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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: 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.
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