Middle East - Video: Recent Episodes
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Middle East Program heads CSIS’s work on the region, which analyzes a wide range of political, security, and socioeconomic issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, with special attention to the ways that changes in the Middle East and North Africa have effects beyond the region.
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Former Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell emerged on the national scene more than thirty years ago, and it is easy to forget that they were once allies. The two men collaborated closely in the successful American wars in Panama and Iraq during the presidency of George H. W. Bush. Returning to government service under George W. Bush in 2001, they (and their respective allies within the administration) fell into deep antagonism over the role America should play in a world defined by terrorism, the invasion of Iraq, and debates about unilateralism. Why did the rift between the two respected statesmen emerge? And what does the broken partnership suggest about U.S. foreign policy?
Please join Seth Center and the Project on History and Strategy for a discussion with James Mann about his new book on the intertwined careers of Dick Cheney and Colin Powell. The Great Rift: Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, and the Broken Friendship that Defined an Era is a sweeping history of two statesmen whose rivalry and conflicting views of U.S. national security color our political debate to this day. In a wide-ranging, deeply researched, and dramatic narrative, James Mann explores each man’s biography and philosophical predispositions to show how and why this deep and permanent rupture occurred. Through dozens of original interviews and surprising revelations from presidential archives, he brings to life the very human story of how this influential friendship turned so sour and how the enmity of these two powerful men colored the way America acts in the world.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
Please join us for this season's next installment of the Schieffer Series, "The Syria Withdrawal and Next Steps." The Wall Street Journal's Nancy Youssef will join CSIS's Melissa Dalton, Seth Jones and Brian Katz for a discussion on the U.S. withdrawal from Syria and the implications this decision will have on Syria and the greater Middle East. Additionally, the panelists will touch on next steps for U.S. strategy in the region.
Event - 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Pre-Event Reception - 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Hosted by CBS News legend and CSIS Trustee Bob Schieffer, the Schieffer Series features thoughtful panel discussions with senior officials, lawmakers, journalists, and policy experts to discuss global challenges and critical issues of national security and foreign policy.
Now in its 11th consecutive year, the Schieffer Series is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in partnership with the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.
This series is made possible with the generous support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
For information or inquiries contact externalrelations@csis.org.
Please join CSIS for an armchair discussion with the First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani. The conversation will focus on the progress of women and their role in the peace process in Afghanistan.
Women have made great economic and social strides in the past 15 years. More than 3.6 million girls are in school and women are now allowed to work, both of which are essential to peace and stability in Afghanistan. However, the work is not over. It is vital that the progress continues and that women are not forgotten in the search for peace.
We are pleased to host the First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani, who has been a champion on these issues. Mrs. Ghani plays an active role as first lady, supporting efforts to fully integrate women and girls into Afghan society and into the workforce. In May 2016, she brought together prominent Afghan women from Kabul and gave them a platform to discuss women’s roles in contributing to peace. She held another symposium in 2017 to discuss the role of Afghan women as messengers of peace.
This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.
Please join the CSIS International Security Program for a conversation on the findings of the Congressionally mandated Syria Study Group and a discussion assessing the impact of coercive Russian and Iranian gray zone activities on U.S. and allied interests and on the trajectory of the Syrian conflict.
Event Agenda
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Briefing on Syria Study Group's Findings
- Dana Stroul, Co-Chair, Syria Study Group
- Michael Singh, Co-Chair, Syria Study Group
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Panel Discussion on Gray Zone Activities in Syria
- Ibrahim al-Assil, Non-Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute
- Jon B. Alterman, Senior Vice President, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and Director, Middle East Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Soner Çağaptay, Beyer Family Fellow and Director, Turkish Research Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
- LTG (ret.) Charles Cleveland, Senior Fellow, Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy West Point
This event is made possible through CSIS general support funds.
Many observers describe the situation in Yemen as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Nearly 80 percent of the country’s 28 million residents require assistance, and more than 7 million people are at risk of famine. Providing humanitarian assistance presents many challenges, as fighting and blockades frequently impede humanitarian access, and combatants divert aid supplies for political and financial gain. This discussion will examine how the dynamics of Yemen’s conflict help shape the country’s humanitarian situation, and participants will explore potential avenues to address issues of aid access.
Panelists include: Dr. Aisha Jumaan, Founder and President, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation; Peter Salisbury, Consulting Senior Analyst on Yemen, International Crisis Group; Sheba Crocker, Vice President for Humanitarian Policy and Practice, CARE
Moderator: Jon B. Alterman, Senior Vice President, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and Director, Middle East Program, CSIS
This event was made possible through the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
At the June 2019 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, when the Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, he remarked that the relations between the two countries were “multifaceted” and “multilateral.” The two countries have continued developing their ties despite tightened sanctions. What are the main economic and political drivers of Russia-Iran cooperation? Are there any irreconcilable differences between the two and where does Iran fit in U.S.-Russia relations?
This event is made possible by the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pre-Event Reception
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Event
Bookselling and signing to follow the event.
In his forthcoming memoir, Jerusalem and Washington: A Life in Politics and Diplomacy, diplomat and raconteur Zalman Shoval leads readers behind closed doors into the rooms where prime ministers and presidents made history altering decisions about the first Gulf War, the fate of Jonathan Pollard, the role of the PLO, and Israel’s responses to international criticism and hostilities.
First elected to the Knesset inheriting David Ben-Gurion’s seat, Shoval served with many of the State of Israel’s founding fathers. As one of the founders of Israel’s Likud party and before that of the “Rafi” party (headed by Ben-Gurion), Shoval was an early ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a two-time ambassador to the United States. Shoval deftly navigated the complicated relationships among Israel’s various ministers and political parties. But no relationship was more fraught with uncertainty than Jerusalem and Washington’s in the 1990s, when Israel’s financial dependence on the U.S. ignited tensions that threatened Shoval’s diplomatic expulsion.
Since Israel’s founding seventy years ago, Shoval has championed its independence, survival, and global reputation. Shoval’s Jerusalem and Washington gives a rare glimpse behind the scenes of an extraordinary life and the dramatic events that helped shape a nation.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
Please join CSIS for a discussion of the U.S. Army’s recently published and long-awaited two volume history, The U.S. Army in the Iraq War, 2003-2011. The authors will outline key findings from major episodes in the war and discuss the implications for today. Peter Bergen of New America, Kim Dozier of CNN and the Daily Beast, Michael Gordon of the Wall Street Journal, and Ken Pollack of AEI will provide commentary and analysis.
- Frank Sobchak and Joel Rayburn, OIF Editors
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with Michael Gordon, the Wall Street Journal
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Moderator: Peter Bergen, Vice President, Global Studies & Fellows at New America
- Author: Jeanne Godfroy, OIF Study Author
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Commentator: Kim Dozier, Contributor at CNN and The Daily Beast
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Moderator: Seth Center, Director of the Project on History and Strategy at CSIS
- Author: Jim Powell, OIF Study Author
- Commentator: Ken Pollack, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
This event is made possible by the general support to CSIS.
Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies for a discussion with Brian Hook, U.S. special representative for Iran, on President Trump's Iran policy, the impact of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, and the future of U.S.-Iran relations.
Brian Hook is the U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State. Prior to this appointment, he served as Director of the Policy Planning Staff from 2017-2018. From 2009-2017, he managed an international strategic consulting firm based in Washington, DC. He held a number of senior positions in the Bush Administration, including Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations; Senior Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; Special Assistant to the President for Policy in the White House Chief of Staff’s office; and Counsel, Office of Legal Policy, at the Justice Department. He practiced corporate law at Hogan & Hartson in Washington from 1999-2003. Before practicing law, he served as an advisor to Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and to U.S. Congressman James Leach.
This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.
The CSIS Middle East Program invites you to join Dr. Jon Alterman and Senator Tammy Duckworth for a convervsation on the United States and Iraq. Dr. Alterman will discuss the current U.S. strategy in Iraq with Senator Duckworth, who will reflect on her experience serving in that country.
Senator Tammy Duckworth is a U.S. senator for Illinois and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot. Prior to her election to the Senate, Senator Duckworth represented the Eighth District of Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms—from 2013 to early 2017. Before that, she served as Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama as well as Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs from 2006 to 2008.
This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.
On April 23, 2019, the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies will be hosting a discussion on pre-existing and emerging threats to U.S. space systems. The event will kickoff with a keynote from Steve Kitay, DASD for Space Policy. Following Mr. Kitay's remarks, an expert panel will discuss recent global counterspace developments. This event highlights the Aerospace Security Project’s new report, Space Threat Assessment 2019, and the Secure World Foundation’s new report, Global Counterspace Capabilities.
Following the discussion, please join us for a screening of a new documentary, Commanding Space: The Story Behind the Space Force, produced by the CSIS Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab. To celebrate the launch of both the new report and the documentary, we invite you to stay after the screening for a networking reception.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
Join CSIS's Burke Chair in Strategy for a discussion with Dr. Munqith Dagher, who will present findings from a major series of public opinion surveys and analyses of Iraqi public opinion on the country's political and social landscape 16 years after the invasion. His presentation covers critical issues like the level of national unity versus polarization and divisions by region, party, ethnicity, and sect. He address level of support for the new government, reactions to the fighting, and goals for the future.
These are critical inputs to U.S. policy in addressing its future relations with a key strategic partner, and in understanding the level of U.S., Iranian,and other outside competition for influence and support in Iraq.
Dr. Dagher is the Chairman of the Al Mustakilla Research Groups (IIACSS), and a leading Iraqi expert on polling and public opinion analysis.
Hosted by Anthony Cordesman, Dr. Cagher's presentation will explore the current Iraqi landscape, what it means for Iraq's immediate future, and the prospects of progress towards near-term stability.
This event was made possible by general support to CSIS.
The CSIS Transnational Threats Project cordially invites you to a book launch event for Eli Berman, Joseph H. Felter & Jacob N. Shapiro's newly released Small Wars, Big Data: The Information Revolution in Modern Conflict (Princeton University Press).
Moderated by
Seth G. Jones
Harold Brown Chair
Director, Transnational Threats Project
Senior Adviser, International Security Program
With
Jacob N. Shapiro
Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University
The way wars are fought has changed starkly over the past sixty years. International military campaigns used to play out between large armies at central fronts. Today's conflicts find major powers facing rebel insurgencies that deploy elusive methods, from improvised explosives to terrorist attacks. Small Wars, Big Data presents a transformative understanding of these contemporary confrontations and how they should be fought. The authors show that a revolution in the study of conflict--enabled by vast data, rich qualitative evidence, and modern methods—yields new insights into terrorism, civil wars, and foreign interventions. Modern warfare is not about struggles over territory but over people; civilians—and the information they might choose to provide—can turn the tide at critical junctures.
The authors draw practical lessons from the past two decades of conflict in locations ranging from Latin America and the Middle East to Central and Southeast Asia. Building an information-centric understanding of insurgencies, the authors examine the relationships between rebels, the government, and civilians. This approach serves as a springboard for exploring other aspects of modern conflict, including the suppression of rebel activity, the role of mobile communications networks, the links between aid and violence, and why conventional military methods might provide short-term success but undermine lasting peace. Ultimately the authors show how the stronger side can almost always win the villages, but why that does not guarantee winning the war.
Small Wars, Big Data provides groundbreaking perspectives for how small wars can be better strategized and favorably won to the benefit of the local population.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
The escalating conflict in Yemen has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Almost 75 percent of the country’s total population is in need of humanitarian assistance, 14 million people are facing pre-famine conditions, and the collapse of essential public institutions has led to a severe economic decline. With suffering reaching unprecedented levels, a political solution is imperative to effectively respond to this rapidly deteriorating situation.
How is the international community responding to this crisis and what is the role of the United States? Do humanitarian agencies have the resources and access they need to deliver aid effectively? Join us for a conversation with Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, to discuss the policy solutions and action needed to improve the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
The CSIS Transnational Threats Project cordially invites you to a book launch event for Dr. Max Abrahm's newly released Rules for Rebels: The Science of Victory in Militant History (Oxford University Press).
Moderated by
Seth G. Jones
Harold Brown Chair
Director, Transnational Threats Project
Senior Adviser, International Security Program
With
Max Abrahms
Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Northeastern University
Ever wonder why militant groups behave as they do? For instance, why did Al Qaeda attack the World Trade Center whereas the African National Congress tried to avoid civilian bloodshed? Why does Islamic State brag over social media about its gory attacks, while Hezbollah denies responsibility or even apologizes for its carnage?
This book shows that militant group behavior depends on the tactical intelligence of the leaders. The author has extensively studied the political plights of hundreds of militant groups throughout world history and reveals that successful militant leaders have followed three rules. These rules are based on original insights from the fields of political science, psychology, criminology, economics, management, marketing, communication, and sociology. It turns out there’s a science to victory in militant history. But even rebels must follow rules.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
Please join the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda as it hosts the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore for a keynote address and armchair discussion. Executive Director Fore's address will outline the challenges that humanitarian organizations like UNICEF face in gaining access to the women, children, and young people living through conflict and crises. She will describe UNICEF's approach to overcoming access barriers in countries like Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria. She will also discuss how UNICEF is working in fragile contexts not only to serve immediate needs, but also to support communities' resilience as they build lasting health, nutrition, water, and education systems for long-term prosperity.
For over four decades, Executive Director Fore has worked to champion economic development, education, health, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. Her impressive career includes being appointed as the first female Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2007 – 2009 and serving on the boards of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
We look forward to your attendance and participation for this event.
Please join us to celebrate World Humanitarian Day with Administrator Mark Green of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). World Humanitarian Day is an international celebration that commemorates both the accomplishments and sacrifices of humanitarian aid personnel who work in difficult and dangerous environments. Without their dedication to humanity, the delivery of life-saving aid and technical support to millions across the globe would not be possible. The discussion will focus on the future of humanitarian assistance, evolving challenges in the aid community, and U.S. leadership within this sector moving forward. We look forward to your attendance and participation to celebrate this special day.
The world faces complex challenges posed by a growing and aging population, forced migration, persistent poverty, urbanization, and a series of technological disruptions impacting labor. The world needs 600 million new jobs over the next 15 years just to keep up with current demand. If channeled correctly, population growth could lead to a demographic dividend. Otherwise, this wave of human energy will be lost. The adage remains true: the best social program (and best national security policy) is a job.
Institutions like the International Labor Organization (ILO) have many roles to play in this changing world: agenda setter, capacity builder, convener, and trusted partner. A tri-partite organization made up of government, labor, and the private sector, the ILO seeks to bridge differences and build a common approach. The ILO was stood up in the belief that societies are interdependent and that labor unions need thriving businesses that, in turn, want clear rules of the game and a productive and happy workforce.
As the ILO approaches 100 years of service, it has formed a Global Commission on the Future of Work. The Global Commission has convened several national dialogues seeking to understand the future of work and the changing roles of diverse stakeholders in society. Please join us for a discussion with Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the ILO as we discuss the role of the ILO in this changing context.
This event is made possible by generous support from the International Labor Organization.
Addressing global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition has become a critical U.S. foreign policy objective and a national security measure. Whole-of-government efforts to increase agricultural production and reduce child malnutrition in target countries have earned bipartisan Congressional support and leadership, as demonstrated by the historic passage of the U.S. Global Food Security Act in July 2016. With the legislation up for reauthorization this summer, now is the time to reflect on the impact of U.S. investments in food and nutrition and the importance of sustaining U.S. leadership in global food security.
Join us to hear from Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), the co-sponsors of the House legislation that would reauthorize the Act through fiscal year 2021. The program will include reflections from all the former and current leaders of the U.S. government global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future. The panel will look back at the impact and evolution of the U.S. interagency endeavor since its start in 2010.
The public event will be from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with a networking reception to follow until 6:00 p.m.
This event is made possible through the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Please join the CSIS Human Rights Initiative, Charity and Security Network, and The Humanitarian Forum for the launch of a series of country case studies on de-risking in conflict zones. Global financial institutions are increasingly terminating or restricting relationships with U.S. nonprofit organizations (NPOs), financial intermediaries, and local organizations in various regions of the world, a trend called “de-risking.” This practice, combined with a complex terror environment, poses enormous challenges to organizations working to deliver aid in areas that need it most, as well as to government policies centered around financial institutions. As work progresses towards finding solutions for NPOs' financial access difficulties, it is integral to ensure that these solutions have a global reach. At the same time, efforts are being made to document the consequences of de-risking of foreign NPOs and their beneficiaries. During this event, expert panelists will discuss the findings of the country case studies, with a focus on Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Palestine.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
The history of U.S.-Iranian relations is dominated by the 1979 Iranian revolution and the ensuing hostage crisis at the America embassy in Tehran. However, there is more to the relationship than a single flash-point. In his new book, Losing Hearts and Minds: American-Iranian Relations and International Education during the Cold War, Dr. Matthew Shannon tells the story of thousands of Iranian students sent to study at American universities during the Cold War and how, in a twist of irony, a program designed to bolster the Shah’s government and its relationship with the United States provided a space for youthful dissidents to organize against the Pahlavi regime. Join us as we welcome Dr. Shannon to discuss his book, the students who presaged the Iranian revolution, and what they can teach us about U.S.-Iranian relations in the Cold War and beyond.
This event was made possible by generous support for the Project on Military and Diplomatic History.
Yemen’s unprecedented humanitarian crisis cannot be understood in isolation from the country’s complex political and economic dynamics, International Rescue Committee (IRC) president and CEO David Miliband and other experts agreed at an event on “The Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen” on April 5, 2018 hosted by the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda in partnership with the CSIS Middle East Program. Yemen’s humanitarian emergency is both a product and a potential driver of political instability, Miliband argued. Political and diplomatic actors share an urgent responsibility to address the drivers of that instability.
A subsequent panel discussion analyzed the context for Yemen’s humanitarian emergency and the consequences of its persistence. The participants were Barbara Bodine, director of Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and former U.S. ambassador to Yemen, Peter Salisbury, senior consulting fellow with Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program, and Abdulrahman al-Eryani, a Yemeni international economist and development specialist.
The speakers agreed that Yemen is a relatively low priority for global powers but argued it should not remain so. Should Yemen’s humanitarian crisis be left to deteriorate, they warned, the consequences will be far-reaching and long-lasting. Charting a constructive path forward requires sustained diplomatic engagement to facilitate aid provision and conflict resolution and to draw a broad base of Yemenis into a process to forge a framework for the future.
In its complexity, its protracted nature, and its devastating toll on civilians, the conflict plaguing Yemen since 2015 embodies what Miliband called some of the most perilous patterns in modern wars. As al-Eryani noted, Yemen’s preexisting fragility was a factor in lowering Yemen’s resilience to the impacts of conflict. Yet, a convergence of factors have made the conflict more harmful to civilians and more complex to resolve. Miliband argued, “This is a manmade conflict with very deep roots and very, very acute consequences.”
One factor, the speakers held, is the failure of warring parties to uphold rules of war that protect civilians. Miliband cited information collected by the Yemen Data Project that since the start of Yemen’s conflict, essential infrastructure has been hit by at least 4,500 air strikes, while 342 strikes have hit educational buildings and 68 have hit hospitals and health clinics. Miliband also framed the blocking of aid delivery as not merely a logistical issue, but also a political one. “The problem is strangulation, not access,” he argued. He further asserted that a stable humanitarian supply chain rests on the “permanent” opening of ports to humanitarian and commercial shipments including food, fuel, and medicine.
Second, the complex and fragmented nature of Yemen’s conflict has complicated its resolution. It is a gross oversimplification, the speakers agreed, to characterize the war as merely a two-sided contest between the government of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Houthi rebels, nor is it principally a proxy war between a Saudi-led coalition that supports Hadi and Iran, which supports the Houthis. In reality, sub-conflicts are playing out along local, national, regional, and increasingly global axes, and parties often switch sides opportunistically.
Even actors ostensibly allied with each other possess a wide range of agendas and priorities and sometimes come into direct competition with one another, explained Salisbury. He described tensions within the Saudi-led coalition between a “tribal military faction” in the North that has aligned with Islah, Yemen’s leading Islamist party, and a subset of forces backed by the United Arab Emirates in the South that is broadly hostile to Islah. The Houthis are also far from a monolith, Salisbury argued. The political wing leading the negotiations has waning...
The collapse of Islamic State control in Syria has been hailed in both Russia and the United States as a victory over terrorism. Both credit their country’s military involvement with victory. But the war that continues in Syria also lays bare Moscow and Washington’s conflicting definitions and approaches when it comes to terrorism, insurgency, and combat operations. Moreover, even if a path to stabilization in that country is found, America and Russia will continue to face terrorism and terrorists at home and abroad. The ways in which these two crucial countries respond as the threat evolves will shape both their own polities and the world as a whole.
Please join us on Friday, March 30 for an expert discussion of what we can expect from the end game in Syria and after; emerging trends in terrorism and violent extremism; and the evolution and implications of U.S. and Russian policies and roles.
Moderated by Dr. Olga Oliker.
This event is organized in partnership with EastWest Institute.
Join CSIS's Burke Chair in Strategy for a discussion with Dr. Munqith Dagher, who will present findings from a major series of public opinion surveys and analyses of Iraqi public opinion on the country's 2018 parliamentary elections in May.
Dr. Dagher is the CEO of the Independent Institute for Administration and Civil Society Studies (IIACSS), and a leading Iraqi expert on polling and public opinion analysis.
Hosted by Anthony Cordesman, Dr. Dagher's presentation will explore the various scenarios that could play out in the election, the influence of regional and super powers in the election, and how the outcome will affect the balance of power in the region.
This event was made possible by general support to CSIS.
Current social movements have focused an overdue spotlight on the disadvantages faced by women and girls around the world. Join us for a discussion of both the challenges of persistent gender inequality and the inspiring strength and resilience of women and girls, especially vis-à-vis their contributions to food and nutrition security in unstable environments.
Natural and manmade disasters often reinforce and even augment gender disparities, undermining women’s prospects for recovery. The long-term and intergenerational consequences of malnutrition are also disproportionately borne by women. In light of compelling evidence that gender-sensitive investments yield impressive returns in agricultural and nutrition programming, are development stakeholders sufficiently focused on women’s empowerment? How can we better harness and leverage the strength of women as change agents in both the humanitarian and development context?
This dialogue is part of the joint CSIS Global Food Security Project and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Liaison Office for North America speaker series on agricultural development.
Please join the Human Rights Initiative for a discussion about civil society resiliency and sustainability. The current phenomenon of closing civic space prompts civil society actors to explore alternative programmatic and funding models and approaches to sustain their work. It also urges donors to find ways that mutually respond to the challenges confronted by civil society organizations and to their funding priorities. During this event, experts will discuss adaptability challenges both donors and civil society organizations face within restrictive environments, and how best to address them. Panelists will also present on recent reports published through the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space.
This event is made possible by support from the Oak Foundation and the Mott Foundation.
The Eastern Mediterranean forms a geostrategic seam between Europe and the Middle East. For over seventy years, the region represented a strategic anchor for the United States, which understood its importance both to strengthening Europe and to limiting instability in the Middle East. Today, the United States and its allies are struggling to adapt a coherent Eastern Mediterranean regional policy that acknowledges dramatically new economic, political, and security realities while ensuring that the region remains transatlantically anchored. As Syria enters its seventh year of conflict, Russia and Iran deepen their military footprints in the region, and NATO ally Turkey radically alters its domestic and external policies, the strategic importance of the region to the United States is growing while U.S. influence there appears to be waning. To assess regional security challenges and discuss NATO and U.S. Navy operational approaches to the Eastern Mediterranean, we are pleased to host Admiral James G. Foggo, III, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; and commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, for a timely conversation. Jon Alterman and Heather Conley will offer reflections and observations on a recently concluded CSIS research project on the Eastern Mediterranean.
This conversation is made possible by support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
CSIS invites you to join a panel discussion on local Syrian and Coalition stabilization efforts in Raqqa featuring experts from USAID, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, and CSIS. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Coalition forces drove ISIS from its self-proclaimed caliphate capital in Raqqa in 2017. Enduring security in ISIS-cleared areas now depends on local governance and restoration of services. Following a recent visit to Raqqa, Syria by Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and General Joseph Votel, Commander of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), panel speakers will discuss the importance of stabilization efforts in Raqqa and the challenges of connecting current operations with U.S. policy objectives.
The event is co-hosted by the CSIS International Security Program and the Project on Prosperity and Development.
Additional panelists to be announced.
This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.
Please join us for a presentation and armchair discussion with Alex de Waal, the author of “Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine.” Considered one of the leading experts on Sudan and the Horn of Africa, de Waal has crafted a comprehensive history of modern famines and the factors that influence their origins, duration, and severity in his latest book. This work is particularly timely with an unprecedented number of countries facing possible famine conditions in 2018—Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen, and Ethiopia.
De Waal refutes the persistent belief that famines are the result of natural disasters and overpopulation. Instead, he argues that famines are man-made. De Waal analyzes connections between the international community’s political decisions and the trajectory and severity of mass starvation. How could the United States and other global leaders play a more effective role in preventing and responding to famines? With better policies to strengthen democracy and governance, address the root causes of conflict, and ensure humanitarian access, can famine be eradicated?
The book will be available for purchase at the event.
Please join the Human Rights Initiative for a discussion about the state of freedom of the press and modern challenges facing the media. Journalists today not only face threats to their safety from state and non-state actors, but also must fight for the very idea of truth and objectivity. During this event, experts will provide their insights on how to ensure a free and independent media in the face of these challenges.
The CSIS Energy & National Security Program is pleased to host Peter Fraser, Head of Division for Gas, Coal, and Power Markets at the International Energy Agency, for the U.S. launch of the IEA's Coal 2017: Analysis and Forecasts to 2022.
The future of coal - the world's dominant fuel for more than a century - continues to be one of the most pressing questions in the energy sector. Coal is under pressure in many regions of the world for its contribution to greenhouse gases. In power generation, fast-growing renewables and cheap, abundant natural gas have also complicated coal's future.
The IEA's Coal 2017 report provides a comprehensive analysis of recent trends and forecast through 2022 of coal demand, supply, and trade at both a global and regional level. The report's insights help to explain the current developments in coal markets and provide a window into the fuel's future over the next five years.
The CSIS Energy & National Security Program is pleased to host the launch of the Global CCS Institute's annual 2017 Global Status of CCS.
The past year saw the successful startup of two new, large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities, while others in Canada, China, and Australia moved closer to completion as they continue to grow. For CCS to play a major role in meeting the Paris Agreement's two-degree warming limit, adoption of CCS must accelerate in the next decade.
The 2017 Status of CCS highlights key determining factors for the role of CCS in meeting these climate targets. Innovative technologies, improving markets for CO2 utilization, and reducing industrial emissions with CCS are all positive trends, but government policies at the federal, state, and local levels—along with international cooperation—remain critical for the path forward.
Please join the Human Rights Initiative and the British Council All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the launch of a new report, Building Young People’s Resilience to Violent Extremism in the Middle East and North Africa. This report analyzes the upstream drivers of violent extremism, explores successful efforts to prevent violent extremism, and examines how international organizations can build the capacity of individuals to be less vulnerable to terrorist recruitment. Expert panelists will explore the findings of the report and illustrate its main recommendations.
The 2014 Farm Bill – a critical piece of legislation that authorizes a multitude of U.S. food and agricultural programs – is up for renewal in 2018. Funding for agricultural research constitutes only a small fraction of the total Farm Bill budget. However, Farm Bill authorizations are the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s primary source of revenue for conducting agricultural science, extension, and education programming through both its own agencies and Land Grant institutions.
Despite high rates of return on investment, U.S. public spending on agricultural research and development (R&D) has remained flat while funding for other federal science agencies has soared. Stagnant agricultural R&D investments in the United States increasingly fall behind the investments of our global partners and competitors. Chinese public spending on agricultural research has surpassed that of the U.S. since 2008.
Join us for a discussion on research funding and priorities in the next Farm Bill, and the implications of U.S. agricultural R&D for both the domestic agriculture sector and for global food security. How should we understand the nexus between U.S. agricultural innovation, global food production, and economic stability? How can we better facilitate the transfer of agricultural research and technologies to developing countries? How could the next Farm Bill allow and spur the U.S. scientific community to develop research and technologies with international applications? How does the Farm Bill relate to the U.S. Global Food Security Strategy?
Join CSIS's Burke Chair in Strategy for a discussion with Dr. Munqith Dagher, who will present findings from a major series of public opinion surveys and analyses of Iraqi public opinion on the sudden rise, the slow fall, and the future of ISIS, or the Da’ish.
Dr. Dagher is the CEO of the Independent Institute for Administration and Civil Society Studies (IIACSS), and a leading Iraqi expert on polling and public opinion analysis.
Hosted by Anthony Cordesman, Dr. Dagher's presentation will explore the Da’ish’s life cycle, why Iraqis decide to join Da’ish, the impact of the conflict on its fighters, and how the region can best handle the conflict into the future.
A functioning formal private sector is critical for the reconstruction and renewal of post-conflict states. A formal banking sector is critical to a formal private sector and for achieving economic diversification. Banks are at the forefront of reconstruction initiatives in post-conflict Iraq—lending billions of dollars, making mortgages more accessible, and providing commercial credit. However, many challenges remain.
Iraqi private banks are a case study in sustaining economic growth in a post-conflict context—one that can offer insights and lessons. Bank deposits and available capital from private banks in Iraq have more than doubled in the last five years. Even in a post-conflict environment, Iraqi banks must respond to “Basel III,” a set of global financial regulations that make lending more difficult. The banking system is also responding to global changes in technology and the management and utilization of new forms of data. Official donors such as the United States, as well as multilateral donors such as the World Bank, support the formal private banking sector in post-conflict settings.
The CSIS Energy and National Security Program is pleased to host Heymi Bahar, Project Manager of the Renewable Energy Division at the International Energy Agency (IEA), for a presentation of the IEA's Renewable Energy Market Report 2017 (formerly titled Medium-Term Renewables Market Report). The report provides a detailed market analysis and overview of renewable electricity capacity and generation, biofuels production, and heat consumption, as well as a forecast for the period between 2017 and 2022. This year's report also assesses the off-grid solar market in Africa and developing Asia and the contribution of electric vehicles to renewable road transport.
Additionally, the Renewable Energy Market Report 2017 identifies a set of policy improvements in key markets that could accelerate the growth of renewables in the electricity sector as well as transport biofuels, necessary in all sectors for increased decarbonisation on track with long-term climate goals.
Kevin Book, Senior Associate (Non-resident) with the CSIS Energy & National Security Program, will moderate.
The defeat of al Qaeda in Anbar Province in 2007 was widely hailed as proof the United States could intervene in a war-torn country and, with the right strategy, bring stability and peace. Yet in 2014, much of Anbar fell to the Islamic State with shocking ease. Dr. Carter Malkasian will discuss his new book “Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State,” which looks at the wreckage to explain why the initial success proved misleading, why victory was unsustainable, and why Anbar should serve as a cautionary tale for future interventions.
Dr. Malkasian will be joined by Dr. Daniel Marston of the Australian National University for a discussion moderated by the Project on Military and Diplomatic History director, Dr. Mark Moyar.
Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies for a Smart Women, Smart Power conversation about North Korea, Syria, Afghanistan, and other global hotspots with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA).
The discussion will also examine the defense budget. Senator Ernst is the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate. She served 23 years in the military and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard.
Senator Ernst was a company commander in Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee as well as the Committees on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and Environment and Public Works.
Continental Breakfast will be served between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
This series is made possible with support from Citi. Additional support provided by AT&T.
Smallholder farmers are key actors in the global food system, producing roughly 80 percent of the food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Yet, the voices of smallholders are often neglected by policy makers when trade deals are negotiated or regulations are established. Increasing the participation of smallholder farmers in agricultural trade has the potential to boost livelihoods, to improve food security, and to fuel economic growth.
Within an international trade regime marked by ever more stringent quality and safety standards, sophisticated value chains, and byzantine contracts, the challenge of linking smallholders to markets is no simple task. Considering the increased importance of agricultural trade to food security, it is also not a task that we can afford to ignore.
What is the role of smallholder farmers in the global exchange of agricultural goods? What barriers do trade regulations and standards impose for smallholders to access local, regional, and global markets? How can we build an enabling environment for trade in which smallholders participate more fully?
Join us for a discussion on linkages between trade and food security, and the overlooked role of the smallholder farmer. This is the first public event of the joint CSIS Global Food Security Project and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Liaison Office for North America speaker series on agricultural development.
Developing Afghanistan’s security forces has been a key policy priority for the U.S. since 2002. After nearly 16 years of effort, the U.S. has directly spent more than $70 billion to train, equip, and support the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, the strength and effectiveness of which is pivotal to the success of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. However, these forces remain unable to independently defend against internal and external threats and it appears they will depend on continued assistance from the U.S. and other coalition countries for many years.
Please join us for a timely and important discussion with John F. Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), as he unveils critical lessons from this effort with the release of a new report, Reconstructing the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces: Lessons from the U.S. Experience in Afghanistan.
The CSIS Energy & National Security Program is pleased to host Laszlo Varro, Chief Economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA), to discuss the IEA's World Energy Investment 2017. Energy investment in 2016 totaled 1.7 trillion dollars, around 2.2 percent of the global economy. The report covers critical details about energy investment across various energy sectors, sources, and regions. It also includes a special focus on a wide array of topics, including how digitization is impacting investment and employment, global investment in innovation, and the impact of emerging business models. The report assesses the importance of energy policy driving investment into energy efficiency and into facilities that ensure adequate levels of energy security.
Jane Nakano, Senior Fellow with the CSIS Energy & National Security Program, will moderate.
This event is made possible by general funding to CSIS and the Energy & National Security Program.
The CSIS Energy and National Security Program is pleased to host Ian Mead, Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Office of Energy Analysis, to present the EIA's International Energy Outlook 2017 (IEO2017).
The IEO2017 includes long-term projections of world energy demand by region and primary energy source; electricity generation by energy source; and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Among other topics, Dr. Mead will discuss EIA's view on long-term petroleum and other liquids fuel supplies, prospects for global natural gas markets, regional energy demand growth, and key uncertainties that may alter long-term projections.
Frank Verrastro, Senior Vice President and Trustee Fellow, CSIS, will moderate.
More than 20 million people in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria are facing famine conditions and possible starvation. It has been called the largest humanitarian crisis the world has seen in decades. Of the $4.9 billion the United Nations desperately needs to respond to these crises, only $2.5 billion has been received. Meanwhile, the humanitarian disaster is deepening, largely due to escalating conflict in each of the four countries.
Humanitarian assistance and international development have different objectives and time horizons, but must work together to respond to the crisis at hand while also preventing the next one from occurring. What role does international development play in building long-term resilience? What are the linkages between conflict, fragility, and severe food insecurity? How can U.S. leadership and international development programming break the cycle of instability and famine?
Come hear from U.S. policy makers, technical experts, and thought leaders on how these crises have unfolded and what needs to be considered in the response. Reception to follow.
This event is made possible by the generous support of Chemonics International, Inc.
Please join the Project for Prosperity and Development to launch a new project on the global forced migration crisis. More people are forcibly displaced now than at any time in human history. Beyond the instability in Syria, over 65 million people from around the world have left their homes to escape conflict, famine, disaster, persecution, food insecurity, and unstable governance. The paths of these people could lead them a few miles from their origin, across borders into transit countries, or into protracted displacement in destination countries in Europe or elsewhere.
Over the next year, CSIS will research the journey of these millions of people and what it means for the developing world landscape, and how the U.S., its allies, the public and private sectors, NGOs, academics, government, and security can play a vital role in confronting global displacement and migration.
This project is made possible by generous support from the Ford Foundation.
Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies for a conversation about how traditional and new media outlets are influencing the narrative on world affairs. By highlighting the diverse perspectives of the panelists, the event will bring insight into how newsrooms are shaping and communicating international events.
The historic passage of the U.S. Global Food Security Act in July 2016 demonstrated U.S. leadership and bipartisan support in Congress to address global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition. The act required the Feed the Future interagency group, comprised of eleven U.S. agencies, to submit the first ever U.S. Global Food Security Strategy to Congress last fall. Join us to hear updates from senior leadership on the strategy and to discuss contributions from Congress, the Trump Administration, and U.S. government agencies.
What progress has been made since the legislation became law? How do we sustain momentum and keep policymakers engaged? What are the prospects for re-authorization next year? What will the new Feed the Future portfolio look like in terms of countries, priorities, and programming?
The CSIS Energy and National Security Program is pleased to host Eirik Wærness, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of Statoil, to present the company's newly released Energy Perspectives 2017.
The Energy Perspectives report summarizes different narratives about global energy demand and energy mix for the future decades, scenarios, based on different assumptions about regional and global economic growth, conflict levels and implications, technological development and energy and climate policies. In the 2017 version, models have been adjusted with last year’s developments in the energy and climate policy area, technology costs and maturity, more thorough assessments of GDP forecasts, as well as included adjustments made to historic global COemissions. The modelling runs to 2050 with 2014 as baseline year, and provides a forecast for global energy demand and energy mix, economic growth, CO emissions, and more.
Please RSVP no later than Wednesday, June 21st.
Please join the CSIS Transnational Threats Project from 4-6PM on June 21 for a discussion on Souad Mekhennet’s book “I Was Told to Come Alone: My Journal Behind the Lines of Jihad.” The discussion will take place on the first floor of CSIS’ headquarters.
The daughter of Muslim immigrants to Germany, Souad Mekhennet is a renowned reporter who has traveled around the world to investigate extremism and salafi-jihadists first-hand. As both a westerner and a Muslim, Souad Mekhennet “has sought to provide a mediating voice between these cultures, which too often misunderstand each other.” From the German neighborhoods where the 9/11 hijackers were radicalized to Iraqi cities plagued by sectarian discord, Mekhennet brings the reader through her first-hand experiences behind the lines of jihad. This book gives groundbreaking insight into the motivations, lifestyles, and stories of current day Salafi-jihadists with whom Mekhennet has come into direct contact.
We hope you can join our discussion on the book and its implications for policymakers, analysts, and the wider international community battling extremism today.
The CSIS Energy and National Security Program is pleased to host the launch of Bloomberg New Energy Finance's (BNEF) New Energy Outlook 2017. The report is BNEF's annual economic forecast for the world's power mix to 2040. Built over nine months, it is the result of a major collaboration of more than 65 market and technical experts from BNEF's 11 offices around the world.
Seb Henbest (NEO Lead Author and Head of Europe, Middle East, & Africa; BNEF) and Elena Giannakopoulou (Lead Energy Economist; BNEF) will present on the NEO 2017 findings, followed by Q&A and discussion.
This year, NEO 2017 highlights the long-term ramifications of competitive offshore wind and what cheaper batteries mean for the uptake of electric vehicles, consumer photovoltaic systems, and managing peak demand, among other stories.
Click here to read this year's edition, NEO 2017.
Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, June 20th.
This event is made possible by general funding to CSIS and the Energy & National Security Program.