To compete and thrive in the 21st century, democracies, and the United States in particular, must develop new national security and economic strategies that address the geopolitics of information. In the 20th century, market capitalist democracies geared infrastructure, energy, trade, and even social policy to protect and advance that era’s key source of power—manufacturing. In this century, democracies must better account for information geopolitics across all dimensions of domestic policy and national strategy.
Maria Barsallo Lynch, the Executive Director of the Belfer Center's Defending Digital Democracy Project, will facilitate a discussion on the work of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the state of democracy worldwide with NDI's President, Ambassador Derek Mitchell.
Derek Mitchell is the third president of the National Democratic Institute. Mitchell has had a distinguished career in and out of the U.S. government, in which he has witnessed the connection between democracy and international security. From 2012-2016, Mitchell served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burma). He was America's first ambassador to the country in 22 years. From 2011-2012, he served as the U.S. Department of State's first special representative and policy coordinator for Burma, with the rank of ambassador. Prior to this appointment, Mitchell served as acting assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Mitchell received a Master of Arts in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia.
We welcome members of the Harvard community to join us for what promises to be a timely discussion. Light refreshments will be provided.