International Affairs

OverviewSchedule Archive Details

Facets of Force:

Navigating Global Power and Influence

 

Lewis & Clark’s 58th International Affairs Symposium

April 6-8th, 2020

 

Sessions are held in Templeton Campus Center, Council Chamber. Details are subject to change.

 

What Constructs the Global Order: the Blueprint or the Architect

Monday, April 6, 3:30 p.m.

Throughout history, individual leaders have been given credit for making mass changes to society. Today, do individual leaders or the grand strategy of their country do more to construct and alter the international order? How do they interact with one another?

Joshua Keating is a staff writer and senior editor at Slate, an online magazine focusing on current affairs in politics and culture. He writes with a focus on international news, U.S. foreign policy analysis, and the intersection of politics and social science. Before coming to Slate, he was an editor and writer at Foreign Policy. His work elaborates on the importance of individual leaders, like Russian President Vladimir Putin, in global affairs.

William Wohlforth is the Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth College. He is the author and editor of ten books, ranging in focus from world politics to international security. Wohlforth is the co-editor of the Princeton Series in International History and Politics. His interest lies in the strengths and weakness of the international order and grand strategy.

 

 

Privacy Versus Security: Surveillance in the Modern World

Monday, April 6, 7:30 p.m.

In today’s world, mass surveillance has become a part of everyday life for many citizens; however , it comes with many concessions and restrictions. While some believe the mass collection of information by governments is absolutely essential to prevent crime and social unrest, as well as protect national security, others argue that information collection by governments violates private citizens’ privacy and unfairly limits civil and political freedoms.

Michael Chertoff is executive chairman of The Chertoff Group, a Washington, D.C. based security and risk management firm. He was the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security under George W. Bush from 2005-2009. Chertoff implemented counterterrorism practices preventing global terrorist attacks worldwide. He has held the position of Assistant Attorney-General of the United States.

Matthew Cole is an investigative reporter with The Intercept, an online news publication focusing on government and corporate accountability. He focuses on covering national security, surveillance, and intelligence operations. Previously, he worked as an investigative producer for ABC and NBC News, breaking several globally significant news stories. In 2014, he secured the only American television interview with Edward Snowden.

 

 

Monitoring Corruption: Which Watchdog Should Take Charge?

Tuesday, April 9, 3:30 p.m.

The abuse of power is something that permeates every aspect of society, but controversy has arisen about how one should tackle such abuse. Some believe that corruption should be tackled by the government though building trust among citizens. However, others believe that third-party organizations are the most effective way of mitigating the abuse of power.

Eric Uslaner is a Professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland. He was a recurrent recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship in multiple countries and has written several books focusing on corruption and inequality. His work focuses on how to fight corruption effectively.

Akere Muna is the Chairman of the International Anti-Corruption Conference Council. He also serves as the Sanction Commissioner for the African Development Bank. Over his distinguished career, Muna has been a leading figure in tackling government corruption in Africa. He previously served as the Vice-Chair for Transparency International and founder of its Cameroonian chapter, before running for President of Cameroon in 2018.

 

 

Broken News: the Struggle Between truth and Freedom in Today’s Global Media

Tuesday, April 7, 7:00 p.m.

As the prevalence of fake news has become a popular topic around the globe, many different opinions have arisen regarding how pressing the issue of fake news really is. While many argue that fake news must be urgently addressed, other believe that fake news is not a critical problem deserving of immediate attention.

Ryan Khurana is Executive Director of the Institute for Advancing Prosperity, a technology policy think tank based in Toronto, Canada. He has published widely on issues including automation, social media regulation, and data privacy for a variety of publications. He has previously held technology policy fellowships at IREF Europe and the Consumer Choice Center, and has contributed to the Washington Examiner, National Review, and the Telegraph on a number of topics including the fake news debate.

Will Fitzgibbon is a senior journalist and the Africa and Middle East partnership coordinator for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a U.S. based nonprofit organization. Will’s reports on corruption have covered topics including the West Africa Leaks, Paradise Papers, Panama Papers. He has also contributed to The Guardian and The Observer.

 

 

On the Precipice of Perishing: Intervention When Culture is at Risk?

Wednesday, April 8, 3:30 p.m.

As the world becomes increasingly linked and homogeneous, previously distinct cultures are being replaced by an interconnected global culture. Some argue that the cultures at risk of disappearing are worth preserving due to their unique value that contributes to society, whole others content that it is irrational to attempt to preserve traditional cultures because doing so would potentially prevent them from joining modernity.

Kenan Malik is a writer, lecturer, and broadcaster who is a columnist for the Observer and contributes to The New York Times and Göteborgs-Posten. His main areas of academic interest are the philosophy of religion, the philosophy of mind, theories of human nature, moral and political philosophy and the history and sociology of race, immigration, and cultural identity.

James Deutsch is a curator for the Smithsonian Center of Folklore and Cultural Heritage, a research and educational unit of the Smithsonian Institution that creates festivals, documentaries, symposia, exhibitions, and more. He has curated several Folklife Festival programs and developed programs and exhibitions dealing with numerous cultural topics. He is also currently adjunct faculty at George Washington University’s American Studies Department and has taught similar classes at universities in many other countries.

 

If Not WHO, Then Who? Responsibility in a Global Health Crisis

Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 p.m.

As international disease outbreaks receive greater global attention, conflict over which entities should be responsible for the primary response has grown. Some argue that the nature of disease necessitates an international response, while others believe national public health agencies should take point as a result of their responsibly to their citizens.

Lara Salahi is an assistant professor of Broadcast and Digital Journalism at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, and an award-winning freelance multimedia journalist. She field produces stories for Good Morning America and World News with David Muir for the New England region. Among her writings, she has written a book examining the factors which complicated effective responses to the 2014-16 Ebola epidemic.

Michael Ulrich is the Assistant Professor of Health Law, Ethics, & Human Rights at the Boston University School of Public Health. His work primarily focuses on the intersection of public health, constitutional law, bioethics, and social justice, with an emphasis on the role of law in the health outcomes of vulnerable and underserved populations.