PAST EVENT
Friday, September 18, 2009
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
World leaders are now in New York as the United Nations General Assembly opens its 64th session. Last week, Brookings hosted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a speech previewing the U.S. agenda for the assembly, including addressing Iran, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, climate change, and the Middle East peace process. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Ted Piccone, October 27, 2009, The Brookings Institution
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. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Walter Kälin, October 26, 2009, United Nations General Assembly
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. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mauricio Cárdenas, October 23, 2009, The Brookings Institution
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. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove, September 29, 2009, The Australian
Michael Fullilove writes that the UN General Assembly in New York and G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh proved fruitful for the United States and Australia. Fullilove notes both Obama and Rudd are tough diplomats who believe national interests are better pursued in concert with others, and he concludes the recent meetings bolstered their ideas and goals. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove, September 23, 2009, The Australian
More than a year ago, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced his country’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2013-2014. Michael Fullilove breaks down the arguments of critics of the plan, provides a look at public opinion, and explains why UN Security Council membership is in Australia's best interest. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Strobe Talbott, September 21, 2009, The Brookings Institution
When President Barack Obama addresses foreign leaders at the UN General Assembly and the G-20 Summit later this week, it’s a safe prediction that no one will boo or shout insults at him, at least within the halls, says Strobe Talbott. The hearing he gets in New York and Pittsburgh will reflect the astronomical popularity and hopes for his success that Obama enjoys around the globe. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Jones and Richard Gowan, September 21, 2009, McClatchy Newspapers
This week, President Obama places himself squarely at the center of multilateral diplomacy, first at the UN General Assembly and later at the G-20 Summitt in Pittsburgh. Bruce Jones and Richard Gowan examine the Obama administration's continuing investment in multilateralism and why it does not always pay off so easily. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kenneth G. Lieberthal, September 21, 2009, The Brookings Institution
President Obama met with China’s President Hu Jintao at the UN General Assembly last week and they will meet again in November in Beijing. Kenneth Lieberthal analyzes the politics of U.S.-China cooperation, recommends how to structure a bilateral agreement on clean energy, and describes how the two countries can work together to shape a more successful UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Jones and Richard Gowan, September 17, 2009, The Brookings Institution
As President Obama travels to the UN and G-20 summits, he will place himself squarely at the center of multilateral diplomacy. His administration has started to lay out its vision, but several tough questions, such as Security Council reform, have yet to be publically addressed. Bruce Jones and Richard Gowan assess President Obama's efforts to restore U.S. leadership in multilateral forums to date. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Roberta Cohen, September 02, 2009, International Studies Review
The numbers are startling. There are close to 40 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world today, uprooted by conflict and human rights violations. The problems facing the refugees and IDPs are daunting. While reviewing two books, Cohen argues that the overall problem of forced migration goes beyond humanitarian and human rights solutions, requiring multilateral action aimed at preventing and resolving the crises at the heart of displacement. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, September 02, 2009, NPR's All Things Considered
According to a new United Nations report, Opium cultivation is down 22 percent in Afghanistan. Vanda Felbab-Brown joined National Public Radio to discuss why the significance of these numbers should not be overestimated and to offer insight into the new counternarcotics strategy in Afghanistan. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, August 14, 2009, The Washington Post
Since the early 1990s, Congo has been on a rapid descent as Genocide in Rwanda spilled over the border and other internal human rights issues worsen. Michael O'Hanlon writes that the United States needs to lead by example and plan to deploy a specialized volunteer force of U.S. military peacekeeping monitors to strengthen the security of the nation. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove and Michael E. O'Hanlon, August 11, 2009, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Over the past decade, much of the commentary on the Australia-U.S. alliance has focused on how the conservative leaders of both nations formulated policy. Michael Fullilove and Michael O'Hanlon analyze the developing relationship between Democratic President Barack Obama and Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and how it may reshape the alliance. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Walter Kälin, August 03, 2009, United Nations General Assembly
Internal displacement continues to be one of the world's major humanitarian and human rights challenges and many internally displaced persons (IDPs) experience serious violations of their human rights. In his annual report to the UN General Assembly, Walter Kälin argues that it is important to translate the increasing recognition of the human rights dimension of internal displacement at the international and regional levels into effective action at the national and local levels of government. Read More