Conversations in Diplomacy

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Chair Nicholas Burns is joined by Congressman Joe Kennedy III (D-MA), representative of the fourth congressional district of Massachusetts, for a conversation about convincing American voters that foreign policy matters. 

Douglas Dillon Professor of Government Graham Allison took the stage at TED World Theater in New York in September to discuss the question: How will the U.S. respond to the rise of China? Allison's TED Talk was part of TED's "We the Future" event that explored some of the world's most daunting challenges along with possible solutions. 

For more than two decades, I worked to strengthen military and diplomatic ties with China, alongside scores of other U.S. and allied officials, all of us sincere in our belief that China could be encouraged to join the principled, inclusive network that has served as the backbone of regional security since the end of World War II - and thus the Asian miracle. It is easy for me to imagine having used my time as Secretary of Defense to solidify those ties and bring China into closer partnership with the United States and the other participants in the network. 

For the past eight years, a group of high-level American and Russian retired military and intelligence officials has met annually to discuss sensitive issues of U.S. - Russian relations. The purpose of the Elbe Group, launched by the Belfer Center in 2008, is to keep open an important channel of communications between the two countries that have the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. in the world. 

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Chair Nicholas Burns is joined by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), for a special edition podcast episode on President Trump's incoherent foreign policy.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Chair Nicholas Burns is joined by Susan Glasser, Staff Writer at the New Yorker, Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, and Kurt Volker, Executive Director of the McCain Institute, for a conversation on the current crisis in the transatlantic relationship.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director Nicholas Burns is joined by Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, for a conversation on current and future threats to U.S. national security.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director Nicholas Burns is joined by Anne Applebaum, columnist for The Washington Post and a Pulitzer-prize winning historian, for a conversation on polarization and disinformation in the mainstream media.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director Nicholas Burns is joined by Lord Peter Ricketts, the former National Security Advisor to the U.K. and a life peer in the House of Lords, for a conversation on Brexit and its geopolitical implications for the U.K. and the E.U.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director Nicholas Burns is joined by Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, for a conversation on the fate of the JCPOA and the possible global consequences of a US withdrawal from the agreement.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director Nicholas Burns is joined by Ambassador Victoria Nuland, the former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, for a conversation on the current situation in Syria and the recent developments in US-Russia relations.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director Nicholas Burns is joined by Sir John Sawers, the former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, for a conversation on tackling global security challenges in the digital age and the changing nature of intelligence agencies.

In this installation of the 'Conversations in Diplomacy' podcast, Dr. Amanda Sloat, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean Affairs at the State Department, for a conversation on U.S.-Turkey relationship and the future of Syria with Faculty Director Nicholas Burns.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director, Nicholas Burns, is joined by Michael Froman, former United States Trade Representative.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director, Nicholas Burns, is joined by Angus King Jr, Independent Senator from Maine.

Nicholas Burns sits down with former Secretary of Commerce, and Future of Diplomacy Project Klein Fellow, Penny Pritzker for a conversation in diplomacy.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, is joined by Peter Wittig, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Dean of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University Adil Najam discuss the ups and downs of US-Pakistan relations and possibilities for engagement under the new US administration.

In this installation of the 'Conversations in Diplomacy' podcast, Cameron Munter, former US Ambassador to Pakistan and CEO of the EastWest Institute and Beena Sarwar, award-winning Pakistani journalist and filmmaker, discuss the relationship between women's empowerment, economic development and security with Executive Director Cathryn Cluver.

Ambassadors Daniel Feldman, Marc Grossman, and Rick Olson speak with Faculty Director Nicholas Burns about the options for reconciliation in Afghanistan and US strategic objectives in the region. 

In a conversation with Professor Nicholas Burns, Ban Ki-Moon, who served as UN Secretary-General from 2007 to December 2016, touches upon his transition from the diplomatic to the academic world, UN efforts to confront climate change under his leadership, and reconciling political realities with the achievement of long-term, global aims.

David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, discusses the drivers behind the displacement of over 65 million people and the changes that must be made to existing political and humanitarian systems in order to address the crisis on a global scale.

Faculty Director Nicholas Burns speaks with Douglas Alexander about the future of the UK just days after Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, initiating the separation between Europe and the United Kingdom Alexander previews the road ahead, identifying the underlying contradictions that that led to Brexit and how they might manifest themselves in other parts of the world.

Jake Sullivan, Future of Diplomacy Project Senior Fellow, in conversation with Faculty Director Nicholas Burns, attempts to deconstruct the logic behind President Trump's foreign policy decisions.

In this installation of Conversations in Diplomacy, Congressman Seth Moulton, Representative of the Sixth District of Massachusetts, military veteran, and graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, discusses the most serious threats to U.S. national security with Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Faculty Director of the Future of Diplomacy Project.

In this installation of 'Conversations in Diplomacy,' recorded during the Future of Diplomacy Project's annual Europe Week series, guests Muriel Rouyer and Boris Ruge speak with Professor Nicholas Burns about the rise of populism in Europe, the potential outcomes of upcoming elections in France and Germany, and the effect of such factors on the transatlantic relationship.

In this “Conversation in Diplomacy," former NATO Secretary General and 2015 Fisher Family Fellow, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, assesses the health of the transatlantic relationship, the biggest threats that NATO confronts, NATO's relevance in Eastern Europe, and its level of preparedness to meet future security challenges, in the lead-up to the next 2016 Warsaw summit.

Stephen Bosworth, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Special Representative for North Korea and Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, joins Future of Diplomacy Project Faculty Director Nicholas Burns for a discussion on negotiating with the Koreas.

Conversations in Diplomacy is the Future of Diplomacy Project's Podcast Series. In this installment, New York Times journalist Roger Cohen discusses his experiences in decades of covering international conflicts.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver, is joined by Shaun Casey, U.S. Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs and Harvard Kennedy School alumnus.

Christopher de Bellaigue, a French journalist living in Iran and Fisher Family fellow, speaks with Professor Nicholas Burns.

US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter shares his insights into the future of US-Pakistan relations in an interview with FODP Director Nicholas Burns.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver, speaks with Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin,India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

A conversation with Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, led by Professor Nicholas Burns.

In this interview with the Future of Diplomacy Project's Conversations in Diplomacy podcast series, Justice Richard Goldstone discusses the "crucial" role of diplomacy in international criminal justice.

A conversation with Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretary-General, hosted by Ambassador Nicholas Burns.

Brazilian Minister of External Relations Antonio de Aguiar Patriota discusses Brazil's growing role in international politics, as well as current crises like that over the Iranian nuclear program.

A conversation with Ambassador Antonio Patriota, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, hosted by Ambassador Nicholas Burns.

Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine joins Nicholas Burns, the Future of Diplomacy Project's Faculty Director, to discuss the role of a special tool--"American Spaces"--in the US's public diplomacy and outreach efforts.

In this “Conversation in Diplomacy" with former President of Finland and Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow, Tarja Halonen, the Future of Diplomacy Project Director R. Nicholas Burns explores the 'Nordic Way,' the rise of female leaders, and debates about austerity in the Eurozone.

Josette Sheeran, Vice Chairman of the World Economic Forum and 2013 Fisher Family Fellow at the Future of Diplomacy Project, discusses the connectivity of food and politics with lessons from across the globe.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver, is joined by Radek Sikorski, former Foreign Minister of Poland and current Senior Fellow at Harvard's Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies.

John Bellinger, former Legal Adviser to the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council, discusses the legality of drone strikes.

In this video podcast, former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband shares views on the Eurozone Crisis, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Maleeha Lodhi,   In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver, speaks with Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Kenichiro Sasae, the Ambassador of Japan to the United States, in a conversation about diplomacy with Future of Diplomacy Project Faculty Director Nicholas Burns.

Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation to Hillary Clinton, met with Future of Diplomacy Project Executive Director Cathryn Cluver in January 2012 for a conversation on his efforts to engage the State Department with 21st century innovations.

'Conversations in Diplomacy' is the Future of Diplomacy Project's podcast series. In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Project's Faculty Director, Nicholas Burns, speaks with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary General and Prime Minister of Norway.

A conversation with Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the United States, hosted by Ambassador Nicholas Burns.

Ambassador Pickering, in a February 2012 interview with the Future of Diplomacy Project, argued that diplomacy can succeed in Iran, but will need time to be able to do so.

A conversation with India's Chief Climate Negotiator and 2014 fall Fisher Family Fellow, Minister Jairam Ramesh, hosted by Ambassaor Nicholas Burns.

Fisher Family Fellow Soli Özel, a Turkish professor of international relations and a foreign affairs correspondent, discusses the regional implications of Turkey's rising geopolitical clout.

In this “Conversation in Diplomacy" with former EU Trade Commissioner and 2015 spring Fisher Family Fellow, Karel de Gucht, the Future of Diplomacy Project Director R. Nicholas Burns examines TTIP and the geostrategic relevance of trade.

Douglas Alexander, the UK Shadow Foreign Secretary, joins Future of Diplomacy Project Faculty Director Nicholas Burns for a discussion on the role of Britain in the EU.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver, is joined by Kori Schake, former U.S. Deputy Director of Policy Planning and Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and Douglas Alexander, former UK Shadow Foreign Secretary and Senior Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project.

Peter Sutherland is an Irish international businessman and former Attorney General of Ireland.

In this installment of Conversations in Diplomacy, the Future of Diplomacy Project's podcast series, Nabil Fahmy--former Egyptian Ambassador to the US (1999-2008)--shares his views on the course of Egypt's democratic revolution.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver, speaks with Janine di Giovanni, Middle East editor of Newsweek and the Pakis Scholar at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Jim Jeffrey, who served as ambassador of the United States to Turkey (2008-2010) and Iraq (2010-2012), joins Future of Diplomacy Project Faculty Director Nicholas Burns for a discussion on Iraq and the wider Middle East.

Independence, peace, and cooperation -  according to Zhang Yesui, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, these three concepts are the cornerstones of Chinese foreign policy in the 21^st century.

In this installment of “Conversations in Diplomacy," the Future of Diplomacy Project's Executive Director, Cathryn Clüver, speaks with Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's former Minister of Foreign Affairs.

A conversation with Daniel Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, hosted by Ambassador Nicholas Burns.

India is doing its part to put pressure on Iran to end that country's nuclear program, according to Nirupama Rao, the Indian Ambassador to the United States. She sat down with the Future of Diplomacy Project on February 17th, 2012, to discuss India's foreign policy record and vision.

A conversation with UN Under-Secretary-General Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission to eliminate the chemical weapons program in Syria, hosted by Future of Diplomacy Project Executive Director Cathryn Clüver.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger joins Future of Diplomacy Project Executive Director Cathryn Cluver for a wide-ranging discussion on the many challenges facing Eurozone leaders today.

In this “Conversation in Diplomacy" with former NATO Secretary-General and 2015 spring Fisher Family Fellow, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Future of Diplomacy Project Director R. Nicholas Burns discusses NATO's collective security issues, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the destined leadership of the U.S. in the liberal democratic global community.

Esther Brimmer, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, joins the podcast for a discussion on the role of collaboration through multilateral institutions in American foreign policy.