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Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 30, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
The world and China’s place in it have transformed over the past year in response to pressure from the most severe global financial crisis in decades. While the economic crisis accelerated China’s emergence as a global superpower, it has yet to fully assess the consequences of its new position on the world stage. On November 30, Brookings and the Australian National University will co-host a discussion on China’s emerging position as a global power.
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Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 24, 2009, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
The issue of strategic nuclear arms reductions now tops the U.S.-Russia agenda, particularly as the countries strive to conclude a new nuclear arms agreement to replace the Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty, which expires on December 5. On November 24, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings will host Ambassador Mamedov for a conversation on the experiences and lessons learned from U.S.-Russian arms control efforts in the 1990s.
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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On the heels of President Obama's recent trip to Asia, Michael Fullilove reassures Australians about the United States' commitment to the Asia-Pacific, saying that they should take the president at face value when he says "Asia and the United States are not separated by this great ocean; we are bound by it."
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Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On a recent weeklong visit to Afghanistan sponsored by the U.S. military, Michael O'Hanlon met with Afghan and U.S. officials whose assessments partially countered the current general outlook on the country's status and future. O'Hanlon's visit left him with guarded optimism about U.S. prospects for creating a safe and stable Afghanistan.
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Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Michael Fullilove comments on the new autobiographies by Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate, and Carrie Prejean, the former California beauty pageant contestant. Despite the surprising similarities between these two conservative women and their books, Fullilove argues that, while Prejean's book may not be of great consequence, Palin's prominence in the Republican party makes her book an important read.
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Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On a recent weeklong visit to Afghanistan sponsored by the U.S. military, Michael O'Hanlon met with Afghan and U.S. officials whose assessments partially countered the current general outlook on the country's status and future. O'Hanlon's visit left him with guarded optimism about U.S. prospects for creating a safe and stable Afghanistan.
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Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In an interview with IBA News, Bruce Riedel discusses President Barack Obama's policy in Afghanistan, emphasizing that victory against Al Qaeda and the Taliban is crucial not only for the stability of Afghanistan itself, but also for Pakistan and the entire Islamic world.
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Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
According to Peter Singer, video games have become an effective recruiting tool for the military, and gaming technology has been used in everything from battle training to dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, while creating a new generation of soldiers primed for the fast-pace of modern warfare, Singer cautions that these games may also be desensitizing young people to the realities of war.
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Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Lost in the ongoing Afghanistan debate is a promising effort to foster reform in building the Afghan police force, writes Michael O'Hanlon. Just back from a trip to the country, O'Hanlon notes several areas in which new efforts are encouraging and draws on lessons learned from reforms that occurred coincident with the 2007 surge in Iraq.
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Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Felbab-Brown draws on interviews and fieldwork in some of the world's most dangerous regions to explain how belligerent groups have become involved in drug trafficking and other illicit activities, including kidnapping, extortion, and smuggling.
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Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 14, 2009, 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- November 16, 2009, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
On November 14-16, 2009, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings brought together top Israeli and American policymakers, journalists, and members of the public and private sectors to Jerusalem for discussions on the most critical issues in the Middle East.
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Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:07:00 GMT
As part of a multi-nation Asia trip that began last week, President Obama, now in China, met with Chinese Premier Hu Jintao to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and China. Kenneth Lieberthal discusses the importance of the meeting between the two leaders.
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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In recent months, Colombia has experienced increased isolation from its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere, due to border and military disputes, refusals to cooperate on economic and political fronts and disenchantment with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Diana Negroponte examines the reasons for this isolation, and possible remedies the Obama administration may apply.
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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:35:00 GMT
As President Obama prepares for his trip to China and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Singapore, Richard Bush says that the APEC meetings will help the United States fortify its relationships with Asian countries.
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Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In the inaugural installment of CNAPS’s Taiwan-U.S. Quarterly Analysis series, Terry Cooke explores the causes and effects of Taiwan’s pursuit of economic normalization with China. Articles in this series will be written by leading experts on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and will contain in-depth analysis of bilateral and multilateral policy challenges for Taipei and Washington.
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Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
As President Obama prepared for his first visit to China, expectations were high for growth in the U.S.-China relationship. In this Northeast Asia Commentary written prior to the president's visit, Nonresident Senior Fellow David Shambaugh analyzes today’s political and economic landscape in China. Shambaugh currently serves as a Senior Visiting Fulbright Scholar at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, a division of the China Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.
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Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 10, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
On November 10, Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Kongdan Oh and Ralph Hassig, adjunct associate professor of psychology at the University of Maryland University College, discussed their new book The Hidden People of North Korea: Everyday Life in the Hermit Kingdom (Rowman & Littlefield, 2009). For decades, the people of North Korea have lived in extreme isolation under a closed and repressive regime, where individual rights are restricted and the regime exercises complete control over the political class and legal systems.
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Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 10, 2009, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Every year, humanitarian crises threaten the lives and livelihoods of over 250 million people worldwide, and donor governments must make the best use of their resources, knowledge and capabilities to respond to these challenges. On November 10, the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement will host the launch of the Development Assistance Research Associates Humanitarian Response Index 2009, which helps donor governments ensure that humanitarian assistance has the greatest possible impact for people suffering the effects of crises and disasters.
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
November 9 marks the twenty-year anniversary of the opening of the Berlin Wall. With protests in the week prior totaling over one million, refugees were allowed to exit directly through crossing points between East Berlin and West Berlin and all along the border. In the days and weeks to follow the Wall would continue to fall, leading the way for Germany’s reunification. Experts from around the halls of Brookings respond to this historic anniversary.
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
President Barack Obama's maiden trip to China was his first face-to-face opportunity to shape U.S.-China relations. In this preview of the president's visit, Cheng Li and Jordan Lee examined new openings for Obama to press Beijing on harder questions, and the fine line he would have to walk between respect for China and pulling all his punches, while reflecting candidly on American ideals.
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In this CNAPS Working Paper, Liu Shih-chung examines the fluctuations in Taiwan-U.S. relations during 2004-2008. While outlining developments in the bilateral relationship, Liu provides an insider’s view of different influences on Taiwan’s policy-making process including the leadership, the bureaucracy, other internal political forces, and external actors such as China and the United States.
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 09, 2009, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
On November 9, the Brookings Doha Center hosted a policy discussion with H.E. Mohamad Chatah, the Lebanese minister of finance, H.E. Ghassan Khatib, director of the Palestinian Government Media Center, and H.E. Ayad Al Samarrai, speaker of the Iraqi Parliament on the project of inclusive national dialogue and state-building in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, and Iraq. The speakers examined past and current nationally-driven conflict resolution efforts.
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 09, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
The efforts of China's America-watching community over the past 30 years, and their effect on China's perception of the United States, have been crucial to a constructive relationship between the two countries. On November 9, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings and the U.S.-China Education Trust co-hosted a discussion on China’s changing views of America.
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Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
One of the values measured in the 2005 World Values Survey was political ideology. Mauricio Cárdenas discusses the concept of political cohesion in Latin America and how ideology and political polarization can impact economic growth.
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Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 06, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
In mid-November, President Barack Obama began his first trip to Asia as president with a visit to Tokyo. He also traveled to China, South Korea and Singapore, where took part in meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Prior to the president's trip, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies and the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings hosted a discussion of President Obama’s trip and the issues he was likely to face.
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Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
China’s continued ascension presents policy challenges for both Beijing and Washington. President Barack Obama will make his first trip to China from November 15-18, where he will address a multitude of issues ranging from climate change to trade and the economy to military ties between the two nations. On November 4, Kenneth Lieberthal took questions in a live web chat with Politico senior editor Fred Barbash about President Obama's first trip to China.
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Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Three decades after Iran seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, igniting a 14-month hostage crisis, Suzanne Maloney examines the current state of power in the Islamic Republic. Maloney says that the recent demonstrations in Iran are an extension of the country's unanswered conversation of legitimate ruling authority, and that responses by hard-liners indicate a belief that any reform would beget revolution.
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Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 04, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
China’s continued ascension presents policy challenges for both Beijing and Washington. President Barack Obama made his first trip to China from November 15-18. Kenneth Lieberthal and Fred Barbash, Politico's senior editor, took questions about the president’s trip to China in this edition of the Scouting Report.
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Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 04, 2009, 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
As attention to U.S. climate legislation has been increasing on Capitol Hill, Brookings hosted a discussion on a new series of papers on U.S. climate policy design. These papers acknowledge the complexity inherent in climate policy; explain the fundamental challenges involved in addressing a particular set of design features; and suggest a credible path forward, calling attention to tradeoffs where they exist.
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Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 04, 2009, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
On November 4, the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement hosted Eric Schwartz, assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, to discuss the challenges of implementing humanitarian programs and affecting policy in government.
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Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On the first anniversary of President Obama's victory, Justin Vaïsse explains the delay in enacting major domestic reform by pointing out the continuing partisan polarization and the importance of checks and balances, especially the power of the Senate.
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Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In December, the 15th Conference of Parties will attempt to reach an agreement on new international climate change and emissions regulations. Charles Ebinger and Govinda Avasarala note that any agreement is likely to use a plethora of technologies which many nations do not have access to, and they propose solutions to the intellectual property rights issues involved.
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Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Matthew Frankel compares Abdullah Abdullah's withdrawal from Afghanistan's runoff election to other electoral boycotts over the years. Based on independent research of 100 boycotts since 1990, Frankel concludes that they rarely work and often fracture the party involved.
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Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Hamid Karzai was declared the winner of the presidential vote in Afghanistan on November 2 and he was quickly warned that he must crack down on rampant corruption. Vanda Felbab-Brown joined several other experts to discuss what should be done about President Karzai's brother, Wali Karzai, who has been linked to Afghanistan's narcotics trade.
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Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Jeremy Shapiro and Nick Witney examine transatlantic relations in what they call a "post-American world" that is witnessing increasingly redistributed power. Shapiro and Witney argue that the real threat to the transatlantic relationship comes not from the remaking of America's global strategy, but from European governments' failure to come to terms with how the world is changing.
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Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 02, 2009, 1:30 PM to 5:45 PM
On November 2, the Center on United States and Europe and the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings co-hosted a conference on the European Union’s Eastern Partnership with the Embassy of Poland, the Delegation of the European Commission, the Embassy of Sweden and the Heinrich Boll Foundation. The Frontiers of Europe conference discussed the Eastern Partnership’s potential—and the challenges it will face—in achieving its stated goals of promoting democratic values and good governance; strengthening energy security; and fostering stability and economic development.
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Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 02, 2009, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
On November 2, the 21st Century Defense Initiative at Brookings hosted Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead. Admiral Roughead discussed the U.S. Navy’s use of new technologies, and its development and integration of unmanned systems into the current and future Navy force structure.
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Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Michael O'Hanlon discusses Abdullah Abdullah's withdrawal from Afghanistan's presidential election runoff that was scheduled for November 7. O'Hanlon argues that while Afghan President Karzai can now be viewed as legitimate, although tainted, he is hardly out of the woods.
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Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 30, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
On October 30, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings and the Slavic Research Center at Hokkaido University hosted experts from Japan and the United States for a conference looking at nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation. Topics included trends in international nuclear markets, the U.S. approach to nuclear energy and the future of nuclear nonproliferation.
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Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Amidst growing use of robotics in warfare, Peter Singer explores the future of unmanned systems in the Middle East and South Asia. Singer concludes that while the United States remains -- and likely will remain -- the top developer of such technology, it is only a matter of time before other nations begin deploying robotics in large numbers.
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Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Hady Amr presents research on past efforts to bridge the gap between the United States and a diverse Muslim world. In a wide survey of various initiatives, many of which developed post-9/11, Amr attempts to evaluate the level of success that different programs have experienced so far. Amr then offers several recommendations on ways civil society can be the most effective in bringing people together for meaningful dialogue and progress.
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Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 29, 2009, 3:00 PM to 5:15 PM
On October 29, the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings, the Institute for Environmental Security, CNA, E3G and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a discussion on the real dangers for conflicts and disputes resulting from resource shortages, water rights and natural disasters.
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Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Increased insecurity in Afghanistan and the sense that the counterinsurgency is not being won have left many looking for comparisons that can shape future policy. Vanda Felbab-Brown examines similarities between the counternarcotics and counterinsurgency efforts in Colombia to draw conclusions on how to reverse recent trends in Afghanistan.
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Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Charles Ebinger and Lea Rosenbohm say President Obama's decision to use $3.4 billion dollars of stimulus money to begin developing a smart grid is a welcome development. Ebinger and Rosenbohm look to how the smart grid will help benefit providers and consumers while noting additional steps that will be required moving forward.
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Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
For the 18th year in a row, the United Nations General Assembly unequivocally calls for the end of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Ted Piccone examines the long-running dispute between the international community and the United States and offers suggestions for the future of U.S.-Cuba relations.
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Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 27, 2009, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
On October 27, the Brookings Doha Center hosted a luncheon with Glenn H. Hutchins, co-founder and co-chief executive of Silver Lake Partners, and a trustee of the Brookings Institution, on the build-up to the global financial crisis, highlighting the important policy implications of the global recession. Hady Amr, director of the Brookings Doha Center, moderated the discussion which was attended by leading members of Qatar’s business and academic communities.
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Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 27, 2009, 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
On October 27, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies hosted a presentation by Kim Kwangjin of his report on North Korean succession and human rights issues. Mr. Kim defected from North Korea in 2003, and was previously manager of North Korea’s Northeast Asia Bank in Singapore and representative of the Korea National Insurance Corporation. This discussion also featured Roberta Cohen of Brookings and Bruce Klingner of the Heritage Foundation.
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Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Since 2004 there have been encouraging trends related to internal displacement. Walter Kälin notes that the use of the Guiding Principles as the relevant framework for protecting IDPs and the development of national and regional laws and policies on internal displacement have been positive trends. However, despite such positive trends, the challenges presented by climate change, the disregard for civilian populations in conflict zones, a shrinking humanitarian space, and protracted displacement situations still remain unchanged.
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Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
A number of climate policy observers and U.S. policymakers have expressed concerns about the implications of climate policy for the U.S. industrial base. In this paper, Carolyn Fischer and Richard Morgenstern show that specific concerns about industrial competitiveness and emissions leakage could be realistically addressed in the context of a cap-and-trade system without unduly distorting the incentives that are essential to realizing an economically efficient outcome.
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Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
A cap-and-trade system of the sort envisioned by the current generation of Congressional proposals would create a new market in carbon allowances worth potentially hundreds of billions of dollars. In this paper, Adele Morris discusses the likely distributional implications of a U.S. cap-and-trade system and how policymakers could manage these implications by altering the way in which allowances or allowance revenues are distributed throughout the broader economy.
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Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 26, 2009, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
On October 26, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted Jean Pisani-Ferry, a leading French economist, to deliver the Sixth Annual Raymond Aron Lecture. Mr. Pisani-Ferry assessed the impact of the global financial crisis on the closely intertwined economies of Europe and the United States, and their influence on the world economy.
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Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Kenneth Pollack says the massive bombings in Baghdad on October 25 that killed over 150 people are a problem for both Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and U.S. President Obama. Pollack concludes the bombing calls Maliki's claims of keeping Iraq secure into question while also bringing forward the idea that U.S. troops may need to return to Baghdad – despite previous U.S. plans – back into consideration.
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Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Forced displacement is a devastating experience that often takes years or even decades to recover from. Africa hosts the worlds largest population of internally displaced persons and, as Walter Kälin points out, has taken the initiative to go beyond the existing state of law by creating the first binding international law on internally displaced persons.
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Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Decades of armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change, have given rise to sizable populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout Africa. On October 23, African heads of state and government signed a legally binding convention on internal displacement, which as Andrew Solomon notes, demonstrates their commitment to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of IDPs, to facilitate durable solutions and to ensure that millions of people are no longer excluded from society as a whole.
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Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Only a few regions in the world are more affected by climate change than Latin America. However the region lacks a common perspective and will not be heard in the U.S. Congress or in international deliberations in Copenhagen unless it unifies as a strong voice. Mauricio Cárdenas proposes a formal subgroup of several Latin American countries for cooperation on climate change and points to specific commitments they should consider.
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Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The Lisbon Treaty has raised many questions regarding governance of the European Union. Federiga Bindi explains why she believes European Council will use its October meeting to choose the new European Commission.
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Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In testimony before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Vanda Felbab-Brown discussed how narcotics production influences the security, political, and economic developments in Afghanistan. Felbab-Brown also examined the effectiveness of policies to mitigate these effects and offered recommendations for the future of U.S. policy on the issue.
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Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Political violence in Pakistan is at its highest level in decades, with insurgent attacks on the rise and intensive government clashes with the Taliban in the country’s western provinces. In recent weeks in particular, attacks by Punjabi militant groups have increased dramatically. Bruce Riedel spoke with Newsweek's Andrew Bast and outlined this increasingly precarious situation in Pakistan as well as the prospects for future stability.
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Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Vice President Biden left Washington early on October 20 for a quick trip to Central Europe, where he will reassure the region of continued U.S. interest and support. Steven Pifer examines the concerns of several NATO member states and offers suggestions for the future of U.S. engagement in the area.
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Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Since its peaceful Democratic Revolution in the early 1990s, Mongolia’s national security strategy has evolved through three phases and is now entering a fourth. Munkh-Ochir Dorjjugder writes that the theme of balancing external actors to ensure sovereignty and security remains the same, but that Mongolia is now adding economic and human elements to its approach to security.
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Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
While the United States faces budget deficits and economic challenge of a scale not seen in decades, earmarks and wasteful "pork" continue to be built into defense policy bills. Peter Singer explains why, especially during a time of war and economic crisis, this wasteful behavior can hurt defense priorities while funding unneeded projects.
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Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Latin America, a region that has faced both challenges and opportunities during the financial crisis, has had more economic growth than other areas of the world. Mauricio Cárdenas discusses the forces behind this economic success and the need for the region to seize this crisis as an opportunity to make important reforms to solve longstanding problems.
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Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Brookings Federal Executive Fellow Matthew Frankel explores Ken Lieberthal's recent report, "The U.S. Intelligence Community and Foreign Policy: Getting Analysis Right." While Frankel argues the paper makes excellent points throughout, he examines several which he feels deserve rebuttal.
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Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Congressional leaders and the Obama administration discussing "intermediate options" in Afghanistan, but could such an approach prove successful? Michael O’Hanlon and Stephen Solarz offer insight into what middle-ground steps General Stanley McChrystal is already taking and explain how an active U.S.-Afghan partnership is essential to providing security, safety and success in Afghanistan.
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Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The election of the new DPJ government is thought by many to herald a new approach to foreign policy in Tokyo. Former CNAPS Visiting Fellow Keiko Iizuka identifies and explains three keys to help understand the diplomacy that the Hatoyama government will conduct.
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Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 16, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
President Obama's decision on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan is being portrayed as the most momentous of his young presidency. On October 16, Brookings hosted a discussion of the president's policy options for Afghanistan, drawing on experts with a diverse range of views.
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Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Michael Fullilove explores possible explanations as to why President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, despite only being elected nine months prior. Fullilove contends that, while the award may be somewhat premature, it can make it harder for the world not to help should Obama ask for it.
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Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
After months of provocations by North Korea, conditions are now developing that should allow the U.S. Special Envoy, Stephen Bosworth, to visit Pyongyang. In this paper, Brookings Visiting Fellow Sun-won Park calls for a "Bosworth Process," a plan to achieve not only denuclearization of the Korean peninsula but also to bring North Korea into the international community in a far-sighted and peaceful way.
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Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Cynthia Schneider and Nadia Oweidat write that the Arab world is rich in literature examining all aspects of Arab life and advocating a vision of a multi-cultural society that respects human rights. Rather than manufacturing its own messages, Schneider and Oweidat believe the United States should support a return to standards of critical thinking that once characterized the Arab world.
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Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Over recent years, politicians and analysts inside and outside the United States contended that America’s popularity was in terminal decline. Michael Fullilove and Fergus Hanson explore new public opinion data showing quite the opposite – a quick return to a positive image of the United States around the world.
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Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Federiga Bindi discusses Italy's role in shaping today's climate for international relations in the future.
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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Moscow this week to meet with her counterpart, Foreign Minister Lavrov. Steven Pifer previews the major issues at the top of their agenda: arms control, the broader Middle East and the work of the U.S.-Russia presidential commission.
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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The Lisbon Treaty finally secured Irish ratification on October 2, but there are still many obstacles to overcome before the EU can put Lisbon into action. The treaty is not yet fully ratified and many key details, including the selection of leaders to fill the High Representative and EU President posts, remain unresolved. Federiga Bindi explains why Lisbon is important, and describes the intricate negotiation process the EU will undergo in coming months.
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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Recent reminders have shown Turkey and Armenia to be two traumatized regions in which reconciliation will be difficult. Ömer Taşpınar believes that in order for Armenia to have Western options, it will need Turkey's help, and external conditions between the nations will relieve the weight of historical issues.
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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
President Barack Obama’s 2009 Nobel Peace Prize immediately triggered strong reactions worldwide. Hady Amr and Steven Barnes write that the prize presents President Obama an opportunity to build on his recent efforts to foster dialogue between America and people of all faiths around the globe.
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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
As the Afghanistan strategy debate continues, Vanda Felbab-Brown says policymakers should not be fooled by options that lie “in the middle” of a beefed-up counterinsurgency mission and a scaled-back counterterrorism operation. Felbab-Brown believes the United States and NATO must decide how important the stakes are, and either properly resource the current mission or cut losses now rather than later.
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Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Bruce Riedel says this weekend’s attack on the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military center of Pakistan, underscores the volatility and fragility in the world’s second largest Muslim country. Riedel argues that the United States must encourage Pakistan too keep moving against extremists while assuring them we will not abandon the fight in the region.
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Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Michael O'Hanlon joined Bob Shieffer, and guests on Face the Nation, to discuss the current and future U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. O'Hanlon focused on the growth of the Taliban as grounds to back additional troop increases for the counterinsurgency mission and argued the counterterrorism strategy advocated by some has already been tried and did not work.
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Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Martin Indyk says President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize should be seen as an acknowledgment of the promise his presidency holds for a new era of international cooperation. But Indyk also notes that Obama is still left with numerous foreign policy challenges requiring tangible progress.
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Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
While President Barack Obama and his advisers complete a study on U.S. operations in Afghanistan, Bruce Riedel warns of the consequences of delaying new action. Riedel says it is vital for the administration to avoid lengthy delays in deciding on a course of action in its planning for the Af-Pak war theater.
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Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 08, 2009, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
On October 8, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings hosted an event featuring contributors from A Roadmap for Expanding U.S.-ROK Alliance Cooperation, produced by the Center for U.S.-Korea Policy at the Asia Foundation. At the event, the contributors presented their findings on expanding the U.S.-ROK alliance to cover such newly-emerging issues as pandemics and biological threats, counter-terrorism, and space cooperation.
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Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Iraq remains between peace and war while the situation in Afghanistan still appears to be deteriorating, and Pakistan is doing better than Afghanistan but more progress is needed. Jason Campbell, Michael O'Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro examine leading metrics from all three countries to assess how well the counterinsurgency and stabilization operations are faring.
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Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Cheng Li and Jordan Lee write that when President Obama travels to Beijing in November on his maiden China trip, he should recognize it is becoming a middle class country like the United States. Li and Lee believe focusing on China’s middle class may be a way to find more common ground in U.S.-China relations that will become more important as time goes on.
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Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 07, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
New technology and modes of warfare are changing our understanding of national security and defense capabilities. On Wednesday, October 7, Peter W. Singer and Fred Barbash answered questions about defense issues in a high-tech world, including: current U.S. defense needs; defense energy security; and future priorities such as robotic warfare on the ground, in the air and from space.
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Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On Wednesday, October 7, Peter W. Singer and Fred Barbash answered your questions about defense in a high-tech world during a live web chat.
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Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has come under fire for making public comments about the war. Michael O'Hanlon writes that while McChrystal was indeed too blunt, the criticism goes too far because McChrystal critiqued an option – scaling back to a counterterrorism mission – directly at odds with the current policy.
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Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 06, 2009, 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
As we approach the twentieth anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution, countries such as Iran, Russia, China and Cuba are trying to learn how to prevent similar "velvet revolutions" in their own countries. On October 6, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the challenges and opportunities posed by nonviolent civic movements for political change around the world.
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Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 05, 2009, 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
The Irish recently ratified the Lisbon Treaty, a far-reaching reorganization of the European Union (EU). On October 5, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings and the Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted a panel of experts to discuss the expected changes in the European Union and the implications for the United States.
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Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 05, 2009, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Afghanistan and Pakistan have challenged President Obama since he took office, as questions persist about the success of U.S. policies in the region. On October 5, Brookings hosted the launch of a new Pakistan Index with a discussion on the state of the Afghanistan mission and the effort to address extremist activities in Pakistan.
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Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) recent landslide victory in Yunlin County’s legislative by-election has several implications for Taiwanese politics, writes Shih-chung Liu. He argues that while the victory is significant, a strengthened policy of reaching out to the world community and refining the party’s policies on future cross-strait and international relations is of utmost importance.
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Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The tragic earthquake in Sumatra, the tsunami in Samoa and the typhoon that hit the Philippines are just the latest in an increasing number of natural disasters. Last year alone natural disasters affected over 200 million people, killing 16,000 and displacing close to 50 million. Elizabeth Ferris evaluates the international capacity to respond to major disasters and argues that more should be done to reduce their impact.
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Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Kenneth Pollack says recent discussions between the P5-plus-one and Iran were not earth-shaking, with several questions remaining unanswered in the aftermath. However, Pollack does find it interesting that the Iranians demonstrated some willingness to compromise on small interests and there was no attempt to grandstand at the meeting.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Michael O'Hanlon says an apparent gap has emerged between the military leadership in Afghanistan and President Obama's advisers who have growing doubts about the mission there. Though additional troops may be needed, O'Hanlon believes it is it is sensible to tie a commitment of more resources to the Afghanistan government doing more and addressing corruption within their country.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In this chapter of Fighting Chance, prepared for a September 2007 conference, Steven Pifer assesses potential challenges posed by a more assertive Russia. Pifer examines demographic, societal and economic trends in Russia that could create strategic shocks for the region and world over the next several decades.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Paradox and Perception greatly improves our understanding of the determinants of well-being in Latin America based on a broad "quality of life" concept that challenges some standard assumptions in economics, including those about the relationship between happiness and income.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In testimony before the House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Vanda-Felbab Brown discussed illicit economies, organized crime, and their impact on U.S. and global security. Felbab-Brown concluded by offering recommendations for counternarcotics strategies as well as other measures local and foreign governments can take to address the issues.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 01, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
On October 1, Shibley Telhami, Saban Center nonresident senior fellow and Anwar Sadat professor for peace and development at the University of Maryland, presented results of the 2009 University of Maryland/Zogby International opinion poll, conducted in August 2009, that surveyed Israeli Arabs and Palestinian public opinion.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Iran has agreed to a second round of discussions over its disputed nuclear program following a meeting in Geneva with diplomats from the United States and other world powers. Suzanne Maloney joined PBS' NewsHour to discuss how this week's talks were a positive step and what to expect from future engagement between the United States and Iran.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Correctly sizing the military force and tracking results on the ground are key to success in counterinsurgency and stabilization missions, write Jason Campbell, Michael O'Hanlon, and Jeremy Shapiro. To determine how the U.S. strategy is working, they assess a range of indicators to measure progress in Afghanistan and relate them to lessons learned from the conflict in Iraq.
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Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In the years since the September 11th attacks, Western policymakers, analysts and academics have debated the best approaches to confronting and ending terrorism. Brookings Fellow Omer Taspinar argues that the global fight against extremist violence must move beyond the "war on terror" to a broader strategy of fighting radicalism with human development - an approach that would address the political, economic and social conditions that foment violent radicalism.