hear Professor Kengor on this fascinating and disturbing subject. About the speaker: Paul Kengor, Ph.D., is a professor of political science at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania, and a New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books. He is senior director and chief academic fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom and former visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. His articles have appeared in publications from the Washington Post and USA Today to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He is a longtime columnist and senior editor for The American Spectator. Kengor is an internationally recognized authority on (among other topics) Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, communism, socialism, and conservatism.
This event is part of the China Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: In 2019 China began to apply noticeable military pressure on Taiwan, which has increased considerably in 2020. China now proclaims in its media almost weekly that it will invade and conquer democratic Taiwan. This mounting threat to Taiwan will be examined, in addition to why the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must destroy this democracy in order to achieve hegemony first in Asia, and then the world. Yet, all is not lost, there is still time for the United States to help Taiwan deter a Chinese invasion and by doing so, prevent a dark age of CCP hegemony. About the speaker: Mr. Richard D. Fisher, Jr. is a Senior Fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center. In 2016 he joined the Advisory Board of the Global Taiwan Institute. He has previously worked with the Center for Security Policy, Jamestown Foundation China Brief, U.S. House of Representatives Republican Policy Committee, and The Heritage Foundation. He is the author of China’s Military Modernization, Building for Regional and Global Reach (Praeger, 2008, Stanford University Press, 2010, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense translation 2012) Since 1996 he has covered scores of international arms exhibits and his articles have been published in the Jane’s Intelligence Review, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Aviation Week and Space Technology, Armed Forces Journal, Far Eastern Economic Review, Asian Wall Street Journal, Defense News, The Epoch Times and the The Washington Times. He has studied at Georgetown University and received a B.A. (Honors) in 1981 from Eisenhower College.
About the lecture: This lecture will examine the misapplication of new systems in the run-up to conflict–eg French and Russian pre-WWII misunderstanding of best employment of tanks and implications for US force planning. About the speaker: Dr. Dov S. Zakheim is Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Senior Fellow at the CNA Corporation, a federally funded think tank. Previously he was Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton where he led the Firm’s support of U.S. Combatant Commanders worldwide. From 2001 to April 2004 he was Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Defense, and from 2002-2004 he was also DOD’s coordinator of civilian programs in Afghanistan. From 1985 until 1987, Dr. Zakheim was Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Planning and Resources, playing an active role in the Department’s system acquisition, strategic planning, programming and budget processes. He held other senior DOD posts from 1981-1985. Dr. Zakheim has served on numerous government, corporate, non-profit and charitable boards. He is Vice Chairman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Board of Trustees, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for The National Interest.
About the lecture: Mr. Glenn Gerstell will discuss the national security burdens that our private sector must bear due to the advent of new technology and widespread disinformation online. Please click here for Mr. Gerstell’s New Yorker article on this topic: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-national-security-case-for-fixing-social-media About the speaker: Glenn S. Gerstell served as the general counsel of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Security Service (CSS) from 2015 to 2020. He has written and spoken widely about the intersections of technology and national security and privacy. Prior to joining the NSA, Mr. Gerstell practiced law for almost 40 years at the international law firm of Milbank, LLP, where he focused on the global telecommunications industry and served as the managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C., Singapore, and Hong Kong offices. Mr. Gerstell served on the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council, which reports to the president and the secretary of homeland security on security threats to the nation’s infrastructure, as well as on the District of Columbia Homeland Security Commission. A graduate of New York University and Columbia University School of Law, Mr. Gerstell is an elected member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Earlier in his career, he was an adjunct law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and New York Law School. He is a recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service and the NSA Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
This event is part of the China Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the book: The Indo-Pacific is fast becoming the world’s dominant region. As it grows in power and wealth, geopolitical competition has reemerged, threatening future stability not merely in Asia but around the globe. China is aggressive and uncooperative, and increasingly expects the world to bend to its wishes. The focus on Sino-US competition for global power has obscured “Asia’s other great game”: the rivalry between Japan and China. A modernizing India risks missing out on the energies and talents of millions of its women, potentially hampering the broader role it can play in the world. And in North Korea, the most frightening question raised by Kim Jong-un’s pursuit of the ultimate weapon is also the simplest: can he control his nukes? In Asia’s New Geopolitics: Essays on Reshaping the Indo-Pacific, Michael R. Auslin examines these and other key issues transforming the Indo-Pacific and the broader world. He also explores the history of American strategy in Asia from the 18th century through today. Taken together, Auslin’s essays convey the richness and diversity of the region: with more than three billion people, the Indo-Pacific contains over half of the global population, including the world’s two most populous nations: India and China. In a riveting final chapter, Auslin imagines a war between America and China in a bid for regional hegemony and what this conflict might look like. About the speaker: Michael Auslin, PhD, a historian and geopolitical analyst, is the inaugural Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and is also a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The best-selling author of four non-fiction books, he is a longtime contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and his writing appears in The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, Politico, and National Review, among other leading publications. Formerly an associate professor of history at Yale, he was a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Fulbright Scholar, among other awards. He appears frequently in U.S. and foreign media, and is the Vice Chairman of the Wilton Park USA Foundation.
About the lecture: When we accept certain narratives on which national security policy rests, and those narratives are incorrect, we get ourselves into serious trouble. One is reminded about a debate in the British parliament between Winston Churchill and Mr. Chamberlain, with the latter arguing that rearming Britain to take on Germany would probably result in a diminution of free trade with Nazi Germany. To which Winston Churchill said, “shouldn’t that be the idea?” The United States in 1969-70 adopted detente and peaceful coexistence as descriptors of American security policy. At the end of World War II, we adopted the idea of containment of the USSR. We also adopted “Vietnam” to conjure up a quagmire to describe the feared end result of the use of American military force. Today, we have adopted “peaceful rise“ as the way to describe the growing military and economic strength of China; we have long held out the idea that a successful foreign policy in the Middle East had to go through the “peace process”; and successful response to 9-11 required the USA to win the “global war on terror or GWOT”. This lecture will examine how such narratives were developed and what political forces such narratives served. This lecture will also explore each of these narratives and what dead ends they led us to reach, or are still leading us, and compare them to President Reagan’s “peace through strength” strategy. We will also discuss the current administration’s policy with respect to China, the Middle East, and Russia/NATO. Reagan’s peace through strength is often described —wrongly—as no more than simple bullying—a narrative we will also address. Part of this discussion will include my own part in these foreign policy fights over the 1975-2020 period. About the speaker: Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis, founded in 1981, and since 2016, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute on Aerospace Studies. He was the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011 Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 45 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities while monitoring budget and policy developments on terrorism, counter-terrorism, immigration, state-sponsored terrorism, missile defense, weapons of mass destruction, especially US-Israeli joint defense efforts, nuclear deterrence, arms control, proliferation, as well as tactical and strategic air, airlift, space, and nuclear matters and such state and non-state actors as North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. This also includes monitoring activities of think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and other US government departments, as well as projecting future actions of Congress in this area. His specialty is developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives.
About the lecture: A revolution broke out in Russia in February 1917, which overthrew the Tsar. Instead of ushering in a liberal democracy, it quickly degenerated into anarchy, which paved the way for a Bolshevik takeover in October 1917. Non-Bolshevik leftists for the most part refused to save democracy and freedom by refusing to fight for it. The right-wing counterrevolutionaries fought bravely but their slim ranks were overwhelmed by the might of the Reds and the sea of indifference and hostility of the Russian people, who cherished no government. The lands of the former Russian Empire descended into a civil war and, concomitantly, wars of national liberation as borderland nationalities attempted to assert their freedom. Most failed and found themselves back firmly under the boot of Moscow, which was now ruled by the Reds. Only the Entente could have thwarted the Bolshevik victory but the West lacked the will and imagination to invest much to destroy Communism in its cradle. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
This event is part of the Cyber Intelligence Initiative Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The establishment of US Cyber Command and expansion of Computer Network Exploitation and Computer Network Attack operations under a number of authorities has blurred the lines of traditional national security roles. This lecture explores the policy implications of cyber operations conducted under various authorities and their broader implications for international norms in the cyber domain. About the speaker: Adam Maruyama is a national security professional with deep experience in cyber operations, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism. For more than 15 years, he served in a variety of operational and leadership roles in the national security community. He served in numerous warzones and co-led the drafting of the 2018 National Strategy to Counterterrorism. Adam currently manages cybersecurity software deployments for a number of federal customers.
This event is a part of the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: As the world adapts to a new normal, the Philippines and the United States are presented with fresh opportunities to expand their longstanding alliance and partnership. In this lecture, Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez will discuss how the two countries are working together to address the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how this collaboration is re-defining Philippines-U.S. bilateral relations. He will also present the Philippines’ long-term vision and priorities for the alliance and partnership. About the speaker: Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America in July 2017 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. On 29 November 2017, he presented his credentials to US President Donald J. Trump and formally assumed office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Additionally, as the head of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Romualdez is concurrently the Philippines’ emissary to the Commonwealth of Jamaica, Republic of Haiti; Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Dominica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and Saint Lucia. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Romualdez was designated as a special envoy of the Philippine President to the United States. He also served as a member of several Philippine business delegations visiting the United States, China, Japan and New Zealand from 1989 to 2012. Ambassador Romualdez has extensive experience as a media practitioner and business executive. He used to be the Chief Executive Officer of Stargate Media Corporation and Publisher of People Asia Magazine (The Philippine Star affiliate). He was president of the Manila Overseas Press Club and vice-president of Rotary Club of Manila. Ambassador Romualdez writes columns for The Philippine Star. All his columns have a wide following of readers both in the Philippines and abroad. Born and raised in Manila, Ambassador Romualdez received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from De La Salle College in 1970. He plays golf as a pastime and is affiliated with Manila Golf and Country Club and the Manila Polo Club.
This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the book: “The Katyn Forest Massacre: An Annotated Bibliography of Books in English” begins with a history of the Katyn Massacre and an overview of the literature on Katyn. The subsequent chapters discuss the authors and contents of some 38 books that have been published over the decades in English about Katyn. Each book contributed something to the evolving literature and general knowledge about the history of the Massacre. Books were written by some prisoners who survived (Czapski and Młynarski), witnesses who were brought to the exhumations (Stroobant and Werth), diplomats and generals who tried to find out what happened to the missing officers (Kot and Anders), family members who were deported to Kazakhstan and Siberia (Adamczyk), researchers and historians (Zawodny, Ciencala, Sanford and Maresch), and authors who believed that raising awareness about Katyn was worthwhile because it might help rectify an injustice (FitzGibbon and Allen). Books written before the Soviet admission of guilt pointed an accusatory finger at the Kremlin. Those written afterwards had the benefit of archival revelations that helped shed light on previously unknown details of the NKVD Katyn operation. The Foreword is by Dr. Alexander M. Jablonski, President of the Oskar Halecki Institute in Canada. About the speaker: Mr. Andrew Kavchak was born in Montreal. He studied political science (BA – Concordia University, MA – Carleton University) and law (LL.B. – Osgoode Hall Law School). He spent his career in the Canadian federal civil service mostly working in policy units with the departments of revenue, industry and international trade. Since retiring he has pursued his hobbies of reading and writing about history. He has written and published several books that are available on Amazon, including Remembering Gouzenko: The Struggle to Honour a Cold War Hero and The Katyn Forest Massacre: An Annotated Bibliography of Books in English. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.
Full title: Experiences of a Polish Officer in the Austrian Army in WWI Dying Echoes: Memoirs of the War 1914-1920 by Stanisław Kawczak This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: Andrew Kavchak will discuss his grandfather’s, Stanisław Kawczak, memoirs of WWI, and the subsequent conflicts following Poland’s independence. Dying Echoes: Memoirs of the War 1914-1920 by Stanisław Kawczak was first published in Poland in 1936. The book tells the story and experiences of a young Polish conscript in the Austrian army who fought during WWI wearing the Austrian uniform against the Russian army on the Eastern Front and the Italian army on the Southern Front. From the beginning of the war, his heart was in the struggle for Polish independence and the defeat of the three occupying powers (Germany, Austria, and Russia) which had partitioned Poland since the 1790s. The narrative is vivid and gives the reader an image of the life of a soldier on the march and in the trenches, as well as an account of the political debates about national interests during the “Great War”. About the speaker: Mr. Andrew Kavchak was born in Montreal, Canada. He studied political science earning a BA from Concordia University and MA from Carleton University) and law (LL.B. – Osgoode Hall Law School). He spent his career in the Canadian federal civil service working in policy units with the departments of revenue, industry, and international trade. Since retiring he has pursued his hobbies of reading and writing about history. He has written and published several books that are available on Amazon, including Remembering Gouzenko: The Struggle to Honour a Cold War Hero and The Katyn Forest Massacre: An Annotated Bibliography of Books in English. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.
This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: The lecture will present the life and work of a devoted midwife, Stanislawa Leszczynska, who tirelessly assisted pregnant women prisoners of Auschwitz and helped them safely deliver their babies against all odds. About the speaker: Mrs. Maria Juczewska is a communication specialist with a versatile international experience. Her education in linguistics, culture studies, and international affairs, combined with years of living abroad, makes her point of view unique and comprehensive. Mrs. Juczewska worked for the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies from 2014-2020, and she is a graduate of IWP’s M.A. program. At present, she is working on her Ph.D. in political philosophy.
This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: 2020 marks what would have been the 100th birthday of St. Pope John Paul II as well as the 42nd anniversary of his election as Pope. This is a great moment to reflect on Saint John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan, two of the most influential figures of the 20th century. With their will, belief in God, and the power of the spoken word, the Polish Pope and American President together liberated Europe and changed world history. There are no coincidences, but Providence is at work. John Paul II stepped onto the world stage just as the most powerful country on earth was about to elect a president unwaveringly committed to the cause of freedom. One became the spiritual leader of the world, the other the political leader of the free world. The two great men are no longer with us, but our need for moral clarity and moral leadership remains. About the speaker: Mrs. Monika Jablonska is a consultant with expertise in international business transactions and NGOs, lawyer and philanthropist. Ms. Jablonska is working on her Ph.D. thesis in political science. She is the author of “Wind from Heaven: John Paul II, The Poet Who Became Pope.” Her second book about St. John Paul II will be released in 2021. She is a contributor to the National Catholic Register, Crisis Magazine, Newsmax and other publications in the United States and Europe.
About the book: Even as historians credit Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II with hastening the end of the Cold War, they have failed to recognize the depth or significance of the bond that developed between the two leaders. Acclaimed scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor changes that. In this fascinating book, he reveals a singular bond—which included a spiritual connection between the Catholic pope and the Protestant president—that drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the twentieth century: Soviet communism. A Pope and a President is the product of years of research. Based on Kengor’s tireless archival digging and his unique access to Reagan insiders, the book reveals the inside story of the friendship between Reagan and Pope John Paul II. About the speaker: Dr. Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, and a New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books. He is senior director and chief academic fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom and former visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. His articles have appeared in publications from the Washington Post and USA Today to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He is a longtime columnist and senior editor for The American Spectator. Kengor is an internationally recognized authority on Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, communism, socialism, and conservatism.
This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the Lecture: Count Janos Esterhazy opposed the Nazis and Communists; he escaped the former only to be imprisoned and killed by the latter. Now he is hailed as a hero by the Hungarians, Poles, and Jews; the Catholic Church has recognized him as a Servant of God and launched Esterhazy’s beatification process. Meanwhile, Czechia and Slovakia cannot forgive the Count’s Hungarian patriotism and irredentism, thus stalling and derailing his rehabilitation. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
This lecture is part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference hosted by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the book: The triumph of the conservative movement in reshaping American politics is one of the great untold stories of the past fifty years. At the end of World War II, hardly anyone in public life would admit to being a conservative, but as Lee Edwards shows in this magisterial work, in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, a small group of committed men and women chipped away at the liberal colossus, and their descendants would scale the ramparts of power in the 1980s and 1990s. Lee Edwards shows that the modern conservative era grew out of the words and deeds of many heroes, particularly the men he calls the Four Misters — Robert Taft (Mister Republican), Barry Goldwater (Mister Conservative), Ronald Reagan (Mister President), and Newt Gingrich (Mister Speaker). Join us as we interview Mr. Edwards about the careers of these four larger-than-life leaders who transformed the conservative movement into a political majority. About the speaker: Dr. Lee Edwards is a Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought at the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at The Heritage Foundation, and an Adjunct Professor of politics at the Catholic University of America. Edwards is a leading historian of American conservatism and author or editor of over 25 books. He was the Founding Director of the Institute of Political Journalism at Georgetown University and a Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His awards and honors include the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, the Millennium Star of Lithuania, the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia, the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy from the Republic of China (Taiwan), the John Ashbrook Award, the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award, Legend of YAF from Young America’s Foundation, and the Walter Judd Freedom Award. Edwards holds a Ph.D. in world politics from Catholic University and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Grove City College. He lives in Arlington, Va., with his wife Anne, who assists him in all his writing.
This event is part of The African Strategic Forum sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: As Sudan transitions to a more transparent, civilian rule, and democratic governance, its Sudan Sovereignty Council civilian and military leadership in Khartoum will be tested on its willingness to dismantle and reform its security sector. The process of building a strong civil society and preparing the country for elections in the next two years will be scrutinized by the global community and other regional stakeholders. This panel will discuss what steps will increase the likelihood of a successful transition and reformed security sector. About the panelist: Dr. Linda Bishai is an adjunct professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs and a Research Staff Member on the Africa Team at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). She works on a wide range of international security issues including African regional economic communities, security cooperation in Africa, and monitoring instability in central and southern Africa. She has twenty years of experience in teaching, training and writing on international law, peacebuilding and security sector reform, and preventing/countering violent extremism. In her previous positions at the American Bar Association and at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Bishai designed and delivered programs on preventing election violence in Sudan and South Sudan, civic education and higher education reform in Sudan, and women’s role in preventing violent extremism in Nigeria and Kenya. As Director of North Africa programs at USIP, Bishai facilitated dialogues on just and sustainable security sector responses to violent extremism and border security in the Sahel and the Maghreb. As Director of Research, Evaluation and Learning at the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Bishai oversaw the activities of a team of legal researchers and monitoring & evaluation professionals.Bishai has maintained an active academic profile and has taught courses in international relations, international law and human rights. Bishai holds a B.A. in history and literature from Harvard University, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and LLM in international law from the University of Stockholm, and a Ph.D. in international relations from the London School of Economics. Dr. Sarah Detzner is a consultant based in Washington, D.C. Her research and consulting work, on behalf of various governments, multilateral institutions, and think tanks and foundations, is focused on security sector reform, particularly monitoring and evaluation as well as the role of civil society and other forms of participation in post-conflict security sector reconstruction efforts. Previously, she served in the Obama administration as a speechwriter for former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, campaigned as an Obama 2008 staffer, and worked with the National Democratic Institute in Washington, D.C., Lebanon, and Jordan. She received her doctorate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and is a fellow of the World Peace Foundation. About the coordinator and moderator: Prof. Hashem Mekki, MA, has taught Arabic Language, Culture & Middle East Media at IWP since 2012. He is the owner of Bridge Language Solutions, providing an array of language translation, interpretation and teaching services to the Washington DC metropolitan area, and the founder of Kele Global, a nonprofit organization that promotes education, health, and economic empowerment in the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. He also teaches Arabic language to federal employees & professionals at the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy.
About the lecture: The rise of great power politics has resulted in a new, global competition for political influence. Alliances and partnerships are critical to expanding US influence, yet building these partnerships is challenging. This webinar will discuss the importance of these partnerships and suggest ways for the US to expand and strengthen them. About the panelists: Dr. Frank Marlo is Dean of Academics at The Institute of World Politics. He formerly served as a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He received his Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in May 2006. From January 2002 until January 2005, he served as Assistant for Counterproliferation Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy. He is the author of Planning Reagan’s War: Conservative Strategists and America’s Cold War Victory. Ambassador Philip Hughes served as the United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean from November 1990 until July 1993. Prior to this ambassadorial appointment, he served as Executive Secretary of the National Security Council during 1989 and 1990. Ambassador Hughes is currently Senior Director of the White House Writers Group in Washington, DC. Dr. Cailtin Schindler is a Research Professor at The Institute of World Politics and Adjunct Professor at Patrick Henry College. In addition to teaching, Dr. Schindler works for a U.S. Defense contractor providing subject matter expertise research and analysis to various government customers’ operations and programs. Dr. Schindler obtained a Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence from the Institute of World Politics in 2010 and completed her Ph.D. on the historical origins of U.S. public diplomacy at the University of Leeds. Dr. Schindler authored The Origins of Public Diplomacy in US Statecraft: Uncovering a Forgotten Tradition.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: After 20 years of White House National Security Strategies premised on the hope that great power competition might be mitigated by cooperation with China on counter-terrorism, financial governance or climate change, the Trump administration announced unapologetically in its 2017 National Security Strategy that the United States is in strategic competition with China. The same year the State Department introduced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy and brought back the US-Japan-Australia-India “Quad” to check Chinese expansion in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. No matter who wins the Presidency in November, these key pillars of U.S. strategy should continue. But serious changes are necessary or the strategy will fail. Over the next four years, the United States must re-invest in alliances, multilateral institutions, trade negotiations, and military deterrence or the framing of strategic competition with China will become hollow. About the speaker: Michael Jonathan Green is senior vice president for Asia and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and director of Asian Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He served on the staff of the National Security Council (NSC) from 2001 through 2005, first as director for Asian affairs with responsibility for Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, and then as special assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for Asia, with responsibility for East Asia and South Asia. Before joining the NSC staff, he was a senior fellow for East Asian security at the Council on Foreign Relations, director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center and the Foreign Policy Institute and assistant professor at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, and senior adviser on Asia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also worked in Japan on the staff of a member of the National Diet. Dr. Green is also a nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, a distinguished scholar at the Asia Pacific Institute in Tokyo, and professor by special appointment at Sophia University in Tokyo. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Aspen Strategy Group, the America Australia Leadership Dialogue, the advisory boards of Radio Free Asia and the Center for a New American Security, and the editorial boards of the Washington Quarterly and the Journal of Unification Studies in Korea. He also serves as a trustee at the Asia Foundation, senior adviser at the Asia Group, and associate of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Dr. Green has authored numerous books and articles on East Asian security, including most recently, By More Than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia Pacific Since 1783 (Columbia University Press, 2017). He received his master’s and doctoral degrees from SAIS and did additional graduate and postgraduate research at Tokyo University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Kenyon College with highest honors. He holds a black belt in Iaido (sword) and has won international prizes on the great highland bagpipe.
This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: This lecture investigates the similarities among three different revolutionary women’s liberation campaigns: the Soviet policy of hujum in Uzbekistan in the 1920s and 1930s, the Chinese Communist Party’s policies on marriage reform from 1921 until 1953, and U. S. policies and rhetoric toward Afghan and Iraqi women during the interventions in the early 2000s. It is widely recognized that women’s liberation, when subordinated to another ideological mission, almost invariably falls short of its objectives. Placing these episodes in comparison helps to demonstrate key aspects of the fateful logic of women’s liberation when pursued as a strategy for revolutionary state-building. This comparison also sheds new light on U.S. operations in the Middle East and suggests that the U.S. effort to build democracy shares with revolutionary communism the normative assumption that the disruption of traditional gender norms is one of the first and most important steps toward building a new regime. About the speaker: Dr. Emily Finley holds a PhD in Political Theory from The Catholic University of America and is currently a postdoctoral scholar in Political Science at Stanford University. Her research interests include political ideology, international relations, epistemology, religion and politics, and intellectual history.
This event is part of The African Strategic Forum sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The tension over GERD has created an impasse for the African Union on how to resolve the conflict between these three countries. Our panelists will analyze the politics in Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia around the timeline for filling the dam. The panelists will also provide insights into the prospects of a peaceful resolution and the economic benefits of this grand project may bring throughout the African continent. What role do the African Union (AU), UN, and other international mediators like the U.S. play in this case? About the panelist: Dr. Hani Sewilam is a Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources Management at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany. He is currently the Managing Director of the UNESCO Chair in Hydrological Changes and Water Resources Management at the RWTH Aachen. He is also a professor at the American University in Cairo. Hydrology, water management, desalination and sustainable development are his main areas of specializations. In Germany, his research team focuses on flood risk management and the development of innovative capacity building programme for water professionals. Dealing with water scarcity through desalination, aquaponics, hydroponics, and effective water management is the focus of his other team in Egypt. Another focus of his research is implementing the concept of Water-Energy-Food nexus at local, national and regional levels. Over the last 5 years, Sewilam co-founded an MSc program in “Sustainable Management – Water and Energy” at the RWTH Aachen in Germany and founded another M.Sc. program in “Sustainable Development” at the American University in Cairo. He has contributed significantly to the establishment of the UNESCO Chair in Hydrological Changes and Water Resources Management at the RWTH Aachen. Sewilam is the founder of the first Center for Sustainable Development in Egypt. Sewilam has been raising funds and implementing research and development projects since 2002 with universities and institutions from at least 15 Euro-Mediterranean countries. Sewilam was awarded his PhD with honor from the RWTH Aachen University in the area of water resources management and his MSc from Southampton University in the UK in the area of irrigation management. Dr. Semu Moges has a B.sc in Hydraulic Engineering, M.sc, and Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering and over 20 years of extensive experience in teaching, research, and consultancy in the area of hydrological modeling, water resources planning and management, climate change. Dr. Moges has taught in many Universities in Ethiopia and abroad. He has coordinated and been involved in many regional and national projects and programs related to the Nile basin. He was the national coordinator for the Applied Training Project of the Nile Basin Initiative. He has also been involved in many regional Nile research. He published in broad areas of river basin hydrology and water resources management. He was among the first researchers published on modeling and evaluation of the impact of GERD along with his Ph.D. students. Currently, Dr. Moges works as a consultant Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the USA. He is also affiliated in teaching and research with the University of Connecticut. He is currently pursuing research to understand the long-term interaction between the Water-Energy-Food nexus.
This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Hitherto, almost all writings about Beijing’s espionage and influence operations have focused on individual cases that shed little light on the actual nature of China’s organs of state security. Dr. Matthew Brazil will speak about how he and his co-author researched original sources in Chinese and unearthed new insights into Beijing’s most secret operations at home and abroad. About the Speaker: Matt Brazil is a non-resident Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation. He worked in Asia for over 20 years as a U.S. Army officer, American diplomat, and corporate security manager. He is the co-author of Chinese Communist Espionage: An Intelligence Primer (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, Nov 2019). More information on the book and this topic may be viewed at https://www.mattbrazil.net/. The author’s compendium of espionage terms in Chinese and photos from the world of Chinese Communist espionage may be seen at https://www.ccpintelterms.com/.
About the lecture: Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, U.S. foreign policy has been built on an assumption of hegemony and a sense of exceptionalism that allows–perhaps demands–that the U.S. can control many , if not most, of the events in the post-Cold War world. This has been the view of both major political parties, albeit from quite different perspectives. What they have either not realized or accepted is that the world is changing so rapidly and thoroughly that this American assumption is no longer valid and assuming it is so is counterproductive and even dangerous. How will the next administration approach foreign policy? Will it be able to come to grips with the new realities of the 21st century? About the speaker: Dr. Steven E. Meyer received his undergraduate degrees at the University of Wisconsin in political science and mathematics. He received his M.S. degree in Political Science from Fordham University and a PhD in comparative politics at Georgetown University. After a long career at the Central Intelligence Agency as an analyst and manager, specializing in European and Russian affairs, Dr. Meyer taught security studies, American foreign policy, Russian and European politics and environmental security. He has published many articles and contributed to several books. Currently, he is writing a book on Opportunities Lost After the Cold War. He lectures extensively in the U.S. and Europe.
About the book: The Decline of Nations takes an in-depth look at the condition of the contemporary United States and shows why Americans should be deeply concerned. It tackles controversial subjects such as immigration, political correctness, morality, religion and the rise of a new elite class. Author Joseph Johnston provides many historical examples of empires declining, including the Roman and British empires, detailing their trajectory from dominance to failure, and, in the case of Britain, subsequent re-emergence as modern day nation. Johnston delivers riveting lessons on the U.S. government viewed through the lens of excessive centralization and deterioration of the rule of law. He demonstrates the results of weak policies including the surging Progressive movement and the expanding Welfare state. In The Decline of Nations, Johnston asks important questions about diminished military capacity, a broken educational system, and the decline of American arts and culture. He questions the sustainability of the nation’s vast global commitments and shows how those commitments are threatening America’s strength and prosperity. There is no historical guarantee that the United States can sustain its economic and political dominance in the world scene. By knowing the historic patterns of the great nations and empires, there is much to be learned about America’s own destiny. About the speaker: Joseph F. Johnston, Jr., is a graduate of Princeton University and received a master’s degree in history and a law degree from Harvard University. He practiced law in New York City and Washington, D.C., was a visiting lecturer at the University of Virginia law school and is a member of the American Law Institute. He is the author of The Limits of Government, published by Regnery Gateway. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
This event is a part of IWP’s Annual Constitution Day Lecture series. About the lecture: As we celebrate the Constitution, let us reflect that it took the Civil War to make the Constitution conform to our ultimate founding document, the Declaration of Independence. Beginning with the abolition of slavery, the 13th Amendment required other radical changes as well. The triumph and the tragedy of the 13th Amendment become more vivid, as we Americans today assume the duty of perpetuating the Founders’ and Abraham Lincoln’s achievements and intentions. About the Speaker: Dr. Ken Masugi is a Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute and a Senior Contributor to the online journal of American Greatness. He is also a lecturer in Government at the Johns Hopkins University Center for American Government in Washington, DC.
This event is sponsored by The Institute of World Politics’ IAFIE Student Chapter. About the book: When Joint Special Operations Command deployed Task Force 714 to Iraq in 2003, it faced an adversary unlike any it had previously encountered: al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). AQI’s organization into multiple, independent networks and its application of Information Age technologies allowed it to wage war across a vast landscape. To meet this unique threat, TF 714 developed the intelligence capacity to operate inside those networks, and in the words of commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal, USA (Ret.) “claw the guts out of AQI.” In Transforming US Intelligence for Irregular War, Richard H. Shultz Jr. provides a broad discussion of the role of intelligence in combatting nonstate militants and revisits this moment of innovation during the Iraq War, showing how the defense and intelligence communities can adapt to new and evolving foes. Shultz tells the story of how TF 714 partnered with US intelligence agencies to dismantle AQI’s secret networks by eliminating many of its key leaders. He also reveals how TF 714 altered its methods and practices of intelligence collection, intelligence analysis, and covert paramilitary operations to suppress AQI’s growing insurgency and, ultimately, destroy its networked infrastructure.TF 714 remains an exemplar of successful organizational learning and adaptation in the midst of modern warfare. By examining its innovations, Shultz makes a compelling case for intelligence leading the way in future campaigns against nonstate armed groups. About the speaker: Richard H. Shultz, Jr. is the Lee E. Dirks Professor of International Politics at the Fletcher School, Tufts University. He teaches graduate-level courses on various aspects of international security affairs to include: the role of force in international politics; internal conflict and irregular war; special operations strategies for responding to irregular warfare challenges; origins, conduct, and termination of war; intelligence and national security; and crisis management. At the Fletcher School he also is Director of the International Security Studies Program. The ISSP prepares U.S. and international graduate students for public and private sector careers in national and international security policy. Director responsibilities include management of courses and curriculum; conferences and workshops; senior-level speaker series; the military fellows program; crisis simulation exercises; fundraising. Currently, he is Senior Fellow at the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Joint Special Operations University. Previously, in Washington, he served as director of research for the National Strategy Information Center from 2004-2012. In 2010 he completed with Roy Godson a major study focused on Adapting America’s Security Paradigm and Security Agenda to meet the challenges posed by 21st Century armed groups and the states that support them. He also completed a study on Armed Groups and Irregular Warfare: Adapting Professional Military Education, a curricular guide for military educational institutions, among other publications and reports. He has served as a security consultant to various U.S. government departments and agencies concerned with national security affairs. For the last ten years that has included as a senior fellow to the Special Operations Command’s Joint Special Operations University. As a senior fellow, he deploys abroad as a member of military education teams to teach courses on terrorism/counterterrorism, special operations integration, and asymmetric challenges to NATO to foreign military officers. This has included programs taught in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Tunisia, Morocco, Mali, Kenya, Cameroon, each of the Baltic nations, and the NATO School in Germany.
This event is sponsored by The Global Impact Discussion: US-East Asia Lecture Series. About the book: When Kim Jong Un became the leader of North Korea following his father’s death in 2011, predictions about his imminent fall were rife. North Korea was isolated, poor, unable to feed its people, and clinging to its nuclear program for legitimacy. Surely this twentysomething with a bizarre haircut and no leadership experience would soon be usurped by his elders. Instead, the opposite happened. Now in his midthirties, Kim Jong Un has solidified his grip on his country and brought the United States and the region to the brink of war. Still, we know so little about him—or how he rules. Enter former CIA analyst Jung Pak, whose brilliant Brookings Institution essay “The Education of Kim Jong Un” cemented her status as the go-to authority on the calculating young leader. From the beginning of Kim’s reign, Pak has been at the forefront of shaping U.S. policy on North Korea and providing strategic assessments for leadership at the highest levels in the government. Now, in this masterly book, she traces and explains Kim’s ascent on the world stage, from his brutal power-consolidating purges to his abrupt pivot toward diplomatic engagement that led to his historic—and still poorly understood—summits with President Trump. She also sheds light on how a top intelligence analyst assesses thorny national security problems: avoiding biases, questioning assumptions, and identifying risks as well as opportunities. In piecing together Kim’s wholly unique life, Pak argues that his personality, perceptions, and preferences are underestimated by Washington policy wonks, who assume he sees the world as they do. As the North Korean nuclear threat grows, Becoming Kim Jong Un gives readers the first authoritative, behind-the-scenes look at Kim’s character and motivations, creating an insightful biography of the enigmatic man who could rule the hermit kingdom for decades—and has already left an indelible imprint on world history. About the speaker: Dr. Jung H. Pak is a senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at the Brookings Institution. Prior to Brookings, she held senior positions at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where she led the U.S. Intelligence Community’s strategic analysis of North Korea as the Deputy National Intelligence Officer. Dr. Pak is the author of Becoming Kim Jong Un (April 2020), which traces and explains Kim’s ascent to the world stage and draws from her deep knowledge and experience as an intelligence officer. Dr. Pak is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Colgate University, where she served as a trustee from 2009-2015. She received her PhD in United States history from Columbia University and studied in South Korea as a Fulbright scholar.
About the lecture: The lecture focuses on the human atrocities prevalent in North Korea. It begins with a review of how the world has dealt with post-WWII human rights violations through institutional mechanisms such as International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (together known as the International Bill of Human Rights). It will then shift to discuss how the Kim regimes have successfully flew under the radar despite perpetrating some of the worst cases of human rights violations. The 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report identified the situation as amounting to ‘crimes against humanity’. The COI report concluded that the violations unparalleled in breadth, atrocity, and seriousness provided a lawful foundation to prosecute violators, including the Kim leadership. To date, unfortunately, the recommendations have not yet been followed up. The lecture will examine the breadth of the problems at hand and why the peninsular and regional political dynamics have prevented progress. About the speaker: Jung-Hoon Lee is Dean and Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University. He is formerly ROK government’s Ambassador for Human Rights as well as its inaugural Ambassador-at-Large for North Korean Human Rights.
Full Title: Deal of the Decade: How the United States Should Handle Afghanistan in the Era of the Taliban Peace Talks About the Lecture: This presentation will start on a brief history of the Taliban, focusing on a post 9/11 world. It will highlight the current Afghanistan environment and the actors involved in the peace talks: the US, the Taliban, and the Afghani Government. The presentation will also cover future possibilities of US-Afghan relations, the different scenarios that may pan out depending on how the Afghani Government and Taliban peace talks go, and the potential ways the US could counter the Taliban now that US troops are leaving Afghanistan, and in so doing strengthening Afghanistan infrastructure. About the Speaker: Caroline Hickey is from Massachusetts and graduated in 2018 from Knox College in Illinois, where she self-designed her major in Middle Eastern & North African Studies. Caroline is continuing her education at IWP where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Statecraft and International Affairs and continuing her interest in the Middle East by focusing on Iraq and Afghanistan as well as learning Arabic.
About the Lecture: This seminar aims to expound on the impact of globalization on US public diplomacy, emphasizing Sports, Entertainment, and Culture. These three mediums, combined with the popularity of social media, continue to spread all American ideals across the globe, opening needed conversations and policies on how best the US can maximize its perception and influence as it continues to safeguard its national interests. About the Speaker: Ms. Gor is a student at The Institute of World Politics, pursuing her M.A in Statecraft and International Affairs; formerly part of the directing team that led the inaugural Global Wellness Day- Kenya 2019 celebrations.
About the Lecture: The strategic initiative of China’s leadership to harness an unprecedented influx of wealth from the West to re-establish historical land and sea trade routes is a bold and ambitious effort to cement China’s burgeoning position as the center of global trade in its increasingly unveiled quest for global hegemony which, if successful, will invariably lead it on a collision course with US National Security priorities. About the Speaker: Jared K. Martin is an IWP graduate with an M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs with a research background in the impact of China’s rapidly expanding role in global affairs on US national security priorities.
About the lecture: There are opportunities and challenges in Angola and Mozambique to reform the electoral processes. What role can the local stakeholders and USG play to pave the way for a more transparent electoral process? About the coordinator and moderator: Prof. Hashem Mekki, MA, has taught Arabic Language, Culture & Middle East Media at IWP since 2012. He is the owner of Bridge Language Solutions, providing an array of language translation, interpretation and teaching services to the Washington DC metropolitan area, and the founder of Kele Global, a nonprofit organization that promotes education, health, and economic empowerment in the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. He also teaches Arabic language to federal employees & professionals at the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy. Mr. Mekki volunteers with the IWP Center for Human Rights and International Affairs by providing Arabic translations & strategic cultural perspectives on North Africa and Middle East. He holds Bachelors degrees in both Political Science and International Studies from the City College of New York, and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies and International Politics from IWP. About the panelist: Martina Perino is the Program Manager for the Great Lakes and Southern Africa at the International Republican Institute. Originally from Mozambique and Italy, she has 10 years of democracy and governance experience in Mozambique, DR Congo, Zambia, and Kosovo. In Zambia, she was the Governance and Social sectors Program Manager at the European Union Delegation. There Ms. Perino designed and managed the electoral support project, an Access to Justice project and worked closely with local CSOs and other donors for human rights issues and local governance. In 2017 she joined USAID/Kosovo as the Democracy and Governance Strategic Planning Specialist where, among other tasks, she designed several projects including a local governance and conflict mitigation project, PVE project, media strengthening project, political party and legislative strengthening. Ms. Perino has been an election observer in Mozambique, DR Congo, Zambia, Kosovo, and Albania. Ms. Perino holds a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and a Master’s in International Development. Florindo Chivucute is the founder and Executive Director of Friends of Angola (FoA), and Radio Angola (an online radio station), activist, blogger and digital media specialist. Florindo earned his Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and has over 5 years of experience working in non-profit organizations, international development, international relations, peacebuilding, and education while being active in the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) in the United States. Since founding Friends of Angola in April 2014, he has led the design and implementation of four projects in Angola: Radio Angola (an online radio station hosted by Florindo); Strengthening Nonviolent Civic Engagement Among the Youth; Strengthening Democracy in Angola Through Community Journalism; Zuela Application – a pro-democracy and social networking smartphone app focused on fostering good governance, eradicating corruption, monitoring elections and human right violations and more. All projects were envisioned as part of a larger theory of change (ToC) to strengthen the capacity of civil society, empower women and youth while promoting nonviolent civic engagement by using new and existing technologies in Angola and the South-Western African Region. These projects were funded by The National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
About the interview: Dr. John Tierney, IWP professor, spoke with IWP about world order. He discussed the the history of polarity, U.S. interest in world order, and what the future could hold in this regard. About the speaker: Dr. John Tierney is a Professor Emeritus at The Institute of World Politics and teaches History of American Foreign Policy, History of International Relations, Peace, Strategy and Conflict Resolution, and U.S. Foreign Policy: Current and Future Challenges. Dr. Tierney is a Former Special Assistant and Foreign Affairs Officer for the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (1981-1993); He formerly participated in various national security negotiations for the U.S. Government. He was Executive Director of the Congressional Caucus on National Defense and the National Security Research Group, U.S. House of Representatives. He is former Chairman of the Politics Department at Catholic University and former Professor of International Relations at University of Virginia and The Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of Chasing Ghosts and The Politics of Peace.
About the book: The book compiles for the first time corroborative primary sources in English, Russian, French, German, Finnish, Italian, Japanese, Latvian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. The result is the most comprehensive list of Soviet intelligence officer defectors to date. Through the eyes of those officers, it shows the fluctuations in the Soviet recruitment and vetting of personnel for sensitive national security positions, corresponding with fluctuations in the stability of the Soviet government. It also shows the evolution of Soviet threat perceptions and the development of the “main enemy” concept in the Soviet national security system. About the Speaker: Dr. Kevin P. Riehle is an associate professor at the National Intelligence University. He has spent over 28 years in the U.S. government as a counterintelligence analyst studying foreign intelligence services. He received a Ph.D. in War Studies from King’s College London, an MS in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College, and a BA in Russian and Political Science from Brigham Young University. He has written on a variety of intelligence and counterintelligence topics, focusing on the history of Soviet and Eastern Bloc intelligence services.
This event is part of the Student Speaker Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The classical definition of acting is ‘living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.’ Contrary to the common perception that acting is ‘pretending,’ the working process of actors (as well as of directors and writers) is an exploratory journey to revealing the truth of every moment, the sum of which must build a narrative that connects to and transforms the audience. This webinar lecture will highlight several functional aspects of an actor’s craft that are also pertinent to the national security practitioner and policymaker: training to truly listen, attaching action to words, using the ‘what if’ to create and to foresee possible scenarios, choreographing the sequence of actions and meanings to achieve a scenario objective with maximum impact, and more. It is the hope of the presenter that some of these elements of an actor’s craft can add value to the existing toolbox of the national security professionals who aim to ‘live and operate truthfully under real circumstances’ in which they deal with real domestic and international ‘actors.’ More importantly, the lecture will discuss the critical element achieved through the study of acting without which all pursuits are bound to be less than fully effective: knowing oneself. About the speaker: Sebastian is currently Creative & Executive Director of Dacian Wolf Productions, a stage and film development, and production company, where he actively writes, directs, and produces. A former Lecturing Professor of Acting and Movement at Pace University, NYC, he holds a BFA in Dance & Theater, an MBA in Accounting, a Certificate of Completion of the Two-Year Professional Acting Program at the William Esper Studio, NYC, and a candidate for the MA in Statecraft and National Security Affairs at IWP. Since arriving in the United States from his native Bucharest, Romania in 1982, Sebastian has toured with the internationally acclaimed Pilobolus Dance Theatre and has taught movement, acting, and choreography workshops in Romania, Russia, Korea, Japan, Italy, Chile, Argentina, as well as at many US universities. His current interests revolve around projects dealing with disinformation and narrative warfare. For more information, please visit www.sebastiantudores.com
This event is part of the Winning without War series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Despite suffering repeated setbacks in recent years, Islamic extremism or more specifically, totalitarian Islamism, and the terrorism it spawns, remains a major threat to the United States and its allies. While there will always be a need for the selective use of military power to counter this threat, effectively addressing it requires non-military tools of statecraft. This webinar will discuss how the United States and its international partners can better use these tools to win the fight against terrorism without over-reliance on combat operations About the speakers: Dr. Christopher C. Harmon has been publishing terrorism studies for over 35 years. His works include two editions of the graduate-level text Terrorism Today (2000; 2007) essays on counterterrorism in the geopolitics journal Orbis, and a volume on terrorist propaganda for The Brookings Institution (2018). Dr. Harmon has lectured in some 15 countries and has taught at The Institute of World Politics and other graduate schools, civilian and military. He holds a Bren Chair at Marine Corps University and the Marine Corps University Foundation. Dr. Douglas E. Streusand is a Professor of International Relations at the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College and Adjunct Professor at The Institute of World Politics. Educated as an Islamic historian, he has pursued a broad range of teaching and research interests, historical and contemporary He has written two books, The Formation of the Mughal Empire and Islamic Gunpowder Empires: Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals and edited a third, The Grand Strategy that Won the Cold War: Architecture of Triumph and numerous articles and book chapters.
About the lecture: Charlie Chaplin, Daffy Duck, Dr. Seuss, Team America, and Winnie-the-Pooh have entertained audiences using humor. What is perhaps less known about these entertainers is how their humor and images have been used to denigrate and ridicule dictators and authoritarian regimes. When thinking about propaganda and mass influence, humor and ridicule do not often come to mind. However, humor and ridicule are powerful tools of influence and can be used to encourage opposition to authoritarian rule. This talk will explore what makes humor and ridicule such effective tools of influence and why authoritarian regimes fear ridicule so much. About the speaker: Dr. Schindler is a Research Professor at The Institute of World Politics and Adjunct Professor at Patrick Henry College. In addition to teaching, Dr. Schindler works for a U.S. Defense contractor providing subject matter expertise research and analysis to various government customers’ operations and programs. Dr. Schindler obtained a Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence from the Institute of World Politics in 2010 and completed her Ph.D. on the historical origins of U.S. public diplomacy at the University of Leeds. Dr. Schindler authored The Origins of Public Diplomacy in US Statecraft: Uncovering a Forgotten Tradition, published by Palgrave Macmillan. Dr. Schindler’s current research is focused on the origins and evolution of Russian political warfare.
About the lecture: In 1915 Germany's successful offensive in the east resulted in the occupation of the Western chunk of the Russian Empire, a swath of land between the Baltic and Black Seas. We refer to it as the Intermarium, and it is essentially coterminous with the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Germans shared their conquest with their junior partners, the Austrians. Both made sure not to include the captured lands into their own partitions of Poland. Instead, they kept them apart as the so-called Polish Kingdom and, further east, the Ober Ost. In the former, the Germans favored the Poles; in the latter, they advantaged the Lithuanians, Belarusians, and Jews. In neither place did the occupiers agree to serious political concessions; they permitted local autonomy at best. It was a classical divide et impera situation. The main objective of Berlin (which by 1918 totally dominated its Viennese partner) was to gain a permanent geopolitical advantage and to exploit the area's economy and labor. The Second Reich pursued a similar policy toward Ukraine when it expanded there in the wake of Brest Litovsk in February 1918. Ultimately, however, Germany's plans collapsed as a result of its defeat on the Western Front. About the speaker: About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
About the lecture: Since 1972, the nuclear disarmament community —led by major self-described arms control organizations— hasn’t supported any serious nuclear arms control ideas. They’ve supported dangerous ideas such as the nuclear freeze, opposed American strategic nuclear and missile defense modernization efforts, and denounced the most revolutionary and beneficial agreements such as INF, Start 1, and 2. Nearly 50 years after the SALT 1 nuclear agreement, it has become increasingly difficult to secure genuine and verifiable nuclear agreements such as Start 1 and INF. The United States has entered into nuclear deals with Iran, North Korea, and Russia that do little to improve America’s security. In many respects, the global zero campaign has significantly distorted the debate on nuclear security issues. America’s enemies are increasingly expanding their nuclear arsenals and adopting strategies of using nuclear weapons for coercive and hegemonic objectives. A growing narrative among the media, academia, and some politicians is that nuclear arms control is on the ropes. That’s true, but the reason is not the Trump administration, it is the fault of the US disarmament community and global zero advocates that have effectively killed arms control and repeatedly pushed the USA into bad nuclear deals. About the speaker: Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis, founded in 1981, and since 2016, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute on Aerospace Studies. He was the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011 Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 45 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities while monitoring budget and policy developments on terrorism, counter-terrorism, immigration, state-sponsored terrorism, missile defense, weapons of mass destruction, especially US-Israeli joint defense efforts, nuclear deterrence, arms control, proliferation, as well as tactical and strategic air, airlift, space and nuclear matters and such state and non-state actors as North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. This also includes monitoring activities of think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and other US government departments, as well as projecting future actions of Congress in this area. His specialty is developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. He is on the Board of the InSeries Theater in Washington; EMPACT, the organization devoted to protecting the US from EMP threats; and MTA, the Maryland Taxpayers Association. He authored legislation calling for the divestment of US pensions from any company doing business with Iran and testified before a number of state legislatures on this subject and on counter-terror policy, including whether or not drivers licenses should be made available to those illegally in the US. He is also a member of Secure American Energy, an organization devoted to breaking the back of OPEC and providing the US with American sources of energy. He has lectured around the world and across the USA on nuclear terrorism, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, homeland security, counter-terrorism policy, and strategic threats to the US and its allies.
This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Ambassador Nersesyan will present the developments following the Azerbaijani attacks on the Tavush Region of Armenia on July 12th, and the political and military response of Armenia. The Ambassador will also reflect on the role of Turkey in the recent escalation and its ramifications on the Karabakh Peace Process, and overall regional developments. The reaction of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and in particular, the USA will be discussed as well. About the Speaker: His Excellency Varuzhan Nersesyan is a career diplomat. He was appointed to the post of Ambassador of Armenia to the USA in 2018. Prior to that, his most recent professional experience included serving as Assistant to the Prime Minister of Armenia, and from 2012 to 2018 – Assistant to the President of the Republic of Armenia. His Excellency holds two Master’s Degrees in International Affairs from Yerevan State University, and The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. In addition to his native Armenian, Ambassador Nersesyan is fluent in English, German, and Russian. Please note that that the information for this lecture, including the description, reflects the views of the speaker and not necessarily the views of The Institute of World Politics. In addition, the views expressed by our faculty, research fellows, students, alumni, and guest lecturers do not necessarily reflect the views of The Institute of World Politics.
This lecture is part of the 10th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: Reinstatement of political relations between the Polish government-in-exile and the Soviet government in July 1941 resulted in so-called amnesty for the Polish citizens deported to USSR between 1940 and 1941. The lecture will discuss the circumstances accompanying the evacuation of Polish children-deportees from the USSR as a part of the so-called General Anders' Army. About the speaker: Mrs. Maria Juczewska is a communication specialist with versatile international experience. Her education in linguistics, culture studies, and international affairs, combined with years of living abroad, makes her point of view unique and comprehensive. Mrs. Juczewska has worked for the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies since 2014. In her scholarly work, she is especially interested in propaganda.
This lecture is a part of our 10th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel. This event is sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: Dr. Chodakiewicz is going to discuss the nature of the political movements and ideological developments in White Ruthenia in the aftermath of World War I. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics and leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
This event is part of the 10th Annual Kościuszko Chair Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka Rosenstiel sponsored by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture: The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s small armies, based around a seemingly outmoded form of heavy cavalry, Winged Hussars, were able to hold their own against numerically superior foes, including those using tactics and weapons designed specifically to defeat such cavalry for more than two hundred years. This lecture discusses how armies of the Commonwealth and their commanders successfully used a combination of troops and tactics to “shape the battlefield” and overcome superior enemy forces time and again. About the speaker: Dr. John Radzilowski has taught history, art history, and geography at University of Alaska Southeast on the Ketchikan campus since 2007. Prior to moving to Alaska, he taught history courses at the University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, and Anoka-Ramsey College in Minnesota. Dr. Radzilowski also served as assistant project director at Center for Nations in Transition, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota where he helped design and administer USAID and State Department-sponsored training programs for business, economics, and political science faculty and NGO leaders in Ukraine and east central Europe. Dr. Radzilowski’s research and teaching interests are wide-ranging and diverse: immigration and ethnicity, military history, war and genocide, the impact of technology on the history and geography of the Great Plains and Midwest, local and regional studies, and the history of Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and central and eastern Europe.
About the lecture: Buoyed by the victory in the east sealed by the Treaty of Brest Litovsk in March 1918, Germany and her allies scrambled to transfer their forces to deliver a decisive blow on the Western front. Unfortunately for them the United States came to the rescue. America's intervention reversed the fortunes of war. By August 1918, the Second Reich suffered its first serious reversal. In September, Germany was retreating in the west and collapsing at home, where mutiny and revolution pushed Berlin to its knees. The Germans thus sought an armistice. Against the advice of the American military leaders, who called for an unconditional surrender, the rest of the Allied, in particular liberal prime minister David Lloyd George, agreed. This was a lethal mistake. By failing to defeat Germany decisively, the Armistice paved the way to the Second World War. About the speaker: Dr. Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy.He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the lecture: In this lecture, Dr. Sara Vakhshouri will discuss the fundamentals and changes in the energy market, and Mr. C. Derek Campbell will talk about physical security of energy infrastructure and cyber security. This lecture will cover themes from Dr. Vakhshouri’s IWP course on “Energy Security and the New Geopolitics of Energy.” The course focuses on the transformation of energy use over the past century and on expanding our understanding of today’s concepts of energy and how they fit within the rubric of national security. About the Speakers: C. Derek Campbell is the Chief Executive Officer of Energy & Natural Resource Security, Inc., an international security company providing “best-inclass” physical and cyber risk mitigation solutions for Critical Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resource assets. In this role, he leads the strategic engagements of the company and directs the development of all market entry strategies. In the public sector, during 2016, Derek served as a Special Security Advisor for the U.S. Special Envoy’s Office on South Sudan, where he lead the South Sudanese Ministry of Interior in the development and implementation of the Joint Operations Center(JOC) which is charged with de-militarizing and establishing police primacy for security in the capital city of Juba, South Sudan. As a United States Marine Officer, Derek served as the Marine Liaison Officer to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) where he oversaw all Marine Corps Counter-Threat initiatives: CounterDrone/Counter-UAS, Counter-IED, Counter-Tunnel and the like from 2016 to 2019. From 2014 to 2015, Derek served as the Chief of Military Plans for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – a Chapter VII Peace Enforcement Mission. Derek is a regular on the international Oil & Gas/Energy speaking circuit speaking as an authority on topics such as Energy Security and the Extractive Industry geo-political and market dynamics in Africa. Dr. Sara Vakhshouri is founder and president of SVB Energy International, a strategic energy consulting firm with offices in Washington DC and Dubai. Dr. Vakhshouri has about two decades of experience of working in the energy industry with an extensive experience in global energy market studies, energy strategy, energy security and geopolitical risk. She has consulted numerous governments, public and private entities, and international organizations like IMF & World Bank. She is also member of the Energy Task Force of the Cyprus Climate Initiative which was launched and initiated by the President of the Republic of Cyprus. She is also Professor of Energy Security at the Institute of World Politics. Dr. Vakhshouri has been a keynote speaker at prestigious energy conferences including the World Energy Congress, Chatham House Middle East & Energy Conference, Platts Oil and Middle East conferences and the Global LNG Congress. She has also been a keynote speaker at Duke University, Sciences Po university in Paris and Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Vakhshouri is frequently quoted and has appeared on Bloomberg, the BBC, The Financial Times, Reuters, Platts, The Wall Street Journal, Energy Intelligence, Foreign Policy, The Washington Post and Voice of America. She is the author of The Marketing and Sale of Iranian Export Crude Oil since the Islamic Revolution. Dr. Vakhshouri has a PhD in Energy Security and Middle Eastern Studies. She has an MA in Business Management (International Marketing) and another MA in International Relations. She has been a Senior Energy Fellow at the Atlantic Council and at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Dr. Vakhshouri has also experience of working in both public and private sectors of the Iranian energy industry.
About the lecture: With the pandemic receding in much of the world, government and business leaders are starting to think about the geopolitical and geoeconomic impact of the crisis. In this webinar, Dr. Glancy will discuss his assessment of how the international environment and great power relations will likely change over the next 2 to 5 years in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Participants in the session will also take away a framework for putting unfolding events into a better context going forward. About the Speaker: Dr. David Glancy, currently a Professor of Strategy and Statecraft at IWP, formerly served as an Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked on education technology issues with National Intelligence University. Prior to joining NIU, Dr. Glancy served as an Assistant Professor (contractor) with the College of International Security Affairs (CISA) at National Defense University. Before being assigned to CISA, Dr. Glancy provided advice on strategic communications issues to a variety of government clients for Booz Allen Hamilton. Dr. David Glancy has also held positions at both the State Department and Defense Department. At the State Department, he served as a Senior Advisor for Political-Military Affairs and was responsible for handling a number of high-profile issues (coalition political-military efforts in Iraq, issues related to our global military posture, piracy off the coast of Somalia). At the Defense Department, Dr. Glancy was a policy analyst and advisor with the Office of the Secretary of Defense. During his time at the Pentagon, Dr. Glancy served as the Director of the Global War on Terrorism Communications Group and worked as a special assistant with the Eurasia policy office.
This event is part of The Cyber Intelligence Initiative Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: A discussion of the challenges presented by the increasingly complex environment created when cyber, information, and intelligence operations overlap and collide. This presentation will explore case studies where the lines between various concepts become blurred, complicating the response and implications. Specifically, we will explore recent items of interest from the increasingly contentious relationship between the US, Russia, and China. How will leaders and managers operative effectively in this environment? What are the important aspects of decision-making in these situations? Why is it even important to get a handle on these dynamics? About the speaker: Jason Atwell is a Specialist Master and Manager with Deloitte’s Government and Public Sector Cyber Risk Advisory practice and an intelligence officer in the US Army Reserve. Over the last few years, he has served as a senior advisor to the CIOs of the US House of Representatives, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health helping to navigate the increasingly complex cyber threat environment. During his career he has been a key member of military and civilian staffs conducting civil-military operations in Baghdad, solving complex geospatial problems for the DIA, and working to counter foreign intelligence and influence operations at the US Department of State. He has lectured on Russian information operations at the National Defense University, Iranian use of social media as an enabler at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and cyber threats to supply chains at the Joint Counterintelligence Training Center. His education includes a Master’s degree in English Literature from American University and a fellowship in cyber leadership from Yale. He is also a graduate of both the US Army Intelligence School and John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and completed coursework at the National Intelligence University.
This event is part of the China Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Dr. Tara O will discuss China’s influence in South Korea, including its extensive Belt and Road Initiative and nearly 30 Chinatowns throughout the country. She will also discuss the implications for South Korean national security. About the speaker: Dr. Tara O is the founder of the East Asia Research Center. She has worked at the Pentagon and the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command as a U.S. Air Force officer focusing on East Asia issues. Her research areas include national security, alliance, human rights in North Korea, defectors, unification, and political and economic systems.
About the book: The dramatic, untold story of one of the CIA’s most successful Cold War intelligence operations. December, 1981—the CIA receives word that the Polish government has cut telephone communications with the West and closed the Polish border. The agency’s leaders quickly inform President Ronald Reagan, who is enjoying a serene weekend at Camp David. Within hours, Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski has appeared on Polish national television to announce the establishment of martial law. A new era in Cold War politics has begun: Washington and Moscow are on a collision course. In this gripping narrative history, Seth G. Jones reveals the little-known story of the CIA’s subsequent operations in Poland, which produced a landmark victory for democracy during the Cold War. While the Soviet-backed Polish government worked to crush a budding liberal opposition movement, the CIA began a sophisticated intelligence campaign, code-named QRHELPFUL, that supported dissident groups. The most powerful of these groups was Solidarity, a trade union that swelled to a membership of ten million and became one of the first legitimate anti-Communist opposition movements in Eastern Europe. With President Reagan’s support, the CIA provided money that helped Solidarity print newspapers, broadcast radio programs, and conduct a wide-ranging information warfare campaign against the Soviet-backed government. QRHELPFUL proved vital in establishing a free and democratic Poland. Long overlooked by CIA historians and Reagan biographers, the story of QRHELPFUL features an extraordinary cast of characters—including spymaster Bill Casey, CIA officer Richard Malzahn, Polish-speaking CIA case officer Celia Larkin, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, and Pope John Paul II. Based on in-depth interviews and recently declassified evidence, A Covert Action celebrates a decisive victory over tyranny for U.S. intelligence behind the Iron Curtain, one that prefigured the Soviet collapse. About the speaker: Seth G. Jones holds the Harold Brown Chair, is director of the Transnational Threats Project, and is a senior adviser to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He teaches at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Prior to joining CSIS, Dr. Jones was the director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. He also served as representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Before that, he was a plans officer and adviser to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan). In 2014, Dr. Jones served on a congressionally mandated panel that reviewed the FBI’s implementation of counterterrorism recommendations contained in the 9/11 Commission Report. Dr. Jones specializes in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, and covert action, including a focus on al Qaeda and ISIS. He is the author of A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland (W.W. Norton, 2018), Waging Insurgent Warfare (Oxford University Press, 2016), Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of al Qa’ida after 9/11 (W.W. Norton, 2012), and In the Graveyard of Empires: America’s War in Afghanistan (W.W. Norton, 2009). Dr. Jones has published articles in a range of journals, such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and International Security, as well as newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Bowdoin College and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
This event is part of The China Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Dr. Spalding will discuss the origins of the pandemic, implications for US-China economic and other relations, and the state of play in 5G. About the speaker: Dr. Rob Spalding is a national security policy strategist, and globally recognized for his knowledge of Chinese economic competition and influence, as well as for his ability to forecast global trends and develop innovative solutions. He has served in senior positions of strategy and diplomacy within the Defense and State Departments for more than 26 years, retiring as brigadier general. He was the chief architect for the Trump Administration’s widely praised National Security Strategy (NSS), and the Senior Director for Strategy to the President at the National Security Council. Dr. Spalding has written extensively on national security matters. His book, STEALTH WAR: HOW CHINA TOOK OVER WHILE AMERICA’S ELITE SLEPT (Portfolio; 2019) is an executive summary of his almost decade-long work countering Chinese Communist Party influence. It has been translated into additional languages. His academic papers and editorial work are frequently published and cited, both nationally and internationally. His Air Power Journal article on America’s Two Air Forces is frequently used in the West Point curriculum. He has been interviewed about the economy and national security on FOX News, BBC, OAN and CNBC, as well as numerous radio and YouTube channels, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Spalding is a skilled combat leader and a seasoned diplomat. Under Dr. Spalding’s leadership, the 509th Operations Group—the nation’s only B-2 Stealth Bomber unit—experienced unprecedented technological and operational advances. Dr. Spalding’s demonstrated acumen for solving complex technological issues to achieve operational success was demonstrated when he led a low-cost rapid-integration project for a secure global communications capability in the B-2, achieving tremendous results at almost no cost to the government. As commander, he led forces in the air and on the ground in Libya and Iraq. He is a former China strategist for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, as well as having served as the senior defense official and defense attaché in Beijing. During the UUV Incident of 2016, Dr. Spalding averted a diplomatic crisis by negotiating with the Chinese PLA for the return of the UUV, without the aid of a translator. Dr. Spalding’s relationship with business leaders, fostered during his time as a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, allowed him to recommend pragmatic solutions to complex foreign policy and national security issues, now driving positive economic outcomes for the nation. Dr. Spalding’s groundbreaking work on competition in Secure 5G has reset the global environment for the next phase of the information age. Dr. Spalding is an Olmsted Scholar, a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C., as well as a Senior Associate Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society of London. He has lectured globally, including engagements at European Cybersec 2019, KAS-ASPI, the Naval War College, National Defense University, Air War College, Columbia University, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and other Professional Military Educational institutions. Dr. Spalding holds a doctorate in economics and mathematics from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He was a distinguished graduate of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey and speaks both Chinese Mandarin and Spanish
About the lecture: An ephemeral victory for Germany, the Treaty of Brest Litovsk was the first international conference ostensibly appealing to the ideal of national self-determination. It reduced Bolshevik-controlled Russia to the size of its medieval Muscovite predecessor; it also theoretically recognized Ukraine as an independent state, while vassalizing it in practice. The Treaty laid the ground for Germany's domination in the Intermarium. However, its promise soon dissipated as Berlin lost the war to Western Allies, the United States in particular. About the speaker: Dr. Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the interview: Mr. Tobias Brandt, a Brent Scowcroft Award Fellow at the Aspen Strategy Group and IWP alumnus, spoke with IWP about the importance of countering ideological support for terrorism; the narratives used by militant Islamists in their propaganda efforts; the best arguments we can make against terrorist propaganda; and why this topic is important today. About the speaker: Tobias Brandt is a Brent Scowcroft Award Fellow at the Aspen Strategy Group, a policy program of the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. He recently completed his Master’s Degree in Statecraft and International Affairs at the Institute of World Politics, graduating as Salutatorian of the class of 2019. Throughout his studies, Mr. Brandt specialized in U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East, terrorism, and the transatlantic relationship. In his final semester at IWP, he wrote an Honors Thesis on “Pushing Back Terrorist Propaganda and Countering Ideological Support for Militant Islamism.” Originally from Germany, Mr. Brandt received a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Hamburg, where his studies focused on al-Qaida’s propaganda strategy. Our conversation today deals with the topic of his Honors Thesis – counter-terrorist messaging strategy.
This event is part of The Cyber Intelligence Initiative Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: Dr. Hwang will introduce China’s cyber strategy and discuss how China views cyberspace as a battleground. He’ll then discuss Taiwan’s cybersecurity environment against attacks. About the speaker: Dr. Ji-Jen (Joseph) Hwang is a Research Scholar at the Institute for East Asian Studies at UC Berkeley. Prior to that, he was a Professor & Program Director of the International Master Program in Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in R.O.C. Taiwan. Dr. Hwang has been a visiting fellow with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. He also conducted an internship in the Library of Congress while doing his Master course. A native of Taiwan, he holds a Ph.D. in politics from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the U.K., as well as a Masters in Library Science & Information Studies from the University of North Carolina. He has been working as a volunteer for a think tank based non-profit in the Washington D.C. area as a Deputy Managing Director since April 2018. Lately, his research is focused on the relations between the U.S., China, and Taiwan, in which he particularly focuses on social media and how its features in cyberspace have political impacts on the relations between the countries. He is an expert in the area and been invited as a special lecturer by CSIS, ASPI, NATO, GlobalSec, and INSS.
The Ninth Annual Ronald Reagan Intelligence Lecture About the lecture: Reagan’s efforts against the Cold War resulted in tremendous global change and the collapse of the Cold War Super Powers bi-polar power structure; including an intense paradigm shift and challenge for Indications & Warning (I&W) intelligence. Traditional Indications and Warning Intelligence – an exact and highly effective analytic method for the Cold War era and before – suddenly entered ‘identity crisis,’ as both the Intelligence Community and its policy-maker customer sought to identify the way forward for forecasting National Security threats in the changing world. Professor Almont will speak on the history, academic theory(ies), and methodological approach to managing the analysis and forecasting challenge of Non-Nation State, National Security Threat Violence in the changed world AFTER Reagan’s Cold War success. About the speaker: IWP Adjunct Professor, Darlene Almont, is a former U.S. Air Force Major with over 30 years of experience in the intelligence community. She is an Assistant Professor at the Director of National Intelligence (DNI)/Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) National Intelligence University (NIU), the U.S. government’s accredited master’s degree-granting institution; teaching Strategic Intelligence courses at the Top Secret level.
Focus: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, radical Islamism, and a global pandemic. Never has the United States faced so many external threats, each of which requires a full-range strategy – both hard and soft power- in order to preserve our freedom and prosperity while avoiding unnecessary armed conflict. At the same time, it is critical to build internal consensus based on our values and history. How can we ensure our military, State Department, Intelligence professionals, executive branch, and congressional leaders are prepared to deal with these complex challenges in the most prudent and effective manner? About the Panelists: Dr. John Lenczowski served in the State Department in the Bureau of European Affairs and as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs Lawrence Eagleburger from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1987, he was the Director of European and Soviet Affairs at the National Security Council. In that capacity, he was principal Soviet affairs adviser to President Reagan and one of the architects of the national strategy to bring down the Soviet empire. After teaching at Georgetown University, Dr. Lenczowski founded The Institute of World Politics, a non-profit graduate school of national security, intelligence, and international affairs in 1990 and currently serves as its President. He is the author of Full Spectrum Diplomacy and Grand Strategy. He has been consulting with the National Security Council, the State Department and the Defense Department on the China threat, U.S. strategy towards China, human rights, public diplomacy, and a general national security strategy of “winning without war.” Dr. Frank Marlo is Dean of Academics at The Institute of World Politics. He formerly served as a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He received his Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in May 2006. From January 2002 until January 2005, he served as Assistant for Counterproliferation Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy. He is the author of Planning Reagan’s War: Conservative Strategists and America’s Cold War Victory Dr. David Glancy, currently a Professor of Strategy and Statecraft at IWP, formerly served as an Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked on education technology issues with National Intelligence University. Prior to joining NIU, Dr. Glancy served as an Assistant Professor (contractor) with the College of International Security Affairs (CISA) at National Defense University. Before being assigned to CISA, Dr. Glancy provided advice on strategic communications issues to a variety of government clients for Booz Allen Hamilton. Dr. David Glancy has also held positions at both the State Department and Defense Department. At the State Department, he served as a Senior Advisor for Political-Military Affairs and was responsible for handling a number of high-profile issues (coalition political-military efforts in Iraq, issues related to our global military posture, piracy off the coast of Somalia). At the Defense Department, Dr. Glancy was a policy analyst and advisor with the Office of the Secretary of Defense. During his time at the Pentagon, Dr. Glancy served as the Director of the Global War on Terrorism Communications Group and worked as a special assistant with the Eurasia policy office. About the Moderator: Mr. Michael C. Maibach is a seasoned professional in global business diplomacy, advisor to non-profits, supporter of civic causes. From 2003-2012 he was President & CEO of the European-American Business Council, a group of 75 multinational companies. From 1983 to 2001 Mr. Maibach was Vice President of Global Government Affairs for the Intel Corporation. Today he is a Distinguished Fellow at Save Our States, focused on defending the Founders’ Electoral College.
About the lecture: Thirty years ago last fall we celebrated the fall of the Berlin wall. Many thought this represented the end of history–capitalism had won and socialism had been swept into the dustbin. Today, we see that a growing segment of the American population favors “democratic socialism” and we see American members of Congress who proudly claim this ideology. We will discuss how we have gotten here and why Democratic Socialism can’t work both on economic grounds and moral grounds. About the speaker: Dr. Anne Rathbone Bradley is the George and Sally Mayer Fellow for Economic Education and the academic director at The Fund for American Studies. Through this position, Dr. Bradley works to enhance the impact and reach of TFAS and FTE economic education programs through courses, seminars, videos and social media. She also delivers lectures around the country and oversees curriculum development and evaluation for economics courses. Previously, Dr. Bradley served as the vice president of economic initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, where she continues research toward a systematic biblical theology of economic freedom. In addition to her work with TFAS, she is a professor of economics at The Institute for World Politics and Grove City College. She is a visiting professor at George Mason University and has previously taught at Georgetown University and Charles University in Prague. She is currently an Acton Affiliate scholar and a visiting scholar at the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy. She is a lecturer for the Institute for Humane Studies and the Foundation for Economic Education. Dr. Bradley serves on the James Madison University Executive Advisory Board and is the President-Elect for the Society of the Development of Austrian Economics. She served as the associate director for the Program in Economics, Politics and the Law at the James M. Buchanan Center at George Mason University. Dr. Bradley’s academic work ranges on the question of income inequality and economic freedom as well as the political economy of terrorism, with specific emphasis on the industrial organization of al-Qaeda. Her academic research has been published in scholarly journals and edited volumes. She is currently working on a book that analyzes the Political Economy of Terrorism. Based on her academic research, she also worked as an economic analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency’s Office of Terrorism Analysis.
About the lecture: During World War I the idea of national self-determination came into its own. There were two principal proponents of this concept. First, Lenin advanced a theory of "proletarian" national self-determination to serve Communism; then, Wilson championed the liberal internationalist idea of national self-determination to support the cause of parliamentary democracy. Both ideas mattered in theory and practice because their advocates were winners; Wilson won World War I; and Lenin staged a successful Putzsch and prevailed in Russia's Civil War. The idea of national self-determination was a great gift to non-historical folk nationalist groups whose activists all clamored for their own states; and it became a bane of historic nations, and not only Great Powers. About the speaker: About the speaker: Dr. Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the lecture: Mozambique is facing Islamic insurgency partly due to social, political, and economic factors. Instead of addressing these underlying issues of the conflict, the Mozambique government has exacerbated it by the heavy-handed security response. Has the government mishandled or miscalculated the threats posed by these Islamic insurgents groups in northern Mozambique? What role can the US policy play in aiding Mozambique so that this doesn’t spill over to other regions? About the moderator: Professor Hashem Mekki, MA, has taught Arabic Language, Culture & Middle East Media at IWP since 2012. He is the owner of Bridge Language Solutions, providing an array of language translation, interpretation and teaching services to the Washington DC metropolitan area, and the founder of Kele Global, a nonprofit organization that promotes education, health, and economic empowerment in Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. Mr. Mekki volunteers with the IWP Center for Human Rights and International Affairs by providing Arabic translations & strategic cultural perspectives on North Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Mekki previously worked with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and served on the board of Voices of Sudan, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. About the panelist: Martina Perino is the Program Manager for the Great Lakes and Southern Africa at the International Republican Institute. Originally from Mozambique and Italy, she has 10 years of democracy and governance experience in Mozambique, DR Congo, Zambia, and Kosovo. In Zambia, she was the Governance and Social sectors Program Manager at the European Union Delegation. There Ms. Perino designed and managed the electoral support project, an Access to Justice project and worked closely with local CSOs and other donors or human rights issues and local governance. In 2017 she joined USAID/Kosovo as the Democracy and Governance Strategic Planning Specialist where, among other tasks, she designed several projects including a local governance and conflict mitigation project, PVE project, media strengthening project, political party and legislative strengthening. Ms. Perino has been an election observer in Mozambique, DR Congo, Zambia, Kosovo, and Albania. Ms. Perino holds a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and a Master’s in International Development. Dr. Gregory Alonso Pirio possesses extensive experience in conducting research on political, social and religious issues. He earned an M.A. in African Studies and a Ph.D. in African History from the University of California-Los Angeles and has published a number of academic articles dealing with Pan-Africanism and the Communist International. His dissertation focused on the political economy of Angola and Mozambique. As a consultant to The Strategic Trade Advisory Corporation, Dr. Pirio produced studies of the civil wars in West Africa and its impact on the politics and economy of the region. He recently completed a major study of radical Islamic groups in East Africa and the Horn of Africa for the U.S. military and is held in high regard as a Subject Matter Expert on African affairs. Dr. Pirio has occupied senior positions at the International Broadcasting Bureau/Voice of America. He was Chief of both the English-to-Africa and Portuguese-to-Africa Services for the VOA. In this capacity, he managed the coverage of international news and current affairs with a special emphasis on Africa, the Middle East, and South-Central Asia, and has traveled extensively to cover events and plan programming priorities. This experience afforded him the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of events in diverse geographic regions and enabled him to know personally many political actors especially on the African continent. Dr. Pirio has also spearheaded innovative media projects in diverse countries such as Afghanistan, Angola, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.
This event is part of the China Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The Chinese seek to supplant the US as the world’s top military and economic power. As Tom Reed noted in his book The Nuclear Express, China is a major proliferator of nuclear weapons technology—to Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, Libya and Iraq. Its own nuclear arsenal is projected to double this decade according to DIA intelligence reports. China rejects even discussing arms control nor does it provide any information about its nuclear arsenal, although it does assert it has adopted a no first use nuclear policy. DIA also believes the PRC has recently tested nuclear weapons, contrary to China’s pledges under the NNPT and CBT. The presentation will explore these issues as well as the use of nuclear weapons—particularly the threat of their use—to contest the US and its allies in the Pacific. Especially ROK, ROC, and Japan. About the speaker: Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis, founded in 1981, and since 2016, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute on Aerospace Studies. He was the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011 Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 45 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities while monitoring budget and policy developments on terrorism, counter-terrorism, immigration, state-sponsored terrorism, missile defense, weapons of mass destruction, especially US-Israeli joint defense efforts, nuclear deterrence, arms control, proliferation, as well as tactical and strategic air, airlift, space and nuclear matters and such state and non-state actors as North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. This also includes monitoring activities of think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and other US government departments, as well as projecting future actions of Congress in this area. His specialty is developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. He is on the Board of the InSeries Theater in Washington; EMPACT, the organization devoted to protecting the US from EMP threats; and MTA, the Maryland Taxpayers Association. He authored legislation calling for the divestment of US pensions from any company doing business with Iran and testified before a number of state legislatures on this subject and on counter-terror policy, including whether or not drivers licenses should be made available to those illegally in the US. He is also a member of Secure American Energy, an organization devoted to breaking the back of OPEC and providing the US with American sources of energy. He has lectured around the world and across the USA on nuclear terrorism, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, homeland security, counter-terrorism policy, and strategic threats to the US and its allies including (1) leading a great power competition and nuclear workshop at the Louisiana Tech Research Institute in cooperation with USAF Global Strike Command, (2) speaking on China’s security threats to the US at the annual strategic conference in Omaha, Nebraska hosted by Strategic Command, (3) speaking annually at the Exchange Monitor Nuclear Summit, (4) lecturing at the Prague Security Institute in the Czech Republic, (5) teaching at Yonsei University in Seoul, ROK, (6) speaking to the Israeli MOD missile defense experts, (7) reviewing terrorist threats to the US for the California Public Policy Foundation, and (8) annually being a guest lecturer at the Naval Academy on the subject of the history of American nuclear deterrent policy.
This event is part of The Global Impact Discussion Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: How might the coronavirus pandemic influence U.S.-China relations? Some observers contend that it will accelerate the decoupling of the two countries’ economies; others, that it will compel them to restore a baseline of cooperation to address current and potential transnational threats; and yet others, that it will likely have a number of effects, not all of which will point in the same direction. And how might the pandemic affect global perceptions of each country’s ability to manage domestic crises and its willingness to provide global public goods? Some observers contend that China has “won” on those counts, at least relative to the United States; others, that it has “lost”; and yet others, that it is too early to render such judgments. About the speaker: Mr. Ali Wyne is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and a nonresident fellow at the Modern War Institute. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a David Rockefeller fellow with the Trilateral Commission, and a security fellow with the Truman National Security Project. He is currently writing a book on great-power competition.
About the lecture: The presentation will explore the history of baseball diplomacy between the United States and Cuba, specifically focusing on the Trump administration’s nullification of the 2018 Major League Baseball-Cuban Baseball Federation player agreement. About the speaker: Nathaniel Bader is an IWP student pursuing a master’s degree in Statecraft and National Security Affairs with a concentration in Public Diplomacy and Strategic Influence. Nathaniel graduated summa cum laude from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, with degrees in history and nonprofit administration. While at Dakota Wesleyan, Nathaniel was named the Senator George McGovern Scholar, served as parliamentarian for the Student Senate, led the McGovern Engagement Group for Political Activism, and spent time in Uganda working on long-term economic development projects in two rural villages. Nathaniel has interned with Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Nathaniel currently works at the American Political Science Association. Nathaniel grew up in South Dakota, and, in his free time, he enjoys watching sports, traveling, playing bar trivia, and watching science fiction films.
About the lecture: The Intermarium's Nationalisms: Old and New discusses historic nationalism, which was predicated on civic and local identity, and non-historic nationalisms, which stressed their ethnic and folk character. The former concerned mostly the legacy of the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; the latter reflected newly emergent nations, including the Lithuanians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. About the speaker: Dr. Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the lecture: This is Dr. Chodakiewicz's first lecture in his series on the First World War and its Aftermath in the Intermarium, the lands between the Baltic and Black Seas, 1914-1921. About the speaker: Dr. Chodakiewicz currently serves as a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics, where he holds the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. He also leads IWP’s Center for Intermarium Studies. At IWP, Dr. Chodakiewicz teaches courses on Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Geography and Strategy, Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States, and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy. He was formerly an assistant professor of history of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at University of Virginia. He also served as a visiting professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
About the book review: Dr. Christopher C. Harmon, the Bren Chair of Great Power Competition at Marine Corps University and IWP professor, reviewed Erik Larson's new book The Splendid and the Vile, which accounts the leadership of Winston Churchill during his first days as prime minister. Dr. Christopher Harmon gives an in-depth review of the book. He discusses its strengths and weaknesses, his own IWP course (IWP 628), which examines military strategy, and the best reasons to continue to study Winston Churchill, half a century after his death. About the speaker: Dr. Christopher C. Harmon wrote his political science dissertation on terrorism in the early 1980s and continued that work as Legislative Aide for Foreign Policy to a member of Congress and, much later, director of counterterrorism studies programs in Asia and Europe for the U.S. government. A professor at civilian and military graduate schools including the Naval War College, Dr. Harmon began teaching courses at The Institute of World Politics after 9/11 — on terrorism, and later on counterterrorism. Lead author or editor of six books, he holds the Bren Chair of Great Power Competition at Marine Corps University, Quantico VA.
About the interview: Dr. Joshua Muravchik, Distinguished Fellow at the World Affairs Institute, spoke with IWP about the rise of socialism in American politics. He discussed the history of the socialist movement in America, what the term "democratic socialism" really means, why socialism is popular with millennials, and what we can do to fight the rise of socialism in America. About the speaker: Dr. Joshua Muravchik is a distinguished fellow at the World Affairs Institute. He is a former resident scholar at American Enterprise Institute and a former fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute. Additionally, he is a professor at IWP where he teaches a course on Ideas and Values in American Politics. Dr. Muravchik is the author of eleven books, including Heaven on Earth: The Rise and Fall of Socialism, The Imperative of American Leadership, and Exporting Democracy: Fulfilling America’s Destiny; and also more than 400 articles in newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals.
About the discussion: Dr. John Lenczowski will discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has raised America’s consciousness of the reality of communist rule in China and its implications for the security and prosperity of our country. “For years, our leaders have hoped and dreamed of a benevolent, democratic China. We gave away the store on this fantasy, and now we are paying the price. Ironically, this plague is a wake-up call to the gravity of the threat from communist China.” This event will be moderated by IWP Chairman John Lovewell. About the speaker: Dr. John Lenczowski served in the State Department in the Bureau of European Affairs and as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs Lawrence Eagleburger from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1987, he was Director of European and Soviet Affairs at the National Security Council. In that capacity, he was principal Soviet affairs adviser to President Reagan and one of the architects of the national strategy to bring down the Soviet empire. After teaching at Georgetown University, Dr. Lenczowski founded The Institute of World Politics, a non-profit graduate school of national security, intelligence, and international affairs in 1990 and currently serves as its President. He is the author of Full Spectrum Diplomacy and Grand Strategy. He has been consulting with the National Security Council, the State Department and the Defense Department on the China threat, U.S. strategy towards China, human rights, public diplomacy, and a general national security strategy of “winning without war.”
About the interview: Dr. Anne Bradley, Vice President of Economic Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics and IWP professor, spoke with IWP about the economic impact of the coronavirus. She discussed the future of the economy, the stock market, the new stimulus package, the long term effects of coronavirus, and the role of government in protecting the U.S. economy. About the speaker: Dr. Anne Bradley is the George and Sally Mayer Fellow for Economic Education and the Academic Director at the Fund for American Studies. She served as the Vice President of Economic Initiatives at The Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, where she developed and commissioned research toward a systematic biblical theology of economic freedom. She is a visiting professor at Georgetown University and has previously taught at George Mason University and at Charles University, Prague. She is currently a visiting scholar at the Bernard Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy. She served as the Associate Director for the Program in Economics, Politics, and the Law at the James M. Buchanan Center at George Mason University. She worked as an Economic Analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency. She is also a professor at IWP, where she teaches a course entitled Economics for Foreign Policy Makers
About the Interview: Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, Professor of Energy Security at IWP and President of SVB Energy International, spoke with members of the IWP events staff about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the energy market. She discussed energy supply and demand, the Russia-Saudi oil war, U.S. shale production, and what the future holds in regard to market stabilization. About the Speaker: Dr. Sara Vakhshouri is founder and president of SVB Energy International, a strategic energy consulting firm with offices in Washington DC and Dubai. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Energy Security at The Institute of World Politics. Dr. Vakhshouri has about two decades of experience of working in the energy industry with extensive experience in global energy market studies, energy security, and geopolitical risk, and she has consulted numerous public and private sector energy and policy leaders. Dr. Vakhshouri has been based in Washington, D.C. since 2009, where she has advised U.S. and European governments, investment banks, financial institutions, law firms, and international corporations on energy markets, trading and pricing, the geopolitics of energy, and investment patterns. She has published articles in numerous journals, including The Economist, Middle East Economic Survey, and Oil and Gas Journal. Dr. Vakhshouri has been the keynote speaker at many energy conferences, including Chatham House, Platts Oil and Middle East conferences, LNG Global Congress, and other international oil, gas, and energy conferences. Dr. Vakhshouri has a Ph.D. in energy security and Middle Eastern studies. She has an M.A. in business management (international marketing) and another M.A. in international relations. Dr. Vakhshouri was also senior energy fellow at the Atlantic Council, and at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Dr. Vakhshouri also has the experience of working in both public and private sectors of the Iranian energy industry.
This event was co-sponsored by the Marine Corps University Foundation and the Krulak Center at Marine Corps University. About the lecture: The initial effects of the internet and social media seemed happy, but the second and third order effects — disinformation, lies, propaganda, deep fakes, troll swarms, personal attacks, and conspiracy theories among them — now present threats to privacy, national security, and democratic governance. They are a factor in America’s political polarization. The malign effects are outrunning the capacity of public affairs, public diplomacy, and USG international broadcasting to respond. What can be the pathways ahead? About the speaker: Donald M. Bishop joined Marine Corps University as the Bren Chair of Strategic Communications in 2016. The Chair is sponsored by the Marine Corps University Foundation. Mr. Bishop was a Foreign Service Officer – first in the U.S. Information Agency and then in the Department of State – for 31 years. Specializing in Public Diplomacy, political-military affairs, and East Asia, he attained the rank of Minister-Counselor in the career service. His first round of Foreign Service assignments were to Hong Kong; Taegu and Seoul, Korea; and Taipei, Taiwan. In Washington, he was a Congressional Fellow, and he directed the training of the Foreign Service’s incoming Public Diplomacy officers. Returning overseas, he directed U.S. Public Diplomacy programs in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and twice in China. In 2006, Mr. Bishop was detailed to the Pentagon as the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway, and then to the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Norton Schwartz. Traveling with these two members of the JCS, he visited five continents and joined service planning to develop strong relationships with the armed forces of other nations. At the request of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Mr. Bishop led communication and Public Diplomacy at the American Embassy in Afghanistan as the “civilian surge” began. In Kabul he helped develop the Afghan government’s relations with the media, and to cooperate with the U.S. and NATO commands. Other portfolios included media relations, education and exchanges, English teaching, the preservation of cultural heritage sites, and the network of Lincoln Learning Centers throughout Afghanistan. Before joining the MCU faculty, he was director of communications at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China; served a term as President of the Public Diplomacy Council; and participated in four U.S. Army brigade exercises at Fort Polk, Louisiana, as a role player. Before entering the Foreign Service, Mr. Bishop was an Air Force officer. He served in Vietnam and Korea. From 1975 to 1979, he taught history on the faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was a member of the summer training cadre for the first Academy class that included women.
About the Lecture: Dr. Hull will discuss concerns about American universities’ activities in the security space, including apparent bias in the federally funded Terrorism and Extremist Violence in the United States (TEVUS) Database, the influence of Gulf State funding on American education, and the potential impact of both on U.S. national security. About the Speaker: Christopher C. Hull, Ph.D., a Senior Fellow at Americans for Intelligence Reform, is also the President of Issue Management Inc., a boutique public affairs firm whose work centers on national security. He is currently a Contributor to The Epoch Times and appears regularly on The Tipping Point with Liz Wheeler on One America News Network. Dr. Hull has more than 25 years of experience in politics, public policy, and government relations. He is the immediate past Executive Vice President of a three-decade-old national security think tank based in Washington, D.C. Before that, Dr. Hull served as Chief of Staff for a nationally prominent Member of Congress. He has also served as Press Secretary in the U.S. House of Representatives, Assistant to the Director of Communications of a national party committee, a foreign affairs and trade legislative aide in the U.S. Senate, and a researcher in a major think tank. He began his career as an intern in the White House and then as a full-time volunteer in the Issues Group of a presidential campaign.
About the Lecture: Russian President Vladimir Putin periodically regurgitates Soviet propaganda about the Second World War. Lately, Poland has triggered his ire again. Warsaw failed to fall in line with standard Soviet fantasy. According to this narrative, the global conflict started on June 22, 1941, when Germany attacked innocent and neutral “Mother Russia.” Thus wronged and victimized, having suffered staggering losses, the armies of Moscow nonetheless rebounded and they alone defeated “fascism,” saving the world from its menace. Anything that threatens this narrative endangers the grip of the Kremlin over the denizens of the post-Soviet Empire. Its legitimacy rests on the legacy of the Soviet victory in the Second World War and Moscow has been running on fumes of that triumph since the implosion of the Soviet Union in 1992. About the Speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
About the Lecture: Historical Pompeo’s visit to Minsk amid Russia-Belarus tensions was met with thousands of posts, comments, memes, manipulative publications online. The extensive network of pro-Russian organizations, digital influencers, Russia-friendly media, and particularly web-services, including Yandex and Mail.ru news, Odnoklassniki and VK, Telegram messenger, was mobilized to fill out the information space with the specific narrative and mislead the population. This lecture is about the role of media in Russia-Belarus conflict, mechanics of the Russian propaganda machine in Belarus, and how technology helps regimes to manipulate public opinion and perception of the events. About the Speaker: Franak Viačorka is a digital media strategist and journalist from Belarus. He works as a research media analyst for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (contractor) focusing on digital markets of Russia and Eurasia. His research focus is on Russian and Chinese efforts to control smaller actors, spread disinformation, and build the sovereign internet infrastructure. He has served as a creative director for the Belarus service of Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Vice President for Digital Communication Network, and consultant for the Freedom House, and Broadcasting Board of Governors. Franak is a frequent speaker and an advocate for democracy and personal freedom. For his activism and journalist work in Belarus, he was multiple times jailed by the Belarus authorities. Franak’s activism in Belarus has been chronicled by documentary filmmakers and recognized by many international organizations, including the National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, Open Society Foundations. He was the first Vaclav Havel Fellow at Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty under Havel’s personal recommendation. He graduated from American University in Washington D.C. (M.A.) and Warsaw University in Poland (B.A.), and he also studied at Belarus State University, Georgetown University, and European Humanities University.
About the Lecture: Michael C. Maibach will discuss reasons why the Founders agreed on the Electoral College and give a response to its main criticisms. About the Speaker: Michael C. Maibach is a seasoned professional in global business diplomacy, advisor to non-profit organizations, and a supporter of civic causes. From 2003 to 2012 he was President & CEO of the European-American Business Council, a group of 75 multinational companies.From 1983 to 2001 Mr. Maibach was Vice President of Global Government Affairs for the Intel Corporation. At Intel he worked closely with its founders, Dr. Robert Noyce – inventor of the integrated circuit, Dr. Gordon Moore – known for Moore’s Law – and Dr. Andy Grove – Time Man of the Year in 1997. At Intel he built a team of 150 professionals around the world to advance public policy to enhance trade, job and wealth creation. Today he is the Founder & Director of The Center For the Electoral College. Mr. Maibach has earned seven university degrees, one of which was granted by The Institute of World Politics. While earning his first degree he was elected to the DeKalb County Board in his native state of Illinois, becoming the first person elected to public office under 21 years of age in American history.
About the lecture: In winter 1940, Soviet authorities organized mass deportations to Siberia of Polish citizens from the Polish territories annexed in September 1939. Over one million people were dispatched in overcrowded cattle cars in the dead of winter to unknown destinations in the Soviet interior where they were forced to slave labor in order to survive. Thousands of those Poles, adults and children alike, died from starvation, rampant disease, and overwork. That harrowing experience was later described by those fortunate ones who managed to leave the Soviet Union after the so-called amnesty in July 1941, including numerous children. This lecture is a survey of the selection of original accounts of those experiences. About the speaker: Mrs. Maria Juczewska is a communication specialist with versatile international experience. Her education in linguistics, culture studies, and international affairs, combined with years of living abroad, makes her point of view unique and comprehensive. Mrs. Juczewska has worked for the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies since 2014. In her scholarly work, she is especially interested in propaganda.
About the lecture: Ms. Stacy will discuss America’s current situation in terms of market levels, economic data, and the China trade deal. She will also discuss the following subtopics: • Populism and Economics: Ms. Stacy will cover the historical connection between populism and economics, the quintessential trajectory of populism, what could interrupt the pattern of populism, and the best possible outcome. • Globalism vs. Protectionism: Ms. Stacy will cover the high-level mechanical differences and potential unintended consequences of these approaches. She will discuss how each trade strategy relates to the business cycle and what it means going forward for capital markets. She will also give a high-level explanation of how the business cycle works and what precipitates the changes in the cycle. • Monetary Policy in the Post Global Financial Crisis Era: Ms. Stacy will discuss the historical purpose of monetary policy and how the Central Banks will likely deal with the record amounts of debt in the system. She will delve into what this means for the U.S. economy and global economies in terms of how investors think about this. She hopes to provide insight into how future policy makers can use an understanding of global capital flows in tandem with their endeavors. • China: Ms. Stacy will discuss the topics above regarding the economic relationship between China and the United States. About the speaker: Frances Newton Stacy started her broadcasting career appearing weekly on the Gerry V show on the Rush Radio Network from 2008-2010. There she gained wide appeal and honed her skills for being able to explain a very complex subject matter in simple terms. She then began appearing on the local Fox 5 in Las Vegas. From there in 2010 Frances branched out to appearing regularly on national television. Frances perfectly predicted the stock market crash, which began in October 2007 and is amongst the very few who successfully traded the downturn. She got out of stocks a month before the all-time high and simultaneously got into the historic gold trade. Frances also called the market bottom on the Gerry V show in March of 2009 when she warned his audience that the market would go up for a while. Wanting to be able to predict the next credit crisis became Frances’ passion of study. On this journey, she studied the banking and credit systems in depth. Frances discovered what must be present in order to have a credit crisis. She also enjoyed studying the underlying algorithm of our banking system, which has an undeniable mathematical structure that regardless of the market swings is always present and has predictable implications. She is a frequent guest on Fox Business News as a commentator on Central Bank Policy and its effects on the economy. Frances has also appeared on CNBC, CBS, Yahoo Finance and Fox News as well as several local and national television and radio programs. She has blogged for the trading community, helping them recognize key cycles and significant support and resistance levels. She has taught several classes for trading students and spoken extensively on the subject. Frances lives in the Bay Area advising clients across the West Coast as well as nationally. She incorporates her unique research and experience into portfolio construction and management as Director of Portfolio Strategy with Optimal Capital. As an allocator, Frances regularly speaks nationally and internationally at events focusing on quantitative finance as well as those for blockchain enthusiasts. Frances has spoken at the annual DMS Governance event on interest rates and market cycles. Frances has also informally consulted for and spoken at the British Consulate-General New York.
About the Lecture: How do you influence your target audience in a wired world? How are we vulnerable to unseen influence operations that are targeting us? This presentation will look at the various aspects of influence operations in cyberspace. We will look at how the basic human neural processes are impacted in a wired world and how they impact our interactions, moods, and thinking. Not only do nation-states utilize this intelligence, but advertisers, and our closest associates do as well. With the information provided in this lecture, not only will you be able to recognize the influence operations targeting you, but you will also be able to understand how you can use it yourself. About the Speaker: Mr. Debbins has 20 years of experience and knowledge in intelligence, national security, strategic planning, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, enhanced Explosives), cyber and cyberspace, hybrid warfare, business, economics, finance, world geopolitical environment, and science and technology (S&T). He possesses native fluency in Russian. Mr. Debbins served as an officer in the U.S. Army and has also worked in commercial businesses in Ukraine and Russia. He was a Russian Cyber Analyst for the U.S. Government and later a Cyber Operations instructor. Currently, he works as an Area Studies and Hybrid Warfare instructor for the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and NATO.
About the Lecture: “Our democracy is getting self-destroyed, for it abused the rights of freedom and of equality; for it taught the citizens to regard insolence as a right, illegality as freedom, impertinence as equality, and anarchy as happiness.” (Isocrates, 436-338 BC). Democracy first emerged in ancient Athens in 507 BC following a long turbulent period of aristocracy and tyranny, when a nexus of intertwined geopolitical, sociopolitical, economic, and cultural developments led to the morphogenesis of this new political constitution. Athenian Democracy formulated the political ideology and fundamental principles that were later canonized by modern democracies, formalized defensive mechanisms against undue concentration of power and employed innovative integrative mechanisms to propagate its ideology and educate the citizens. Pathogenic traits-catalysts, however, such as the extreme polarization between mass and elite, demagogy, populism, failure of justice, apathy, and poor education caused extensive political ankylosis. Internal corrosion and changing historical conditions caused the decline and fall of Democracy three centuries later. Isocrates’ aphorism, therefore, rings alarmingly all too pragmatic and relevant today, 250 years since the resurgence of Democracy in the modern world (USA, France, Greece). Are we running a similar cycle, repeating old mistakes, standing at the same juncture, heading towards the same dead end? To navigate forward, find solutions, and shape our future, we need first to study our past. About the Speaker: Born in Greece, Christofilis Maggidis received a thorough education in the Classical Lyceum at the Anavryta Model School and went on to receive a B.A. in History and Archaeology (1988) from the University of Athens, where he was awarded several honorary distinctions and scholarships for excellence. He further pursued his graduate studies while on prestigious fellowships (Fulbright, William Penn, and Charles Williams Fellowships) and received his Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology (1994) from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed postdoctoral studies as a Fellow at Brown University (1997-1999) and a White-Levy Research Fellow at Harvard University (1999-2001). Christofilis has taught archaeology, ancient history, classics, and philosophy at Campus College and the University of Indianapolis, Athens. In 2001, Christofilis joined Dickinson College as the Christopher Roberts Professor of Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology, where he has been teaching courses in the art, architecture, and archaeology of the prehistoric Aegean, classical Greece, republican/imperial Rome, Egypt, the Near East (Mesopotamia and Anatolia), in ancient Greek religion and athletics, Athenian democracy, ancient burial customs, and ancient technology. Christofilis Maggidis is an active field archaeologist with long field experience since 1985 as a trench master and sector supervisor at major archaeological; he has served as Field Director of the Lower Town Excavation at Mycenae, Co-Director of the Mycenaean Spercheios-valley Archaeological Project, and Director of the Archaeogeophysical Survey of the Citadel of Glas. He was elected member of the Athens Archaeological Society in 1999 and President of the Mycenaean Foundation in 2013. His main research interests focus on Aegean Prehistory, but also include Classical Sculpture and Architecture, Archaeological Methodology and Interpretation. Christofilis has given 38 invited lectures and presented another 40 international conference papers worldwide. His publications comprise 23 articles, numerous excavation reports, and four forthcoming books: The Lower Town of Mycenae I: Archaeogeophysical Survey 2003-2013; The Lower Town of Mycenae II: Archaeological Excavations 2007-2013; The Palatial Workshops of Mycenae: The Artisans’ Workshops and the House of; Mycenae Excavations: Building K.
About the Lecture: The aim of this lecture is to discuss present and future of Angolan political process and how corruption is undermining the new democratic process in this country. About the Panelists: Florindo Chivucute is the founder and Executive Director of Friends of Angola (FoA), and Radio Angola (an online radio station), activist, blogger and digital media specialist. Florindo earned his Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and has over 5 years of experience working in non-profit organizations, international development, international relations, peace building, and education while being active in the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) in the United States. Hashem Mekki, MA, has taught Arabic Language, Culture & Middle East Media at IWP since 2012. He is the owner of Bridge Language Solutions, providing an array of language translation, interpretation and teaching services to the Washington DC metropolitan area, and the founder of Kele Global, a nonprofit organization that promotes education, health, and economic empowerment in the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. He also teaches Arabic language to federal employees & professionals at the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy. Mr. Mekki volunteers with the IWP Center for Human Rights and International Affairs by providing Arabic translations & strategic cultural perspectives on North Africa and Middle East. Mr. Mekki previously worked with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and served on the board of Voices of Sudan, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. He holds Bachelors degrees in both Political Science and International Studies from the City College of New York, and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies and International Politics from IWP. Malik M. Chaka is a retired U.S. Government official who served as Director, Threshold Programs, for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and as a Professional Staff Member with House Africa Subcommittee. He first visited the Angola marquis as a journalist in 1973 prior to independence on November 11, 1975 and travelled widely in the country over a four decade period. Mr. Chaka has written on Angola topics for the Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail, and London-based Africa Analysis. He testified before Congress on the Angolan Government of National Unity. Mr. Chaka served as the Director of Communications for the Free Angolan Information Service for seven years, and produced and edited Angola Update and Angola Economic Notes, two internationally distributed newsletters. He was a member of a Council on Foreign Relations independent commission that issued Toward An Angola Strategy: Prioritizing U.S.-Angola Relations in 2007. Kyra Gurney is a reporter for ICIJ. She previously worked at the Miami Herald and at InSight Crime, a nonprofit journalism organization based in Colombia that covers organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean. At the Miami Herald, Kyra was part of a team investigating the illegal gold trade for a series called “Dirty Gold Clean Cash,” which was a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. She also covered education and local government. Kyra has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from Colorado College. She grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
About the Event: On November 15, 2019, the Institute of World Politics hosted a special day-long debate event examining the past, present, and future of Socialism/Communism. Sponsored by the Claremont Institute together with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and produced by the Imprimatur Group to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the program featured a morning debate on the economic viability of a socialist or communist system while the afternoon session explored the nature of cultural Marxism, which has been argued to have supplanted the tenets and goals of economic Marxism with a new emphasis on “social justice.” Our participants include Michael Anton, former member of the National Security Council, Marek Chodakiewiz, Professor of History at the Institute of World Politics, historian Ronald Radosh, a former Marxist and author of The Rosenberg File, and Michael Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation. On the left, the debaters are Bhaskar Sunkara, the founding editor and publisher of Jacobin Magazine, author and managing editor of Jacobin Micah Uetricht, Eric Blanc, an author and contributor to Jacobin and The Nation, and sociologist Nicole Aschoff, author of The New Prophets of Capital. The debate will be moderated by cultural historian Michael Walsh, author of The Devil’s Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, who will discuss his personal experiences in Berlin when the Wall fell during a special lunchtime presentation.
About the Event: On November 15, 2019, the Institute of World Politics hosted a special day-long debate event examining the past, present, and future of Socialism/Communism. Sponsored by the Claremont Institute together with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and produced by the Imprimatur Group to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the program featured a morning debate on the economic viability of a socialist or communist system while the afternoon session explored the nature of cultural Marxism, which has been argued to have supplanted the tenets and goals of economic Marxism with a new emphasis on “social justice.” Our participants include Michael Anton, former member of the National Security Council, Marek Chodakiewiz, Professor of History at the Institute of World Politics, historian Ronald Radosh, a former Marxist and author of The Rosenberg File, and Michael Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation. On the left, the debaters are Bhaskar Sunkara, the founding editor and publisher of Jacobin Magazine, author and managing editor of Jacobin Micah Uetricht, Eric Blanc, an author and contributor to Jacobin and The Nation, and sociologist Nicole Aschoff, author of The New Prophets of Capital. The debate will be moderated by cultural historian Michael Walsh, author of The Devil’s Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, who will discuss his personal experiences in Berlin when the Wall fell during a special lunchtime presentation.
About the Event: On November 15, 2019, the Institute of World Politics hosted a special day-long debate event examining the past, present, and future of Socialism/Communism. Sponsored by the Claremont Institute together with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and produced by the Imprimatur Group to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the program featured a morning debate on the economic viability of a socialist or communist system while the afternoon session explored the nature of cultural Marxism, which has been argued to have supplanted the tenets and goals of economic Marxism with a new emphasis on “social justice.” Our participants include Michael Anton, former member of the National Security Council, Marek Chodakiewiz, Professor of History at the Institute of World Politics, historian Ronald Radosh, a former Marxist and author of The Rosenberg File, and Michael Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation. On the left, the debaters are Bhaskar Sunkara, the founding editor and publisher of Jacobin Magazine, author and managing editor of Jacobin Micah Uetricht, Eric Blanc, an author and contributor to Jacobin and The Nation, and sociologist Nicole Aschoff, author of The New Prophets of Capital. The debate will be moderated by cultural historian Michael Walsh, author of The Devil’s Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, who will discuss his personal experiences in Berlin when the Wall fell during a special lunchtime presentation. This debate argues whether or not socialism and communism remains a viable economic, social and political system, but it possibly just has not been implemented correctly yet.
About the lecture: What is the origin of Russian behavior in international politics? What is their worldview and grand strategy? How do they apply it in Cyberspace and what are the implications for the US and the West? This presentation will delve into how Russian strategic thinking originated in the Soviet era and how it transitioned to contemporary Russia, and how they have a unique competitive advantage in Cyber Space. This presentation will also address the principles and theories of Hybrid Warfare from the Russian perspective and contrast it with Western thinking, which has broad security implications. About the speaker: Mr. Peter Debbins has 20 years of experience and knowledge in intelligence, national security, strategic planning, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, enhanced Explosives), cyber and cyber space, hybrid warfare, business, economics, finance, world geopolitical environment, and science and technology (S&T). He possesses native fluency in Russian. Mr. Debbins served as an officer in the US Army and has also worked in commercial businesses in Ukraine and Russia. He was a Russian Cyber Analyst for the US Government, and later a Cyber Operations instructor. Currently he works as an Area Studies and Hybrid Warfare instructor for the US European Command (EUCOM) and NATO.
About the Book: A path-breaking work on Chinese global strategy, China’s Vision of Victory brings the reader to a new understanding of China’s grand-scale planning and ambitions. From seabed to space, from Africa to the Antarctic, from subsurface warfare to the rise of China’s global corporations, this book illuminates the greatest challenge of our lifetimes – the Chinese Communist Party’s ambition to end the American-led world and to bring about a century defined by Chinese power. China’s Vision of Victory a is landmark book on Chinese global strategy. It brings together numerous primary sources, both contemporary and historical, unveiling the grand strategic vision of China’s leaders, laying out the ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party and their project for the creation of a new world order, built on the ‘resurrection’ of China’s supremacy among nations. China’s leaders envision a turning point in history, the breaking up of the American-led global order, and the vanquishing of American power in the Pacific and beyond. Only when China has returned to its seat at the head of all nations, both in Asia and around the world, as the supreme power of the 21st Century, can the ‘great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’ as China’s leaders call it, then be complete. About the Speaker: Dr. Jonathan D. T. Ward is the Founder of Atlas Organization, a consultancy focused on the rise of China and India, the new geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, and US-China global competition. He completed his D.Phil. at Oxford in China-India relations and has traveled widely throughout China, India, and the Indo-Pacific Region. Dr. Ward has consulted for the Pentagon on Chinese long-term strategy and began studying Chinese global strategy, the Indian Ocean Region, and Maritime Asia for Oxford Analytica, the UK’s leading political risk consultancy. Dr. Ward’s travels in the Indo-Pacific include traversing the South China Sea on an Indonesian cargo ship, hitch-hiking with truck drivers in the China-India Himalayan border regions, and getting stuck on a mountaintop in the Strait of Hormuz during travels with Omani fishermen in the Persian Gulf. As an undergraduate, Jonathan studied Philosophy, Russian, and Chinese language at Columbia University. He speaks Russian, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic and has lived in Russia, China, India, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Dr. Ward is a member of the 2018 Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship program at the Center for a New American Security. He is a frequently invited speaker for public and private audiences in the United States, Europe, and Asia, on China, India, and the Indo-Pacific. He is also a Research Associate at the University of Oxford’s Changing Character of War Programme.
About the Lecture: Ambassador Romualdez will speak on Philippines-US relations in the context of a quickly changing Indo-Pacific, including the emerging economic, political, and strategic realities of the region. He will also touch on the strong history of Philippine-US ties that include not only the trade and security relationship but perhaps most importantly the people to people ties that undergird the relationship. About the Speaker: Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America in July 2017 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. On 29 November 2017, he presented his credentials to US President Donald J. Trump and formally assumed office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Additionally, as the head of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Romualdez is concurrently the Philippines’ emissary to the Commonwealth of Jamaica, Republic of Haiti; Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Dominica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and Saint Lucia. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Romualdez was designated as a special envoy of the Philippine President to the United States. He also served as a member of several Philippine business delegations visiting the United States, China, Japan and New Zealand from 1989 to 2012. Ambassador Romualdez has extensive experience as a media practitioner and business executive. He used to be the Chief Executive Officer of Stargate Media Corporation and Publisher of People Asia Magazine (The Philippine Star affiliate). He was president of the Manila Overseas Press Club and vice-president of Rotary Club of Manila. Ambassador Romualdez writes columns for The Philippine Star. All his columns have a wide following of readers both in the Philippines and abroad. Born and raised in Manila, Ambassador Romualdez received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from De La Salle College in 1970.
About the book: Pulitzer Prize Finalist in History and Winner of the Journal of the American Revolution 2016 Book of the Year Award The remarkable untold story of how the American Revolution’s success depended on substantial military assistance provided by France and Spain and places the Revolution in the context of the global strategic interests of those nations in their fight against England. In this groundbreaking, revisionist history, Larrie Ferreiro shows that at the time the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord the colonists had little chance, if any, of militarily defeating the British. The nascent American nation had no navy, little in the way of artillery, and a militia bereft even of gunpowder. In his detailed accounts Ferreiro shows that without the extensive military and financial support of the French and Spanish, the American cause would never have succeeded. France and Spain provided close to the equivalent of $30 billion and 90 percent of all guns used by the Americans, and they sent soldiers and sailors by the thousands to fight and die alongside the Americans, as well as around the world. Ferreiro adds to the historical records the names of French and Spanish diplomats, merchants, soldiers, and sailors whose contribution is at last given recognition. Instead of viewing the American Revolution in isolation, Brothers at Arms reveals the birth of the American nation as the centerpiece of an international coalition fighting against a common enemy. About the author: Dr. Larrie D. Ferreiro is the 2017 Pulitzer finalist for History, for his book “Brothers at Arms: American Independence and the Men of France and Spain Who Saved It”. He received his PhD in the History of Science and Technology from Imperial College London. He teaches history and engineering at George Mason University in Virginia and the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. He has served for over thirty-five years in the US Navy, US Coast Guard and Department of Defense, and was an exchange engineer in the French Navy. He lives with his wife and their sons in Virginia.
About the Lecture: The Trump administration quietly undertook a range of counterterrorism efforts during its first year, allowing President Trump to rightfully claim at the State of the Union address in January 2018 that, under his administration, ISIS suffered substantial territorial loss to its physical caliphate. But, that alone is not enough. This presentation aims to update the terrorism challenge going forward in light of policy choices, a new National Counterterrorism Strategy, and international pressure on terrorist actors. Going forward, the United States must also consider adapting its approach to counter a broader (and sometimes underground) jihadist movement by working with the right foreign partners to institutionalize better governance and support stabilization efforts. Failure to do so will risk yet another jihadist terrorist group rising to threaten the United States and its broader interests. In addition, senior leaders and policymakers must attain a better understanding of the complex “Grey Zone” dynamics ongoing in the Middle East, where the United States and its partners must be willing to invest in a long-term counter-strategy to contest the competing forces — both state and non-state in that vacuous space. This dynamic is now complicated by United States military forces essentially pulling out of Syria, as well as the continuance of a strained relationship with Iran. Lastly, we can’t ignore domestic terrorism or homegrown violent extremism (HVE) – those would-be terrorists that are at risk of radicalizing and mobilizing for violence. Effective measures to counter these threats require a range of capabilities — not solely those related to law enforcement, but also with the capabilities of the private sector and civil society. About the Speaker: Mr. Costa served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council (NSC). At the NSC, he was responsible for coordinating counterterrorism policy and strategy as well as U.S. hostage recovery activities. Mr. Costa had 34 years of progressive national security experience and well‐documented success in strategy, policy, special operations, counterintelligence, and human intelligence, deploying on multiple contingencies and to combat operations in the Republic of Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Mr. Costa’s last assignment with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was as Program Director in the Operations Directorate. Preceding USSOCOM, Mr. Costa served as a Department of the Navy civilian at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group – with US Navy SEALs, and as a Senior Adjunct Instructor with Norwich University’s Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis Program; with Norwich University, he taught on topics related to national security, strategy, and counterterrorism. He holds an M.A. in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University; an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College; and a B.A. from Norwich University. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and two Bronze Stars. In May 2013, Mr. Costa was inducted into USSOCOM’s Commando Hall of Honor for extraordinary and enduring service to Special Operations Forces. Most recently, Mr. Costa joined the International Spy Museum as the Executive Director where he will play a leading role in building on its extraordinary success as a Washington attraction and speaking responsibly on current counterterrorism and intelligence issues.
This event is a part of IWP's Intermarium Lecture Series. Three cases of Polish captivity in years 1918 – 1924: Galician Ukrainians, “Petlura’s” Ukrainians and Bolsheviks – a comparative study About the lecture: Just after Poland had regained its independence, 3 wars with her neighbors ensued. The Ukrainian war in the Eastern Galicia. Then a conflict with other Ukrainians – this time from Dnipro Ukraine – in the territory of Volhynia. And finally, the conflict between Poland and Soviet Russia when the Red Army entered present-day Western Belarussian lands. One of the outcomes of those conflicts was the presence of thousands of prisoners-of-wars and internees in Poland; either captured on the frontline or interned by Polish military authorities on the charge of being a threat to newly created Polish state. During this lecture, a new approach to the problem of their captivity will be presented. Mr. Weglewicz will try to compare the three groups of POWs mentioned above. First, the approach of the Polish military authorities to all three groups will be presented. Then, he will analyze other topics, such as material conditions in the camps, alimentation/hunger, sanitary conditions and the death rates. Finally, the fate of the POWs after release from the camps also will be moved. The lecture has been based on archival resources from various archives, including Central Military Archive in Warsaw, Central State Historical Archive in Lviv and Central Archive of Supreme Bodies of Power and Administration in Kyiv, as well as newspapers from that era and the literature on the subject. About the speaker: Wiktor Weglewicz is a PhD candidate at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. In 2018 he received a grant “Etiuda 6” for research for his PhD thesis from Polish National Science Center. Part of it is presently carrying out at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. He also received a Visegrad Fund scholarship (at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, 2017), and twice – European Union Erasmus scholarships (University of Florence, 2012-2013, and Charles University in Prague, 2015-2016). His scientific interests are centered around the cases of prisoners-of-wars and internees in Poland, 1918 – 1924 as well as Ukrainian prisoners-of-wars and internees in the countries of East – Central Europe, 1914 – 1924. He authored several articles, published in Poland, Ukraine and Russia; also, he has presented the results of his researches at various conferences in Cracow, Warsaw, Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Moscow and Sankt – Petersburg.
About the Lecture: International law prohibits the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries. Mercenaries do not enjoy the rights of armed combatants such as to be treated as prisoners of war pursuant to Geneva Convention Norms. Notably, the Russian Criminal Code provides that the recruitment, training, financing, or supplying of mercenaries, and also the use of them in armed conflicts or hostilities is a crime. Nonetheless, the Russian Government has deployed private organizations such as the Wagner Group to advance its foreign policy goals in Ukraine, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Syria, Sudan, Venezuela, and elsewhere. Sometimes these forces play a decisive role in shifting the battlefield or political balance in limited conflicts. The Wagner Group and similar organizations are now engaged in supporting friendly regimes, securing rights to raw materials, and undermining certain governments. It is important that US National Security Managers not exaggerate the effectiveness of these forces when determining appropriate policies to pursue. In this lecture, IWP Adjunct Professor Ethan S. Burger will discuss the practical domestic Russian and international consequences of its outsourcing and/or privatizing these traditional state functions. About the Speaker: Ethan S. Burger is a Washington-D.C.-based international attorney and educator with a background in cybersecurity, transnational financial crime, and Russian legal matters. He has been a full-time faculty member at the American University (School of International Service — Transnational Crime Prevention Center) and the University of Wollongong (Australia) (Faculty of Law — Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention), and as well as an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and Washington College of Law. He has taught about cybersecurity as a Visiting Professor at Vilnius University on a grant from the Fulbright Foundation and will be teaching a course during the Fall Semester at IWP on the International Law Governing Cyber Operations. Mr. Burger earned his J.D. at the Georgetown University Law Center, A.B. from Harvard University, and obtained a Certificate in Cybersecurity Strategy from Georgetown University. He will be teaching a course about the international law governing cyber-operations at the IWP during the Spring 2020 Semester.
This event is sponsored by the IWP’s Student Veterans Association. About the Lecture: Ms. Diane Foley will discuss her personal account of her son, James W. Foley, an American freelance journalist who was taken hostage in Syria in 2012, tortured and executed by ISIS in 2014. Ms. Foley will explore how Jim aspired to moral courage and how it could inform the United States’ hostage policy. In light of Pearl Harbor Day as a reminder of the need for constant vigilance, she will discuss how having a well-thought-out hostage policy will minimize risk to American citizens. About the Speaker: Diane M. Foley is the mother of five children, including American freelance conflict journalist James W. Foley. She founded the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation in September 2014, less than a month after his public execution. Diane is currently serving as the President and Executive Director of JWFLF. Since 2014, she has led JWFLF efforts to fund the start of Hostage U.S. and the international Alliance for a Culture of Safety, ACOS. In 2015, she actively participated in the National Counterterrorism Center hostage review which culminated in the Presidential Policy Directive-30. This directive re-organized U.S. efforts on behalf of Americans taken hostage abroad into an interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs and a White Hostage Response Group. Previously, Diane worked first as a community health nurse and then as a family nurse practitioner for 18 years. She received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH.
Sneak Peek into forthcoming book “The Bonfire of the Verities” Pathologies of Public Policy Decision-Making and How to Fix Them. About the Book: Recent times in America are scarred by rampant public policy failures, leading to catastrophic involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the 2008 financial crash. More are coming. Why do highly intelligent leaders, with degrees from the world’s greatest universities, with equally intelligent and skilled staffs and with limitless research and intelligence budgets, continue to make catastrophic decisions–even while warned in advance of catastrophes to come? And what can actually be done to stop this sickness? This presentation, summarizing the forthcoming book’s analysis, draws lessons from America’s Vietnam experience and its involvement in the Middle East, from an innovative form of economic analysis, and from case studies of what has failed–and worked–in the areas of anti-corruption and anti-spam programs. The steps it proposes–the verities–offer a decision-making alternative which overcomes the current squishiness of political and economic discussions in which “there are no wrong answers and nothing is ever concluded.” About the Speaker: Jeffrey Race has an AB, AM, and PhD in Government from Harvard and began this project while an Ash Fellow of the Kennedy School. He has taught political science and economics, and is the author of the War Comes to Long An, a highly original case study of human motivation in the Vietnam War which Amazon lists as one of the top ten military theory studies of all time. In a parallel engineering career Race is a Life Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and in this talk brings to bear on the pathologies of public policy making the insights of hard science.
Title: National Security, Whistle-Blowers and the Nature of Secrecy This event is a part of the Global Impact Discussion Series by Founder and Moderator Patricia Schouker, IWP Alumna. About the Lecture: The significance of Edward Snowden’s revelations has been viewed primarily through the prism of threats to citizen privacy. Instead, Dr. Christopher Moran argues that the most dramatic change has been a decline of government secrecy, especially around national security. While the ethical aspects of state secrets and ‘whistle-blowing’ have received recent attention, few have attempted to explain the dynamics of this growing climate of exposure. The argument is largely technological and is grounded by the changing nature of intelligence work, which is increasingly merging with ‘big data’. Dr. Moran also identifies a related cultural change: many intelligence contractors are at best agnostic about the national security state. Meanwhile, the Internet itself provides the perfect medium for the anonymous degradation of secrets. Because the main driver is technology, Dr. Moran suggests this trend is likely to accelerate, presenting national security chiefs with one of their biggest future challenges. About the Speaker: Dr. Christopher R. Moran is a Reader in US National Security in the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS) at the University of Warwick (UK). He is the author of several books including Classified: Secrecy and the State in Modern Britain (Cambridge University Press, 2013) and Company Confessions: Secrets, Memoirs, and the CIA (St. Martin’s Press, 2016). Funded by the British Academy, he is currently writing a history of the turbulent relationship between President Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and the CIA, featuring new revelations about White House ‘dirty tricks’ as well as critical reflections on the role played by the Agency in facilitating SALT, American withdrawal from Vietnam, and triangular politics between the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. Together with colleagues from John Hopkins and Leicester University, he is the co-editor of the new ‘Georgetown Studies in the History of Intelligence’ book series.
About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference that was held on November 23, 2019, at The Institute of World Politics. Rotamaster Witold Pilecki, a Polish intelligence operator who volunteered for Auschwitz, is presented by non-Polish authors as an ordinary man who was capable of a heroic deed in times of war. Mrs. Maria Juczewska examines the validity of that narration in view of evidence provided by scholarly research, archival material, and accounts of his close and kin. About the Speaker: Ms. Maria Juczewska is the Associate Director of the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC.
About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference that was held on November 23, 2019, at The Institute of World Politics. The Polish population suffered huge losses during WWII. Millions of soldiers and civilians were wounded and killed. Those who survived developed various ways to cope with the extreme situation they had to face during the war. These methods proved to be very useful in the first years after Soviet liberation in 1945, in the era of mass migrations and resettlements, but also in the times of Stalinist lawlessness and repression. These times will be presented on the basis of information contained in the diaries sent to three competitions for settlers in western Poland. The vast majority of these materials have not been published so far. About the Speaker: Dr. Jakub Isański is a Professor of Sociology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland.
Title: The town of Pinsk, the gubernya of Minsk: On the Eve of the Great War About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference that was held on November 23, 2019, at The Institute of World Politics. Dr. Chodakiewicz discussed the political, economic, social, and cultural situation in Pinsk and its environs. About the Speaker: Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz is a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics and the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies.
About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of the 12th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference that was held on November 23, 2019, at The Institute of World Politics. This year is the 100th anniversary of Herbert Hoover’s visit to Poland as head of the American Relief Administration: he went in Woodrow Wilson’s stead. The significance of the relief is still little-known in the Polish public consciousness, even among historians. It may have been one of the finest episodes in U.S.-Polish relations and is worthy of more recognition. About the Speaker: Mr. Nicholas Siekierski is a Ph.D. candidate at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland.
About the Event: Our distinguished panelists will discuss the political stability and peace prospects, economic, social cohesion, and the way forward in Sudan in the post-revolution era now under a civilian government and the ongoing peace negotiations between the transitional government and the oppositions groups. About the Speakers: Niemat Ahmadi: A native of Kebkabiya, North Darfur region of Sudan, Ms. Ahmadi is the Founder and President of the DC-based Darfur Women Action Group DWAG, the organization that focuses on the empowerment of the Darfur genocide affected communities and the historically marginalized Sudanese to bring them to the center to participate in decisions making and to effectively contribute to shaping the future of Sudan. Previously, Ms. Ahmadi worked with NGO’s in various fields of emergency and development in Sudan, including Oxfam Great Britain, Intermediate Technology Development Group ( Practical Action) and the United Nation’s World Food Program. Ms. Ahmadi was recognized by President George W. Bush as one of 8 global human rights fighter of the year 2008. Ms. Ahmadi is a veteran human rights advocate and seasonal strategic planning and management professionals. Ms. Ahmadi previously worked as the Director of Global Partnerships for United to End Genocide and the Save Darfur Coalition. She served as an advisor at the 7th round of Inter-Sudanese Darfur peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2006. Hashem Mekki: Hashem Mekki, MA, has taught Arabic Language, Culture & Middle East Media at IWP since 2012. He is the owner of Bridge Language Solutions, providing an array of language translation, interpretation and teaching services to the Washington DC metropolitan area, and the founder of Kele Global, a nonprofit organization that promotes education, health, and economic empowerment in Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. He also teaches Arabic language to federal employees & professionals at the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy. Mr. Mekki volunteers with the IWP Center for Human Rights and International Affairs by providing Arabic translations & strategic cultural perspectives on North Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Mekki previously worked with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and served on the board of Voices of Sudan, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. He holds bachelor degrees in both Political Science and International Studies from the City College of New York, and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies and International Politics from IWP.
About the Lecture: Technologist Eric Fulton will discuss “How Nation States Attack High Value Assets,” with an emphasis on Chinese action. He will draw from his extensive experience in technology, hacking, and internet related issues, including his work in China. About the Speaker: Mr. Eric Fulton is a business owner and technologist. His first job was hacking international corporations, helping them identify and secure their information systems. During that time, Eric presented independent research at universities, the prestigious Black Hat Conference, and the world’s largest hacker conference, DEFCON. Eric went on to start a local Internet Service Provider in Montana with the goal of helping solve the problem of rural broadband. Taking the skills, he learned in Montana, Eric then built a successful global banking network with a strong presence in Asia. With over 10 years of experience advocating for privacy and Internet freedom, Eric continues his mission of contributing to a secure, free, open Internet, working as the Identity Evangelist for Keybase, a company dedicated to solving identity and encrypted communication.
About the Lecture: In current political conversations and reporting, the word “ideology” seems to have a plethora of meanings, often not clearly related to one another and sometimes clearly inconsistent with each other. The word is commonly used to mean a kind of voting behavior (an “ideological vote” versus a “party vote”), a kind of political thought characterized by a call to revolutionary action, or a political (or non-political) “belief system” held by a group of people or perhaps by just one individual. And this shortlist does not include its common usage as a synonym for “philosophy,” “theory,” “doctrine,” “policy,” and other forms of thought. Several of these usages of the word “ideology” are so well established that they can no longer be criticized as mistaken; but using the term in light of this jumble of definitions leads to misunderstanding and confusion. This lecture attempts to pick apart the threads in this tangle and to identify the main strands of meaning that the term has acquired in its relatively short history. Two main lines of contemporary meaning stand out: ideology as a type of social consciousness, a notion particularly favored by Western Marxists and Marxist-influenced theorists, and ideology as a form of radical political doctrine often characterized as apocalyptic, millenarian, and nihilistic. We will briefly trace the former tradition from its French Enlightenment roots to its contemporary political usage and then will outline some of the conceptual approaches to radical ideology that exemplify the latter tradition. About the Speaker: Bill Miller is a Professor of Politics at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He received his J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. As an attorney, he has been in private practice in Pennsylvania, has taught law at Widener University’s School of Law, served on the legal staff of the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate, and most recently has worked on litigation teams at several Washington, D.C. law firms. He is the author of A Primer on American Courts. Since 1986, Professor Miller has been on the faculty of Marymount University after teaching political theory and other politics courses at several colleges and universities. Though teaching a wide variety of politics and law-related courses at Marymount, his primary focus has been on political theory and political ideology, which he approaches from a classical perspective influenced by Gerhart Niemeyer, Eric Voegelin, and Leo Strauss.
About the Book: Generally, there are two major approaches in research on Katyn: the perspective of the victims and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the perpetrators‘ perspective. In his Encounter with Katyn Wolsza has touched upon another dimension of this atrocity, which has not been addressed in the work done so far. He describes the stories of over 60 representatives of various social groups who visited the Katyn site in 1943. The postwar Communist regime in Poland consistently plugged the Katyn Lie and conducted a campaign of repression and reprisals against witnesses of the Soviet crime. They were accused of collaboration with the Germans, forced to cancel testimonies about the real perpetrators, put under surveillance, and imprisoned. Some of them had to leave the country. Wolsza’s book portrays the Katyn Massacre not only as the extermination of Polish elites by a totalitarian regime, but also as a symbol of the struggle for universal values such as memory, truth, and justice. This corresponds to the wider perspective of the struggle of an enslaved society fighting for its freedom and independence. About the Speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. Professor Chodakiewicz is the head of the Center for Intermarium Studies at The Institute of World Politics. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
About the Book: Generally, there are two major approaches in research on Katyn: the perspective of the victims and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the perpetrators‘ perspective. In his Encounter with Katyn Wolsza has touched upon another dimension of this atrocity, which has not been addressed in the work done so far. He describes the stories of over 60 representatives of various social groups who visited the Katyn site in 1943. The postwar Communist regime in Poland consistently plugged the Katyn Lie and conducted a campaign of repression and reprisals against witnesses of the Soviet crime. They were accused of collaboration with the Germans, forced to cancel testimonies about the real perpetrators, put under surveillance, and imprisoned. Some of them had to leave the country. Wolsza’s book portrays the Katyn Massacre not only as the extermination of Polish elites by a totalitarian regime, but also as a symbol of the struggle for universal values such as memory, truth, and justice. This corresponds to the wider perspective of the struggle of an enslaved society fighting for its freedom and independence. About the Author: Professor Tadeusz Wolsza is a recognized Polish historian and political scientist (academic affiliations: Institute of History at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, the Casimir the Great University at Bydgoszcz, Institute of National Remembrance). He was born in 1956 in Poland. He specializes in the contemporary history of Poland, especially in the wartime and postwar Polish political émigré community, the Katyn Massacre, the anti-Communist resistance movement in Poland, and Stalinist crimes in postwar Poland. Professor Wolsza has published over 280 academic papers and books, and some of them have been translated into Russian, German, English, Italian, Serbian, and Slovak.
About the Lecture: In 2017, Graham Allison, founding dean of the Harvard Kennedy School and former assistant secretary of defense, published “Destined For War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap?” Allison’s Thucydides’s Trap rapidly became an influential statement on the challenge that a rising China poses to the international order created and lead by the United States. To help understand the dangers that China’s rapid economic, technological, and military growth poses to both countries, Allison draws on the classic statement on great power war — Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War — to argue that the “structural stress caused when a rising power threatens to upend a ruling one” makes even “ordinary flashpoints” likely to trigger large-scale conflict.” Allison is certainly right about the growth of China. And he is right to look to Thucydides for help. But Allison reduces Thucydides’ magisterial work to an instrument of realpolitik. Using Thucydides’ account of the siege of Plataea as a guide to China’s contemporary treatment of Hong Kong, we can see another, deeper and richer, lesson in Thucydides’ History, one that must not be forgotten by those who wish, in the face of Chinese authoritarianism, to preserve the fragile but precious gift of freedom at the heart of Western civilization. About the Speaker: Bernard J. Dobski is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Assumption College and is currently a Visiting Scholar for 2019-2020 at the Heritage Foundation. He is the co-editor of two volumes on Shakespeare’s political thought. His articles and essays on the political wisdom of Thucydides, Xenophon, Shakespeare, and Mark Twain appear in the Review of Politics, Interpretation, Society, and Philosophy & Literature. He has also published on foreign policy, military strategy, sovereignty, and nationalism.
About the Book: Historically, operations and studies regarding maritime security focus on individual threats (e.g., piracy, terrorism, narcotics, etc.) and individual measures to target them (e.g., counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics). This book explores, for the first time, an overall strategy for maritime security, integrating these issues into a single framework. Tallis argues that as maritime security threats rise in sophistication, it will be increasingly appealing to apply military resources to counter them. Military tactics, however, may not be the ideal mechanisms for addressing challenges that are often closer to crime than they are to war. Leveraging the sea services’ capabilities, without overly militarizing maritime security, is a complicated problem set that requires a more strategic and partner-oriented approach to the challenge. At stake, in Tallis’ estimation, is the war for tomorrow’s most important communities, their human security, and the muddy waters on which they and the global system rely. About the Author: Dr. Tallis is a research scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center where he specializes in maritime security, naval strategy, and foreign policy. His project management experience includes directing cross-disciplinary teams building novel research designs to address unstructured strategic and operational questions. He has also conducted independent field research, including embarking USS Harry S. Truman during the U.S. Navy’s first Arctic carrier deployment in nearly 30 years as civilian analyst and adviser to the strike group commander. Tallis holds a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of St Andrews, where he researched theories of littoral security that resulted in the book, The War for Muddy Waters: Pirates, Terrorists, Traffickers, and Maritime Insecurity (Naval Institute Press, 2019).
About the book: In the halcyon days of the Reagan administration, a young artist was brought in to give the president’s closest friend piano lessons with White House clearance as a political appointee. What the young pianist saw is what few Americans knew. In this true but little known story, John Robilette has changed the names in a novelized account of being the only Reagan appointee that was fired and rehired before creating a public diplomacy program that helped to win the Cold War. And not with the firing of a gun, but with classical music in 63 countries around the world. This sad, comical and explosive story of an innocent in the vortex of power is a must for Americans who are interested in their government, humor, and the arts. “John Robilette is a brilliant pianist and famous international performer — but, as he shows in this fascinating little book, he was keeping his eyes wide open in that world he so crowned. ‘Federal Pianist,’ based on his own rich experience with the arts in the federal government is alternatively engrossing, sad, and comical. Bravely, he opens a heretofore closed door into the little-known world of arts and foreign policy; you’d be wise to walk right in.” ~Georgie Anne Geyer, Syndicated Columnist, and Foreign Correspondent. About the author: John Robilette is an international concert pianist who has performed in 26 countries around the world including some of its major classical music venues. He has also recorded commercial CDs’ of solo pieces as well as piano concerti with leading orchestras in Europe. Also now a SAG actor, he has had the lead or supporting roles in nine independent films, many of which were officially selected in film festivals around the United States and in Tokyo, Japan. He further wrote, directed, and produced a 30-minute short comedy film entitled, “My Piano Lesson.” This year he has been named to the 26th Annual SAG awards nominating committee to determine the best male and female actors in drama and comedy for television. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Catholic University of America with earlier studies at the École Normale de Musique in Paris, France. Dr. Robilette has further served on the piano faculties of two universities and given master classes around the world. As a young man in 1981, he was asked to play a recital at the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. Subsequently, he was brought into the administration as a political appointee where he created and directed the Artistic Ambassador Program for the United States Information Agency from 1983-1989. This was an intercultural exchange program revolving around classical music which became popular in 63 countries around the world and was honored at the White House.
About the Lecture: The Maduro regime in Venezuela is sustained through a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, sophisticated matrix of foreign and domestic actors that includes armed groups in Venezuela and transnational criminal and foreign terrorist organizations. While most attention is paid to Cuba, China, and Russia’s role in Venezuela, the regime has increasingly relied on an array of Middle Eastern actors, namely Hezbollah and Iran, to project their revolutionary goals regionwide. Joseph Humire, a former Marine and Iraq war veteran, will present the findings of more than three years of ongoing research that includes many trips to South America to collect firsthand information from those with intimate knowledge of the threat. He has repeatedly briefed these findings on the historic and immigration ties between Venezuela and the Middle East to the Defense Ministries of Brazil, Colombia, as well as various entities within the US Department of Defense, namely Special Operations Command. About the Speaker: Joseph M. Humire is a global security expert, specializing in trans-regional threats in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Humire provides regular briefings and lectures on international terrorism, transnational organized crime, Islamism and Iran and Hezbollah’s influence in the Americas to various entities within the U.S. national security community, as well as prominent think tanks and universities worldwide. He has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress as well as the European and Canadian Parliament. Mr. Humire has also served as an expert witness to several important terrorism trials in South America, including an ongoing trial of an accused Hezbollah operative in Peru. Mr. Humire is a regular national security commentator for a variety of major English and Spanish language media, including Univision, Telemundo, CNN en Español, and NTN24 regional news network, as well as Fox News and CNN International. He has published in both languages for various newspapers and academic journals across the Americas and released his first book in 2014 titled Iran’s Strategic Penetration of Latin America, published by Lexington Books. More recently, he wrote the foreword for a new book by Dr. Max G. Manwaring, titled Confronting the Evolving Global Security Landscape published by Praeger Security International. Mr. Humire currently serves as the executive director of the next generation, national security think tank—Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS)—based in Washington D.C. and is a distinguished senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Middle East Forum. Prior to SFS, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps with a combat tour in Iraq and a multinational training exercise UNITAS in Latin America and the Caribbean. After leaving the military, he graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Economics and Global Affairs. Mr. Humire began building SFS’s global network of more than 100 security scholars in almost 30 countries worldwide as the Director of Institute Relations at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Mr. Humire’s unique blend of military experience, economics education, and expertise in asymmetric warfare, offers a new perspective to U.S. foreign policy and national security.
About the Lecture: The Trump Administration’s national defense strategy contains the following judgment: “The central challenge to U.S. prosperity and security is the reemergence of long-term, strategic competition by…revisionist powers.” Why has “great-power competition” become a—if not the—dominant construct guiding the U.S. foreign policy establishment’s understanding of contemporary geopolitics? What are its analytical underpinnings and prescriptive implications? About the Speaker: Ali Wyne is a Washington, DC-based policy analyst in the RAND Corporation’s Defense and Political Sciences Department. He serves as a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and a nonresident fellow with the Modern War Institute. Since January 2015 he has been the rapporteur for a U.S. National Intelligence Council working group that convenes government officials and international relations scholars to analyze trends in the world order. Ali served as a junior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s China Program from 2008 to 2009 and as a research assistant to Graham Allison at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs from 2009 to 2012. He has also conducted research for Robert Blackwill, Derek Chollet, Henry Kissinger, Wendy Sherman, and Richard Stengel. From January to July 2013 he worked on a team that prepared Samantha Power for her confirmation hearing to be ambassador to the United Nations. From 2014 to 2015 he was a member of the RAND Corporation’s adjunct staff, working for the late Richard Solomon on its “Strategic Rethink” series. Ali graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with dual degrees in Management Science and Political Science (2008) and received his Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School (2017), where he was a course assistant to Joseph Nye. While at the Kennedy School, he served on a Hillary for America working group on U.S. policy towards Asia. Ali is a coauthor of Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on China, the United States, and the World (2013) and a contributing author to Our American Story: The Search for a Shared National Narrative (2019), Power Relations in the Twenty-First Century: Mapping a Multipolar World? (2017), and the Routledge Handbook of Public Diplomacy (2008). He has published extensively in outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, and the Christian Science Monitor. Ali delivered the welcome address at the 2011 St. Gallen Symposium, participated in the 2015 Manfred Wörner Seminar, was selected to attend the 2016 Young Strategists Forum and the 2018 Brussels Forum Young Professionals Summit, and participated in the 2018 China-U.S. Young Scholars Dialogue, the 2019 Taiwan-U.S. Policy Program, and the 2019 Atlantik-Brücke Young Leaders Program. In 2012, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy and the Diplomatic Courier selected him as one of the 99 most influential professionals in foreign policy under 33. Ali is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a David Rockefeller fellow with the Trilateral Commission, and a security fellow with the Truman National Security Project.
About the Lecture: What sorts of people rise to leadership in the Chinese Communist Party? How do they get to the top? What qualities define them? How should we deal with them? A retired American diplomat speaks from his experience in China. About the Speaker: William McCahill joined NBR as a Senior Resident Fellow in July 2016. His work focuses on Chinese politics and policy. Before joining NBR, Mr. McCahill had worked in Hong Kong and China as the Senior Advisor for China at Mirabaud & Cie., a Swiss private bank headquartered in Geneva, and earlier in a similar capacity for Religare Capital Markets. He had previously co-founded and managed a China-focused equities and macro research firm, opened the Beijing office of a major American law firm, and operated a business consultancy in China. A 25-year Foreign Service career preceded McCahill’s business activities. He began his diplomatic service in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Beijing; subsequently held senior posts at US missions in Western Europe, Scandinavia, and Canada; and in 2000 retired from his last posting as Chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. His academic background includes degrees from Boston College and Harvard University in Theology, English, the History of Religion, and Sanskrit & Indian Studies.
About the Book: The media often suggest that Russia poses the greatest threat to America’s national security, but the real danger lies farther east. While those in power have been distracted and disorderly, China has waged a six-front war on America’s economy, military, diplomacy, technology, education, and infrastructure–and they’re winning. It’s almost too late to undo the shocking, though nearly invisible, victories of the Chinese. In Stealth War, retired Air Force Brigadier General Robert Spalding reveals China’s motives and secret attacks on the West. Chronicling how our leaders have failed to protect us over recent decades, he provides shocking evidence of some of China’s most brilliant ploys, including: • Placing Confucius Institutes in universities across the United States that serve to monitor and control Chinese students on campus and spread communist narratives to unsuspecting American students. • Offering enormous sums to American experts who create investment funds that funnel technology to China. • Signing a thirty-year agreement with the U.S. that allows China to share peaceful nuclear technology, ensuring that they have access to American nuclear know-how. Spalding’s concern isn’t merely that America could lose its position on the world stage. More urgently, the Chinese Communist Party has a fundamental loathing of the legal protections America grants its people and seeks to create a world without those rights. Despite all the damage done so far, Spalding shows how it’s still possible for the U.S. and the rest of the free world to combat–and win–China’s stealth war. About the Author: Robert Spalding retired from the U.S. Air Force as a brigadier general after more than twenty-six years of service. He completed his career as the senior director for strategic planning to the president at the National Security Council, and was the chief architect for the National Security Strategy. He is a former China strategist for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, as well as a senior defense official and defense attaché to China. He earned his doctorate in economics and mathematics from the University of Missouri and is fluent in Mandarin.
About the Lecture: Energy security has been a perennial concern since the early 1970s. But what exactly do we mean by energy security, and how do we know if it’s getting better or worse? This presentation discusses different dimensions of U.S. energy security and how they can be measured in an index. The presentation also will look at how the U.S. performs compared to other large energy-using countries. About the Speaker: Stephen D. Eule is vice president for climate and technology at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute. With more than two decades of experience, Eule is a recognized and respected expert on the nexus between energy and climate change. He engages with business groups across the world, is asked frequently to testify before Congress, and is quoted often in major media outlets. Eule represents the Chamber in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and helped found the Major Economies Business Forum on Energy Security and Climate Change, a coalition of more than 20 national cross-sector business organizations from major economies. Eule also is responsible for GEI’s two authoritative energy security reports—the Index of U.S. Energy Security Risk and the International Index of Energy Security Risk. These risks indices represent the first and most comprehensive efforts to quantify energy security risks over time and across a wide range of measures. They have been cited by the International Energy Agency and are used by universities and think tanks across the world. Previously, Eule was director of the Office of Climate Change Policy & Technology at the Department of Energy. There he oversaw the development of the U.S. Climate Change Technology Program Strategic Plan in 2006 and ran President Bush’s Climate VISION program. Internationally, Eule represented DOE as part of the U.S. government delegations to the UNFCCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the G20, and other multilateral forums. He was lead chapter author on the U.S. Climate Action Report—2006 and contributed to other U.S. government publications. His prior experience includes a decade working in various public policy positions. He was a subcommittee staff director on the House Science Committee and served as legislative director for Rep. Nick Smith (R-MI). In addition, Eule was an environmental analyst in the Washington, D.C., office of New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ). Earlier, he worked for eight years as an Orkand Corporation consultant to the Energy Information Administration and worked at the Heritage Foundation. Eule earned a Master of Arts degree in geography from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Southern Connecticut State College.
About the Book: In spring 2011, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad turned to his friend and army commander, Manaf Tlass, for advice about how to respond to Arab Spring-inspired protests. Tlass pushed for conciliation but Assad decided to crush the uprising — an act which would catapult the country into an eight-year long war, killing almost half a million and fueling terrorism and a global refugee crisis. Assad or We Burn the Country examines Syria’s tragedy through the generational saga of the Assad and Tlass families, once deeply intertwined and now estranged in Bashar’s bloody quest to preserve his father’s inheritance. By drawing on his own reporting experience in Damascus and exclusive interviews with Tlass, Dagher takes readers within palace walls to reveal the family behind the destruction of a country and the chaos of an entire region. Dagher shows how one of the world’s most vicious police states came to be and explains how a regional conflict extended globally, engulfing the Middle East and pitting the United States and Russia against one another. Timely, propulsive, and expertly reported, Assad or We Burn the Country is the definitive account of this global crisis, going far beyond the news story that has dominated headlines for years. About the Speaker: Sam Dagher is a senior correspondent for The Wall Street Journal focused on Syria, Iraq and Iran. He has worked in the Middle East for more than 12 years. He covered Syria starting in spring 2012. He reported from inside Syria for more than two years and was the only Western correspondent working and living in the Syrian capital Damascus fulltime between June 2013 and August 2014. While in Syria, Dagher reported mainly on the steps taken by the regime of Bashar al-Assad to stay in power and the impact of this on the country and its people. Dagher’s first story from inside Syria in October 2012 was about the counterinsurgency strategy adopted by Assad and his allies Iran and Hezbollah in Damascus which involved demolishing entire neighborhoods sympathetic to rebels and standing up loyalist militias. Dagher also reported on how the regime fueled sectarianism, mobilized loyalist businessmen to evade international sanctions, rallied minorities to fight on its side, besieged and starved opposition areas and contributed to the rise of Islamic militancy in the country. Dagher reported extensively from the strategic central city of Homs, which was subdued by the regime and its allies only after destroying large parts of it and changing its demographics by driving out most of its Sunni inhabitants. Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority is leading the rebellion against Assad. He also spent time in Syria’s largest city Aleppo, a place partitioned by war. In August 2014 the regime banned Dagher from entering Syria. In October 2014 he was able to enter the Kurdish-controlled part of the country in the northeast, where he reported on how Kurds were battling Islamic State in order to establish their own self-rule area. He also reported on the battle between Kurds and Islamic State for oil resources and the impact of this on people.
About the Book: The Red Sea is one of the world’s most important trade routes, a theater of power struggle among local, regional, and global powers. Military and political developments continue to impact on the geostrategic landscape of the region in the context of its trade thoroughfare for Europe, China, Japan and India; freedom of navigation is a strategic interest for Egypt, and essential for Israel’s economic ties with Asia. Superpower confrontation is inevitable. China, the US, France, Japan and Saudi Arabia have military bases in Djibouti. US strategy seeks to curb Chinese economic influence and Russian political interference in the region through diplomacy and investment. And at the centre of US alliances is the “war on terror” still prevalent in the Middle East and East Africa: Islamic terror groups Al Shabaab in Somalia and Kenya; Al Qaeda of the Arab Peninsula in Yemen; and the Islamic State in Egypt. The civil war in Yemen has become the arena for Iran and Saudi Arabia’s struggle for regional hegemony. Saudi Arabia’s Sunni Arab coalition have been fighting Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels to a stalemate (December 2018). In 2016 Egypt ceded Saudi Arabia the Tiran and Sanafir Islands, the narrow sea passages between the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas, giving control of the entire length of the Red Sea. This, and other perceived positive geostrategic developments, have to be offset by the “nuclearization” of the Red Sea basin (directed in part by Russian foreign policy) and the dangers of multiple country military deployments in the hubs of radical Islam and terrorism potential. A stable future for the region cannot be taken for granted. And as alliances shift and change, so will Israel’s foreign policy and strategic partnerships have to adjust. About the Speaker: Dr. Col. (Res.) Shaul Shay is a senior research fellow of the International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism (ICT) and former Director of Research at the Institute for Strategy and Policy (IPS) at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel.
About the Lecture: This lecture will discuss an industry standards based approach to manage cyber security threats. The focus will be to understand holistically where weaknesses exist and the overall cyber security posture. Also discussed will be a prioritized approach for mitigating the most serious threats and associated remediation. This will focus on complete end to end cyber security management, starting from all end points to all network connected devices as well as the cloud infrastructure. Additionally, all operating systems and application vulnerabilities and ports associated with these devices will be reviewed and a holistic approach for continuous cyber security management. About the Speaker: Ari Bose is the CEO & President at Torii Technologies where he provides the leadership that is driving innovation and growth for Torii Technologies, which is a cyber security and compliance company. Prior to Torii, Ari was the Chief Information Officer for major, global companies such as Brocade, Polycom, UTStarcom and 3COM. Ari is a Global Information Technology, Operations, and Business Transformation executive with demonstrated success in leading teams and line management to design, implement, and communicate transformational changes that improve business performance and drive profitability. His track record is one of successfully leading critical corporate initiatives in rapidly changing, diverse global environments. Ari is a strategic leader and advisor, able to mentor and motivate business and technical teams across a variety of verticals to achieve superior results.
About the Lecture: This lecture will focus on the Trump Administration’s withdrawal from the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and the Administration’s strategy towards Iran. Michael Pregent will discuss the reasons for the Administration’s withdrawal from the JCPOA, the rationale behind the Administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign, the Administration’s naming of the IRGC as a terrorist organization and the impact that action may have on Iran’s ability to exercise influence in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere. This will be considered in the context of the Trump Administration’s broader plans for the Middle East that seek to simultaneously turn the tables on our enemies there while attempting to cut back on the U.S. military footprint on the ground. About the Speaker: Michael Pregent is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He is a senior Middle East analyst, a former adjunct lecturer for the College of International Security Affairs, and a visiting fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. Pregent is a former intelligence officer with over 28 years of experience working in security, terrorism, counter-insurgency, and policy issues in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. He is an expert in Middle Eastern and North African political and security issues, counter-terrorism analysis, stakeholder communications, and strategic planning. He spent considerable time working malign Iranian influence in Iraq as an advisor to Iraq’s Security and Intelligence apparatus. Pregent served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and he served as a liaison officer in Egypt during the 2000 Intifada, as a counter-insurgency intelligence officer at CENTCOM in 2001, and as a company commander in Afghanistan in 2002. Additionally, Pregent served as an embedded advisor with the Peshmerga in Mosul from 2005-2006. Also, as a civilian SME working for DIA, Pregent served as a political and military advisor to USF-I focusing on reconciliation, the insurgency, and Iranian influence in Iraq from 2007-2011. He was a violent extremism and foreign fighter analyst at CENTCOM from 2011-2013.
This lecture is our ninth annual Kosciuszko Chair Military Lecture held in honor of Gen. Walter Jajko. It is sponsored by the Center for Intermarium Studies and the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics. About the Lecture: About the Lecture: Maurice Pate (1894-1965) was an American gentleman of the old WASP school who already early in his youth felt an urge to help civilian victims, children in particular, of war, revolution, and other calamities. He will serve as a paradigm for our inquiry about humanitarian aspects of conflict. The focus will be on the American Relief Administration whose charity work saved millions of Europeans from death and disease. Specifically, this lecture will refer to Pate’s role in ARA’s stupendous effort in Poland between 1919 and 1921, while also covering briefly his career afterwards, which culminated in the assumption of the post of the executive director of UNICEF. The lecture will be based on the research conducted for the Intermarium/Pinsk project at the Seely G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University, and Hoover Institution, Stanford, California, among other places. About the Speaker: About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. Professor Chodakiewicz is the head of the Center for Intermarium Studies at The Institute of World Politics. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University
About the Lecture: Belarus can’t find a way out of geopolitical turbulence. In contrast to neighboring Ukraine, Russian meddling here is mostly done through soft power. But the Belarusian society is growing more resilient in the face of the Kremlin’s narratives. Confronting Russian revanchism, Belarusians embrace their pre-soviet history, like a heritage of Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Rzeczpospolita. Before Presidential elections next year, and Population census this fall, a discussion about identity and national ideology is intensifying. What can the West do about it? About the Speaker: Franak Viačorka is the Vice President of the Digital Communication Network. He concurrently works as the consultant for U.S. Agency for Global Media, and he is the Creative Director of RFE/RL Belarus Service. Mr. Viačorka is a frequent speaker and advocate for democracy and personal freedom in post-Soviet countries. An expert in Russian disinformation, he recently published research on the Kremlin-backed media, Russian Orthodox church, and think-tanks as the Kremlin’s “soft-power." Mr. Viačorka has earned degrees from American University in Washington D.C. and Warsaw University in Poland, and he has also studied at Georgetown University and European Humanities University.
About the Lecture: Until about two decades ago, Israel imported 98 percent of its energy requirements from far off places on the globe. Although located in a region rich in oil and gas, relation of political enmity with the producers effectively rendered the Jewish state an energy island, isolated from intra-regional energy trade and electricity grids. Securing energy supply from abroad has always been a major concern of Israeli policymakers. However, with the discovery of natural gas in its Mediterranean waters, Israel’s energy-dependent status is changing rapidly. Today, close to 70 percent of Israel’s electricity is generated from natural gas; the rest comes from imported coal. Israel’s transportation still relies exclusively on imported oil, a small amount of which is also used in industrial, residential and commercial sectors. To meet its growing energy requirement and vulnerability vis-à-vis the imports of fossil fuels, Israel – similar to other large energy consumers, such as, India, China and Turkey – has evolved a multi-faceted energy security strategy, which has six essential components. These include, broadening of import; pursuit of proximate supply sources; constant search for indigenous energy; development of renewables and alternatives; ensuring physical security of energy installations; and promotion of energy efficiency. This lecture will talk about each of these components and assess the on-going transformation of Israel’s energy status from import-dependency to energy self-sufficiency that is underpinned by the gas discoveries. About the Speaker: Dr. Sujata Ashwarya is Associate Professor in the Centre for West Asian Studies [Middle Eastern], Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. She received her MPhil and PhD degrees in West Asian Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She was awarded research fellowships at the Rothberg International School, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (MSH) and Centre d’Etudes et des Recherches Internationales (CERI), Paris; and the Schusterman Centre for Israel Studies, Brandeis University, USA. She was also affiliated as a researcher at the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Iran. Her research interests cover a wide range of areas related to politics, economics and international relations of West Asia. Of primary focus are the domestic development, foreign policy and strategic-security issues (especially those related to Iran, Iraq and Israel), politics of energy, conflict and peace-making, and themes related to civil society and democratization in the region. She also has a strong interest in exploring India’s West Asia policy. A frequent traveler, Dr Ashwarya has presented more than 50 research papers in national and international conferences and seminars. She has more than 30 published research articles and has written, edited and co-edited 5 books. Her books include, Israel’s Mediterranean Gas: Domestic Governance, Economic Impact, and Strategic Implications (Routledge, 2019), Contemporary West Asia: Perspectives on Change and Continuity (co-edited; Routledge, 2019); India-Iran Relations: Progress, Problems and Prospects (Routledge, 2017); Essays on Iran and Israel: An Indian Perspective(Knowledge World, 2014); and Civil Society, Democracy and State in West Asia (edited; New Century, 2010).
About the lecture: Dr. Chodakiewicz will discuss the details of the Nazi and the Soviet attack on Poland in 1939. He will explain pre-war diplomatic arrangements and the impossible predicament of Poland stuck between Germany and the Soviet Union. About the Speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. Professor Chodakiewicz is the head of the Center for Intermarium Studies at The Institute of World Politics. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
Title: The Fight So Far About the Lecture: Lieutenant General Michael Nagata, USA, Ret. will discuss a strategic review of the US Government’s efforts against terrorism, both past and present. About the Speaker: Michael K. Nagata retired from the US Army in 2019 after 38 years of Active Duty, 34 of which were spent in US Special Operations. His final position was Director of Strategy for the National Counterterrorism Center from 2016 to 2019. As an Officer, he initially served as a Platoon Leader in the 2nd Infantry Division before volunteering for Army Special Forces in 1984. In Special Forces, he served in various positions including Detachment Commander, Company Executive Officer, Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer, and Group Operations Officer. He then served within the US Intelligence Community in Washington D.C. as a Military Deputy for Counterterrorism until 2009. Afterward, he deployed again until late 2011 to Pakistan as the Deputy Chief, Office of the Defense Representative at the US Embassy there. Upon returning to the US, he served on the Joint Staff as the Deputy Director for Special Operations and Counterterrorism until 2013. LTG (R) Nagata assumed command of Special Operations Command-Central, and was responsible for Special Operations across the Central Command region from 2013 to 2015, and was heavily involved in the first two years of combat operations against the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere.
The Mission of the Republic of Senegal to the UN hosted a United Nations roundtable for 14+ member nations on July 30, 2019. Dr. Matthew Daniels of IWP, Stephen Enada of the Int Committee on Nigeria, and Katy Money of Ushahidi led the discussion on how NGOs are using digital media.
Title: Losing One’s Country Twice, Finding it Once About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of The Loss of Country Panel, which was held at The Institute of World Politics on June 13th. About the Panelist: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
Title: To Lose a Country: France 1940 About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of The Loss of Country Panel, which was held at The Institute of World Politics on June 13th. About the Panelist: Dr. John J. Tierney, Jr. is a Professor Emeritus at The Institute of World Politics and teaches History of American Foreign Policy, History of International Relations, Peace, Strategy and Conflict Resolution, and U.S. Foreign Policy: Current and Future Challenges. He served for many years as the Walter Kohler Professor of International Relations at IWP. Dr. Tierney is a Former Special Assistant and Foreign Affairs Officer for the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (1981-1993); He formerly participated in various national security negotiations for U.S. Government. He was Executive Director of the Congressional Caucus on National Defense and the National Security Research Group, U.S. House of Representatives. He is former Chairman of the Politics Department at Catholic University and former Professor of International Relations at Univserity of Virginia and The Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of Chasing Ghosts and The Politics of Peace.
Title: The Artful Recluse: 17th Century China About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of The Loss of Country Panel, which was held at The Institute of World Politics on June 13th. About the Panelist: Dr. Richard J. Bishirjian, was Founding President and Professor of Government at Yorktown University from 2000 to 2016. He earned a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and a Ph.D. in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame under the direction of Gerhart Niemeyer. While a graduate student at Notre Dame he studied under Eric Voegelin. After completing graduate work at Notre Dame, he did advanced study with Michael Oakeshott at the London School of Economics. Dr. Bishirjian taught at colleges and universities in Indiana, Texas and New York and is the author of a history of political theory, editor of A Public Philosophy Reader and The Conservative Rebellion (2015) and The Coming Death and Future Resurrection of American Higher Education(2017), published by St. Augustine’s Press. Dr. Bishirjian is the author of professional essays in The Political Science Reviewer, Modern Age, Review of Politics, Anamnesis and The Imaginative Conservative. He has published topical essays in Chronicles and the American Spectator.
Title: Citizens as Instruments of National Power About the Lecture: To achieve national security and foreign policy objectives, the United States must embrace new approaches and use all instruments of national power, including our citizens and private sector. This talk will discuss how private resources and new models of private-public collaboration are complementing U.S. government capabilities in Ukraine, Syria, Serbia, Laos, West Africa, and elsewhere. About the Speaker: Mr. Jim Hake founded Spirit of America (SoA) in response to the attacks of 9/11. SoA is a citizen-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian and economic assistance in response to needs identified by U.S. troops and diplomats serving abroad. Prior to SoA, Mr. Hake was an Internet entrepreneur. He founded Access Media, one of the first Internet media companies, and sold it to SOFTBANK Forums. It was later incorporated into Ziff Davis. In 2000 and 2001, Mr. Hake was named a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum. He has been honored at the Marines Evening Parade, and he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an Honorary Member of the US Army Civil Affairs Regiment, and a member of State Department’s Stabilization Advisory Council. Additionally, Mr. Hake is a contributing author to Warriors and Citizens, and he has lectured on entrepreneurship at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, the SMU Cox School of Business, and USC’s Annenberg School for Communication. He has given talks at the TED Conference, the Aspen Institute, the Bush School at Texas A&M, and the Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Title: Chinese Influence Operations Against Taiwan and Beyond This event is sponsored by IWP’s China lecture series. About the Lecture: J. Michael Cole will explore ongoing influence operations by China against one of the principal targets of its political warfare activities. He will then make the case for greater cooperation between Taiwan and other democracies worldwide. About the Speaker: About the Speaker: J. Michael Cole is a Taipei-based Senior Fellow with the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, D.C., Senior Fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, Senior Fellow with the Taiwan Studies Program at the University of Nottingham, U.K., Associate Researcher with the French Center for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC), Assistant Coordinator for the International Coalition for Democratic Renewal-Forum 2000 China Working Group, and Chief Editor of Taiwan Sentinel. Mr. Cole was Chief Editor at Thinking Taiwan, a publication of the Thinking Taiwan Foundation (a foundation created by Tsai Ing-wen in 2012) between 2014 and 2016, and Deputy News Chief and Columnist at the Taipei Times between 2006 and 2013. He is the author of five books. His latest, Convergence or Conflict in the Taiwan Strait, was published by Routledge in fall 2016. He is currently writing a new book on cross-Strait relations since 2016, to be published in July 2019. Before moving to Taiwan in 2005, he was an analyst with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in Ottawa. He has a master’s degree in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, the International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from the Center for International Health and Cooperation/Fordham University, and CX-77 (Peacekeeping) from the Lester B. Pearson International Peacekeeping Center.
Title: A Journey to the Gulag: Experiencing History Through Virtual Reality This event is sponsored by IWP’s Intermarium Lecture Series. To learn more about A Journey to the Gulag please visit Gulag.cz. About the Lecture: Around 20 million people went through the horrors of Soviet labor camps. At least 1.6 million of them died. Among the victims of Soviet repression were also people from European countries and the U.S. Currently, with the exception of the former Perm-36 project, there aren’t any museums in Russia of former Gulag camps from Stalin’s era. However, hundreds of abandoned camps are still hidden away in the Siberian taiga. A small group of enthusiasts visit and document these sites to virtually preserve them to make them accessible to the public through virtual and augmented reality. Štěpán Černoušek will speak about the project documenting the Gulag camps and creating VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) experiences for the unique online Gulag museum. About the Speaker: Štěpán Černoušek is the head of the Virtual Museum Gulag.Online and Chairman of the Gulag.cz Association. Mr. Černoušek regularly visited Chechnya from 2007 to 2010 and created a section of recorded testimonies with Chechen witnesses. In 2013 and 2014, he extended this activity to witnesses from Georgia, Armenia, and North Ossetia. In 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2016, he organized four expeditions to abandoned Gulag camps in Siberia. The result is a virtual museum, Gulag Online, and projects in virtual and augmented reality. In 2016, he established the Russian Memorial Society’s branch office in the Czech Republic. Mr. Černoušek was elected to the Board of the central International Memorial organization in 2018. He is currently on Fulbright scholarship in the U.S., invited by The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.
About the Book: In the era of rising authoritarianism around the world, ordinary people are harnessing the power of digital and social media to advance the universal rights of all human beings in ways never before possible. A blogging revolution in Iran led to new demands for fair elections and human rights. USB drives and SD cards loaded with hours of 'outside' music, news and television, has helped to introduce basic human rights concepts to North Koreans living under authoritarian rule. Law enforcement can now identify hotels used by sex-traffickers when ordinary people upload pictures of their hotel rooms into a database. These are just a few of the stories in Human Liberty 2.0, a new collection of stories about people and organizations around the world using digital and social media to advance the cause of human dignity. Like Chicken Soup for the Soul but with a modern, digital twist, this book includes over two dozen true stories guaranteed to uplift and inspire. Readers will discover how they can participate in the Human Liberty 2.0 revolution and follow in the footsteps of these inspiring adults, teens, and children who are truly the best of humanity…both online and off. Dr. Daniels, IWP's Chair of Law and Human Rights, also teaches a course on Human Rights and Counter-Radicalization which deals with some of these same themes. About the Speaker: Matthew Daniels, JD, Ph.D. teaches human rights and law on three continents and is the creator and Executive Producer of the Human Rights Network, an educational video network promoting universal rights through digital media. Professor Daniels is Chair of Law & Human Rights at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC, and founder of the Center for Law and Digital Culture at Brunel School of Law in London. Daniels is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Handong International Law School in Pohang, South Korea. Professor Daniels is the creator of the non-profit organization Good of All and UniversalRights.com.
About the Book: Red Crew: Fighting the War on Drugs with Reagan’s Coast Guard is a first-hand account of U.S. Coast Guard anti-smuggling operations during the early years of the nation's maritime war on drugs. Jim Howe describes his experience as the executive officer of a specialized drug-hunting crew that sailed in then-state-of-the-art "surface effect ships," a small flotilla of high-speed vessels pressed into the drug war on short notice. In the early 1980s, South Florida and the Caribbean were awash in illicit drugs, with hundreds of smuggling organizations bringing huge loads of marijuana, and later cocaine, into the United States. To fight this epidemic, the Reagan administration led a massive effort to disrupt shore-side gangs while bolstering interdiction activity at sea. To increase the number of days at sea for each surface effect ship, a "multi-crewing" concept was employed, with four teams of sixteen sailors—the Red, Blue, Green, and Gold Crews—rotating among three hulls. Through its first-person narrative, Red Crew offers a rare glimpse into the day-to-day pressures, challenges, failures, and successes of Coast Guard cuttermen as they carried out complex and dangerous missions. Red Crew provides a unique historical view of the early days in the Coast Guard's war on drugs, and is the only book-length history of the diminutive, one-of-a-kind surface effect ship fleet. About the Author: Jim Howe served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard for 27 years, rising to the rank of Captain (O-6). He was stationed aboard cutters for a total of 11 years, with five years in command. During his time at sea he gained extensive experience in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and national security missions. His recent book, Red Crew: Fighting the War on Drugs with Reagan’s Coast Guard (Naval Institute Press) describes his first-hand experiences chasing smugglers and saving lives in the waters off South Florida aboard a one-of-a-kind flotilla of high-speed patrol boats. After retiring from active duty, Howe served for two years as the senior career civil servant in the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Legislative Affairs. He now works in the nuclear fuel industry. From 2003 to 2005, Howe served in the Office of the Vice President of the United States as Special Advisor for Homeland Security, focusing on border and transportation security issues. During that time he interacted daily with the law enforcement professionals at a number of federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Secret Service, and he made several fact-finding visits to America’s northern and southern borders. He is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Government. Howe earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Government from Harvard University (Extension School); there, his master’s thesis examined maritime drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps War College, earning a Master of Strategic Studies degree, and in 2014 he earned a Master of Science degree in Space Studies from American Military University. He also is a graduate of the MIT Seminar XXI program and currently is conducting post-graduate research at the University of Leicester. Howe has written on national and border security topics and is an award-winning author.
About the Book: Turkey and America: East & West - Where the Twain Meet is a synthesis of the author’s now lifetime of deep and abiding personal and professional experiences that have led to his deep understanding of the American Experience, the Mediterranean World, and U.S.-Turkish relations. The narrative guides the audience to bridges, where others may see only chasms. The reader is transported, back and forth, from East to West, across the centuries, juxtaposing geography and discovery, politics and war, religion and the arts, terrorism, key figures and human triumphs. The goal of the journey is a better appreciation for the nature of both historic and current controversies and under-recognized extraordinary contributions that lie at the heart of the East-West dynamic. This book seeks to decode some of the presumptions and misconceptions that tend to become the prisms through which both individual and state perceptions are filtered and pose as “the truth”. These truths, like beauty, tend to vary in the eyes of the beholder. About the Author: Dr. Henry “Phil” Williams III is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of World Politics. He has received Degrees and Diplomas from Culver Military Academy, the Universities of Virginia, Edinburgh, and Florence, and a PhD in International Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts University. He has worked in four foreign languages and studied and worked more than ten years of his life on the Mediterranean, including stints in Turkey doing Doctoral Research, Investment Banking, Consulting, and university-level teaching.
About the Book: Since September 11, 2001, the CIA and DoD have operated together in Afghanistan, Iraq, and during counterterrorism operations. Although the global war on terrorism gave the CIA and DoD a common purpose, it was actions taken in the late eighties and early nineties that set the foundation for their current relationship. Driven by the post--Cold War environment and lessons learned during military operations, policy makers made intelligence support to the military the Intelligence Community's top priority. In response to this demand, the CIA/DoD instituted policy and organizational changes that altered the CIA/DoD relationship. While debates over the future of the Intelligence Community were occurring on Capitol Hill, the CIA and DoD were expanding their relationship in peacekeeping and nation-building operations in Somalia and the Balkans. By the late 1990s, some policy makers and national security professionals became concerned that intelligence support to military operations had gone too far, weakening the long-term analysis required for strategy and policy development. In Subordinating Intelligence: The DoD/CIA Post--Cold War Relationship, David P. Oakley reveals that, despite these concerns, no major changes to either national intelligence organization or its priorities were implemented. These concerns were forgotten after 9/11, as the United States fought two wars and policy makers increasingly focused on tactical and operational actions. As policy makers became fixated with terrorism and the United States fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, the CIA directed a significant amount of its resources toward global counterterrorism efforts and in support of military operations. About the Author: LTC David Oakley is a FA59 (Strategist) with over twenty years as a national security professional within the US Army and the Intelligence Community. He currently serves as an assistant professor at National Defense University’s College of International Security Affairs (CISA) in Washington, D.C. Dave was commissioned a Field Artillery officer in December 1998 through Pittsburg State University’s Reserve Officer Training Corp. After completing the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, he served in South Korea as a platoon leader with 6-37 Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division. Dave was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma from 1999-2005 where he served in the Field Artillery Training Center as a battery executive officer, detachment commander, assistant brigade S-3, battery commander, and company commander. Dave temporarily left active duty for the Army Reserve after completing company command. While off active duty, Dave was selected for the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Clandestine Service Trainee (CST) Program as a Staff Operations Officer (SOO). After graduating from the CIA’s SOO Certification Course, Dave served within the CIA’s Near East Division. Following his CIA service, Dave served as a contractor with the National Counterterrorism Center’s Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning. Dave returned to active duty as a FA59 in late 2007. Following completion of the Basic Strategic Arts Program (BSAP), he served as a planner with the 1st Infantry Division (1ID) at Fort Riley, Kansas. In 2010, he deployed with 1ID to Iraq where he served as a liaison officer to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. In 2011, Dave moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he attended the Command and General Staff School followed by the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS). In 2013, Dave departed Fort Leavenworth for Fort Sam Houston, Texas where he served as a planner with 5th Army/Army North until 2015.
Jack Doyle, Valedictorian of the IWP Class of 2019, gave remarks during IWP's Commencement ceremony, which took place at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. on May 18. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
Title: Gender Systems and National Security This lecture is a part of the The Institute of World Politics' 2019 Student Symposium that was held on May 16th. About the Lecture: The lecture will examine how various cultures’ practices relating to courtship, marriage, and reproduction play out in the extended order as national security issues. About the Speaker: Helen Lamm is an M.A. candidate in Statecraft and International Affairs at the Institute of World Politics with a concentration in American Foreign Policy, and she is graduating this May. Helen is a Mt. Vernon Fellow at the Center for American Greatness and a Publius Fellow at the Claremont Institute. She publishes a weekly column at American Greatness on topics related to culture and politics.
General John W. Nicholson, Jr., USA (Ret.), "Mick," former Commander of U.S. Forces - Afghanistan and NATO Resolute Support Mission, gave the keynote address at IWP Commencement on May 18. 2019 at the Fairmont Hotel. The Institute of World Politics awarded him with a Doctorate of Laws, Honoris Causa.
Founder and President of The Institute of World Politics, John Lenczowski, delivered remarks at IWP's Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2019, at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
The invocation at The Institute of World Politics Commencement on May 18, 2019, was given by Captain Christopher D. Glass, Sr., USN (Ret.), Senior Vice President for Professional Affiliations at IWP and also an IWP parent. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
Title: Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters in Germany: An Assessment of the Threat and Policy Options This lecture is a part of the The Institute of World Politics' 2019 Student Symposium that was held on May 16th. About the Lecture: In the wake of the Arab Spring, nearly one thousand German citizens traveled to Syria and Iraq to join Islamist terrorist groups. About a third of these are now back in the Federal Republic. Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) present a tremendous challenge for the German authorities as many of them are combat experienced, can radicalize others, and recruit them to conduct attacks. Officials have mainly aimed at speedy incarceration proceedings in order to avoid public pressure and contain the immediate security risk. This only postpones the threat because prison sentences are typically short and, therefore, do not represent a long-term solution. To prevent returning FTFs from conducting attacks in Germany and undermining the social fabric, the country should tailor its approach for each case and reassert the legitimacy and relevance of the state using the legal system. Germany must further strengthen its intelligence and surveillance capabilities, improve border controls, and enhance its deradicalization and reintegration programs. Finally, to avoid falling into a “counterterrorism fatigue,” Germany must develop a National Strategy for Counterterrorism to address all dimensions of the challenge of Islamist terrorism. About the Speaker: Tobias Brandt is originally from Hamburg, Germany, and he is an M.A. candidate in Statecraft and International Affairs at the Institute of World Politics graduating in May. His key research interests are U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, terrorism, and the transatlantic relationship. In his final semester at IWP, Tobias wrote an honors thesis on “Pushing Back Terrorist Propaganda and Countering Ideological Support for Militant Islamism.” He has been published in The National Interest, and the paper on which his lecture is based will be featured in the spring issue of the Institute’s Journal Active Measures.
Title: Challenges of the Millennial Generation Towards the Future of U.S. National Security This lecture is a part of the The Institute of World Politics' 2019 Student Symposium that was held on May 16th. About the Lecture: The lecture will examine behaviors and attitudes of the Millennial Generation and how these may present challenges to the U.S. national security apparatus. Ms. Zug will assess four major themes of this generational cohort: their changing relationship with information, the pervasiveness of echo chambers, the rise of the global citizen, and wavering trust in U.S. government institutions. The talk will analyze how aspects of these four areas may undermine U.S. efforts to protect its national security in the future. About the Speaker: Kelly Zug is an M.A. candidate in Statecraft and National Security Affairs at The Institute of World Politics graduating this May. Before studying at IWP, Kelly worked in international development in Eastern Europe and taught English with the Fulbright Program in Bulgaria. Her studies at IWP have focused on Russian influence operations in the information space and the reemergence of Russian active measures in Europe.
Title: The Geopolitics of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue: Maritime Theory or Practice? This lecture is a part of the The Institute of World Politics' 2019 Student Symposium that was held on May 16th. About the Lecture: The lecture will examine the history of this informal partnership and assess the geopolitical motivations of the member states as well as the conflicting policies that have hindered the full-fledged integration. Though the presentation will briefly survey Washington’s and Tokyo’s roles in upholding and advancing this security dialogue, the emphasis will be put on India and Australia as the two weakest links of the partnership. Finally, the talk will examine the future challenges and opportunities of Quad and provide policy recommendations for the United States. About the Speaker: Erik Khzmalyan is an M.A. candidate in Statecraft and National Security Affairs at the Institute of World Politics graduating this May. Erik is a Senior Fellow at the Eurasian Research and Analysis Institute, and his research primarily focuses on U.S. national security and foreign policy.
Title: China's Belt and Road Initiative: A Story of Assessment and Strategic Adaptation This lecture is a part of The Institute of World Politics' China in the World: 21st Century Challenges series. This event is co-sponsored by The Institute of World Politics, the National Bureau of Asian Research, and the Movement for the Renaissance of Vietnam. About the Lecture: About the Lecture: Almost six years after its launch, the Belt and Road Initiative, labelled by Xi Jinping as the "Project of the Century," seems to have reached its culminating point of success. A mounting wave of resistance against the BRI can be felt both within and outside of China. Are these signs that the BRI is grinding to a halt? How is the Chinese leadership reacting to the gathering headwinds facing BRI? What does BRI tell us about the Chinese leadership's capacity to assess, adjust, and adapt? About the Speaker: About the Speaker: Nadège Rolland is Senior Fellow for Political and Security Affairs, at the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), based in Seattle and Washington, D.C. Her research focuses mainly on China's foreign and defense policy and the changes in regional dynamics across Eurasia resulting from the rise of China. Drawing on her 20 years of experience as a French government official, she also examines the prospects for Transatlantic cooperation in research and policy related to Asia. She is the author of China's Eurasian Century? Political and Strategic Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative, published in 2017.
Title: Heaven on Earth: The Rise, Fall, and Afterlife of Socialism About the Book: Socialism was man's most ambitious attempt to supplant religion with a doctrine claiming to ground itself in “science.” Each failure to create societies of abundance or give birth to “the New Man” inspired more searching for the path to the promised land: revolution, communes, social democracy, communism, fascism, Arab socialism, African socialism. None worked, and some exacted a staggering human toll. Then, after two centuries of wishful thinking and bitter disappointment, socialism imploded in a fin de siècle drama of falling walls and collapsing regimes. It was an astonishing denouement but what followed was no less astonishing. After the hiatus of a couple of decades, new voices were raised, as if innocent of all that had come before, proposing to try it all over again. About the Author: Dr. Joshua Muravchik is a Distinguished Fellow at the World Affairs Institute. His most recent book is Heaven on Earth: The Rise, Fall, and Afterlife of Socialism (2019). He is the author of ten previous books and more than 400 articles on politics and international affairs, contributing to, among others, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs,Foreign Policy, the New York Times Magazine, and Commentary. Muravchik, who received his Ph.D. in International Relations from Georgetown University, is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for World Politics. He serves on the editorial boards of World Affairs, Journal of Democracy, and the Journal of International Security Affairs. He formerly served as a member of the State Department’s Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion; the Commission on Broadcasting to the People’s Republic of China; and the Maryland Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Title: New Dynamics of Energy Security; US sanctions on Iran & Venezuela, Shale boom & OPEC About the Lecture: In this lecture Dr. Vakhshouri will discuss the new trends and development in the energy industry and their impacts on global energy security. The key issues that will be discussed are: - US Sanctions on Iran and Venezuela - Shale oil and gas productions and changes in the energy trade flow - OPEC, Saudi Arabia and Russia About the Speaker: Dr. Sara Vakhshouri is Founder and President of SVB Energy International, a strategic energy consulting firm with offices in Washington DC and Dubai. Dr. Vakhshouri has two decades of experience of working in the energy industry with an extensive experience in global energy market studies, energy security and geopolitical risk, and has consulted numerous public and private sector energy and policy leaders. Dr. Vakhshouri has been based in Washington DC since 2009 where she has advised US and European governments, investment banks, financial institutions, law firms and international corporations on energy markets, trading and pricing, the geopolitics of energy, and investment patterns. She has published articles in numerous journals including The Economist, Middle East Economic Survey, and Oil and Gas Journal. Dr. Vakhshouri has been keynote speakers at many energy conferences including Chatham House, Platts Oil and Middle East conferences, LNG Global Congress and other international oil, gas and energy conferences. She is frequently quoted and has appeared on Bloomberg, the BBC, The Financial Times, Reuters, Platts, The Financial Post, The Wall Street Journal, Energy Intelligence, and Voice of America. She is the author of The Marketing and Sale of Iranian Export Crude Oil since the Islamic Revolution and has contributed chapters in different books and energy reports including World Energy Outlook 2018, published by the International Energy Agency. She also regularly does briefings for various energy think tanks and agencies including the International Energy Administration (IEA). Dr. Vakhshouri has a PhD in energy security and Middle Eastern studies. She has an MA in business management (international marketing), and another MA in international relations. Dr. Vakhshouri was also Senior Energy Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Dr. Vakhshouri has also experience of working in both public and private sectors of the Iranian energy industry.
Title: America and Canada: The Statecraft of Two Nations This lecture is a part of The Institute of World Politics' Student Speaker Series. About the Lecture: This event will discuss the ideological differences between America and Canada and how those differences have morphed into the relationship seen today. The speaker will detail what those differences could mean for the future. About the Speaker:Originally from New Jersey, Cory Ott attended Stevenson University in Maryland to earn his Bachelors of Science in Psychology May of 2018. His undergraduate thesis focused morality, views on authority, and guilt experienced with whistleblowing. Mr. Ott is currently studying Statecraft and National Security Affairs at the Institute of World Politics with a focus on intelligence. His lecture is based on a paper he submitted for IWP’s course on International Relations and Statecraft.
About the Book: Blockchain 2035: The Digital DNA of Internet 3.0 is the first book ever written by a Blockchain founder and encapsulates nearly a decade of experience at the bleeding edge of the technology. It includes an introduction to the core components of the technology, and concludes with a predictive assessment of how Blockchain technology will likely be adopted as the world advances into a 21st century dominated by Artificial Intelligence, an Internet of Things, geopolitical competition, increasing income inequality, and sovereign debt crises. About the Authors: Jared C. Tate is the founder of DigiByte, the fastest, most decentralized, and most secure UTXO blockchain in existence today. Beyond cryptocurrency DigiByte is focused on the blockchain's many applications in furthering cybersecurity. DigiByte has pioneered several technical innovations including real-time difficulty adjustments, multi-algorithm mining, and Digi-ID, a decentralized cryptographic form of identity that serves as a more secure replacement for usernames and passwords. Today, code created by Jared and the DigiByte community has been adopted by dozens of other blockchains. Prior to DigiByte, Jared studied at the U.S. Military Academy, the University of Idaho, and Utah Valley University. Andrew D. Knapp is the CEO and founder of VESTi Inc. as well as the co-author of Blockchain 2035. In 2018, Andrew left federal service to lead VESTi, having built the core concepts involved over several years living in the DC metro area. He is a 2013 graduate of IWP (SIS).
Title: The Weaponization of Social Media This lecture is a part of The Institute of World Politics Capitol Hill Speaker Series. About the Lecture: Ethan Burger will examine the relevance of the Russian concepts ‘Hybrid War’ and ‘Cyberwarfare’ as applied to Russian intervention in the 2016 Brexit Referendum and U.S. Presidential Election. This lecture will focus on the similarity of Russia’s social media campaigns which used false information, fake news, and other content aimed at exploiting the fears and passions of the UK and U.S. electorates. The Kremlin did not rely on the use of social media alone to obtain favorable electoral outcomes. In both cases, Russian ties to supporters of Brexit and the Trump campaign remained largely unnoticed until after voting. Finally, Mr. Burger will explore some steps that might be taken to reduce the vulnerability of countries’ citizens to foreign manipulation. About the Speaker: Ethan S. Burger, Esq., is a Washington-based international legal consultant and educator, and he is an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics. His areas of interest include corporate governance, transnational crime (corruption, cybercrime, and money laundering), and Russian affairs. After working as an attorney on Russian commercial, investment, and risk issues, he segued into academic, research, and advisory roles. Mr. Burger has been a full-time faculty member at American University (School of International Law) and the University of Wollongong (Faculty of Law), and he has also been an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University Law Center, University of Baltimore, and Washington College of Law. Mr. Burger has lectured in Colombia, India, and Singapore, and he has taught on cyber issues at Vilnius University on a Fulbright Foundation grant. He holds an A.B. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Written by: Dr. Jolanta Mysiakowska-Muszyńska, Scholar of the Institute of National Remembrance in Warsaw Presented by: Maria Juczewska, Associate Director, Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies Full Title: Between Politics and Social Work: A Study of Women's Activities within the Ranks of the Polish National Movement (1919–1939) About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of The Ninth Annual Lady Blanka Rosential Kosciuszko Chair Spring Symposium that was held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at The Institute of World Politics. About the Author: Dr. Jolanta Mysiakowska-Muszyńska is a graduate of Warsaw University and The Institute of Polish History of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. She works as a scholar for the Institute of National Remembrance in Warsaw and as a deputy editor-in-chief of the semi-annual Glaukopis dealing in history and social issues. She is an author of several books and has published numerous articles in the field of history in scholarly publications. Mrs. Muszyńska is an expert on Polish history, particularly the period between 1919–1939, with a special interest in women’s organizations, as well as the social and political thought of the Polish National Movement. She also conducts research on Polish-British relations in the interwar period.
Title: Boris Smyslovski: WWII, White Russian, Counterinsurgency and Counterintelligence About the Lecture: This lecture is a part of The Ninth Annual Lady Blanka Rosential Kosciuszko Chair Spring Symposium that was held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at The Institute of World Politics. About the Speaker: Dr. Sebastian Bojemski graduated from the Institute of History of Warsaw University and gained his doctoral degree at The Cardinal Wyszyński University in Warsaw. His main research interest is the history of underground organizations active during WWII within the area of the occupied Polish lands - mostly the Polish anti-Nazi, anti-Soviet underground. He authored Narodowe Siły Zbrojne w Powstaniu Warszawskim and Nim Hitler runie śmierć komunie (just published). Dr. Bojemski also has extensive experience in strategic communication and marketing. For over 15 years he had owned a Warsaw-based communication firm and in 2018-2019 was an executive director for marketing at PKN Orlen – the largest oil company in Central Europe.
Full Title: For the Entente's Cause in Tsarist Uniforms: Polish Military Formations in Tsarist Russia During WWI (1914–1918) About the Lecture: This lecture was a part of The Ninth Annual Lady Blanka Rosential Kosciuszko Chair Spring Symposium held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at The Institute of World Politics. About the Speaker: Dr. Wojciech Jerzy Muszyński is a graduate of The Institute of History of Warsaw University and The Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University of Warsaw. He works as a scholar for the Institute of National Remembrance in Warsaw and as the editor-in-chief of the semi-annual Glaukopis dealing in history and social issues. He authored books and published numerous articles in the field of history in the scholarly publications. Mr. Muszyńki specializes in the political history of Poland in the period 1900-1990. His topics of interest include Polish-Jewish relations, military history the social and political thought of the Polish National Movement.
About the Lecture: Over the past twenty years, the United States’ practice of wartime detention has received a great deal of criticism and controversy. Yet, detention is a lawful, humane, and important part of armed conflict. Having long ago moved beyond early errors in its detention policies and practices in its current conflicts, the United States should re-embrace the detention mission in operation and doctrine as a strategic part of its conflicts with al-Qa’ida and ISIS. About the Speaker: Ryan Vogel is an assistant professor of law and national security and the founding Director of the Center for National Security Studies at Utah Valley University. Before coming to UVU, Vogel served at the Pentagon as a senior policy advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He began his career at the Pentagon through the presidential management fellowship program and was awarded the Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service in 2014. Vogel was the principal drafter of several key DoD doctrinal directives related to detention and detainee review processes. Vogel has taught international and national security law courses at American University, Brigham Young University Law School, and the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He completed an LLM in public international law, with a certificate in national security law, from the Georgetown University Law Center. He earned a J.D. and an M.A. in international affairs from American University and graduated from Utah Valley University with a B.S. in Integrated Studies.
About the Book: Though our military remains undefeated, the United States has lost every war since World War II. But within a generation, our military’s fate will undoubtedly change if we continue to cling to the past. Today, more than eighty years after WWII and thirty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the number of armed conflicts being waged around the world has doubled. If the United States refuses to accept that we are, once again, living in dangerous, unpredictable times, it is inevitable that our military—until now undefeated—will fail. Hailed by Publishers Weekly as “an authoritative and skillful analysis of the state of war today” and with a foreword by General Stanley McChrystal (Ret.), The New Rules of War: Victory in the Age of Durable Disorder is an urgent exploration of warfare—past, present, and future—that asks why we no longer win wars, and then explains the ten rules we must follow so we can. About the Author: Dr. Sean McFate is a Professor of Strategy at the National Defense University and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He served as a paratrooper in the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and, then, worked for a major private military corporation, where he ran operations similar to those in his novels Shadow War and Deep Black. He is the author of The Modern Mercenary: Private Armies and What They Mean for World Order, and he holds a BA from Brown University, an MA from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a PhD in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He lives with his family in Washington, DC. You can learn more at www.seanmcfate.com
About the Lecture: Mr. Eftimiades will discuss China's espionage scope, operational methods, targets, and the impact on U.S. national security. The discussion presents analysis of over 280 cases of Chinese espionage. About the Speaker: Nicholas Eftimiades is retired from the US Department of Defense. He is currently a professor at Penn State University. His 34 year government career included employment in CIA as a Technical Operations Officer, Special Agent in the US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and a Senior Intelligence Officer in Defense Intelligence Agency. Mr. Eftimiades held positions in analysis, human and technical intelligence collection, and program management. He distinguished himself numerous times in the senior ranks of the intelligence and defense communities. As a subject matter expert on Chinese espionage, Mr. Eftimiades was called upon to provide Congressional testimony and briefings to the Cox Commission, the Joint Economic Committee, and individual meetings with Congressional Members and staff. He is also one of only seven people appointed as an Intelligence Community Associate to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Intelligence Council. Mr. Eftimiades has an M.S. Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College; and a B.A. East Asian Studies, George Washington University. He has authored books and many scholarly articles on Chinese espionage, technology, and space issues. His book Chinese Intelligence Operations, is an examination of the structure, operations, and methodology of the intelligence services of the People's Republic of China. To date, it remains the only scholarly analysis of China’s intelligence services and operational methodology. Mr. Eftimiades is a frequent lecturer and public speaker on future technology, space, and national security issues. He has appeared as an expert on CBS Evening News, Dateline NBC, ABC's Day One, BBC, BBC America, National Public Radio, and dozens of other television and radio broadcasts. He has been quoted in hundreds of newspapers and magazines across the world.
This discussion is a part of IWP's China series. About the Lecture: The Chinese Communist Party has ruled China for decades, bringing untold disaster upon the Chinese people. Why is it so tenacious, and why do democratic nations continue to engage with it? With decades of experience facing off against communist authorities, human rights activist Chen Guangcheng illuminates the structure of the party-state system in China and its disastrous impact on both Chinese citizens domestically and democratic nations abroad. About the Speaker: Chen Guangcheng, known to many as "the barefoot lawyer," was born and raised in a poor, remote village in Shandong, China. Blind since infancy and barred from school until his late teens, he nonetheless taught himself law as a young adult and became a committed advocate for the poor, disabled, and persecuted. His work drew the ire of the authorities, leading to over seven years of harassment including repeated house arrests, detention in black jails, and over four years in prison. After twenty months of brutal isolation in his own home, on April 20, 2012, he made a dramatic escape that caught the attention of international media. The American embassy in Beijing secured his temporary safety before high-level diplomatic negotiations enabled his exodus to the US. Since beginning his advocacy work, Mr. Chen has been the recipient of numerous awards including Time Magazine 100 Most Influential List (2006), The Ramon Magsaysay Award (2007), The Lantos Human Rights Prize (2012), the UK Parliament’s Westminster Award (2013), and the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy Courage Award (2014). Chen is a frequent media commentator as well as guest speaker at conferences and events around the world. He has established a not-for-profit foundation to further human rights in China, and serves as Visiting Fellow at the Catholic University of America, Distinguished Senior Fellow in Human Rights at the Witherspoon Institute, and Senior Distinguished Advisor to the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. Mr. Chen’s memoir, The Barefoot Lawyer: A Blind Man’s Fight for Justice and Freedom in China, was released by Henry Holt Publishers in 2015 and has since been translated into eight languages worldwide.
The Third Annual Herb Romerstein Memorial Propaganda and Deception Lecture: The Challenge of Counterintelligence Cultures: The Counterintelligence State from Tsarist Russia and the USSR, to Putin’s Russia, the PRC, Cuba & Venezuela, and Resurgent Militant Islam ------------ About the Lecture: This presentation will begin with the counterintelligence cum provocational style of the Tsarist Okhrana’s near classic penetration operations against its indigenous Marxist revolutionary terrorists; proceed through the long, ugly Soviet secret police period (originally annealed in struggling with Okhrana provocations); and explore the counterintelligence continuities and refinements of former KGB Lt. Col. and now Russian President Putin. Yesteryear’s Okhrana/KGB are today’s siloviki. We will then briefly probe the PRC counterintelligence state, whose pedigree long antedates that of Russia; then highlight client counterintelligence state systems such as Cuba and Venezuela; and close with a look at the unsurprising similarities between resurgent militant Islam and the Soviet/Russian counterintelligence state paradigm. ------------ About the Speaker: Dr. Jack Dziak is co-founder and President of Dziak Group, Inc., a consulting firm in the fields of intelligence, counterintelligence, counter-deception, national security affairs, and technology transfer. Dr. Dziak is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC. He has served over five decades as a company President and as a senior intelligence officer and senior executive in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and in the Defense Intelligence Agency, with long experience in counterintelligence, hostile deception, counter-deception, strategic intelligence, weapons proliferation intelligence, and intelligence education. Dr. Dziak received his honors Ph.D. in Russian history from Georgetown University, is a graduate of the National War College, and is a recipient of numerous defense and intelligence awards and citations. He was the co-developer and co-director of the Masters Degree Program in Strategic Intelligence at the Defense Intelligence School, the original predecessor to the current National Intelligence University. He has taught graduate courses at the Institute of World Politics, the National War College, Georgetown University, and The George Washington University; and lectures on intelligence, military affairs, and security issues throughout the US and abroad. Dr. Dziak is the author of the award-winning Chekisty: A History of the KGB, numerous other books, articles, and monographs, including The Military Relationship Between China and Russia, and Soviet Perceptions of Military Power. He currently is preparing a book on foreign counterintelligence systems, as well as other works on intelligence and national security issues.
About the Lecture: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made it clear to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka: Minsk must take steps towards deeper integration between the two countries. Polls have shown that, following the rise of Russian media presence in Belarus, pro-Russian sentiment increased within the society. What, exactly, is the situation in Belarus? What role could Belarusian civil society, the EU, and the U.S. play in the new paradigm? About the Speaker: Franak Viačorka is the Vice President of the Digital Communication Network. He concurrently works as the consultant for U.S. Agency for Global Media, and he is the Creative Director of RFE/RL Belarus Service. Mr. Viačorka is a frequent speaker and advocate for democracy and personal freedom in post-Soviet countries. An expert in Russian disinformation, he recently published research on the Kremlin-backed media, Russian Orthodox church, and think-tanks as the Kremlin's “soft-power.” Mr. Viačorka is the founder and vice president of the Belarusian cultural initiative Art Siadziba. In 2014, after the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity, he launched a nationwide campaign promoting the national identity of Belarus." Before that, he served as a leader of the youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front (BNF). After suffering through torture while serving under forced conscription in the Belarusian army, Mr. Viačorka’s personal story became the plot for the award-winning, Polish-French film Viva Belarus. His work in Belarus has been chronicled by documentary filmmakers and recognized by many international organizations, including the National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, and Open Society Foundations. Mr. Viačorka was the first Vaclav Havel fellow for RFE/RL under Havel’s personal recommendation. Mr. Viačorka has earned degrees from American University in Washington D.C. and Warsaw University in Poland, and he has also studied at Georgetown University and European Humanities University.
About the Lecture: While broad economic sanctions have long been used as instruments of foreign policy, targeted sanctions focusing on specific individuals, entities, and transactions are relatively new and less understood. Dr. Ahn will present some of his recent assessing the economic impact of targeted sanctions, using big data/machine-learning techniques on a unique database of firm and individual-level data. He shall focus on sanctions deployed by the United States and the European Union against primarily Russian targets after the crisis in Ukraine in 2014 as a natural experiment. Dr. Ahn has been able to identify specific impacts on targeted companies by category and by industry and to ascertain the extent to which ‘strategic’ companies received special support (“shielding”) from the Russian state. His work is particularly relevant for anyone who wishes to understand the policy effects of sanctions at both the micro and macro levels, and the extent to which a target state is able or unable to avoid the intended impacts of sanctions. About the Speaker: Dr. Daniel P. Ahn is currently a Professorial Lecturer at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he teaches graduate courses on energy economics and conflict, a Senior Advisor at the Rapidan Energy Group, and an advisor for the U.S. government. He was previously the Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State, where he advised the Secretary and senior principals on a wide range of international economic and security topics relevant to U.S. foreign policy, including global macroeconomic growth, financial stability, economic sanctions, counter-terrorist financing, international trade, and energy security. Prior to public service, Dr. Ahn was the chief economist for commodities at Citigroup in New York and also held senior positions at Citadel, Barclays Capital, and Lehman Brothers. He has also held research and teaching positions at Harvard University, the National Bureau of Economic Research, Columbia University, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the International Monetary Fund. He is the author of multiple research articles, Congressional testimony, and a forthcoming economics textbook. He was featured in Forbes Magazine as one of 30 under 30 in Finance. He completed his A.B. in economics and finance with honors from Princeton University, and his Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.
About the Book: For centuries an aggressive secularism has fought to occupy the place once held by religion in Western society. Its intellectual leaders are ambitious. Their goal is to remove God from public discourse and then from memory. While they claimed that godlessness would bring about an era of peace, it brought history’s bloodiest century instead. Civic institutions founded on Judeo-Christian principles began to crumble apart from them. Firm and commonly held ideas — about rights, duties, and dignity — have vanished when their divine origin was denied. Alberto Martinez Piedra, a respected scholar and former U.S. ambassador, tells the intellectual story of our time in a sweeping overview that places the New Atheism in its proper context and valiantly upholds the greatness and incomparable richness of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Sir Winston Churchill said in 1948: “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” No God, No Civilization:The New Atheism and the Fantasy of Perpetual Progress aims to help opinion leaders and policymakers of today avoid the tragic mistakes of the past. About the Author: Amb. Alberto Martinez Piedra, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus at the Institute of World Politics. In 1959, Amb. Piedra was the Director General of Exports and Imports of the Cuban Ministry of Commerce. He was the Technical Assistant of the Department of Economic Development of the Cuban National Council. Amb. Piedra was the Director of the Latin American Institute and Chairman for the Department of Economics and Business at The Catholic University of America. He was the U.S. Representative to the Economic and Economic and Social Council of the Organization of American States. He served as the United States Ambassador to Guatemala from 1984-1987. From 1987-1988, he was the Senior Area Advisor for Latin America during the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Amb. Piedra has authored two books, Natural Law: The Foundation of an Orderly Economic System and No God, No Civilization:The New Atheism and the Fantasy of Perpetual Progress.
About the Lecture: This lecture will focus on the background of the build up to the 2014 - 2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa and what the United States Government did to respond to this epidemic. Steven VanRoekel will discuss how the US tackled the challenges from the epidemic and what the government learned from it. About the Speaker: Steven VanRoekel is the Chief Operating Officer of the Rockefeller Foundation in New York City. Prior to this role, Steve was a technology and innovation consultant for the Foundation, seeking to further its mission through the use of data, technology and innovation. Steven began his engagement with Rockefeller in the Fall of 2017. Steve is a maker, investor and philanthropist. Prior to Rockefeller, Steve was in the Obama Administration where he last served as Chief Innovation Officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). At USAID, Steve helped coordinate the Administration’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, including coordinating efforts to clarify and systemize the collection of data from the field and led the maker efforts to redesign the Ebola protective suit. Prior to his role at USAID, Steven was the second Chief Information Officer of the United States, appointed by President Obama in 2011. At the White House as U.S. CIO, Steve led the creation of the PortfolioStat agency review process, launched the “FedRAMP” cloud computing program, co-founded the United States Digital Service and the Presidential Innovation Fellows program, and led the U.S. Government’s Open Data and Mobile policies. Wired Magazine named Steve one of the world’s top 10 influencers of cloud computing. Concurrently, Steve spent a year as the acting Deputy Director for Management/Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Before joining the White House, Steve held two prior positions in the Obama Administration at USAID and the Federal Communications Commission. Prior to the Administration, Steve’s entire professional career was at Microsoft Corporation where he held many roles, including the longest-serving Business and Strategy Assistant to Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. His final role at Microsoft was as Senior Director of the Windows Server and Tools Division of Microsoft – a division, that at his departure, had risen to the be the second largest revenue generator for Microsoft. Steve is on the board of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, the board of the Maret School of Washington D.C., and is on the board of VetSports, a nonprofit that helps veterans with opportunities to reintegrate into their communities through sports, community Service, events, and partnership. Steve, his wife Carrie, and three daughters (age 12, 10 and 8) live in Washington, DC.
This is the Sixth Annual Brian Kelley Memorial Lecture at The Institute of World Politics. About Brian Kelley Memorial Lectures: The passing of Professor Brian Kelley was a grave loss to the Institute and to our country. His knowledge, experiences and dedication were at a level that is hard to match. In his time at IWP, he brought his own knowledge, as well as the knowledge of experts in the intelligence community, to help the students gain as much as they possibly could during their time at IWP. This lecture is meant to honor his memory and continue his tradition of providing students with the opportunity to hear comments from experts in their given careers within the intelligence community. About the Speaker: Dr. David L. Charney, MD is the Founder and Medical Director of Roundhouse Square Counseling Center, in Alexandria, Virginia. He specializes in Anxiety and Mood Disorders, Couples and Family Therapy, as well as Attention Deficit Disorder in adults. In addition to his usual practice, he has also treated personnel from within the Intelligence Community. As a result of unusual circumstances, he had the opportunity to join the defense team of his first spy case, Earl Pitts. Subsequently, Plato Cacheris, the attorney of Robert Hanssen, invited Dr. Charney to join his defense team, which added a further dimension to his experience. With the addition of his third spy case, Brian Regan, Dr. Charney further deepened his knowledge of the psychological nuances of captured spies. As a member of their defense teams, Dr. Charney was perceived by these insider spies as an understanding and supportive figure, which lowered their defensive mindsets, and provided a truer picture of their inner lives. Many common assumptions of spy motivation were brought into question by Dr. Charney’s work. Dr. Charney elaborated his findings in Part One of his White Paper, entitled True Psychology of the Insider Spy. Part Two of his White Paper, entitled NOIR: A White Paper – Proposing a New Policy for Improving National Security by Fixing the Problem of Insider Spies, lays out Dr. Charney’s innovative and perhaps controversial recommendations for making use of what he learned to better manage the problem of insider spies. To educate and promote these concepts and ideas, he founded NOIR for USA, a non-profit organization.
This event is sponsored by the Center for Intermarium Studies and the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP. About the Lecture: The European Union is facing immense internal pressures as well as complex external dilemmas. The migration crisis, Brexit, and the rise of new political ideas have put the debate regarding the future of the EU integration in focus. The upcoming European Parliamentary elections in May 2019 will be a milestone in this debate. Hungarian Ambassador László Szabó will discuss the political and cultural vision of Central and Eastern Europe, and its implications to the region's relations with the United States. About the Speaker: Mr. László Szabó, M.D. physician, businessman, politician and diplomat who is the current Hungarian Ambassador to the United States since 2017. In 1990, Ambassador Szabó graduated from Debrecen Medical University, Hungary with a degree in medicine and practiced as a transplant surgeon for couple of years. In the early 1990’s he shifted to the pharmaceutical industry. He spent more than 20 successful years in the pharma field, held several local and international leadership positions, such as country manager for New Zealand and the South Pacific, vice president of China Human Resources at Eli Lilly; later he became CEO of the Hungarian operations of TEVA. In 2014, when the Government of Hungary decided to put foreign trade and investment to the forefront, and looked for a seasoned business leader, Ambassador Szabó was approached to join public service. He served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, building up the trade pillar of the Ministry until his appointment as Ambassador to the U.S. in July 2017.
About the Lecture: In 1927, Mr. David Smolansky’s Jewish grandparents fled Soviet Ukraine for Cuba, from which they fled to Venezuela in 1970 after Fidel Castro's socialism caused their family business to crumble. This family history contributed to Mr. Smolanksy’s desire to become involved in politics and to oppose Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. Eventually, he earned the position of mayor of El Hatillo, in which he concentrated on decreasing kidnappings and crime and increasing security and transparency, causing the Maduro regime's decision to remove him from office and put out a warrant for his arrest. This decision forced him to make more than a month long escape to the United States. Now, Mr. Smolansky, as a visiting scholar at Georgetown University, has conducted research focusing on the explosion of violent crime and criminal gangs in Venezuela and the security implications of the Maduro regime's ties with such groups as Hezbollah, and he provides insight on shifting regional politics and what that may mean for Venezuela, including various futures that could unfold in the country. About the Speaker: David Smolansky is the former mayor of El Hatillo municipality in Caracas, Venezuela. He is currently living in exile and is a visiting scholar at Georgetown University. Mr. Smolansky was removed from office by the Maduro administration, disqualified from any public administration role, and has a warrant out for his arrest. He was forced to flee from Venezuela after 35 days in hiding, in which he faced more than 35 checkpoints until he finally reached Brazil. Mr. Smolansky is one of the best-known young Venezuelan politicians, and he was a vital member of the student movement that defeated Hugo Chávez’s constitutional reform proposal in 2007. Elected as the youngest mayor in Venezuela, his administration decreased kidnapping rates in El Hatillo, making the municipality one of the most secure and transparent in the country. Mr. Smolansky is also a founding member and deputy secretary general of Voluntad Popular, one of the main opposition political parties led by Leopoldo López. In 2015, he was recognized by Junior Chamber International as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World. Mr. Smolansky also received the Global Impact Award from Georgetown University in 2018. A journalism graduate from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, he holds a master’s degree in political science from the Universidad Simón Bolívar and participated in the Global Competitiveness Leadership Program at Georgetown University.
About the Book: Soon after the American Revolution, certain of the founders began to recognize the strategic significance of Asia and the Pacific and the vast material and cultural resources at stake there. Over the coming generations, the United States continued to ask how best to expand trade with the region and whether to partner with China, at the center of the continent, or Japan, looking toward the Pacific. Where should the United States draw its defensive line, and how should it export democratic principles? In a history that spans the eighteenth century to the present, By More Than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia Pacific Since 1783 follows the development of U.S. strategic thinking toward East Asia, identifying recurring themes in American statecraft that reflect the nation's political philosophy and material realities. Drawing on archives, interviews, and his own experience in the Pentagon and White House, Green finds one overarching concern driving U.S. policy toward East Asia: a fear that a rival power might use the Pacific to isolate and threaten the United States and prevent the ocean from becoming a conduit for the westward free flow of trade, values, and forward defense. By More Than Providence works through these problems from the perspective of history's major strategists and statesmen, from Thomas Jefferson to Alfred Thayer Mahan and Henry Kissinger. It records the fate of their ideas as they collided with the realities of the Far East and adds clarity to America's stakes in the region, especially when compared with those of Europe and the Middle East. About the Author: Michael Jonathan Green is senior vice president for Asia and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and director of Asian Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He served on the staff of the National Security Council (NSC) from 2001 through 2005, first as director for Asian affairs with responsibility for Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, and then as special assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for Asia, with responsibility for East Asia and South Asia. Before joining the NSC staff, he was a senior fellow for East Asian security at the Council on Foreign Relations, director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center and the Foreign Policy Institute and assistant professor at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, and senior adviser on Asia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also worked in Japan on the staff of a member of the National Diet. Dr. Green is also a nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, a distinguished scholar at the Asia Pacific Institute in Tokyo, and professor by special appointment at Sophia University in Tokyo. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Aspen Strategy Group, the America Australia Leadership Dialogue, the advisory boards of Radio Free Asia and the Center for a New American Security, and the editorial boards of the Washington Quarterly and the Journal of Unification Studies in Korea. He also serves as a trustee at the Asia Foundation, senior adviser at the Asia Group, and associate of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Dr. Green has authored numerous books and articles on East Asian security, including most recently, By More Than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia Pacific Since 1783 (Columbia University Press, 2017). He received his master’s and doctoral degrees from SAIS and did additional graduate and postgraduate research at Tokyo University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Kenyon College with highest honors. He holds a black belt in Iaido (sword) and has won international prizes on the great highland bagpipe.
About the Lecture: This discussion will examine the influential role played by Iran within Iraq and the challenge of building a functioning Iraqi state in the context of Iranian penetration of Iraqi politics, economics, security, and religion. In security, the rise of the Islamic State provided an opportunity for Iran to assist Iraq by standing up Shi'a militias, which are now being used to further Iran's security presence in key areas of Iraq and are helping Iran to realize its strategic vision of building a "Shi'a arc" from Tehran to the Mediterranean. This has complicated Baghdad's ability to grasp the security situation within Iraq. Iran, also, has benefited from a one-sided economic and trade relationship with Iraq. At the same time that its influence has been rising within its neighbor, Iran has been becoming increasingly unpopular among the Iraqi people for its interference in Iraq, and Iraqi nationalists such as Muqtada al-Sadr are pushing back against that influence. This talk will examine all of these aspects of Iranian interference with a particular focus on how to build healthy Iraqi governance functions in the midst of these major challenges. About the Speaker: Mike Pregent is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He is a senior Middle East analyst, a former adjunct lecturer for the College of International Security Affairs, and a visiting fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. Pregent is a former intelligence officer with over 28 years of experience working in security, terrorism, counter-insurgency, and policy issues in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. He is an expert in Middle Eastern and North African political and security issues, counter-terrorism analysis, stakeholder communications, and strategic planning. He spent considerable time working malign Iranian influence in Iraq as an advisor to Iraq’s Security and Intelligence apparatus. Pregent served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and he served as a liaison officer in Egypt during the 2000 Intifada, as a counter-insurgency intelligence officer at CENTCOM in 2001, and as a company commander in Afghanistan in 2002. Additionally, Pregent served as an embedded advisor with the Peshmerga in Mosul from 2005-2006. Also, as a civilian SME working for DIA, Pregent served as a political and military advisor to USF-I focusing on reconciliation, the insurgency, and Iranian influence in Iraq from 2007-2011. He was a violent extremism and foreign fighter analyst at CENTCOM from 2011-2013.
About the lecture Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz will discuss how the criminal underworld was coopted by the Bolshevik revolution, how it was tamed and broken by the Soviet state, how it coexisted with it and infiltrated it; how it became transformed in the post-Soviet realm; and how it became second nature of Putin's system in Russia. Dr. Chodakiewicz will stress historical continuities of Russia's criminal underworld which have now infiltrated into the mainstream of its national life. About the speaker Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds the The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.
About the Lecture: Xi Jinping, China's Communist Party Chairman and President, has ambitious plans to make China a global power. This lecture will discuss the plans to rebuild ancient trading routes with new infrastructure that can become military bases or ports. The lecture also will cover China's plans for a modern, powerful military that can project expeditionary forces to defend China's new, far-flung interests. About the Speaker: Dr. Larry M. Wortzel served for 32 years in the United States Armed Forces, three years in the Marine Corps followed by 29 years in the Army. A graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Dr. Wortzel earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Dr. Wortzel’s military experience includes seven years in the infantry as well as assignment in signals intelligence collection, human source intelligence collection, counterintelligence, and as a strategist. He served two tours of duty in Beijing, China, as a military attaché and spent twelve years in the Asia-Pacific Region. Dr. Wortzel is the former Director of the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College. Concurrently he was professor of Asian studies. He retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel at the end of 1999. After his military retirement, he was director of the Asian Studies Center and vice president for foreign policy and defense studies at The Heritage Foundation. Dr. Wortzel has written or edited ten books and numerous scholarly articles on China and East Asia. His books include Class in China: Stratification in a Classless Society; China’s Military Modernization: International Implications; Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese Military History; and The Dragon Extends its Reach: Chinese Military Power Goes Global. Dr. Wortzel was reappointed Commissioner for The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review by House Speaker Paul Ryan for a term expiring on December 31, 2018.
About the Book: Sovereignty in the 21st Century and the Crisis for Identity, Cultures, Nation-States, and Civilizations describes a world already at war with itself. It is a world in which urban globalists fear and despise regional nationalists, and vice-versa. It is a time when the concept of the nation-state sovereignty incarnate has slipped from the minds of many. The populations of the mega-cities have as they have in different ways in the past assumed that they alone represented the state . The response to this has been a voter revolt in many areas of the world and the sudden re-appearance of the schisms between cities and regions. Nationalism has become, for many in the cities, a pejorative term, but an expression of hope for revival of many in the regions. But what do we know of the issues which are really at stake in this changing century? Can we adequately describe the meaning of sovereignty of individuals as well as states or the fundamental differences between republics and constitutional monarchies; between empires and suzerainties? Yet all these issues will determine whether we will live in calm and prosperity, or chaos and fear. This may be the most remarkable book yet by Gregory Copley. About the Author: Gregory Copley, an Australian, is the President of the International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA), based in Washington, DC. He has served as an adviser on strategic issues to a number of governments and leaders. He has authored or co-authored 35 books on strategic and geopolitical issues, history, energy, aviation, and defense. Some of these works include: Sovereignty in the 21st Century, and the Crisis for Cultures, Nation-States, and Civilizations, UnCivilization: Urban Geopolitics in a Time of Chaos, and The Art of Victory. He co-authored Rise of the RedMed: How the Mediterranean-Red Sea Nexus is Resuming its Strategic Centrality, and Pakistan’s Metamorphosis: The Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook on Pakistan. He is Editor-in-Chief of Defense & Foreign Affairs publications, and the Director of Intelligence at the Global Information System (GIS), an on-line, encrypted-access, global intelligence service which provides strategic current intelligence solely to governments. In 2007, he drafted the grand strategy framework document for Australia, called Australia 2050. He authored and edited the encyclopedia, The Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook, from 1976 until the present time, taking it from a 2,500 page print book to an even bigger online publication in recent years. He has received a significant number of orders and decorations from governments, including, in 2007, being made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contributions to the international community in the field of strategic analysis. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society in 2011, and was awarded the Society’s Erebus Medal in 2015. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Canadian Forces College Foundation. He received the Asian Council Award in 1990. Mr Copley also has had an extensive career as an industrialist, owning several shipyards and engineering companies in the United Kingdom, a naval architectural firm, and a chemical company in France. Among his other activities, he founded Argonaut LLC, a company exploring — and delivering — remote area, mobile energy and water purification solutions. He also served as Vice-Chairman of the Scottish national airline, Highland Express.
About the Lecture: This examination of American governance makes a rather unique comparison of economic democracy with political democracy. It will be shown that this is the mechanism that governs and regulates much of our lives, not government, and does so in a much more efficient, responsive manner than political democracy. In the process, it draws a variety of conclusions about the consequences of liberty, the consequences for equality, and the physical impossibility of democratic socialism. About the Speaker: Professor Alan Messer served in the CIA for 32 years, first as an analyst on Soviet defense industries and economics for 17 years, in the Directorate for Science and Technology for two years, and then as an operations officer in the Clandestine Service for 13 years, specializing in the KGB and GRU. Prof. Messer has a Master's degree in international affairs from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies and a Master's degree in economics from UCLA. Prof. Messer teaches A Counterintelligence Challenge: The Enigmas and Benefits of Defectors at IWP.
About the Lecture: In 1985 and 1986, the CIA experienced the unparalleled loss of its stable of Soviet assets, which all but wiped out human source reporting on the Soviet Union. In this lecture, Ms. Grimes will discuss her and her co-spy catcher's personal involvement in the CIA's effort to identify the reason for those losses and to protect future Soviet assets from a similar fate of execution. In 1991, the quest led them to search for a Soviet spy in the CIA. They came to identify that individual as CIA Case Officer, Aldrich Ames, a long-time friend and co-worker. In February of 1994, Ames was arrested by the FBI and sentenced to life in prison. About the Speaker: Sandy Grimes is a twenty-six year veteran of the CIA's Clandestine Service. She spent most of her career working against the former Soviet Union supporting many of the CIA's most valuable cases, including penetrations of the KGB and GRU. She is co-author of the book "Circle of Treason," which details the search for a Soviet traitor in CIA. It is also the basis for an ABC News mini-series "The Asset", which aired in 2014. The daughter of parents who worked on the Manhattan Project, Sandy spent her formative years in Denver, Colorado, where she substituted a course in Russian for the dreaded junior year of physics that set the direction of her personal and professional life. She holds a BA in Russian from the University of Washington, Seattle. She is a mother of two daughters and grandmother of four. She lives in Great Falls, Virginia with her husband of 49 years.
Maria Juczewska, IWP, Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. This year, we are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Poland's regaining independence. One of the factors that greatly contributed to the rebirth of Poland was the support of General Haller's Army, created on the American soil. The lecture discusses the Army's diplomatic and military contribution to Polish independence.
Matthew J. O’Brien, Federation for American Immigration Reform, Director of Research. The nations of Europe are rapidly becoming the victims of their unnecessarily generous immigration policies, their overly broad concepts of religious freedom and their unwillingness to defend Judeo-Christian culture from Islamic encroachment. Will Poland and its neighbors be the next casualties of this disturbing trend?”
About the Lecture: On March 15, 2018, the DHS and FBI announced that the Russian government cyber actors had conducted, since at least March 2016, a multi-stage cyber intrusion campaign in various U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy, nuclear, commercial, water, aviation, and manufacturing sectors. In her upcoming lecture, “Russian Cyber Doctrine and the Targeting of U.S. Critical Infrastructure,” Russia expert and private intelligence consultant Rebekah Koffler will examine this highly significant event within the context the Russian cyber doctrine. Ms. Koffler also will provide an open source intelligence assessment of Russia’s intentions for this specific cyber campaign and how cyber fits in Moscow’s overall doctrine/strategy targeting the United States. About the Speaker: Rebekah Koffler is an intelligence expert on Russian Doctrine/Strategy and Cyber Operations and a former U.S. intelligence officer who specializes in open source intelligence analysis of the Russian threat to U.S. and Western security. As a recognized IC expert on Russia, Ms. Koffler delivered classified briefings to top U.S. military commanders and policymakers, the White House National Security Council, the Directors of the CIA and DIA, NATO, senior Congressional Staff, and the Vice Chairman-select of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a Russian-English bilingual analyst with a Russian native background, Rebekah has a deep understanding of the Russian strategic culture, mindset and behavior. Ms. Koffler holds an M.A. in International Transactions from the George Mason University in Virginia, a B.A./M.A. in Foreign Languages from Moscow State Pedagogical University, and a Graduate Certificate in Intelligence from the Institute of World Politics in Washington D.C. She is the founder of the private intelligence consultancy Doctrine & Strategy Consulting LLC.
About the Book: The history of espionage is far older than any of today’s intelligence agencies, yet the long history of intelligence operations has been largely forgotten. The codebreakers at Bletchley Park, the most successful World War II intelligence agency, were completely unaware that their predecessors in earlier moments of national crisis had broken the codes of Napoleon during the Napoleonic wars and those of Spain before the Spanish Armada. Those who do not understand past mistakes are likely to repeat them. Intelligence is a prime example. At the outbreak of World War I, the grasp of intelligence shown by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith was not in the same class as that of George Washington during the Revolutionary War and leading eighteenth-century British statesmen. In this book, the first global history of espionage ever written, distinguished historian Christopher Andrew recovers much of the lost intelligence history of the past three millennia—and shows us its relevance. About the Author: Christopher Andrew is emeritus professor of modern and contemporary history and former chair of the faculty of history at Cambridge University. He is also chair of the British Intelligence Study Group, founding co-editor of Intelligence and National Security, former visiting professor at Harvard, Toronto, and the Australian National universities, and a regular presenter of BBC Radio and TV documentaries. His most recent book, Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, was an international hit. His fifteen previous books include The Sword and the Shield, The World Was Going Our Way, and other path-breaking studies on the use and abuse of secret intelligence in modern history.
About the Lecture: The collapse of Venezuela is no longer an internal or domestic problem; its migrant exodus has made it a hemispheric crisis. Most impacted is key US ally Colombia, where they are swelling the ranks of the ELN terrorist group. Maduro will reach the end of his presidential term in January 2019, but, with deepening repression and escalating brutality, shows no signs of leaving office democratically or indeed peaceably. The traditional opposition is fractured, conflicted and increasingly racked by corruption scandals. Yet the region's leaders are increasingly agreed that the only way to end the crisis is for the Maduro regime to end. With this complex Rubik's cube, what could the future hold for Venezuela? About the Speaker: Dr. Vanessa Neumann is an authority on Latin American politics and security, as well as on crime-terror pipelines, particularly on stemming illicit trade as a counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency strategy that supports businesses. She is the author of a book on crime-terror pipelines, Blood Profits: How American Consumers Unwittingly Fund Terrorists (St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan). The Brazilian Portuguese edition Lucros de Sangue will be published in late November 2018; the Spanish language edition is currently being negotiated. Dr. Neumann is also the co-author of The Many Criminal Heads of the Golden Hydra (Asymmetrica and Counter-Extremism Project, May 2018), an extensive analysis of illicit trade and corruption in the Tri-Border Area, that has been covered by more than 75 media outlets and forced Paraguayan troop movements. Dr. Neumann has served four years on the OECD’s Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade (since its inception) and on their Advisory Group. She holds a Ph.D. in political philosophy from Columbia University, and fellowships at Yale University, Columbia University and the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Her company Asymmetrica is a member of the Global Counter Terrorism Research Network (GCTRN) for the United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). Notably, Dr. Neumann was the academic reviewer for USSOCOM’s ARIS Series teaching manual on counterinsurgency (COIN) in Colombia. She is a widely sought speaker to media, academia and governments.
Dr. Frank Marlo is Dean of Academics at The Institute of World Politics. He formerly served as a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He received his Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in May 2006. From January 2002 until January 2005, he served as Assistant for Counterproliferation Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy. He is the author of Planning Reagan's War: Conservative Strategists and America's Cold War Victory (Potomac Books, 2012) and a contributing editor to the book The Grand Strategy That Won the Cold War: Architecture of Triumph (Lexington Books, 2016).
About the Book: In Invisible Slaves, W. Kurt Hauser discusses slavery around the world, with research and firsthand stories that reframe slavery as a modern-day crisis, not a historical phenomenon or third-world issue. Identifying four types of slavery—chattel slavery, debt bondage, forced labor, and sex slavery—he examines the efforts and failures of governments to address them. He explores the political, economic, geographic, and cultural factors that shape slavery today, illustrating the tragic human toll with individual stories. Country by country, the author illuminates the harsh realities of modern-day slavery. He explores slavery's effects on victims, including violence, isolation, humiliation, and the master-slave relationship, and discusses the methods traffickers use to lure the vulnerable, especially children, into slavery. He assesses nations based on their levels of slavery and efforts to combat the problem, citing the rankings of the United States' Trafficking Victims Protection Act. He concludes with an appeal to governments and ordinary citizens alike to meet this humanitarian crisis with awareness and action. About the Author: W. Kurt Hauser received BA and MBA degrees from Stanford University. While at Stanford he was a member of the varsity track and rugby teams. He was the head of an investment management firm for most of his career. He is the author of Taxation and Economic Performance and his work has been published in many news media including the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times and Investor's Business Daily among others. He has appeared on KRON, CNN, FOX, CNBC, and PJTV. His research on the relationship between marginal tax rates, federal government revenues as a percent of Gross Domestic Product and economic growth has become known as Hauser's Law. Kurt is the past Chairman of the Board of the Hoover Institution at Stanford and continues to be a board member. He has served on the board of many organizations including AON Risk Services, the Bay Area Red Cross, the Stanford Business School Trust, the Hill School, and the Economic Round Table of San Francisco. For the past decade Kurt has devoted his time to researching the origin, evolution, development, and ubiquity of global slavery.
About the Panel: Iraq and Syria have become major sources of instability in the Middle East, drawing in Islamic extremists from around the world, sending floods of refugees outside of their borders, and seeing genocide at the hands of the Islamic State. The societies of both Iraq and Syria have suffered much from Baathist politics and ideology, which has in many ways set the stage for much of the dysfunction and problems that we are seeing in those countries today – a factor not usually recognized in analyses of events there. Events within Iraq and Syria have also been influenced by external actors jockeying for influence and in pursuit of their own geopolitical goals. In each country, however, there are hopeful signs, despite all of the tragedy. The dynamics in Syria and Iraq are related, yet distinct and different. This panel will explore the distinct dynamics in each country as well as some common dynamics, the changing role of the United States in the region, the role of other external factors such as Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the Gulf States, and will examine what the economic and political future may look like for ethnic and religious minorities in both countries. In Iraq, where the Christian population has dropped by approximately 90% since 2003 and where Yazidis have suffered genocide along with their Christian neighbors, the future role and status of ethnic and religious minorities is critical to that country's stability and future. The Iraqi panelist, Loay Mikhael, is an Iraqi Christian, now living in the Washington, D.C. area. In Syria, approximately 30% of Syrian territory, located in the northeast of the country, is governed by the Self-Administration of North and East Syria, which was announced on 6 September 2018, is heavily populated by Syrian Kurds, along with Arab, Christian and other minorities. The legislature for this body is the Syrian Democratic Council. Two of our panelists, Bassam Ishak, a Syrian Christian, and Sinam Sherkany, a Kurdish Muslim, are part of the SDC, and represent the SDC here in Washington, D.C. They will discuss how they are attempting to build a pluralistic society with protections for freedom of religion, speech, and dissent, in the midst of the chaos of the Syrian civil war. This panel was moderated by IWP Research Professor Paul Coyer, who specializes in the role of religion in foreign affairs and who spent time this past summer with the Yazidi and Christian communities of northern Iraq.
About the Lecture: Mr. Maibach will share 10 lively stories of ethics, strategy and decision-making drawn from his 18 years as Vice President of Global Government Affairs at the Intel Corporation. These stories sometimes involve the first four CEOs of Intel – Dr. Robert Noyce, Dr. Gordon Moore, Dr. Andrew Grove, and Dr. Craig Barrett. These are three of the four founders of the company. Dr. Noyce is the co-inventor of the integrated circuit (computer chip). Dr. Moore is famous for “Moore’s Law.” Dr. Grove was Time Man of the Year in 1997. Dr. Barrett is a former professor at Stanford University. All four are men of exceptional intelligence and high integrity. Inside each story is a “lesson” or a “moral to the story.” At the end of the talk, Mr. Maibach will explore with our audience what some of those lessons were and remain today. About the Speaker: Michael Maibach is a seasoned professional in global business diplomacy, advisor to several non-profits, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Management. While in college he was elected to the DeKalb County Board (Illinois), the first person elected to public office under 21 years of age in US history. He is currently a Senior Fellow in American Federalism at the American Opportunity Foundation, and a Trustee and Managing Director at the James Wilson Institute. From 2003-12, he served as the President and CEO of the European-American Business Council. He was Vice President, Global Government Affairs at Intel Corporation from 1983-2001. He has served as an advisor to two White House Commissions under Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. and served on two US State Department advisory councils. He has testified before the US Congress on 17 occasions. He is a graduate of The Institute of World Politics, and also holds M.A. degrees from Georgetown University and Northern Illinois University.
About the Lecture: In a gathering trend previously discounted by some analysts, China is building the means to achieve global military power projection. By the 2030s China's People's Liberation Army will have robust and growing capabilities in the areas of maritime and airmobile global power projection, and will be contesting control of the Earth-Moon system. The United States can continue to deter China into the 2030s by achieving early astro-strategic advantages, staying ahead in emerging 6th generation warfare paradigms and doubling down with allies to build robust deterrent networks. About the Speaker: Rick Fisher is a Senior Fellow on Asian Military Affairs at the International Assessment and Strategy Center. Fisher is a recognized authority on the PRC military and the Asian military balance and their implications for Asia and the United States. His most recent book is China’s Military Modernization: Building for Regional and Global Reach. Fisher has worked on Asian security matters for over 20 years in a range of critical positions — as Asian Studies Director at the Heritage Foundation, Senior Analyst for Chairman Chris Cox’s Policy Committee in support of the report of the Select Committee for US National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People’s Republic of China, and a consultant on PLA issues for the Congressionally chartered US China Security & Economic Review Commission. The author of nearly 200 studies on challenges to American security, economic and foreign policy in Asia, Fisher is a frequent commentator on Asian issues for radio and television and has testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House International Relations Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, and the U.S. China Security Commission, on the modernization of China’s military. Fisher has been Editor of the Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief, and a regular contributor to publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Far Eastern Economic Review, Jane’s Intelligence Review, National Interest, Air Forces Monthly, and World Airpower Journal. He has served as an election observer in Cambodia, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan, and performed field research in China, Taiwan, Russia, India and Pakistan. Fisher studied at Georgetown University and at Eisenhower College where he received his BA with honors. He is currently President of Pacific Strategies, Inc.
This event is a part of the Global Impact Discussion Series by founder and moderator Patricia Schouker, IWP alumna. About the Book: This highly accessible book provides new material and a fresh perspective on American National Intelligence practice, focusing on the first fifty years of the twentieth century, when the United States took on the responsibilities of a global superpower during the first years of the Cold War. Late to the art of intelligence, the United States during World War II created a new model of combining intelligence collection and analytic functions into a single organization—the OSS. At the end of the war, President Harry Truman and a small group of advisors developed a new, centralized agency directly subordinate to and responsible to the President, despite entrenched institutional resistance. Instrumental to the creation of the CIA was a group known colloquially as the “Missouri Gang,” which included not only President Truman but equally determined fellow Missourians Clark Clifford, Sidney Souers, and Roscoe Hillenkoetter. About the Author: Richard E. Schroeder specializes in Cold War and intelligence issues. His Ph.D dissertation at the University of Chicago was on the Hitler Youth as a paramilitary organization. Trained as an infantry platoon leader, he served as a US Army intelligence officer on the Army Staff in Washington, DC, and the US Military Command in Vietnam. He is the author of classified US Army political studies. Following his tour in Vietnam, he was research director on the Louisiana gubernatorial campaign of the late Congressman Gillis W. Long. During his thirty-one year career as an officer of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Clandestine Service, he held senior management positions both in Washington and Europe in the CIA Directorates of Operations and Science and Technology, and spent three years in CIA’s Office of Congressional Affairs responsible for Directorate of Operations liaison with Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committees. He also served as Deputy Director of the CIA Center for the Study of Intelligence. His final assignment before retirement in 2003 was as CIA Chair and Professor of Political Science at National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He is a founding member of the Board of Advisors of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. He currently consults on national security issues and since 1999 has been an adjunct professor in the graduate Security Studies Program and the undergraduate Science, Technology, and International Affairs Concentration of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He has lectured on intelligence at the Bush School at Texas A&M, the University of Missouri, the Air Force and Naval Academies, Marquette, the Ohio State University, the Patterson School at the University of Kentucky, Westminster College, New Mexico State University, Kent State University, the Allied Museum, Berlin, and the National Security Agency. He and his wife Leah have one son, and live in Washington, DC.
About the Lecture: Amidst the collapse of the “socialist paradise” of Venezuela, expanding bloodshed in Nicaragua, refugees fleeing Central American gang extortion, the election of a leftist populist president in violence-torn Mexico, and Chinese and Russian advances across the region, Dr. Ellis draws the conclusion: The U.S. needs a strategic concept for what it is trying to achieve in Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Ellis will argue that advancing “democratic governance” is a useful strategic concept for U.S. national security and other policymakers and without clarity regarding what the U.S. is seeking to achieve, the regional security environment devolves into responses to the invariable crises and advances of foreign actors. About the Speaker: Dr. Evan Ellis is a research professor of Latin American Studies at the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) Strategic Studies Institute (SSI), with a focus on the region’s relationships with China and other non-Western Hemisphere actors, as well as transnational organized crime and populism in the region. Dr. Ellis has published more than 170 works, including: China in Latin America: The Whats and Wherefores (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2009); The Strategic Dimension of Chinese Engagement with Latin America (William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, 2013); and, China on the Ground in Latin America (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2014). Dr. Ellis has presented his work in a broad range of business and government forums in 26 countries throughout four continents, and has given testimony on Chinese activities in Latin America to the U.S. Congress. Dr. Ellis has discussed his work regarding China and other external actors in Latin America on a broad range of radio and television programs; he is cited regularly in print media in both the United States and Latin America for his work in this area. Dr. Ellis holds a Ph.D. in political science with a specialization in comparative politics.
About the Book: Nationalism is the issue of our age. From Donald Trump's "America First" politics to Brexit to the rise of the right in Europe, events have forced a crucial debate: Should we fight for international government, or should the world's nations keep their independence and self-determination? In The Virtue of Nationalism, Yoram Hazony contends that a world of sovereign nations is the only option for those who care about personal and collective freedom. He recounts how, beginning in the sixteenth century, English, Dutch, and American Protestants revived the Old Testament's love of national independence and showed how their vision eventually brought freedom to peoples from Poland to India, Israel to Ethiopia. It is this tradition we must restore, he argues, if we want to limit conflict and hate--and allow human difference and innovation to flourish. About the Author: Yoram Hazony is President of the Herzl Institute in Jerusalem. His book The Virtue of Nationalism will be published by Basic Books in September 2018. Hazony’s other books include The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture and The Jewish State: The Struggle for Israel’s Soul. His essays appear frequently in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other media, including, recently: “What Is Conservatism?”; “The Dark Side of the Enlightenment”; and “Jordan Peterson and Conservatism’s Rebirth.”
A geopolitical game of “Gō” now unfolds between the rising Chinese superpower and the status quo powers of the Indo-Pacific led by the United States while Russia holds Eurasia's pivot point. This great “Gō” Game is on the cusp of power transitions comparable to the rise of Japan at the end of the nineteenth century and America’s Pacific preeminence in the mid-twentieth. Across the Indo-Pacific, geopolitical change surges Tsunami-like throughout the region. Politicians, statesmen, soldiers, businessmen, and economists reassess their region’s future vis-à-vis an emerging bipolar U.S.-China superpower rivalry. If America’s prospects appear good, Indo-Pacific states will continue to side with the United States and “balance” against China. If China appears able and determined to overwhelm the Indo-Pacific's America-anchored alliance network, however, Asia will bandwagon with China. Mr. John Tkacik is a retired U.S. foreign service officer, businessman and policy commentator with over 40 years of continuous experience in East Asian affairs. He spent 24 years in the Department of State including four tours in Chinese-language posts. Dr. Tkacik was Chief of China Analysis in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) before retiring in 1994. He was vice president for government relations for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International and was a consultant to RJR-Nabisco China from 1996 to 1999. He joined The Heritage Foundation in 2001 where he was senior research fellow in Asian studies. At Heritage, Dr. Tkacik penned commentaries and research on Chinese, Taiwanese, and Mongolian issues, and he edited two books: Rethinking One China and Reshaping the Taiwan Strait. He has degrees from Georgetown and Harvard.
This event is a part of the Student Lecture Series at IWP. About the Lecture: The United States, like most Western liberal countries, is a secular nation, as the American Founders established a political system that effectively separates Church and State. Nevertheless, religion has played an important role in developing the “American Character.” The speaker will discuss how religion was indispensable for the success of the young American Republic and argue that it is nearly impossible to imagine the United States without it. This lecture is an installment of IWP's Student Speaker Series. About the Speaker: Tobias Brandt is originally from Germany and graduated from the University of Hamburg with a degree in Middle Eastern and Religious Studies in 2015. For his Bachelor’s Thesis, he analyzed al-Qaeda’s propaganda strategy on the basis of original Arabic documents. He is currently studying Statecraft and International Affairs with a specialization in International Politics at the Institute of World Politics. His key research areas are U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, the role of religion in politics, as well as the transatlantic relationship. Mr. Brandt’s lecture is based on a paper he submitted for IWP's course on American Founding Principles.
About the Lecture: The speaker will discuss Soviet antireligious activism and propaganda, taking a look at "volunteer" activism and analyzing the artistic renderings of religion in Bezbozhnik - the propaganda apparatus of the League of the Militant Godless. This event is sponsored by the Center for Intermarium Studies and the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at IWP. About the Speaker: Helen Lamm is from the great state of South Carolina. In 2017, she graduated magna cum laude from Wofford College with a degree in Chinese and History. She is currently studying Statecraft and International Affairs with a concentration in American Foreign Policy at The Institute of World Politics. She is interested in the politics of post-communism, and focuses much of her writing on the interplay of religion and politics. This paper was submitted for completion of Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz's 2018 spring course on Russian Politics.
About the Book: In North Korean Military Proliferation in the Middle East and Africa: Enabling Violence and Instability, Bruce E. Bechtol Jr. analyzes relevant North Korean military capabilities, what arms the nation provides, and to whom, how it skirts its sanctions, and how North Korea's activities can best be contained. He traces illicit networks that lead to state and nonstate actors in the Middle East, including Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, and throughout Africa, including at least a dozen nations. The potential proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons technology and the vehicles that carry it, including ballistic missiles and artillery, represent a broader threat than the leadership in Pyongyang. Including training and infrastructure support, North Korea's profits may range into the billions of dollars, all concealed in illicit networks and front companies so complex that the nation struggles to track and control them. Bechtol not only presents an accurate picture of the current North Korean threat―he also outlines methodologies that Washington and the international community must embrace in order to contain it. About the Author: Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr., is an award winning professor of political science at Angelo State University and a retired Marine. He was formerly on the faculty at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Air Command and Staff College. Dr. Bechtol served as an adjunct visiting professor at the Korea University Graduate School of International Studies. He was an intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1997 until 2003, eventually serving as the senior analyst for Northeast Asia in the Intelligence Directorate on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. He formerly sat on the editorial review board of the East Asian Review and served as editor of the Defense Intelligence Journal. He is currently on the editorial advisory board of the Korea Observer, and is on the scientific board of Global Humanities. He is the current president of the International Council on Korean Studies, and serves on the board of directors of the Council on U.S.-Korean Security Studies. He has also authored North Korea and Regional Security in the Kim Jong-un Era: A New International Security Dilemma, The Last Days of Kim Jong-Il: The North Korean Threat in a Changing Era, Defiant Failed State: The North Korean Threat to International Security, and Red Rogue: The Persistent Challenge of North Korea. A widely sought after expert on North Korean international security issues, Dr. Bechtol has been called on to present commentary to the BBC, CNN, CBC, FOX News, Radio New Zealand, syndicated nationwide radio shows such as POTUS politics on SIRIUS/XM, the John Batchelor show, the Frank Gaffney show, and several interviews on National Public Radio.
This event is the eighth annual Kosciuszko Chair Military Lecture in honor of Gen. Walter Jajko. It is sponsored by the Center for Intermarium Studies and the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics. About the Lecture: This lecture will explore the military history of Russia, going back to pre-imperial times, in order to analyze the Russian Federation's recent actions toward the United States, NATO, and Europe. Russia has historically viewed war in a different light than the West, and this historical context is vital to determining how to respond to recent belligerent actions. About the Speaker: Geoffrey Seroka is a graduate student at The Institute of World Politics, studying International Affairs. He has focused his graduate research on Russian/Eurasian affairs and has delivered two previous lectures as a part of the Kosciusko Chair's Intermarium Lecture Series. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Government from Patrick Henry College in 2015.
About the Book: Since the end of World War II, why has the United States either lost every war it started or failed in every military intervention it prosecuted? Harlan Ullman's new book answers this most disturbing question, a question many Americans would not ask because this record of failure has been largely hidden in plain sight or forgotten with the passage of time. The most straightforward answer is that presidents and administrations have consistently failed to use sound strategic thinking and lacked sufficient knowledge or understanding of the circumstances prior to deciding whether or not to employ force. Making this case is an in-depth analysis of the records of presidents from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama and Donald Trump in using force or starting wars. His recommended solutions begin with a "brains-based" approach to sound strategic thinking to address one of the major causes of failure--the inexperience of too many of the nation's commanders-in-chief. Ullman reinforces his argument through the use of autobiographical vignettes that provide a human dimension and insight into the reasons for failure, in some cases making public previously unknown history. The clarion call of Anatomy of Failure is that both a sound strategic framework and sufficient knowledge and understanding of the circumstance that may lead to using force are vital. Without them, failure is virtually guaranteed. About the Author: Harlan K. Ullman is a strategic thinker and innovator whose career spans the worlds of business and government. Chairman of several companies and an advisor to the heads of major corporations and governments, he was the principal author of "shock and awe"and inventor of a brains-based approach to strategic thinking. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served in combat assignments in Vietnam. He holds an MA, MALD, and PhD from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and lives in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Paul Kengor gave a lecture on his book "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Communism" on July 31, 2018, at The Institute of World Politics. About the Lecture: Communism has wrecked national economies, enslaved whole peoples, and killed more than a hundred million men and women. What's not to like? Too many young Americans are supporting communism. Millennials prefer socialism to capitalism, and 25 percent have a positive view of Lenin. One in four Americans believe that George W. Bush killed more people than Josef Stalin. And 69 percent of Millennials would vote for a socialist for president. They ought to know better. Communism is the most dangerous idea in world history, producing dire poverty, repression, and carnage wherever it has been tried. And no wonder—because communism flatly denies morality, human nature, and basic facts. But it's always going to be different this time. In this lecture, renowned scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor will highlight points from his recent book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Communism, exposing the blood-drenched history—and dangerously pervasive influence—of the world's worst ideology. About the Speaker: Dr. Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College, a four-year, private Christian liberal arts college located in Grove City, Pennsylvania. He is executive director of the Center for Vision & Values, a Grove City College think-tank and policy center. He is also a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University. He has been quoted or published in most major publications from across the ideological spectrum: New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Washington Post, New York Post, National Review, Chronicle of Higher Education, San Francisco Chronicle, American Spectator, New York Newsday, Political Science Quarterly, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Washington Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Boston Herald, Roll Call, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, Christianity Today, World magazine, National Catholic Reporter, National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, the Jewish Press, Jewish World Review, International Herald Tribune, Manchester Union Leader, and others. Kengor has authored several bestsellers. More recently, his 2012 profile of Frank Marshall Davis, mentor to Barack Obama, titled, The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, the Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor (Simon & Schuster, Threshold/Mercury Ink), debuted at #9 on the New York Times bestseller list and hit #1 in non-fiction at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com. Based on declassified FBI files and Soviet and Communist Party USA archives, the book garnered a significant amount of public attention. In 2010, Kengor published Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century (ISI Books). Based on extensive Soviet archival research, particularly the Soviet Comintern Archives on Communist Party USA, the book examines the exploitation of American liberals by communists beginning in the early 20th century. Kengor’s best-known work is God and Ronald Reagan(HarperCollins, 2004), which made bestseller lists for The New York Times (extended list), Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Christian Retailing, among others; the book reached #2 on Amazon’s non-fiction list. He is author of God and George W. Bush (HarperCollins, 2004), which reached #5 on Amazon’s non-fiction list and made The New York Times’ extended bestseller list. He is co-editor with Peter Schweizer of Assessing the Reagan Presidency (Rowman-Littlefield, 2005). He has also written chapters or essays in books published by Oxford University Press, Columbia University Press, Palgrave-Macmillan, Lexington, and many others.
Mr. Roy Kamphausen gave a lecture called "America’s Generational Challenge: China" at The Institute of World Politics on July 18, 2018. About the Lecture: Roy Kamphausen will address the multi-faceted series of structural challenges that China presents to the U.S. About the Speaker: Roy D. Kamphausen is Senior Vice President for Research at The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). He provides executive leadership to NBR’s policy research agenda on security, politics, energy, economics, and trade. Mr. Kamphausen directs NBR’s engagement with the administration, U.S. Congress, and foreign embassies in Washington, D.C. and integrates the work of Admiral Jon Greenert, NBR’s Shali Chair in National Security Studies, with ongoing programs and new initiatives. As a specialist on a range of U.S.-Asia issues, Mr. Kamphausen leads and contributes substantively to NBR’s research initiatives. He is the author, contributing author, or co-editor of numerous publications, including chapters in NBR’s Strategic Asia series; the Carlisle People’s Liberation Army Conference series and its most recent volume, The Chinese People’s Liberation Army in 2025 (co-edited with David Lai, 2015); an NBR Special Report on innovation in India (2015); and the IP Commission’s Report on the Theft of American Intellectual Property (2013). His areas of expertise include China’s People’s Liberation Army, U.S.-China defense relations, East Asian security issues, innovation, and intellectual property protection. He has presented on these topics throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe to government and corporate decision-makers. Mr. Kamphausen is frequently cited in U.S. and international media, including CNN, the Financial Times, Foreign Policy,National Public Radio, Newsweek, and the New York Times. Mr. Kamphausen is an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a senior adviser on East Asia for the University of Connecticut’s Office of Global Affairs. He lectures regularly at leading U.S. military institutions, including the United States Military Academy (West Point) and the U.S. Army War College. Mr. Kamphausen regularly briefs members of Congress and consults for the U.S. Department of Defense. Prior to joining NBR, Mr. Kamphausen served as a career U.S. Army officer. As a China foreign area officer, his career included assignments as China policy director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, China strategist for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Mr. Kamphausen holds a BA in Political Science from Wheaton College and an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University. He studied Chinese at both the Defense Language Institute and Beijing’s Capital Normal University. He is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the Asia Society, and the Council for Security and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. He is married to Arminda and they have three children—Abigail, Hudson, and Delaney.
Professor Henry D. Sokolski gave a lecture on "Energy Trends: Nuclear and Non-nuclear" at The Institute of World Politics on July 16, 2018. About the Lecture: With the Trump administration's proposed financial relief of the coal and nuclear industries in the name of national security, energy economics has re-emerged as a topic for national debate. So far, much of this discussion has been cast as a contest between market economics and national security. What might the vulnerabilities of America's electrical system be? What are driving energy economic trends both nuclear and non-nuclear? These questions and more will be addressed at this lecture. About the Speaker: Henry D. Sokolski is the Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, a Washington-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to promote a better understanding of strategic weapons proliferation issues among policymakers, scholars and the media. He teaches as an adjunct professor at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. From 1989 to 1993, Sokolski served as the Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, for which he received the Secretary of Defense's Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Sokolski has authored and edited a number of books on nuclear proliferation, including Underestimated: Our Not So Peaceful Nuclear Future, (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2016) and Best of Intentions: America's Campaign Against Strategic Weapons Proliferation (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2001).
Dr. Michael Lammbrau gave a lecture called "Seoul Leadership, Seoul Power: Riding the Korean Wave" at The Institute of World Politics on July 12, 2018. About the Lecture: Many around the world are likely to forget the impact of the Korean War and its aftermath, but the Korean people cannot forget. Rather, they continue forward, leading East Asia and the world toward a peaceful resolution to the Korean War and the division of the Korean peninsula. From the peaceful transformative power of the Candlelight Revolution, Korea has stepped forward to change the course of history and to emerge as a political, economic, and cultural leader of East Asia. About the Speaker: Dr. Michael Lammbrau or (마이클 람브라우) in Korean, is an Assistant Professor for the Intelligence Studies Department at Mercyhurst University and the current U.S. Representative at Arirang Institute. Dr. Lammbrau currently works with the recently founded U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Arirang Institute, which focuses on strengthening ties in East Asia through “People to People” Diplomacy. His work in Korea, as the Seoul Bureau Chief of Arirang Institute, has resulted in grabbing the attention of the national Korean media, where they were the subject of two documentaries. He currently writes and appears for Korean news outlets as an expert on culture and Inter-Korean relations. His current academic work focuses on the application of machine learning methods in text analysis, both supervised and unsupervised, to analyze patterns in North Korean news outlets and provide predictive modeling of North Korean provocations. It was recently recognized in 2018 by local, national, and international media outlets.
Jaroslaw Martyniuk gave a lecture on his book "Monte Rosa: Memoir of an Accidental Spy" on July 11, 2018, at The Institute of World Politics. This event was sponsored by the Center for Intermarium Studies and the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. About the Book: A sweeping panorama of the author's life from the outbreak of WWII to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The narrative begins in Ukraine and ends in Paris where he coordinated the work of fifty undercover interviewers engaged in unorthodox research with Soviet visitors in Western Europe, a chapter of Cold War history never revealed in such remarkable detail. The story includes the author's narrow escape from Communism, an account of his extended family's ordeal in the Soviet Gulag, life in post-war Bavaria, thirty years in Chicago and culminates with twelve years in France where he worked for the International Energy Agency and Radio Liberty. About the Author: Jaroslaw Martyniuk is a former energy economist with the IEA/OECD and a retired sociologist living in Washington, D.C. As a research analyst for Radio Liberty’s Soviet Area Audience and Opinion Research office in Paris during the eighties, he was responsible for coordinating work of fifty Russian-speaking interviewers conducting “unorthodox” public opinion polling with visitors from the Soviet Union, intelligence work carried out on behalf international broadcasters and other interested parties. A Ukrainian-born American, his life story encompasses a narrow escape from Communism at the end of World War II, life in postwar Germany, emigration to the United States and a career with Amoco Oil in Chicago. In 1979, he returned to Europe where he lived for fifteen years until his work took him to Washington D.C.. Martyniuk speaks five languages and during his multiple careers travelled to every country in continental Europe and visited all of the republics of the former Soviet Union save one.
The Institute of World Politics hosted the COKUSS/CUSKOS 33rd International Security Conference beginning June 28 through June 29, 2018. This event was co-sponsored by the Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies, the Korean Defense Veterans Association, and The Institute of World Politics. The first panel focused on deterring and defending against the North Korean threat and was moderated by Gen. (Ret.) Kim Jae Chang. Taewoo Kim discussed his paper "Toward New Alliance Strategies: Preparing against Threat from DPRK and China" and Bruce Bennett discussed his paper "Optimal structure for deterrence against the DPRK threat". The panel also heard from three discussants: William Newcomb, Jaekap Ryoo, and Nam-Sung Huh.
The Institute of World Politics hosted the COKUSS/CUSKOS 33rd International Security Conference beginning June 28 through June 29, 2018. This event was co-sponsored by the Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies, the Korean Defense Veterans Association, and The Institute of World Politics. The second panel focused on ROK-US alliance issues under presidents Moon & Trump and was moderated by Gen. (Ret.) John Tilelli. Bruce Bechtol discussed his paper "North Korea's military developments and actions since Moon/Trump elections" and Changsoo Kim discussed his paper "Denuclearization, Peace Regime, and ROK-US Alliance Issues Post-Summit Talks". The panel also heard from three discussants: David Maxwell, Vice Admiral (Ret.) Tae-Ho Won, and MG (Ret.) Seo Young Lee.
The Institute of World Politics hosted the COKUSS/CUSKOS 33rd International Security Conference beginning June 28 through June 29, 2018. This event was co-sponsored by the Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies, the Korean Defense Veterans Association, and The Institute of World Politics. The ROK ambassador to the United States, Cho Yoon-je, gave luncheon speech on the first day of the conference.
The Institute of World Politics hosted the COKUSS/CUSKOS 33rd International Security Conference beginning June 28 through June 29, 2018. This event was co-sponsored by the Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies, the Korean Defense Veterans Association, and The Institute of World Politics. The first panel focused on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and was moderated by Gen. (Ret.) Kim Jae Chang. Dae-Sung Song discussed his paper "The role of the ROK-US alliance for denuclearization of North Korea" and George Hutchinson discussed his paper "International collaboration efforts for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula". The panel also heard from two discussants: Andrew Scobell and Dong Sun Lee.
The Institute of World Politics hosted the COKUSS/CUSKOS 33rd International Security Conference beginning June 28 through June 29, 2018. This event was co-sponsored by the Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies, the Korean Defense Veterans Association, and The Institute of World Politics. The conference began with remarks by Dr. John Lenczowski, IWP's founder and president, and chairmen Gen. (Ret.) John Tilelli and Gen. (Ret.) Byungkwan Kim.
Author John Lehman talked about his book "OCEANS VENTURED: Winning The Cold War at Sea" during a lecture on June 25, 2018, at The Institute of World Politics. About the Book: A thrilling story of the Cold War, told by a former navy secretary on the basis of recently declassified documents. When Ronald Reagan took office in January 1981, the United States and NATO were losing the Cold War. The USSR had superiority in conventional weapons and manpower in Europe, and had embarked on a construction program to gain naval preeminence. But Reagan already had a plan. Reagan pushed Congress to build the navy back to its 1945 strength of 600 major ships. He gathered a circle of experienced naval planners, including the author, to devise an aggressive strategy that would move our fleets within spitting distance of Soviet waters. New radars, sensors, and emissions technology would make ghosts of our submarines and surface fleets. We would operate aircraft carriers in Arctic waters, which no navy had attempted. The Soviets, surrounded by our forward naval strategy, bankrupted their economy trying to keep pace. It wasn’t long before the Berlin Wall fell and the USSR was disbanded. About the Author: John Lehman, a former U.S. Navy pilot, served as United States Secretary of the Navy from 1981 to 1987. From 2003 to 2004 he was a member of the 9/11 Commission. He lives in New York.
James A. Rice presented his paper "E Pluribus Unum in Ukraine? Reconciling Conflicting National Identity in the Borderland" during a lecture on June 22, 2018, at The Institute of World Politics. **The views in this lecture do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Senator Chuck Grassley or The Institute of World Politics.**
Robert J. Barrett III, the Honorary Chairman of Cross Keys Capital Investment Bank, gave a lecture on "How to do Global Privatizations from Margaret Thatcher's Investment Banker" at The Institute of World Politics on June 21, 2018.
Rebekah Koffler, a threat intelligence expert on Russian Doctrine/Strategy, the founder of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting, and an IWP alumna, gave a lecture on "Russian Strategy and Cyber Influence Operations Against the United States" on June 14, 2018 at The Institute of World Politics.
On June 5, 2018, Dr. Christopher D. Yung explores China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s version of the Marshall Plan, during a lecture "Who's Afraid of China's Belt and Road Initiative? Getting to the Heart of China's Controversial Marshall Plan" at The Institute of World Politics.
Peter Gallo presented a lecture on corruption in the United Nations on May 23, 2018 at The Institute of World Politics. His talk included insight from his experiences as a former investigator in the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services, Investigations Division in New York; the office that is supposed to investigate corruption, fraud and other criminality in the Organization.
The Institute of World Politics Vice Chairman John Lovewell gave this address at Commencement on May 19, 2018 at the Fairmont Hotel.
CPT (P) Gregory Abide was Valedictorian of The Institute of World Politics Class of 2018. His Valedictory remarks were given at Commencement on May 19 at the Fairmont Hotel.
The Institute of World Politics Founder and President John Lenczowski gave this address at Commencement on May 19, 2018 at the Fairmont Hotel.
U.S. Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis addressed the Class of 2018 at The Institute of World Politics Commencement Ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel on Saturday, May 19.
Mamadou Niang presented a lecture on "Terrorist Threat in the Mali and Sahel Region" during the student symposium at The Institute of World Politics on May 17, 2018.
David Stoffey presented his paper "Chinese Economic and Security Statecraft in Central Asia" during the student symposium at The Institute of World Politics on May 17, 2018.
Erik Khzmalyan presented a lecture on "Russia's Pacific Fleet: History, Strategy, and Attempts for Revival" during the student symposium May 17, 2018 at the Institute of World Politics.
About the Panel: In August 2017, the White House unveiled a new South Asia Strategy presenting a narrow definition of victory through increased military firepower against ISIS, al-Qaida, and Taliban. While the President called for an expansion of rules of engagement for US military in Afghanistan, he also promised a harsher stance on Pakistan and a closer reliance on India in Afghanistan’s future. Nine months later, how much closer is the US and its allies towards stabilizing the complex security environment in Afghanistan? Our panelists will cover persistent challenges facing the country and its neighbors as the US endeavors upon a broader South Asia Strategy.
The Lost Kingdom: Memoir of an Afghan Prince A lecture at The Institute of World Politics, May 8, 2018. About the Book: His Royal Highness Prince Ali Seraj, a member of the royal family of Afghanistan, brings four decades of history to life—from the Cold War era when his famed nightclub in Kabul was a hotspot for global celebrities, jetsetters, and spies, to the communist Soviet takeover that killed members of his family, put a price on Prince Ali’s head, and forced him to make a harrowing escape from his homeland in disguise with his American wife and family. Prince Seraj’s intimate and historic portrait of modern Afghanistan tells the inside story of a proud, ancient culture grappling with a turbulent history of invasion and transformation. His passionate and adventure-filled story opens a new door to understand a nation irrevocably linked to the stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and to the United States. About the Author: Prince Ali Seraj is a direct descendant of nine generations of Kings of Afghanistan. He is the nephew of His Majesty King Amanullah (1919-1929), known as the Victor of Afghanistan, the grandson of His Majesty Amir Habibullah (1901-1919), the great-grandson of His Majesty Amir Abdurrahman (1880-1901), known as the Iron King. His ancestry continues on to His Majesty Amir Dost Mohammad who assumed the throne in 1827. After the communist coup d'états in 1978, Prince Ali escaped to the United States and made a successful career in business development, sales, and marketing. He also helped establish several multi-million dollar businesses in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. Prince Ali worked very closely with the Reagan and Bush administrations during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. attack on the Taliban/Al Qaeda, respectively. He returned to Afghanistan after decades of exile to continue his charitable work. Since then, Prince Ali has developed a very important relationship with all the different tribes in Afghanistan as a result of his involvement with his country's people. Due to this relationship, Prince Ali has embarked on a mission to unite the Tribes as one, and established a movement under the name, "National Coalition for Dialogue with Tribes of Afghanistan." Today, Prince Ali assists NATO commanders with setting up meetings among tribal and religious elders to establish a dialogue of common understanding between Coalition Forces and locals. He is also assisting ISAF commanders in establishing a security network in the district of Kabul through his contacts with different tribal elders. Prince Ali will discuss his recently released memoir, The Lost Kingdom: Memoir of an Afghan Prince.
Russian Lobby in Belarus: Could Belarus be the Next after Ukraine? A lecture at The Institute of World Politics, May 8, 2018 About the lecture: After the occupation of Crimea, Russia began to expand its presence in Belarus. Hundreds of Russia-backed initiatives, formally cultural, media, or educational, emerged. Besides that, Sputnik opened its office in Minsk and had almost 1400% audience growth during two years. We observe increasing polarization between pro-Western and pro-Russian Belarusians, which apparently could lead to open conflict. About the speaker: Franak Viačorka is an M.A. candidate at American University in New Media, Democracy, and International Affairs. Previously, he studied at the College of Europe (2017), Warsaw University (2010-2014), and Belarus State University (2005-2008). Currently, he works for the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Belarus service. Franak is a Vaclav Havel Fellow, nominated by Vaclav Havel himself, and also the laureate of the Civil Society Leadership Award. Franak is the founder and vice president of Belarusian cultural initiative Art Siadziba. In 2014, after the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity, he launched a nation-wide campaign promoting the national identity of Belarus, which followed up in so-called "soft Belarussization." Before that, Viacorka served as a leader of the youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front (BNF). He has been arrested four times and was tortured while serving under forced conscription in the Belarusian army. In Belarusian army, he was fighting for the right to speak Belarusian. His personal story became the plot for the award-winning Polish-French movie Viva Belarus.
About the Lecture: Edward Snowden is a polarizing figure in the world today, known by millions and the press as a champion of freedom and a whistle blower exposing extensive activities on the part of the US intelligence community to violate the civil rights of millions of Americans. This one of the many myths that surround this case. In fact, almost all the information in the public domain about Snowden is false. The vast majority of the "Snowden narrative" has been provided by Snowden himself and never verified by the media. Snowden has repeatedly lied about himself, his expertise, the NSA, and his motivations. This discussion exposes truth about the man, his background, and the duplicity of his claims. It is essential for professionals to know the truth to counter the false claims made by Snowden and his supporters and to set the record straight. About the Speaker: David Major is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and President of the Center of Counterintelligence and Security Studies.
About the Panel: The 2016 U.S. presidential election provides an extensive database for scholars. Not only was the election characterized by a dramatic increase in “nasty politics,” but also by the rise of populism and political showmanship that strategically employed character attacks to shock the audience. Other ongoing political developments urge researchers to address many questions. Among them are: Does character assassination work? What are the underlying psychological and rhetorical bases of character assassination? How does the media contribute to the viral effect of smear campaigns? How can one prevent and defend against character assassination? This panel will address these and many other questions related to the nature of character attacks and reputation management.
About the Lecture: Brigadier General Pekka Toveri discussed Finland's history and concentrated on the current structure, tasks, and development programs.
About the Lecture: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Daniel Golden will expose how academia has become the center of foreign and domestic espionage—and why that is troubling news for our nation's security through his book Spy Schools: How The CIA, FBI, and Foreign Intelligence Secretly Exploit America's Universities. Grounded in extensive research and reporting, Spy Schools reveals how academia has emerged as a frontline in the global spy game. In a knowledge-based economy, universities are repositories of valuable information and research, where brilliant minds of all nationalities mingle freely with few questions asked. Intelligence agencies have always recruited bright undergraduates, but now, in an era when espionage increasingly requires specialized scientific or technological expertise, they’re wooing higher-level academics—not just as analysts, but also for clandestine operations. Golden uncovers unbelievable campus activity such as a Chinese graduate student at Duke University stealing research for an invisibility cloak, and a tiny liberal arts college in Marietta, Ohio, exchanging faculty with China’s most notorious spy school. He shows how relentlessly and ruthlessly this practice has permeated our culture, not just inside the US, but internationally as well. Golden, acclaimed author of The Price of Admission, blows the lid off this secret culture of espionage and its consequences at home and abroad.
This event was sponsored by Walter Thinfen, President and CEO at Visioneer Inc. About the Lecture: The purpose of this discussion is to better understand the perspective of the President of the United States regarding cyber conflict. Primary sources will be reviewed including speeches, tweets, and actions. About the Speaker: Joe Billingsley is the founder of the Military Cyber Professionals Association, Adjunct Faculty at the George Washington University, Advisor of the Cyber Security Forum Initiative, Fellow at the Center for Network Innovation and Experimentation, Special Advisor of the peer-reviewed journal "Military Cyber Affairs," and collaborates with organizations including the Atlantic Council and Smithsonian Institution. He is an instructor for The Cyber Intelligence Initiative (Ci2) at the Institute of World Politics. This May he will be teaching a course on Cyber Strategy Development. He is an Iraq War veteran and former US Army Strategist and Cyber Operations Officer, having graduated programs at the Army War College, Naval War College, Military Intelligence School, and Army School of Information Technology. He hold a BA in History from the University of Connecticut, a MS in Cyber Systems and Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School, and is pursuing a PhD in Information Sciences.
About the lecture: Based on a large-scale survey and a choice experiment, this presentation will discuss energy-related preferences and climate change beliefs in Western Estonia and Southern Ukraine. Special attention will be given to the issues of social acceptance of large wind energy projects, since the surveyed regions have a high potential for wind power development. About the speaker: Dr. Anna Ebers Broughel is a visiting research fellow at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she works at the Center for Global Sustainability. She has been a postdoctoral fellow at the Chair for Management of Renewable Energies at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland since 2014. At the University of St. Gallen, she was responsible for the Consumer Barometer of Renewable Energy, one of the largest annual surveys of Swiss energy consumers. Her other engagements included an international cooperation project with the universities from Switzerland, Estonia and Ukraine to improve energy security in Eastern Europe. Previously, she worked at a large commercial bank in Estonia, a solar research institute in Germany, and at SUNY-ESF and Syracuse University, where she defended her PhD in economics as a Fulbright Fellow.
About the Book: Reagan’s 1968 Dress Rehearsal: Ike, RFK, and Reagan’s Emergence as a World Statesman is an inspiring never-before-told history of how Ronald Reagan first began to restore pride in America when he first ran for president in the late 1960s. Against the back-drop history of Reagan’s first campaign for the presidency, it can now be revealed that behind the scenes, none other than former President Dwight Eisenhower was Ronald Reagan’s hidden political mentor. In fact throughout the 1960s, Ronald Reagan was tutored by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower: how to enter politics, and then how to run his 1966 gubernatorial primary, and then general election campaigns. Eisenhower even counseled Reagan on how to fight charges of antiSemitism and critiqued Reagan’s speaking style. Reagan followed Eisenhower’s political advice virtually to the letter, and indeed Reagan based his 1966 campaign theme (common sense) and campaign persona (the citizen politician) on Ike. Ike certified him as presidential timbre, said he would endorse Reagan for president if he were the 1968 nominee, urged him to run for president as California’s favorite son, and may actually have favored political winner Reagan over loser Nixon as the 1968 Republican nominee. Ronald Reagan’s 1968 campaign was a crucial dress rehearsal for his ultimate triumph in 1980. During 1968, Reagan became a world statesman and shaped his crusade to restore pride in America. For Reagan, Ike’s tutelage was critical. Indeed Ronald Reagan now may be seen as one of Dwight Eisenhower’s proteges and his major political heir. This political mentorship changed America’s national priorities through the end of Reagan’s presidency, whose effects still are very much with us today. About the Speaker: Gene Kopelson is president of the New England chapter, on the Board of Trustees and Book Prize committee, of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, an active Churchillian, and a holocaust educator. As a historian, he has published works on Theodore Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet, Ronald Reagan’s 1966 campaign and Mexican American voters, the 1968 Nebraska and Oregon Republican primaries, and Washington State Republican politics in the 1960s. The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial featured his research on Robert F. Kennedy as an inspiration to Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal. His research on Reagan and Eisenhower was featured in 2015 at the 125thCommemoration of the Birth of Dwight Eisenhower at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library. When not researching and writing history, Dr. Gene Kopelson is a cancer physician. He has published over forty medical articles, contributed chapters in medical textbooks, and lectured in the U.S. and abroad on radiation oncology.
About Dr. Russell Kirk: For more than forty years, Russell Kirk was in the thick of the intellectual controversies of his time. He is the author of some thirty-two books, hundreds of periodical essays, and many short stories. Both Time and Newsweek have described him as one of America’s leading thinkers, and The New York Times acknowledged the scale of his influence when in 1998 it wrote that Kirk’s 1953 book The Conservative Mind “gave American conservatives an identity and a genealogy and catalyzed the postwar movement.” Dr. Kirk wrote and spoke on modern culture, political thought and practice, educational theory, literary criticism, ethical questions, and social themes. He addressed audiences on hundreds of American campuses and appeared often on television and radio.
About the Book: "Putin Watches Russian Economy Collapse along with His Economic Stature,” blared a headline in Time in late 2014. Yet three years have passed since the price of oil crashed in 2014, halving earnings on the product which once funded half of Russia’s government budget. That same year, the West imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia’s banks, energy firms, and defense sector, cutting off many of Russia’s largest firms from international capital markets and high-tech oil drilling gear. Many analysts—in Russia as well as abroad—thought that economic crisis might threaten Vladimir Putin’s hold on power. It doesn’t look that way now. Today, Russia’s economy has stabilized, inflation is at historic lows, the budget is nearly balanced, and Putin is coasting toward reelection on March 18, giving him a fourth term as president. Putin has recently overtaken Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev as the longest-serving Russian leader since Stalin. How did he do it? This talk will examine Putin's economic policies and how they have supported his domestic and foreign policies. About the Author: Chris Miller is Assistant Professor of International History at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is also Eurasia Research Director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He is the author of Putinomics: Power and Money in Resurgent Russia (2018) and The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy (2016). He received his PhD from Yale University and his AB from Harvard University.
About the Lecture: Rarely in history has a political movement and its leaders promised more and produced less than Communism and its dictators from Lenin, Stalin and Mao to Castro, Pol Pot and Kim Jong Un. As chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Dr. Lee Edwards has long studied communism and is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on the victims and crimes of communism, past and present. About the Speaker: Lee Edwards, distinguished fellow in conservative thought at The Heritage Foundation, is a leading historian of American conservatism and the author or editor of 25 books. Edwards also is adjunct professor of politics at the Catholic University of America and chairman of a foundation that dedicated the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 2007. His books include biographies of Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley, Jr. and Edwin Meese III as well as histories of The Heritage Foundation and the American conservative movement. His works have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, French, Hungarian and Swedish. Edwards’ next book, written with Elizabeth Edwards Spalding, is A Brief History of the Cold War, to be published by Regnery in the spring of 2016. Edwards was the founding director of the Institute of Political Journalism at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a past president of the Philadelphia Society and a media fellow at the Hoover Institution. He has appeared frequently on broadcast and cable outlets such as Fox News Channel, CNN, Bloomberg, NBC, PBS, C-SPAN and NPR. His work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, National Review, Human Events, Claremont Review of Books and The American Spectator, among other places. His awards and honors include the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, the Millennium Star of Lithuania, the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia, the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy from the Republic of China (Taiwan), the John Ashbrook Award, the Reed Irvine Media in Accuracy Award, Legend of YAF from Young America’s Foundation, and the Walter Judd Freedom Award. Edwards received a doctorate in world politics from Catholic University as well as a doctor of humane letters degree from Grove City College. He did graduate work at the Sorbonne in Paris. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Duke University.
About the Lecture: Francis Bacon once opined: "Augustus Caesar would say, that he wondered that Alexander feared he should want work, having no more worlds to conquer: as if it were not as hard a matter to keep as to conquer." Many societies have found that the process of converting military success into a consolidated conquest was harder than they expected. Oddly, historians have not spent that much time on the problem either, preferring to focus more on the battles than the ensuing garrisons. In this sweeping romp through world military history, strategy, and logistics, Dr. Lee explores the "four pillars" of conquest (the titular governor, priest, tax man and garrison) and he then compares how those same pillars worked in non-state societies on the Eurasian steppe and in the Native American woodlands. About the Speaker: Wayne E. Lee is the Dowd Distinguished Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, where he also chairs the Curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense. He is the author of Waging War: Conflict, Culture, and Innovation in World History (2016), Barbarians and Brothers: Anglo-American Warfare, 1500-1865 (2011), and Crowds and Soldiers in Revolutionary North Carolina (2001). He has two edited volumes on world military history (both 2011) and many articles and book chapters. He has an additional career as an archaeologist, having done field work in Greece, Albania, Hungary, Croatia, and Virginia, including co-directing two field projects. He was a principal author and a co-editor of Light and Shadow: Isolation and Interaction in the Shala Valley of Northern Albania, winner of the 2014 Society for American Archaeology's book award. In 2015/16 he was the Harold K. Johnson Visiting Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army War College.
About the Lecture: Whether in the military, government or private sector we all admire great leaders and leadership. But what’s the difference between good and great leadership? Based on observation of some of the greatest military leaders of our generation, it's “Teamwork, Tone, Tenacity,” a simple, memorable, actionable framework that can be applied anywhere to improve individual performance and organizational productivity. About the Speaker: RADM Paul Becker, USN (Ret) is known for success leading large, diverse, high-performing organizations in peace, crisis and combat. He is a dynamic public speaker an author who’s articles and interviews have been widely published. Upon his retirement in 2016 the Naval Intelligence Community established the “RADM Paul Becker ‘Teamwork, Tone, Tenacity’ Leadership Award” in his honor.
About the Speaker: Predrag Bošković, MSc, Minister of Defence of Montenegro was born in Pljevlja (Montenegro) on March 12, 1972. He finished primary and secondary school in Podgorica. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics, the University of Montenegro, in 1996. He received his MA in Econometrics and Politics from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade in 1999. He published numerous research papers and publications and participated in the implementation of major development projects in Montenegro. Boskvic He started his professional career as a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Economics in 1996. Throughout his career, he held senior positions, including being a member of the Parliament of Montenegro and serving as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, Minister of Economy, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Minister of Education in the Government of Montenegro and the President of the Board of Directors of the Coal Mine in Pljevlja. He was part of IVP (international visitor program) in USA in 2003. He has been leading the Women’s Handball Club since 2006. From 2011 to 2016, he was the President of the Board of the Montenegrin Handball Association. During this period, the club and national team he led achieved the best results in the history of Montenegrin handball, including the Olympic silver medal. His commitment and success in this sport have been recognized internationally. He became the Vice President of the European Handball Federation in November 2016.
About the Lecture: In a modern democracy, state and society occupy separate spheres, so that neither the state oppresses society, nor society dispenses with the state and descends into anarchy. The boundary zone between the two is provided by the rule of law. Among the many attributes of Abraham Lincoln as a democratic leader, his respect for the rule of law is the paramount characteristic of his statesmanship. It was a respect which has been seriously questioned, and it was a respect which the pressure of our Civil War’s circumstances gravely challenged. But viewed in proper perspective, no aspect of the Civil war era, or Lincoln’s statecraft, is more remarkable than his maintenance of the rule of law in what would otherwise have been a situation fatal to the American democracy. About the Speaker: Dr. Allen C. Guelzo is the Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era, and Director of Civil War Era Studies at Gettysburg College. He is the author of Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President (1999), Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America (2004) and Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates That Defined America (2008). His book on the battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg: The Last Invasionwas a New York Times best seller in 2013. He is currently serving as the William L. Garwood Visiting Professor in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. His website is www.allenguelzo.com.
The Reporter Who Spilled the Secret behind the U.S. Navy's Victory at Midway by The Institute of World Politics
About the Lecture: This lecture will discuss what moral relativism is and is not, touch briefly on how it became so predominant in the West, and consider its effects. Is there a way out? About the Speaker: Joseph R. Wood is a retired Air Force colonel. He served in the White House as a senior appointee from 2005 until 2008 as Deputy National Security Advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, with responsibility for all policy involving Europe, Eurasia, Africa, and defense issues. His military career included operational and command fighter assignments (A-10 and F-15E) in Asia and Europe; faculty duty in the Department of Political Science at the Air Force Academy where he taught U.S. foreign and defense policy; service at the Pentagon as speech writer for the Chief of Staff and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and temporary assignments in the Joint Staff, the U.S. Mission to the Conventional Forces in Europe Talks in Vienna, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and NATO SHAPE Headquarters in Mons, Belgium. After retiring from the Air Force, he was appointed a member of the career Senior Executive Service at NASA Headquarters. He later worked in the RAND Corporation's Washington office. He was a Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. from 2008 until 2012 and worked at BAE Systems, Inc. from 2011 until 2012. He has taught in a variety of graduate seminars in Europe.
About the Lecture: George Washington was inaugurated as the nation's first president on April 30, 1789, taking the helm of an executive branch with a mandate to execute, and more importantly, define, the nebulous powers of article two of the United States Constitution. What was true of the founding of America as a nation was especially true of the American presidency – George Washington was the “indispensable man.” Washington was the only national figure who was known to his fellow citizens and trusted by them to safely wield the powers the president was granted. Suffice it to say that these powers were unlikely to have been granted without the assumption by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention, and by those who attended the state ratifying conventions, that George Washington would be the first president. Washington understood that the precedents he set would shape the presidency and the nation for as long as the American experiment survived. About the Speaker: Stephen F. Knott is a Professor of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval War College. He served as co-chair of the University of Virginia's Presidential Oral History Program, directed the Ronald Reagan Oral History Project, and also served on the staff of the John F Kennedy Presidential Library. Professor Knott received his PhD in Political Science from Boston College, and has taught at the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Virginia. He is the author of numerous books including Rush to Judgment: George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and His Critics; Secret and Sanctioned: Covert Operations and the American Presidency, an examination of the use of covert operations by early American presidents; and Alexander Hamilton and the Persistence of Myth, a book on Alexander Hamilton's controversial image in the American mind. He is a co-author of The Reagan Years and At Reagan’s Side: Insiders’ Recollections from Sacramento to the White House. His most recent co-authored volume is Washington & Hamilton: The Alliance That Forged America.
Dr. Anne Rathbone Bradley is an adjunct professor at IWP, where she teaches a course on Economics for Foreign Policy Makers. She is the Vice President of Economic Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, where she develops and commissions research toward a systematic biblical theology of economic freedom. She is a visiting professor at Georgetown University and has previously taught at George Mason University and at Charles University, Prague. She is currently a visiting scholar at the Bernard Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy. She served as the Associate Director for the Program in Economics, Politics, and the Law at the James M. Buchanan Center at George Mason University. Dr. Rathbone Bradley's academic work focuses on the political economy of terrorism with specific emphasis on the industrial organization of al-Qaeda. Her academic research has been published in scholarly journals and edited volumes. She is currently working on a book that analyzes the political economy of al-Qaeda post 9/11. Based on her academic research she also worked as an Economic Analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency's Office of Terrorism Analysis. Dr. Rathbone Bradley received her Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University in 2006 during which time she was a James M. Buchanan Scholar.
About the Lecture: It's all propaganda. Propaganda. Don't panic. We've been here before. Propaganda is once again a subject of US public interest and debate, arguably for the first in three generations, since the onset of the Cold War in the 1950s. And once again, the US is debating about how to defend against propaganda, protecting the public sphere and free speech. From World War I through World War II, America's response to foreign entities using propaganda has historically been prompted by alarm, fear, and suspicion, often delaying or neglecting a measured approach to foreign propaganda efforts. Proposals and attempts to protect against propaganda included "inoculation" or public education, the "expertise" solution, censorship, and legislative measures. Between 1918 and 1948, a combination of censorship and legislation was attempted. With the Cold War, particularly in the 1980s, the United States adopted an offensive counter-influence and inoculation approach. Today, revelations of Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential election have churned up endless media reporting and public discussions on "fake news," disinformation, Russian manipulation, internet troll farms and bots. And in 2015, the sudden, rapid rise of Daish in Syria and Iraq, also initiated discussion on the threat posed by terrorist propaganda and how to defend against terrorist propaganda. As many experts have observed, the US is already behind in its response to 21st century propaganda and the ensuing "information warfare," but US anxiety and alarm overshadow current discussions on Russian and terrorist propaganda. America must overcome national paranoia regarding propaganda and develop a measure approach to avoid succumbing to continued foreign influence.
About the Panel: This panel will address the legal issue related to and the military developments specifically after 1968, on the Vietman War. It will include an alternative perspective to the war than the one presented by the Burns-Novick Vietnam War Film.
About the Lecture: Over the past decade, China's emergence as a major maritime power has unsettled the status quo in Asia and beyond. By assessing the sources of Chinese seapower, this presentation will argue that China's seaward turn will pose a long-term challenge to U.S. maritime strategy.
About the book: The Terrorist Argument: Modern Advocacy and Propaganda, co-authored by Christopher C. Harmon and Randall G. Bowdish and published by Brookings Institution Press, is an entirely original study of the strategic communications of violent sub-state actors. The book exposes the surprising range of different media now in use by terrorists, including writing books and setting up television stations. It provides insights, observations, and conclusions reached in 9 case studies of media—of groups as different as secular Iranian dissidents, Islamists of ISIS and Al Qaeda, Filipino Maoists, and Irish militants. About the author: Christopher C. Harmon inaugurated two of his earlier terrorism books in IWP lectures (2010, 2014). He taught evening courses on terrorism and counterterrorism at the Institute for more than a decade following 9/11/01. Dr. Harmon served on a congressional staff, has taught at a half-dozen graduate schools, directed terrorism studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, and held two academic chairs in Quantico, Virginia. His most recent articles are in the geopolitics journal Orbis, Oxford Bibliographies, and Combating Terrorism Exchange. Since 2012, Harmon also serves on the editorial board of the leading English-language terrorism journal, Terrorism & Political Violence.
About the Lecture: On the publication date of her book, Blood Profits: How American Consumers Unwittingly Fund Terrorists, Dr. Vanessa Neumann will talk about her travels around the Americas and how narcotics, corruption and other forms of illicit trade fund non-state armed groups and threaten good governance. The talk will cover Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Guatemala, drawing connections and distinctions between their challenges and their roles in international criminal networks. About the Speaker: Vanessa Neumann provides expertise on political risk affecting investment in the Western Hemisphere. She is a consultant to funds totaling over $1T AUM. She is an entrepreneur with extensive relationships to identify reliable partners and bridge relationships across the Western Hemisphere's industry and governments. She is the owner and founder of Asymmetrica, an anti-illicit trade and government affairs consultancy that is part of the research network for the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate. She is a former advisor to the OECD's Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade, and a current P/CVE consultant to UN Women. In the 1990s, she conducted corporate planning and finance at Venezuelan petrochemicals conglomerate Corimon, through its NYSE IPO by Merrill Lynch. She lobbied US government for oil industry interests under Venezuela's Minister Counselor for Petroleum Affairs and helped bring first case before World Trade Organization. Returning to industry, she negotiated raw material price and payment terms with ICI, 3M, and DuPont to improve margins in petrochemicals manufacturing in 5 LatAm countries. She received a Ph.D. from Columbia University in theories of justice. She does field work in the reintegration of Colombian paramilitaries and research on LatAm security for think tanks. Currently, she is an academic reviewer for the US military's Special Operations Command, teaching text on counterinsurgency in Colombia. She is a fellow at FPRI and Yale, and associate at Columbia. She is author of the book, Blood Profits: How American Consumers Unwittingly Fund Terrorists, out December 5th, 2017.
About the Lecture: Mr. Tibor Babic will be talking about the events that were taking place immediately after the Socialist Republic of Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia to become an independent, autonomous, and sovereign state on June 25, 1991. He will talk about the war and the political process that took place in order for Slovenia to become a democratic nation governed by the will of its people. His hope is to give an another prospective, a prospective of people who experienced the war, who were on the battlefield, and in negotiation meetings. To present historical facts with emotions of the people during the war and immediately after the war ended. About the Speaker: Tibor Babic was born in Maribor, Slovenia, and after graduating high school, he went to Vienna, Austria to study political science. His goal is to work in international relations, which is why he chose to attend The Institute of World Politics for graduate school, where he graduated in May 2017. His research areas at IWP concentrate on EU and US relations and world order.
About the Lecture: Organizations combined are spending billions of dollars on information security tools. Based on news headlines this spending does not seem to be reaching the desired result. This talk will focus on important foundational business and Information Technology hygiene areas necessary to properly protect and defend your organization. Darren Death PS 2 About the Speaker: Darren Death has worked in information technology for over 17 years building and securing enterprise solutions primarily for the Government sector. As the Chief Information Security Officer, he is responsible for the ASRC Enterprise Cyber Security program which includes ASRC Federal and its parent company Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. In the role of Chief Information Security Officer, he manages the Cyber Security program across the 4Billion dollar ASRC portfolio crossing many business sectors to include Financial Services, Health Care, Construction, Retail, Energy, and Federal Government Contracting. Follow Darren on Twitter: https://twitter.com/darrendeath Follow Darren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrendeath/
About the lecture The historical idea of Novorossiya in Russia, in regard to Ukraine, has been a manufactured reality for at least the last 250 years since it was first uttered. Before that, it was a concept that shaped attitudes about Ukraine, denying but not destroying a separate national existence, and implicit to Russo-centric historiography. During the Soviet period, it was used for state power, as attitudes became murder. Today, Novorossiya is invoked in the central government's denial campaign of the not-so-secret war with Ukraine. But where did it come from? And how has it been repackaged? And why does Putin not matter, ultimately? This presentation will seek to answer these questions and more through an investigation of eastern Ukraine, who is doing the fighting, and who really cares about this war. About the speaker Jarrod McDowell graduated from IWP in 2017 with an MA in National Security Affairs, with a focus on intelligence. He received his BS in History from Emmanuel College. During his time at IWP, he worked for TRAC as an Editorial Researcher. Today, he continues in a similar role as a DoD civilian.
About the Lecture: Lt. Col. Dave Blair (USAF) will discuss his book Chasing Jericho: Tactical Adaptation in the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron and the Eventual Sudden Collapse of the Atlantic Slave Trade. On the 25th of March, 1807, the British Empire turned from the primary backer of the Atlantic Slave Trade to its most powerful adversary. Between that date and 1867, the year the last known Atlantic slave ship sailed, the British spent tens of millions of pounds and lost thousands of sailors in the course of suppressing the trade. Their foreign office bribed and pressured European sea-going powers into an international treaty network against the trade, backed by Royal Navy cruisers. Royal Navy officers built a network of treaties with leaders on the West African coast, similarly by way of economic incentives, pressure and at times, force. The British were willing to act unilaterally, even assaulting Brazilian slave ships at their moorings in the Americas. Amidst all of this, the perennially controversial effort faced vocal doubts as to its efficacy and social value, and was nearly called off in the late 1850s. The outcome of this campaign -- the eradication of the Atlantic Slave Trade -- is remarkable amongst illicit market suppression attempts for its clear success... Without the campaign of the British Royal Navy against the Atlantic slave trade, which campaign is today largely forgotten, the immense work of William Wilberforce in declaring that trade illegal would likely have been meaningless as the slave trade would have continued much as before. More pertinent to the 21st century, the Royal Navy's strategy and tactics provide lessons that can prove useful in today's transnational security challenges. About the Speaker: Lt. Col. Dave Blair (USAF) is a Senior Special Operations Aviation Advisor at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he works on emerging aviation technology, artificial intelligence, and competitive strategies. He is a proud graduate of a Small Technical College on the Front Range of the Rockies (Class of 2002); he also holds a Masters from Harvard and a Doctorate from Georgetown as a member of the first class of the CSAF's Prestigious PhD Program. He is an Evaluator Pilot in Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), with more than 2,000 combat hours in six theaters of combat in the AC-130 Spooky Gunship, MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper.
About the speaker: Rebeccah Heinrichs is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute where she provides research and commentary on a range of national security issues, and specializes in nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and counter-proliferation. Her work has appeared in major newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times, and Investor’s Business Daily as well as political journals such as Politico and The Hill. She is a regular national security commentator on Fox News and Fox Business as well as other networks. Rebeccah was the vice chairman of the John Hay Initiative's Counterproliferation Working Group, where she contributed to the group's book: Choosing To Lead. In this capacity she also provided counsel and briefings to governors, federal legislators, and presidential candidates. Rebeccah served as an adviser on national security and foreign policy to Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and helped launch the bi-partisan Missile Defense Caucus. She has testified before Congress and has presented to numerous organizations including the Aerospace Industries Association, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Defense Industrial Association, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. She holds an MA in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. She also graduated with highest distinction from its College of Naval Command and Staff, receiving the Director’s Award for academic excellence. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ashland University in Ohio, and graduated from the Ashbrook Scholar Program. Rebeccah currently resides in Arlington, Virginia with her husband and their children.
Radical Islam and Resettlement Jihad by The Institute of World Politics
Iran and the US Response with Dr. Douglas Streusand by The Institute of World Politics
About the speaker: Andrew Harris is an active duty US Army Military Intelligence Officer, serving as an Executive Officer for the Intelligence and Security Command Headquarters, and an Alumnus of the Institute of World Politics, a graduate school in Washington, DC. His previous assignments include two deployments to Afghanistan as an Infantry Platoon Leader and an Assistant Brigade Intelligence Officer, and service as the Battalion Intelligence Officer for the 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Eurasian Geopolitical Power and Its Threat to the U.S. by The Institute of World Politics
About the book: Bruce Hoffman's Inside Terrorism has remained the seminal work for understanding the historical evolution of terrorism and the terrorist mind-set. In this revised third edition of his classic text, Hoffman analyzes the latest developments in global terrorism, offering insight into new adversaries, motivations, strategies, and tactics. He focuses on the rise of ISIS and the resilience of al-Qaeda; terrorist exploitation of the Internet and embrace of social media; radicalization of foreign fighters; and potential future trends, including the repercussions of a post-caliphate ISIS. Hoffman examines the demographics of contemporary terrorist leaders and recruits; the continued use of suicide bombers; and the likelihood of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear terrorist strike. He also considers the resurgence of violent antigovernment militants, including white supremacists and opponents of abortion. He argues that the war on terrorism did not end with Osama bin Laden's death and that ongoing instability and strife in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen, among other places, will both sustain terrorist movements and have broad implications for domestic and international security around the globe. About the author: Bruce Hoffman is a professor in Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and the director of the Center for Security Studies and the Security Studies Program. He is also a senior fellow at the U.S. Military Academy’s Combating Terrorism Center and a visiting professor of terrorism studies at St. Andrews University. Hoffman is the editor of the Columbia University Press series Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare, coeditor of The Evolution of the Global Terrorist Threat: From 9/11 to Osama bin Laden’s Death(Columbia, 2014), and author of Anonymous Soldiers: The Struggle for Israel, 1917–1947 (2015).
Marek Jan Chodakiewicz, Ph.D., the Head of the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics
Russia's road to dictatorship and terror under Yeltsin and Putin and how it led to Russia's interference in U.S. internal affairs. The author will also discuss the significance of this interference and how the U.S. should react. Mr. David Satter is affiliated with the Hudson Institute and the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He has written four books about Russia and the Soviet Union, including The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep: Russia's Road to Terror and Dictatorship, which was released in September in paperback.
Mass migrations, which began in the Polish lands already in 1944, lasted until the end of the 50s. Their effect was the displacement of a dozen or so millions of people into unfamiliar, alien lands. The lecture will show the diary of migrants of those times from the corpus of over one thousand works, digitized and subjected to qualitative analysis. Professor Jakub Isanski is a sociologist working at the Faculty of Social Sciences at one of the biggest Polish universities: the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznan. He specializes in issues related to migrations and its social consequences. Among his published papers are the results of field research on contemporary Polish migration.
In many respects, The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth resembled the United States of America, albeit in the pre-modern era. The aim of this lecture is to present the similarities between the two political entities, pointing to analogies between the two systems of government and the thoughts and attitudes that spawned them. Mrs. Maria Juczewska is an Associate Director of the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics. She is a communication specialist with international experience. Her main research interests are topics related to Central and Eastern European affairs with focus on propaganda and disinformation. She also writes journalistic reports for American NGOs’ portals.
About the Lecture: Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church has been an outspoken critic of the Ukrainian government and the Maidan movement. The organization and culture of Orthodox Christianity is often enigmatic for Westerners, so the significance of these comments is lost. What role, if any, does religion play in the ongoing crisis in Donbas? About the Speaker: Geoffrey Seroka is a graduate student at The Institute of World Politics, studying International Affairs. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Government from Patrick Henry College in 2015.
About the Lecture: The Islamic Republic of Iran wants nuclear weapons to solidify its growing regional hegemony in the Middle East. Such an event will destabilize the already precarious regional order. The Trump Administration is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear arms at all costs--even potentially risking war with the Islamic Republic. If conflict with Iran were to erupt, Iran's long-time strategic partner, the Russian Federation, would disproportionately benefit. About the Speaker: Brandon Weichert is a former Congressional staffer and the founder of The Weichert Report. His book on national security space policy will be released shortly. Brandon holds a B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University and is an Associate Member of New College at Oxford University. Recently, Brandon obtained his M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs with a Specialization in Defense Policy from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. On top of being a contributor to the conservative publication, American Greatness, Brandon does speaking engagements, presents papers, and conducts media interviews. He has been featured on BBC World News World Update with Dan Damon, he has been interviewed by The Christian Science Monitor, he has appeared on The Dino Report with Dino Costa, and he has been featured on the Seth & Chris Show offering his expertise as a national security and foreign policy specialist.
About the lecture: The Eastern Question is a subject that involves the the East, the West, Russia, the Balkans, Turkey and the Middle East. It is a story of threat perception, religion and strategic considerations that have their origins going back to the Trojan Wars, carry up through the Crimean War and into the current tensions facing the Region, from Syria to the Ukraine, in the 21st century. About the speaker: Dr. Williams is originally from Michigan. He received degrees and diplomas from Culver Military Academy, the University of Virginia, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, the University of Florence, Italy, and two Masters and a Doctorate in International Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, a joint Tufts and Harvard Program. He has lived in four foreign countries and has studied and worked professionally in four foreign languages: French, Greek, Italian and Turkish. Formerly a Wall St. and International Investment Banker, he is currently a licensed Realtor, operates a small consulting business, and lectures on a variety of topics, including American History, Turkey and the Middle East. He has been featured on National Public Radio related to several of his interests, has written news Commentary pieces on Turkey and the Middle east, and has published scholarly articles on Ottoman and Turkish Law. He has recently spent two semesters (2016-‘17) in Istanbul teaching a course at Koç University titled, “Turkey and America, East and West – Where the Twain Meet”. Phil is a past National Board member of the English-Speaking Union, a Past Virginia State President of the Sons of the American Revolution, and has served on the board of the American Friends of Turkey for over twenty-three years. Marilyn Williams is his wife and they have two grown children, Margaret (34) and Phillips (32).
About the lecture: The Eastern Question is a subject that involves the the East, the West, Russia, the Balkans, Turkey and the Middle East. It is a story of threat perception, religion and strategic considerations that have their origins going back to the Trojan Wars, carry up through the Crimean War and into the current tensions facing the Region, from Syria to the Ukraine, in the 21st century. About the speaker: Dr. Williams is originally from Michigan. He received degrees and diplomas from Culver Military Academy, the University of Virginia, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, the University of Florence, Italy, and two Masters and a Doctorate in International Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, a joint Tufts and Harvard Program. He has lived in four foreign countries and has studied and worked professionally in four foreign languages: French, Greek, Italian and Turkish. Formerly a Wall St. and International Investment Banker, he is currently a licensed Realtor, operates a small consulting business, and lectures on a variety of topics, including American History, Turkey and the Middle East. He has been featured on National Public Radio related to several of his interests, has written news Commentary pieces on Turkey and the Middle east, and has published scholarly articles on Ottoman and Turkish Law. He has recently spent two semesters (2016-‘17) in Istanbul teaching a course at Koç University titled, “Turkey and America, East and West – Where the Twain Meet”. Phil is a past National Board member of the English-Speaking Union, a Past Virginia State President of the Sons of the American Revolution, and has served on the board of the American Friends of Turkey for over twenty-three years. Marilyn Williams is his wife and they have two grown children, Margaret (34) and Phillips (32).
About the lecture: What does America owe its veterans? At a time when so few serve in the military, many Americans either place veterans on a pedestal or see them as victims. The fact is that most are neither heroes nor victims, but men and women who did their duty as they were given to see it. For that, they deserve neither adulation nor pity but understanding. One way to achieve this understanding is to appreciate the veteran's odyssey, the soldier's sojourn within, and subsequent return from, the "temple of Mars." About the speaker: Dr. Mackubin Thomas Owens is Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor at The Institute of World Politics. He is a Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in Philadelphia, and editor of Orbis, FPRI's quarterly journal. He recently retired as Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. At the War College he specialized in the planning of US strategy and forces, especially naval and power projection forces; the political economy of national security; national security organization; strategic geography; and American civil-military relations. From 1990 to 1997, Dr. Owens was Editor-in-Chief of the quarterly defense journal Strategic Review and Adjunct Professor of International Relations at Boston University. Before joining the faculty of the War College, Dr. Owens served as National Security Adviser to Senator Bob Kasten, Republican of Wisconsin, and Director of Legislative Affairs for the Nuclear Weapons Programs of the Department of Energy during the Reagan Administration. Dr. Owens is also a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, where as an infantry platoon and company commander in 1968-1969, he was wounded twice and awarded the Silver Star medal. He retired as a Colonel in 1994. Dr. Owens earned his Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Dallas, a Master of Arts in Economics from Oklahoma University, and his BA from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has taught at the University of Rhode Island, the University of Dallas, Catholic University, Ashland University of Ohio, and the Marine Corps' School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW).
About the lecture: Ambassador Temuri Yakobashvili (former Ambassador of Georgia to the U.S.) will discuss the conditions that led to the conflict between Russia and Georgia. He will outline the steps needed to bring a lasting peace to the region and the role that the United States could play, notably in economic development. He will provide some insight from his experience as Ambassador of Georgia to the United States. About the speaker: Ambassador Temuri Yakobashvili is co-Founder and President of the New International Leadership Institute. He is a career diplomat who has held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, including that of a Director of the Department for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Previously, he was a Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Reintegration in the Government of Georgia, and served as an Ambassador of Georgia to the United States. Amb. Yakobashvili is a graduate of Tbilisi State University and has fulfilled training and fellowships at Oxford University’s Center of Political and Diplomatic Studies, Yale University, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
About the lecture: Speaking at IWP in April, Nikolas Gvosdev discussed the balance between Russia-engagers and Russia-skeptics in the Trump Administration. Over the summer, the balance of forces, along with the passage of major new sanctions against Russia by the Congress, has shifted strongly in favor of containment. Why has a candidate Trump who called for improved relations with Vladimir Putin's Russia morphed into President Trump a seeming Russia hawk--and what does this say for how future encounters between Washington and Moscow will go? About the speaker: Nikolas Gvosdev is Professor of National Security Affairs, holding the Captain Jerome E. Levy Chair in Economic Geography and National Security at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He also serves as a Senior Fellow for the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program and Program on National Security. He was formerly the Editor of The National Interest magazine and a Senior Fellow at The Nixon Center in Washington, D.C. Gvosdev received his doctorate from St Antony's College, Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes Scholarship. A frequent commentator on Russian and Eurasian affairs, his work has appeared in such outlets as Foreign Affairs, The Financial Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Orbis, and he has appeared as a commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and BBC. He is the co-author of US Foreign Policy and Defense Strategy: The Rise of an Incidental Superpower, and the co-author of Russian Foreign Policy: Vectors, Sectors and Interests.
About the lecture: North Korea’s energy picture offers a striking contrast between abundant resources and chronic energy shortfalls that have created bottlenecks throughout the economy. These obstacles have even affected the all important military sector. Pyongyang has tried short term fixes to deal with energy related difficulties via its neighbors Russia and China but for the most part these efforts have either exacerbated existing problems or created new ones. Cutting across classical standards of analysis, North Korean energy insecurities are not straightforward problems and cannot easily be classified as either economic or political-military. Opaque and impenetrable to outsiders, North Korea’s painful combination of resource deficiency and a lack of geopolitical leverage to command access to deficient resources is especially hard for the United States to understand, given the abundant resources they have readily at hand and the political-military leverage they possess to acquire the resources they lack. As the information revolution expands worldwide, in both civilian and military dimensions, and as industrial facilities become more and more technology intensive, the quality of electric power becomes more important to the DPRK in all aspects of economic and military life. North Korea is beginning to discover that it cannot run on their erratic power supply with which Pyongyang, and its provincial towns are presently afflicted.” Recommended Reading: Energy Security in North Korea: From Defiance to Survival, Foreign Policy Association, https://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2017/06/15/energy-security-north-korea-defiance-survival/ About the speaker: Patricia is an energy analyst based in Washington DC and an Associate Member of New College at Oxford University. She has extensive experience in global energy market studies, energy security and political risk with special focus on Europe, the United States and Russia. Patricia was recently selected as one of the top 40 most influential individuals in the energy sector by Right Relevance Inc, in San Francisco California. Patricia previously worked at Le Figaro Newspaper in Paris and was a parliamentary assistant and attaché at The French National Assembly. While working for a petrochemical company, she wrote her thesis on U.S Foreign Policy towards Terrorism after 9/11 focusing on the War in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a member of Chatham House, she has led several research projects in the areas of energy security and emerging threats in critical energy infrastructure as well as policy and risk assessment of European and Russian oil and gas systems. She has collaborated with various academic institutions, think tanks and embassies on European energy market, the geopolitics of energy and investment patterns. She has published for Pipeline Oil and Gas Magazine in Dubai, The National Interest, Oxford Politics and International Relations Departments as well as the Foreign Policy Association in NY. She is a frequent contributor to international media on energy security and international economic issues. Patricia holds a Master Degree from the Institute of World Politics in Washington D.C. She studied law and international relations in Paris, London,Geneva and completed a course certificate on sustainability and environmental management at Harvard University. Follow her on Twitter: @Patricia_Energy
About the book: This book examines historic examples of US public diplomacy in order to understand how past uses and techniques of foreign public engagement evolved into modern public diplomacy as a tool of American statecraft. The study explores six historic cases where the United States’ government or private American citizens actively engaged with foreign publics, starting with the American Revolution in 1776 through the passage of the Smith-Mundt Bill of 1948. Each case looks specifically at the role foreign public engagement plays in American statecraft, while also identifying trends in American foreign public engagement and making connections between past practice of foreign public engagement and public diplomacy, and analyzing how trends and past practice or experience influenced modern American public diplomacy. About the author: Caitlin E. Schindler obtained a Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence from The Institute of World Politics in 2010. While studying at IWP, Caitlin worked as a technical writer and executive officer, for a U.S. Defense Contractor supporting various government customers, mainly in counterterrorism policy and operations. In 2015, Caitlin completed her PhD at the University of Leeds in the UK under the supervision of Nicholas Cull (University of Southern California). Dr. Schindler's research focuses on the role of intelligence and national techniques of strategic communication to include propaganda, public diplomacy, and political warfare in national statecraft. Caitlin is currently employed by Leidos and is a Research Professor at The Institute of World Politics.
About the book: MONIKA JABLONSKA’S WIND FROM HEAVEN. JOHN PAUL: The Poet Who Became Pope is the story of the future pope Karol Wojtyła as poet and playwright, as true servant of the Word — a student of Polish literature, dramatist, actor, professor, philosopher, and priest, whose religious conviction added a moral dimension to world politics and changed the course of history. Wind from Heaven offers a new perspective on John Paul II and the pontificate that transformed the Church, its people, and the whole world. Drawing on a wealth of Polish sources, the author throws a fresh and numinous light onto the personal and literary life of John Paul II for English-language readers. She portrays the history of Karol Wojtyła’s native Poland, its literature, and faith-suffused used culture as the crucible out of which emerged a boy, then a man of unbreakable spirit, who answered the call to priesthood, and became a pope who in face of immense worldly evils feared no one but God, giving ringing voice to Love and Hope with such moral clarity that the world rose up with courage in response. The reader of this inspiring book comes away in reverent awe of Karol Wojtyła, this “man from a far country” who played a crucial role in some of the most momentous events of our time, who implemented lasting changes in this world, and who left behind springs of inspiration owing stronger with each passing year. About the author: MONIKA JABLONSKA is an entrepreneur, lawyer, consultant, and business executive. She is currently working on her PhD dissertation, on social business. At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012, Monika launched her own social business called Nurture the World to feed hungry children around the world. She runs projects in the USA, Brazil, and Europe. In 2015, she received a Special Recognition Award from the American Institute ofPolish Culture in Miami for her Nurture the World project. Monika was also nominated for Businesswoman of the Year in 2016. Wind from Heaven has previously been published in Poland, Brazil, and Colombia.
About the lecture: This presentation will discuss current relations between the Russian Federation and Latin American and Caribbean states. Apart from addressing Moscow’s relations with “the usual suspects” (e.g. Cuba and Venezuela), we will also explore initiatives with other regional states at the diplomatic, defense and economic level. We will conclude by discussing whether the Russian government currently has an overall strategy towards Latin America and the Caribbean and what new initiatives we can expect in the near future. About the speaker: W. Alejandro Sanchez is an international affairs analyst who focuses on geopolitical and defense issues in the Western Hemisphere. A member of the Forum on the Arms Trade, he is a regular contributor to IHS Jane's Defense Weekly, the Center for International Maritime Security, Living in Peru, among others. His analyses have appeared in journals including Small Wars and Insurgencies, Defence Studies, the Journal of Slavic Military Studies, European Security, Studies in Conflict and Terrorismand Perspectivas. He received his B.A. from Ursinus College, his M.A. from American University, his Certificate on Caribbean Defense and Security from the National Defense University (Washington, DC) and his Certificate on International Politics from the Institute of World Politics. The views expressed in this presentation are the sole responsibility of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the presenter is associated.
About the lecture: The period of continental peace in Europe has been shattered. Whereas many assumed that war would never return to Europe after the Cold War, it would seem that conflict with Russia and Islamic extremism (as well as economic instability) now dominates the once-peaceful European continent. With America's commitment to NATO and the EU in question, this lecture will address the question whether key countries--such as Germany and Poland--should develop nuclear arms to better defend themselves absent of a firm American defense commitment. About the speaker: Brandon J. Weichert is a former congressional staffer and is the founder and CEO of The Weichert Report: A World News Website. He is also a Contributing Editor at American Greatness. Brandon received his B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University and his M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from The Institute of World Politics.
About the lecture: This lecture will elaborate the ways in which a constitution is not a mere set of rules-of-the-game but is rather the formulation of a “way of life,” and that requires stable aspects of character in the citizens that are the condition for the success of the constitution. About the speaker: William B. Allen, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy in the Department of Political Science and Emeritus Dean, James Madison College, at Michigan State University. He served previously on the United States National Council for the Humanities and as Chairman and Member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Recently he served as Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church Havre de Grace, Md; and a Veritas Fund Senior Fellow in the Matthew J. Ryan Center for the Study of Free Institutions and the Public Good at Villanova University. He has published extensively. including Re-Thinking Uncle Tom: The Political Philosophy of H. B. Stowe (Lexington Books) and George Washington: America’s First Progressive (Peter Lang, Inc.).
Energy Security: New Market Realities by The Institute of World Politics
About the lecture: This lecture will elaborate the ways in which a constitution is not a mere set of rules-of-the-game but is rather the formulation of a “way of life,” and that requires stable aspects of character in the citizens that are the condition for the success of the constitution. About the speaker: William B. Allen, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy in the Department of Political Science and Emeritus Dean, James Madison College, at Michigan State University. He served previously on the United States National Council for the Humanities and as Chairman and Member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Recently he served as Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church Havre de Grace, Md; and a Veritas Fund Senior Fellow in the Matthew J. Ryan Center for the Study of Free Institutions and the Public Good at Villanova University. He has published extensively. including Re-Thinking Uncle Tom: The Political Philosophy of H. B. Stowe (Lexington Books) and George Washington: America’s First Progressive (Peter Lang, Inc.).
About the lecture Social engineering (also called "Human Hacking") is an essential tool in every computer hacker's toolkit. Yet its origins extend long before the digital age. This talk explores the evolution of this concept from its origins in public policy to its current application to cybersecurity. Dr. Hatfield's research includes interviews with famous hackers and offers a framework within which social engineering attacks can best be understood. About the speaker Lieutenant Commander Joseph M. Hatfield currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cyber Science at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he teaches courses on the technical fundamentals of cybersecurity, the ethics and policy of cyber operations, and intelligence and national security. He is an active-duty naval intelligence officer with over a decade of overseas operational experience, including combat tours aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as well as overseas assignments in both England and Sicily. He earned his Ph.D. at Cambridge University and has published scholarly work in journals and book chapters.
This lecture was presented on August 8, 2017 by Brandon Weichert at the Institute of World Politics. This event is sponsored by the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies. About the lecture Russian foreign policy objectives are poorly understood today. This is because most analysts look at Russia through Western eyes. But, Russia is not only Moscow. Russia is Siberia and the Far East also. This lecture will provide a three-dimensional view of Russia, it will contextualize Russian actions over the past decade beyond the headlines, and it will illustrate why U.S. foreign policy toward Russia is misguided (and how to correct the strategic misperceptions). About the speaker Brandon J. Weichert is a former congressional staffer and is the founder and CEO of The Weichert Report: A World News Website. He is also a Contributing Editor at American Greatness. Brandon received his B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University and his M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from The Institute of World Politics.
This lecture was presented on August 3, 2017 by Rachel Baumant at the Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: World War II, or the "Great Patriotic War," had physically and psychologically devastating effects on Soviet society and thus remains vital to Russian national identity. However, the particular symbols and narratives used to teach the history of the war and commemorate the victory have become emblematic of the power and desire of the state to shape collective memory and thus influence perceptions of current events in the post-Soviet sphere. About the speaker: Rachel Bauman is a student at The Institute of World Politics, where she is pursuing an MA in Statecraft and International Affairs. After graduating from Messiah College with a BA in English and minor in politics, she taught English at a summer camp in Kostroma Oblast, Russia and later was a Resident Junior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest. She recently returned from a summer program of intensive Russian language study in Vladimir, Russia, and her particular interests are Russian/Soviet history, U.S.-Russia relations, and Russian politics and culture.
This lecture was presented on July 20, 2017 by Jack Thomas Tomarchio at the Institute of World Politics. About the lecture In the past year, the news media has been focused on the Russian hacking of the 2016 Presidential elections. A story that started with the hack of the Democratic National Committee in July 2016 has reached to the pinnacle of US power and politics. But what is the real story behind the great hack of 2016? Now a former senior US intelligence officer addresses the real story behind the story. From his unique optic as an intelligence officer, Jack Thomas Tomarchio will address what happened, how the US intelligence community found the Russian connection, and most importantly WHY the Russians would want to influence a US Presidential election. The reasons might surprise you. He will also examine what the future holds for US-Russian relations and Russia's future relations with NATO, the EU and the world. About the speaker Jack Thomas Tomarchio is a principal with the Agoge Group, LLC, an international strategic advisory firm. He advises companies, law firms, financial services firms, federal government contractors and government organizations on trends and changes in geopolitical markets and issues effecting international security. In 2005, he was appointed to be the first Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis; in 2007, he was promoted to Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Operations. He began his career as a judge advocate and paratrooper in the United States Army's 82d Airborne Division and retired from the Army in 2010 with the permanent rank of colonel. In 2008, he served as a member of Mitt Romney's national security team, where he developed and co-authored the candidate's position on counter terrorism and homeland security. Prior to joining the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Tomarchio was a partner at the national law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C. where he was co-chair of the firm's government relations department and national security law group. He returned to Buchanan in 2013 where he served as co-chair of the firm's Cyber Security Practice Group. Mr. Tomarchio holds a Bachelor of Arts in History cum laude from the Pennsylvania State University, a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School, a Master's of Governmental Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master's of Strategic Studies from the USArmy War College.
This lecture was presented on July 17, 2017 by Erik Khzmalyan at the Institute of World Politics. This event is sponsored by the Kosciusko Chair of Polish Studies. About the lecture: Erik Khzmalyan will discuss Russia's interaction with Islam during the Tsarist and Soviet periods, Islam after communism, the radicalization of Muslim populations, and Russia's fear of pan-Islamic movements. About the speaker: Erik Khzmalyan is a Fellow at the Eurasian Research and Analysis Institute. Erik specializes in U.S. Foreign Policy, Eurasia, and Geopolitics. He is currently an M.A. candidate in Statecraft and International Affairs at The Institute of World Politics.
This lecture was presented on July 13, 2017 by Angie Abide at the Institute of World Politics. ABOUT: Angie Abide will provide an overview of Nicaragua, giving a brief background of the country. She will then focus on the history of Nicaraguan-Soviet relations, including the political, economic and military support that the Soviet Union provided the Sandinista government in its rise to power. Finally, she will discuss the reemergence of Nicaragua's relationship with the Kremlin, and how this relationship parallels the one with the Soviet Union. SPEAKER BIO: Angie Abide is currently an M.A. candidate in Statecraft and International Affairs at the Institute of World Politics. She specializes in American Foreign Policy, US-Latin American Relations and Geoeconomics.
This lecture was presented on July 10, 2017 by Thomas J. Wright at the Institute of World Politics. About the book: The two decades after the Cold War saw unprecedented cooperation between the major powers as the world converged on a model of liberal international order. Now, great power competition is back and the liberal order is in jeopardy. Russia and China are increasingly revisionist in their regions. The Middle East appears to be unraveling. And many Americans question why the United States ought to lead. What will great power competition look like in the decades ahead? Will the liberal world order survive? What impact will geopolitics have on globalization? And, what strategy should the United States pursue to succeed in an increasingly competitive world? In this book Thomas Wright explains how major powers will compete fiercely even as they try to avoid war with each other. Wright outlines a new American strategy-Responsible Competition-to navigate these challenges and strengthen the liberal order. About the author: Thomas Wright is the director of the Center on the United States and Europe and a fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy at the Brookings Institution. He is also a nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy. Previously, he was executive director of studies at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and senior researcher for the Princeton Project on National Security. Wright has a doctorate from Georgetown University, a Master of Philosophy from Cambridge University, and a bachelor's and master's from University College Dublin. He has also held a pre-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a post-doctoral fellowship at Princeton University.
This lecture was presented on June 22, 2017 by Brandon Weichert at the Institute of World Politics. Brandon J. Weichert is a former Congressional staffer and the founder of The Weichert Report. His book on national security space policy will be released shortly. Brandon holds a B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University and is an Associate Member of New College at Oxford University (GDBM!). Recently, Brandon obtained his M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs with a Specialization in Defense Policy from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. On top of being a contributor to the conservative publication, American Greatness, Brandon does speaking engagements, presents papers, and conducts media interviews. He has been featured on BBC World News World Update with Dan Damon, he has been interviewed by The Christian Science Monitor, he has appeared on The Dino Report with Dino Costa, and he has been featured on the Seth & Chris Show offering his expertise as a national security and foreign policy specialist.
This lecture was presented on June 23, 2017 by Peter J. Wallison at the Institute of World Politics. ABOUT THIS SPEAKER Peter J. Wallison holds the Arthur F. Burns Chair in Financial Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and is co-director of AEI's program on Financial Policy Studies. Prior to joining AEI, he practiced banking, corporate and financial law at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Washington, D.C., and New York. Mr. Wallison has held a number of government positions. From June 1981 to January 1985, he was General Counsel of the United States Treasury Department, where he had a significant role in the development of the Reagan Administration's proposals for deregulation in the financial services industry. During 1986 and 1987, Mr. Wallison was White House counsel to President Ronald Reagan, and between 1972 and 1976, he served first as Special Assistant to New York's Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller and, subsequently, as counsel to Mr. Rockefeller as vice president of the United States. Mr. Wallison was admitted to practice before the courts of New York and the District of Columbia, and is retired from practice in New York. He continues to be a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College in 1963 and law degree from Harvard Law School in 1966. Mr. Wallison is the author of Ronald Reagan: The Power of Conviction and the Success of His Presidency, published in December 2002 by Westview Press. On financial or regulatory matters, he is the author of Back From the Brink, a proposal for a private deposit insurance system, and co-author of Nationalizing Mortgage Risk: The Growth of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; The GAAP Gap: Corporate Disclosure in the Internet Age; and Competitive Equity: A Better Way to Organize Mutual Funds, all of which were published by AEI. He is also the editor of Optional Federal Chartering and Regulation of Insurance Companies, and Serving Two Masters, Yet Out of Control: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, also published by AEI. On campaign finance, he is the author (with Joel Gora) of Better Parties, Better Government, (AEI Press 2009) and Bad History, Worse Policy: How a False Narrative about the Financial Crisis Led to the Dodd-Frank Act (AEI Press 2013) . His most recent book is Hidden In Plain Sight: What Caused the World's Worst Financial Crisis and Why it Could Happen Again (Encounter Books 2015). He is currently working on a book on the administrative state. He testifies frequently before committees of Congress, and is a frequent contributor to the op-ed pages of the Wall Street Journal and other print and online journals. He has also been a speaker at many conferences on financial services, housing, the causes of the financial crisis, the Dodd-Frank Act, accounting, and corporate governance, and was a member of the Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee between 1995 and 2015. He is also a member the Council on Foreign Relations, the SEC Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting (2008), co-Chair of the Pew Financial Reform Task Force (2009), and a member of the congressionally- appointed Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (2009-2011). In May 2011, for his work in financial policy, Mr. Wallison received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Colorado.
This Lecture was presented on June 19, 2017 by Amb. Frank Lavin at the Institute of World Politics. This a discussion of World War II as seen through the story of a combat infantryman. Carl Lavin was a high school senior when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted at 18, a decision that would take him with the U.S. Army from training across the United States and Britain to combat with the 84th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge. Home Front to Battlefront is the tale of a foot soldier who finds himself thrust into a world where he and his unit grapple with the horrors of combat, the idiocies of bureaucracy and the oddities of life back home - all in the same day. The book is based on Carl's personal letters, official military history, private papers and more. Former U.S. ambassador and White House aide Frank Lavin, the son of Carl Lavin, is author of Home Front to Battlefront, and joins us for a presentation to share insight on World War II and the GI experience. More information at www.hf2bf.com
This event took place on June 20, 2017. It was delivered by Erik Khzmalyan. About the lecture: Erik Khzmalyan will review the geographic boundaries of the Caucasus and countries located in the region and will identify the region's ethnicities and their cultural and linguistic differences. Specifically, he will focus on those ethnicities that are less well known. He will then discuss Russia's conquest of the Caucasus and the security challenges emanating from the Northern Caucasus. About the speaker: Erik Khzmalyan is a Fellow at the Eurasian Research and Analysis Institute. Erik specializes in U.S. Foreign Policy, Eurasia, and Geopolitics. He is currently an M.A. candidate in Statecraft and International Affairs at the Institute of World Politics.
This lecture occurred on June 15, 2017 at IWP and was presented by MAJ Brett Carey. ABOUT THE LECTURE: Seeking the truth on the Iraq WMD program. The US Army Technical Escort Unit’s Chemical-Biological Disablement Team 4 supported the investigation carried out by the Iraq Survey Group in the spring and summer of 2004. During the investigation, they responded to old-regime pre-Gulf War chemical munitions and an insurgent network that was trying to produce WMD. This presentation will cover how they handled these incidents with respect to the sensitivity of the Iraq WMD issue.
This event occurred on June 16th, 2017 at IWP, and was presented by Dr. Charles Edel. About the book: "America goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy"-John Quincy Adams's famous words are often quoted to justify noninterference in other nations' affairs. Yet when he spoke them, Adams was not advocating neutrality or passivity but rather outlining a national policy that balanced democratic idealism with a pragmatic understanding of the young republic's capabilities and limitations. America's rise from a confederation of revolutionary colonies to a world power is often treated as inevitable, but Charles N. Edel's provocative biography of Adams argues that he served as the central architect of a grand strategy that shaped America's rise. Adams's particular combination of ideas and policies made him a critical link between the founding generation and the Civil War-era nation of Lincoln. Examining Adams's service as senator, diplomat, secretary of state, president, and congressman, Edel's study of this extraordinary figure reveals a brilliant but stubborn man who was both visionary prophet and hard-nosed politician. Adams's ambitions on behalf of America's interests, combined with a shrewd understanding of how to counter the threats arrayed against them, allowed him to craft a multitiered policy to insulate the nation from European quarrels, expand U.S. territory, harness natural resources, develop domestic infrastructure, education, and commerce, and transform the United States into a model of progress and liberty respected throughout the world. While Adams did not live to see all of his strategy fulfilled, his vision shaped the nation's agenda for decades afterward and continues to resonate as America pursues its place in the twenty-first-century world. About the author: Dr. Charles Edel is an Associate Professor of Strategy and Policy at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where he focuses on grand strategy, American political history, and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. He recently returned to Newport from the Policy Planning Staff of the U.S. Department of State. In that role, he was a strategic advisor to the Secretary of State on North East Asia, the South China Sea, and the Western Pacific region. Charles holds a Ph.D. in History from Yale University, and received a B.A. in Classics from Yale College. He worked at Peking University's Center for International and Strategic Studies as a Henry Luce Scholar and was also awarded the Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship. Previously, he served in various roles in the U.S. government as a political and counterterrorism analyst, worked as a research associate at the Council of Foreign Relations, and taught high school history in New York. An intelligence officer in the Naval Reserves, he is the author of Nation Builder: John Quincy Adams and the Grand Strategy of the Republic (Harvard University Press, 2014). Currently, he is working on a project about the role of foreign revolutions in American history.
This event occurred at The Institute of World Politics on June 13th, presented by Rebeccah L. Heinrichs. Rebeccah Heinrichs is a Fellow at the Hudson Institute, where she provides research and commentary on a range of national security issues, and specializes in nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and counter-proliferation. Her work has appeared in major newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times, and Investor's Business Daily as well as political journals such as Politico and The Hill. Rebeccah served as an adviser on military matters and foreign policy to Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and helped launch the bi-partisan Missile Defense Caucus. She has testified before Congress and has presented to numerous organizations including the Aerospace Industries Association, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Defense Industrial Association, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. She holds a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic policy from the U.S. Naval War College. She also graduated with highest distinction from its College of Naval Command and Staff, receiving the Director's Award for academic excellence. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ashland University in Ohio, and graduated from the Ashbrook Scholar Program.
This event took place on June 6 at The Institute of World Politics with Lauren Mitchell. Lauren Lee Mitchell is the Global Outreach Coordinator for Home School Legal Defense Association and the former Lead Legislative Assistant for HSLDA's Federal Relations team. She is the author of numerous articles and white papers on education issues, managed HSLDA's national anti-Common Core campaign, and is currently planning the 2018 Global Home Education Conference in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia. Mitchell is the editor of the Around the Globe e-newsletter, and a contributor to the Court Report Magazine. Her work and research focuses on the start-up of international homeschool grassroots organizations, as well as assisting asylum families escaping persecution for homeschooling in totalitarian and post-totalitarian states. Mitchell is a Patrick Henry College Leadership Scholar, Intercollegiate Studies Institute Honors Scholar, and a Harvard Summer Scholar. In various academic capacities, she has spoken to audiences across the United States, India, Canada, and at the European Union. Her philanthropic efforts include court advocacy for children through CASA, mentoring children with incarcerated parents, and raising awareness for children's health as an ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Andrew Harris gave valedictory remarks at The Institute of World Politics' Commencement Ceremony on May 20, 2017 at the Fairmont Hotel. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
Staff Sergeant Andre McRae, USA of the US Army Band "Pershing's Own" sang the National Anthem at The Institute of World Politics' Commencement on May 20, 2017. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
IWP founder and president John Lenczowski gave remarks at The Institute of World Politics Commencement on May 20, 2017. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
Dr. Hadley Arkes gave the keynote address at The Institute of World Politics Commencement on May 20, 2017. Dr. Arkes is the Edward N. Ney Professor of Jurisprudence and American Institutions Emeritus at Amherst College and the Founder and Director of the James Wilson Institute on Natural Rights & the American Founding. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
Andrew Harris gave valedictory remarks at The Institute of World Politics' Commencement Ceremony on May 20, 2017 at the Fairmont Hotel. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
Captain Christopher D. Glass, Sr., USN-Retired, a Reverend, as well as IWP Senior Vice President for Professional Affiliations, gave the invocation at The Institute of World Politics' Commencement Ceremony on May 20, 2017. Video by Adam Savit, Center for Security Policy
This lecture was delivered by Paul G. Kengor on May 25 at IWP. About the book: In this fascinating new book, acclaimed scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor tells the untold story of the partnership between Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan and how together they changed the course of world history. Kengor shows that the bonds between the pope and the president ran deeper than anyone has suspected, and that these bonds drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the twentieth century: Soviet communism. About the author: Paul Kengor, Ph.D., is professor of political science at Grove City College, a four-year, private Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, and a New York Times bestselling author. He is executive director of the Center for Vision & Values, a Grove City College think-tank/policy center. He is also a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University. Kengor is an internationally recognized authority on several subjects, particularly Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and communism. He is often quoted in major publications, and his articles have appeared in numerous publications from across the ideological spectrum. Kengor is a frequent contributor to MSNBC, C-SPAN, NPR, the BBC, PCN-TV, EWTN, and FoxNewsChannel, and is regular columnist for Townhall and the American Spectator. Kengor received his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and his Master's degree from American University's School of International Service. He holds an honorary doctorate from Franciscan University (Steubenville, Ohio).
Brandon J. Weichert is a former Congressional staffer and the founder of The Weichert Report. His book on national security space policy will be released shortly. Brandon holds a B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University and is an Associate Member of New College at Oxford University (GDBM!). Recently, Brandon obtained his M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs with a Specialization in Defense Policy from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. On top of being a contributor to the conservative publication, American Greatness, Brandon does speaking engagements, presents papers, and conducts media interviews. He has been featured on BBC World News World Update with Dan Damon, he has been interviewed by The Christian Science Monitor, he has appeared on The Dino Report with Dino Costa, and he has been featured on the Seth & Chris Show offering his expertise as a national security and foreign policy specialist.
This event occurred on May 15, 2017 at the Institute of World Politics. This event is part of a series on the Intermarium sponsored by the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. About the lecture: The port city of Mariupol has been a flash-point since the early days of the 2014 Ukrainian Crisis and promises to remain so because of its strategic, symbolic, and economic significance to both sides of the conflict. About the speaker: Geoffrey Seroka is a graduate student at The Institute of World Politics, studying International Affairs. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Government from Patrick Henry College in 2015.
This lecture occurred at IWP on May 8th 2017. The contrast between the treatment meted out to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama confirms that two set of rules prevail when it comes to scholarly assessments of American presidents. Democratic presidents are excused when it comes to assertive national security policies, while Republican presidents are deemed "lawless." Obama is the most recent beneficiary of this double standard that distorts scholarly assessments of the nation's chief executives. About the speaker: Stephen F. Knott is a Professor of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval War College. He served as co-chair of the University of Virginia's Presidential Oral History Program, directed the Ronald Reagan Oral History Project, and also served on the staff of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. Professor Knott received his PhD in Political Science from Boston College, and has taught at the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Virginia. He is the author of numerous books including Rush to Judgment: George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and His Critics; Secret and Sanctioned: Covert Operations and the American Presidency, an examination of the use of covert operations by early American presidents; and Alexander Hamilton and the Persistence of Myth, a book on Alexander Hamilton's controversial image in the American mind. He is a co-author of The Reagan Years and At Reagan's Side: Insiders' Recollections from Sacramento to the White House. His most recent co-authored volume is Washington & Hamilton: The Alliance That Forged America.
About the lecture: While Andrew Jackson is often viewed as a citizen-soldier and a leader of volunteers, he actually held the regular army in high esteem and had little regard for the processes of civilian control over military institutions and operations, particularly operations aimed at national territorial expansion. Officers under his command quickly adopted his views on civil-military relations and expansion. Between 1815 and 1821, the U.S. Army officer corps was Jackson's sword, but after 1821, the army officer corps began to act as a force for restraint in American foreign relations. Dr. Watson will explain Jackson's usurpations of civilian authority as a general, the transformation of the officer corps' attitudes after 1821, and military subordination to civilian authority during Jackson's Presidency. About the speaker: Samuel Watson is professor of history at the United States Military Academy, where he teaches the full range of U.S. and military history. His research focuses on the U.S. Army between the Revolution and the war with Mexico. He is co-editor of the electronic textbook, The West Point History of Warfare, which won the 2016 Society for Military History/George C. Marshall Foundation Prize for the Use of Digital Technology Teaching Military History, and co-editor of The West Point History of the Civil War, which won the 2014 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award, and forthcoming The West Point History of the American Revolution. His books, Jackson's Sword: The Army Officer Corps on the American Frontier, 1810-1821, and Peacekeepers and Conquerors: The Army Officer Corps on the American Frontier, 1821-1846,published by the University Press of Kansas, won the Society for Military History's Distinguished Book Award in 2014.
About the lecture: Obscured by their political masters -- Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill -- as well as their better-known military subordinates, the organizers of the Anglo-American victory in World War II deserve better of history. About the speaker: Philip Terzian has been literary editor of The Weekly Standard since 2005, and is the author of Architects of Power: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and the American Century. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, he has been a writer and editor at the New Republic, Reuters, the Providence Journal, and the Los Angeles Times, and was a foreign correspondent and syndicated columnist for the Scripps Howard News Service. He has been a contributor to Commentary, the Times Literary Supplement, the Wall Street Journal, the Spectator, the Daily Telegraph, and other publications, and was a Pulitzer finalist in commentary.
About the lecture: Brandon Weichert will discuss how sanctions against Russia have exacerbated the decline of the European Union and how it has hit places like Poland the hardest. He will review the unintended consequences of sanctions and whether or not sanctions were the best U.S. policy towards Russia after Ukraine in 2014. About the speaker: Brandon J. Weichert is a former Congressional staffer and the founder of The Weichert Report. His book on national security space policy will be released shortly. Brandon holds a B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University and is an Associate Member of New College at Oxford University (GDBM!). Recently, Brandon obtained his M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs with a Specialization in Defense Policy from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. On top of being a contributor to the conservative publication, American Greatness, Brandon does speaking engagements, presents papers, and conducts media interviews. He has been featured on BBC World News World Update with Dan Damon, he has been interviewed by The Christian Science Monitor, he has appeared on The Dino Report with Dino Costa, and he has been featured on the Seth & Chris Show offering his expertise as a national security and foreign policy specialist.
ABOUT THE LECTURE: Amb. Alberto Piedra will give his thoughts on his personal relationship with Fidel Castro prior to and during the first three months of his revolutionary government (1959) as Director General of Exports and Imports at the Ministry of Commerce in Havana. ABOUT THIS SPEAKER Amb. Alberto Piedra is the Donald E. Bently Professor of Political Economy at The Institute of World Politics, where he teaches courses on political and economic freedom and on Western moral tradition. He formerly served as U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, U.S. Representative to the Economic and Economic and Social Council of the Organization of American States, and Senior Advisor at the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs at the Department of State. He has also served at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations as the Senior Area Advisor for Latin America. His academic career has included posts as the Director for the Latin American Institute and as the Chairman of the Department of Economics and Buisness at at the Catholic University of America.
Nikolas Gvosdev is Professor of National Security Affairs, holding the Captain Jerome E. Levy Chair in Economic Geography and National Security at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He also serves as a Senior Fellow for the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program and Program on National Security. He was formerly the Editor of The National Interest magazine and a Senior Fellow at The Nixon Center in Washington, D.C. Gvosdev received his doctorate from St Antony's College, Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes Scholarship. A frequent commentator on Russian and Eurasian affairs, his work has appeared in such outlets as Foreign Affairs, The Financial Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Orbis, and he has appeared as a commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and BBC. He is the co-author of US Foreign Policy and Defense Strategy: The Rise of an Incidental Superpower, and the co-author of Russian Foreign Policy: Vectors, Sectors and Interests.
About the Lecture: The authority of the President in national security affairs is a long-contested issue. Join us for a discussion on the parallels of this debate between this and past eras. Mr. Thomas Wilson will provide a peek into the internal dynamics of the Iran-Contra investigation, which will include an examination of the political and legal issues involved, noting the constitutional issues raised and contested. Mr. Wilson's central role in a political and legal drama that lasted well into the 1990's makes him uniquely well placed to discuss the investigation. About the Speaker: Mr. Thomas Wilson has led a varied and high profile career. After graduating with a BA in history from Georgetown University, he went on to pursue a law degree from Georgetown Law School. Upon graduation, rather than going into legal practice, he decided to join the US Army, serving in the 6th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in the United States from 1967 to 1968, and in the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the Republic of Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Parachute Wings (from the United States, Israel, and the Republic of Vietnam). After military service, he pursued an MBA from Columbia University before going into legal practice. His legal career spanned more than 40 years and included representing clients such as CIA Costa Rica Station Chief Jose Fernandez in the Iran-Contra affair; the Assistant to President George H. W. Bush in an Independent Counsel investigation into the 1992 search of then Presidential candidate Bill Clinton's passport file; a client investigated for making allegedly illegal campaign contributions to the 1996 Clinton/Gore re-election campaign; the former Director of MKULTRA, the CIA's Cold War drug testing program; as well as a major private security firm in a very sensitive, high-profile investigation sited in Baghdad, Iraq. Mr. Wilson has been lead counsel on a host of matters before numerous appellate tribunals, including most United States Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Until his retirement in 2013, he served as of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe, L.L.P., where he practiced general litigation with specialties in complex civil, administrative and white-collar criminal litigation.
April 6, 2017, marks the hundred year anniversary of the US declaration of war on Germany. Following more than two and a half years of neutrality, the United States mobilized for war on a scale the nation had never before seen. More than two million Americans were to serve in the US armed forces during World War I. Once American combat power arrived in Europe, it tipped the military balance against Germany, frustrating Germany’s Spring Offensive of 1918 and resulting ultimately in the German surrender of November of that year. In commemoration of the centennial of America’s entry into World War I, the Institute of World Politics and the Center for Military and Diplomatic History are hosting three of the world’s leading historians of the war: Michael S. Neiberg, Edward Lengel, and John H. Maurer. MICHAEL S. NEIBERG is the inaugural Chair of War Studies in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the United States Army War College. His published work specializes on the First and Second World Wars, notably the American and French experiences. His most recent book on the First World War is Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I(Harvard University Press, 2011). The Wall Street Journal recently named it one of the five best books ever written about the war. In October, 2012 Basic Books published his The Blood of Free Men, a history of the liberation of Paris in 1944. In May, 2015 Basic published his Potsdam: The End of World War II and the Remaking of Europe. In October, Oxford University Press published his Path to War, a history of American responses to the Great War, 1914-1917. EDWARD LENGEL is Chief Historian of the White House Historical Association, located in historic Decatur House on Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. Before beginning work there in the fall of 2016, he directed the Washington Papers project for many years. A military historian, he is the author of several books, including General George Washington: A Military Life; To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918; First Entrepreneur: How George Washington Built His-and the Nation's-Prosperity; and the Army Historical Foundation award-winning Thunder and Flames: Americans in the Crucible of Combat, 1917-1918. He is also a regular contributor to magazines including Military History and Military History Quarterly, and appears often on television and radio including NPR and the History Channel. JOHN H. MAURER is the Alfred Thayer Mahan Professor of Sea Power and Grand Strategy at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of Yale University and holds an M.A.L.D. and Ph.D. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He is the author or editor of books examining the outbreak of the First World War, military interventions in the developing world, naval rivalries and arms control between the two world wars, and a study about Winston Churchill's views on British foreign policy and grand strategy. He also serves as a senior research fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, on the Editorial Board of Orbis: A Journal of World Affairs, and Associate Editor of Diplomacy and Statecraft. In recognition for his service and contribution to professional military education, he has received both the U.S. Navy's Meritorious Civilian Service Award and Superior Civilian Service Award. JOHN J. TIERNEY, JR. is the Walter Kohler Professor of International Relations at the Institute of World Politics. He was the Special Assistant and Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency from 1981-1993. He has served as Executive Director of the Congressional Caucus on National Defense and the National Security Research Group, U.S. House of Representatives; Chairman, Politics Department, Catholic University; and Professor of International Relations, University of Virginia and The Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz will discuss the recent protests against President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. Marek Chodakiewicz is a Professor of History at The Institute of World Politics and the holder of the Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies. Dr. Chodakiewicz writes weekly columns for popular Polish press and contributes to the SELOUS Foundation internet hub. He has also published on foreign policy in various venues, including The Journal of World Affairs, American Spectator, and National Review Online. In addition to numerous popular and scholarly articles, Dr. Chodakiewicz authored, co-authored, edited, and co-edited over fifteen scholarly monographs and documentary collections. His latest include Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas (2012), which is a depiction of the Eastern Borderlands of the West on the rim of the former Soviet Union, and On the Right and Left (2013), which is a textbook of intellectual history of modern ideologies. His interests include the post-Soviet zone, the Second World War and its aftermath, Europe in the 19th and 20th century, Western civilization and its intellectual tradition, extremist movements in history, conspiracy theory and practice, and comparative civilizations.
About the lecture Retired senior CIA Scientific Intelligence Officer Gene Poteat will discuss women in espionage, with a focus on American women spies. About the speaker S. Eugene (Gene) Poteat is a retired senior CIA Scientific Intelligence Officer, and has served as President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO). He was educated as an electrical engineer and physicist. He holds a Masters in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from IWP. His career in intelligence included work with U-2 and SR-71 class of aircraft and various space and naval reconnaissance systems. He also managed the CIA's worldwide network of monitoring sites. He holds patents on covert communications techniques. His CIA assignments included the Directorate of Science and Technology, the National Reconnaissance Office, Technical Director of the Navy's Special Programs Office and Executive Director of the Intelligence Research and Development Council. He served abroad in London, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia. He received the CIA's Medal of Merit and the National Reconnaissance Office's Meritorious Civilian Award for his technological innovations.
An Introduction and the Unveiling of the Center for Intermarium Studies by The Institute of World Politics
EU's Democracy from Above. Europe: Emergence, Development, and a Political Construct by The Institute of World Politics
Roman Dmowski at Versailles by The Institute of World Politics
Conservatism or Right-Wing Populism? by The Institute of World Politics
Are Poles free to disagree? Truth versus manipulation in the Polish media by The Institute of World Politics
This talk occurred on March 27, 2017 at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: In December 2015, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter declared the opening of all U.S. military combat jobs to women. The decision followed a long and controversial review of the implications of allowing women into combat units, during which the US Marine Corps and large numbers of military personnel objected to a change in policy. The inclusion of women in combat units is in the early stages of implementation; whether the new administration will seek to revise or overturn the policy remains to be seen. Dr. Anna Simons, a veteran of the debate, will discuss the history of the issue of women in combat units. She will explain why that history is relevant to the current situation, and offer her views on the best way forward. About the speaker: Anna Simons is a Professor of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. Prior to teaching at NPS she was both an assistant and then an associate professor of anthropology at UCLA, as well as chair of the Masters in African Area Studies Program. She holds a PhD in social anthropology from Harvard University and an A.B. from Harvard College. She is the author of Networks of Dissolution: Somalia Undone and The Company They Keep: Life Inside the U.S. Army Special Forces. Most recently she is the co-author of The Sovereignty Solution: A Commonsense Approach to Global Security. He articles have appeared in The American Interest, The National Interest, Small Wars & Insurgencies, Annual Review of Anthropology, Parameters, and elsewhere. Simons has also written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Boston Globe. Before attending graduate school, she worked as a reporter and as a presidential speechwriter, and spent several years traveling and working abroad. About the moderator: Elaine Donnelly is founder and president of the Center for Military Readiness, an independent, nonpartisan public policy organization that reports on and analyzes military/social issues. She has served on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services and the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces, and was the recipient of the American Conservative Union's Ronald Reagan Award. Donnelly has provided testimony to Congress and published articles on military personnel issues in the Washington Post, USA Today, the Boston Globe, National Review Online, the Washington Times, Congressional Quarterly Researcher, and the Naval Institute's Proceedings. She attended Schoolcraft College and the University of Detroit and resides in Livonia, Michigan.
Dr. Marcin Chmielowski is vice president of the Poland-based Freedom and Entrepreneurship Foundation (Fundacja Wolnosci i Przedsiebiorczosci). He holds a Ph.D. in political philosophy and an M.A. in political science, and he has a postgraduate diploma in central banking. He is the author of one book and many papers concentrated on the theory and practice of libertarianism. Experienced in managing third sector institutions, Dr. Chmielowski is a liberty-oriented columnist, commentator, and screenwriter.
Benjamin Fricke received his M.A. in Statecraft and International Affairs from The Institute of World Politics in 2013, and he was one of the first participants in IWP's Oxford study abroad program in 2012. Ben was awarded his B.A. in Political Science from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH with two years of study at the University of Leipzig, Germany. He has done several high profile internships, such as at the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig, Germany, the U.S. Senate, the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation in Washington, D.C., and the German diplomatic mission in New York. After graduation from IWP, Mr. Fricke returned to Europe in October 2013, where he spent a few months studying in France and started working for a private sector energy management and software company close to his hometown, Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Since 2016, Ben has been working for the German Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation, where he after training in Berlin now works as a Scientific Associate at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's regional program South Caucasus.
About the lecture In Slovenia, people are mostly unsatisfied with the political situation. Prime minister Dr. Cerar is having less and less support, whereas President Pahor is enjoying support. Also, most people disagree with sending Slovenian troops for NATO purposes to the Baltic states; however, this deployment is a necessity because Slovenia needs to pay its share for NATO protection, and because Russia is a threat to other Eastern, Central, and Southern European states. About the speaker Tibor Babic was born in Maribor, Slovenia, and after graduating high school, he went to Vienna, Austria to study political science. His goal is to work in international relations, which is why he chose to attend The Institute of World Politics for graduate school. His research areas at IWP concentrate on EU and US relations and world order.
This event is part of a series on the Intermarium sponsored by the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies. It took place on March 9th at 4:30 PM. Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz presented the lecture.
Author Michael Walsh discusses the relationship between culture and politics.
Author Michael Walsh discusses the rise of Donald Trump during the 2016 election.
About the Event: This event will focus on the continuing challenges and issues facing the world's newest democracy. Hon. Jehan Mechak Deng will also discuss the aspirations and goals of South Sudan in 2017. About the Speaker: Hon. Jehan Mechak Deng is currently the state minister for Health and Environment, Eastern Nile for the Republic of South Sudan. She is a seasoned diplomat and an advocate of peace through development programs. Including being a member of the founding board of the South Sudan Women Empowerment Network (SSWEN) advocating for empowerment of women through public forums and workshops, educating and deliberating the country's laws through the transitional constitution of the government of the Republic of South Sudan to ensure women's participation and affirmative action in developing the state's ‘Permanent Constitution'.
ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION With immigration likely to be one of the cornerstone issues of Donald Trump's presidency the debate over immigration, particularly in regards to national security, is far from resolved. At this event Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Nowrasteh will debate the many important issues concerning immigration to the U.S. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Alex Nowrasteh is an immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. His popular publications have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, and elsewhere. His academic publications have appeared in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, the Fletcher Security Review, and Public Choice. He coauthored, with Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies, the booklet Open Immigration: Yea and Nay (Encounter Broadsides, 2014). He is a native of Southern California and received a BA in economics from George Mason University and a Master of Science in economic history from the London School of Economics. Matthew J. O'Brien joined FAIR in 2016 and is responsible for managing FAIR's research activities. In the past he has held a wide variety of positions focusing on immigration issues, in both the government and private sector. Immediately prior to joining FAIR, Matt served as the Chief of the National Security Division (NSD) within the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). There he was responsible for formulating and implementing procedures to protect the legal immigration system from national security threats. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in French from the Johns Hopkins University and a Juris Doctor from the University Of Maine School Of Law. Dr. Paul Coyer is a Research Professor at IWP, a contributor in the area of foreign policy, with a focus on Eurasia, for Forbes, and is a Contributing Editor for Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy, published by the Institute for Religion and Democracy. He also serves as an Associate Professor at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, and is a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
Paul D. Miller is the associate director of the Clements Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin and an adjunct political scientist at the RAND Corporation. This lecture occurred at The Institute of World Politics on February 15, 2017. Dr. Miller previously held the position of Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council from 2007 to 2009, worked as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, and served as a military intelligence analyst with the US Army in Afghanistan. He is the author of Armed State Building: Confronting State Failure, 1898-2012.
Dr, Ted Bromund of Heritage Foundation and Dr. Douglas Streusand of the Institute of World Politics discuss alternate policy proposals for U.S. European Policy
This lecture occurred at The Institute of World Politics on February 7, 2017. This lecture was given by Mr. Dan Evans of Storm King Analytics. The excitement about "Big Data" usually focuses on the access to lots of data -- thousands, or millions, of records. "Big Data" sources are certainly valuable in many situations, but we can cite numerous examples where it doesn't produce insights that are useful. Our experience tells us that simply pulling in large amounts of data usually doesn't answer the question at hand. There's a fine art to collecting the appropriate data sets to make effective decisions; it requires a combination of both smarts and wisdom--something we call "Smart Data." Storm King's recent work has focused on network models of Ungoverned Spaces and business intelligence in Frontier and Emerging Markets. Traditional "Big Data" sources tend to be incomplete and inaccurate when it comes to these environments and they don't begin to capture the type of data required to understand the networks of influence in these environments. In this presentation, we will address the potential pitfalls of "Big Data/Black Box" approach and we will introduce recent case studies on the ungoverned area of Fezzan in Southwestern Libya as well as a Moroccan market entry scenario. Both of these cases illustrate the effectiveness and versatility of our "Smart Data" methodology. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation.
A former member of the history faculty at West Point, J. P. Clark is an active duty army officer who has served as a strategic advisor to senior civilian and military officials in the Pentagon and British Ministry of Defence.
Bill Gertz is a national security columnist for the Washington Times, and senior editor of the Washington Free Beacon. His column on the Pentagon, Inside the Ring, appears weekly. He currently lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife Debra. Find him online at Gertzfile.com and @BillGertz.
About the lecture: In this lecture, Dr. Tierney reviewed the background and causes of the attack on Pearl Harbor, its defining tactical and strategic features, and its longer term implications for U.S. national security, both within the context of WWII and beyond. About the speaker: Dr. Tierney is a Former Special Assistant and Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (1981-1993). He is a former participant in various national security negotiations for the U.S. Government; a former Executive Director of the Congressional Caucus on National Defense and the National Security Research Group, U.S. House of Representatives; a former Chairman of the Politics Department at Catholic University, and formerly Professor of International Relations, University of Virginia and The Johns Hopkins University. He is currently the Walter Kohler Professor of International Relations at the Institute of World Politics.
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