Diplomacy and International Politics

Over the course of two sessions, this seminar will examine the Trump Administration’s Middle East peace plan and policies. It will consider the plan in historical context, looking at the evolution of US policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It will analyze the plan in depth in order to understand what it offers the parties, how it seeks to resolve the conflict, how it differs from previous peace-making efforts, and in what ways is it an outgrowth of earlier efforts. The seminar will also briefly examine the historical evolution of the conflict on the ground and the trajectory of the rival Israeli and Palestinian national movements, setting the context for today’s present political, economic, and social realities for both peoples. Participants are strongly encouraged to join the two complementary sessions.

A seminar with Daniel Philpott, professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, on his new book Religious Freedom in Islam: The Fate of a Universal Human Right in the Muslim World Today from Oxford University Press. This seminar is co-sponsored by the Alwaleed Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University.

Nearly 20 years since 9/11 and we have not vanquished the appeal of extremist ideology. Groups are still recruiting youth in every part of the world, and today a real strategy to deal with the rise of hate and extremism is not being executed as extremists have mastered selling their narratives. To counter these narratives, we need to listen to understand the nuances of cultures around the world as these “data points” do not show up in quantitative analysis. This is what Ambassador Pandith learned when traveling to 80 countries as the U.S. Special Representative to Muslim Communities and what she believes is the method of “How We Win” against extremists. 

A seminar with Marsin Alshamary, Research Fellow, Middle East Initiative and PhD candidate in Political Science, MIT.

A light lunch will be served.

Corneliu Bjola is Associate Professor of Diplomatic Studies at Oxford University and among the leading, international thinkers on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the practice of diplomacy and the bureaucratic systems that underpin functional international relations. He will discuss the opportunities and challenges in the digital age. Please note that breakfast and light refreshments will be served.

Please join the Project on Europe and the Center for European Studies for an event with Jessica Brandt, Head of Policy and Research, Alliance for Securing Democracy, and Torrey Taussig, Research Director, Project on Europe, on Europe's counter-strategy against Russia and China's assaults on free and open societies across the continent. Sebastián Royo, Professor of Government at Suffolk University, and José Manuel Martinez Sierra, Jean Monnet ad Personam Professor in EU Law and Government at Real Colegio Complutense, will chair the discussion.

This conversation will highlight a spectrum of Russian and Chinese overt and covert activities in Europe, ranging from benign state tools, such as public diplomacy, to more malevolent efforts, including direct interference in electoral processes. Moving forward, it will be incumbent on European policymakers to avoid looking any one vector in isolation and to close vulnerabilities across their political systems, economies and societies.

As part of its new career webinar series, the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship and the Future of Diplomacy Project invite current HKS students and alumni to discuss ‘real world’ perspectives on forging careers in diplomacy from a transatlantic perspective, with four HKS alumni. Students can join the discussion in person at G-06 in the Rubenstein Building, or dial into the conversation via Zoom (call-in details below).

 A seminar with Steve L. Monroe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Middle East Initiative and PhD in Politics, Princeton University.

Paper Authors: Carolyn Barnett, Amaney Jamal, and Steve Monroe

Light lunch will be served at this event.

Note: Date and location have changed to Thursday, Feb 13 in Taubman, Nye A

Former United Nations (UN) Chief of Staff Susana Malcorra will guide students through a series of reflections on leadership. Drawing primarily on UN principals and culture as case studies in leadership, Ms. Malcorra will also incorporate lessons from her experience in the public and private sectors in Argentina. All Harvard students are welcome to apply for this workshop. Dinner will be served. Please note that this event is co-sponsored by the Center for Public Leadership.

Join the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship to discuss progress on EU defense policy, EU-NATO cooperation and the best means to tackle transnational security challenges in the digital age with Janne Kuusela, Director General for Defense Policy at the Ministry of Defense, Finland. The seminar will be held in Littauer-163 Faculty Dining Room. A light breakfast will be served.