Policy Events (Oct 12 - Oct 18)
Your weekly update on upcoming webinars, conferences and other events held at think tanks around the world.
Each week Policy People compiles a list of think tank events from around the globe. Below is our selection for October 12 to October 18. This week there are several events that take a long view of macro policy trends in China, discussing areas as diverse as foreign policy, aged care and digital currency. In addition to numerous webinars, there is an in-person event being held in Bern, Switzerland.
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Webinar
CHATHAM HOUSE - Monday, October 12 @ 12pm British Summer Time (UTC+1)
China, Sovereignty and the 'Community of Shared Destiny'
In October 2017, Xi Jinping unveiled 14 new fundamental principles that ‘underpin the endeavours to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era’. The 13th principle was declared to be ‘promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind’. This seems vague to foreigners but it may signal the Chinese leadership’s more ambitious approach to foreign policy and global governance. In this webinar, the speakers will discuss the emergence and renewal of Chinese ideas of state sovereignty and their implications for global governance. The speakers will also debate to what extent the concept of a ‘community of common future’ is an attempt to reshape the existing multilateral order of international organizations and alliances.
For more information and registration: https://www.chathamhouse.org/event/china-sovereignty-and-community-shared-destiny
Webinar
THE ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE - Monday, October 12 @ 2:30pm British Summer Time (UTC+1)
Dark Money and Democracy: Is There a Way Out?
Has foreign ‘dark money’ undermined democracy as we know it? The 2016 US elections, the Brexit referendum, the Scottish independence referendum – time and again allegations of nefarious financial meddling raise a cloud of uncertainty over democratic processes across the world. And as the UK’s recent Russia Report indicates, the willingness or ability of political leaders to take on this malign activity appears to be absent; the role of the private sector is in question; and the use of finance as a tool of intelligence is most often absent. This discussion will therefore consider the malign influence of finance and the ways in which a smarter understanding of financial flows can help governments and their private sectors secure the integrity of democracies and their democratic processes.
For more information and registration: https://www.rusi.org/event/dark-money-and-democracy-there-way-out
Webcast
ASIA SOCIETY - Tuesday, October 13 @ 9:30am Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Who Pays for Ageing?
We must fund larger elderly populations. While European countries rely heavily on their pension systems, Chinese citizens rely mostly on investments and family support. Both systems face enormous challenges as the dependency ratio deteriorates. How are European and Chinese pension systems different? What are the key challenges they face? And which reforms are being undertaken to address them? In episode 1 of The Ageing Effect, we are joined by Ros Altmann, member of the British House of Lords and leading authority on later life issues; and Hu Yuwei of the China Institute of Finance and Capital Markets, whose research focuses on social protection and ageing finance.
For more information and registration: https://asiasociety.org/switzerland/events/who-pays-ageing
Webinar
AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE - Wednesday, October 14 @ 11am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC+11)
The Flipside of China’s Central Bank Digital Currency
China’s central bank digital currency, known as ‘DC/EP’ (Digital Currency/Electronic Payment), is rapidly progressing and, if successful, would have major international implications that have not yet been widely considered by policy makers, as well as for governments, investors and companies – including China’s own tech champions. This report aims to improve baseline understanding of DC/EP’s structural mechanics and to place the project in its political and bureaucratic context. It also seeks to contribute to an informed conversation about what the roll-out of DC/EP could mean for China and for the world. In this webinar, report authors Dr Samantha Hoffman, Senior ASPI Analyst, John Garnaut and Dr Matthew Johnson from Garnaut Global, and ASPI research intern, Alexandra Pascoe, will discuss some of the key findings from the report and offer insights into the potential of China’s central bank digital currency.
For more information and registration: https://www.aspi.org.au/event/aspi-webinar-launch-flipside-chinas-central-bank-digital-currency
Virtual roundtable
THE STIMSON CENTER - Wednesday, October 14 @ 12:30pm Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
China and Southeast Asia: Balanced and Centered?
China is at once a vital economic partner to ASEAN countries and a potentially threatening and much larger neighbor. For China, the region to its south occupies important strategic space. How can these states keep their relations balanced and centered in turbulent times? Join us for the first Southeast Asia Forum virtual discussion with Yun Sun, Marvin Ott, and Bill Wise. This event is part of the Southeast Asia Forum Virtual Wednesday Luncheon Seminar Series. Usually held in person as small roundtables, these are now open to a larger audience as a virtual convening.
For more information and registration: https://www.stimson.org/event/china-and-southeast-asia-balanced-and-centered/
Webinar
MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE - Thursday, October 15 @ 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
Examining the EU-Iran-US Triangle
Since the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement in May 2018, France, Germany and the UK (the E3 countries) have been under pressure from both Washington and Tehran. The Trump administration has tried unsuccessfully to gain E3 support for its sanctions-based maximum pressure policy, including the extension of the arms embargo on Iran resulting in tensions at the UN Security Council. Tehran has been pressuring the bloc for economic aid and sanctions relief while lobbying the E3 to save the JCPOA and defend Iranian interests. Within Iran, leaders have been particularly critical of the E3 and called for Iran to build stronger ties with more dependable states like China. In this webinar, speakers will discuss and unpack the triangular challenges and opportunities for Washington, Tehran and the E3 and consider how the US presidential election might impact dynamics going forward.
For more information and registration: https://www.mei.edu/events/examining-eu-iran-us-triangle
Webinar
REFORM - Thursday, October 15 @ 10:00am British Summer Time (UTC+1)
Resilient Public Services in an Age of Cyber Threats
With its two successive National Cyber Security Strategies, the UK has established itself as a world leader in cyber security. Due to the increased digitisation of public services – which has seen an acceleration during the COVID-19 pandemic – cyber threats are only likely to increase. With this in mind, it is imperative that the next National Cyber Security Strategy due in 2021, responds to this increased threat by seeking to develop skills and target investment to secure the public sector’s digital infrastructure. This event led by Ruth Edwards MP, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, will discuss what steps should be taken in the next National Cyber Security Strategy to advance the resilience of public services.
For more information and registration: https://reform.uk/events/resilient-public-services-age-cyber-threats
In-Person Event
FORAUS - Kuppelraum Universität Bern (Switzerland), Thursday, October 15 @ 6:30pm Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Road to the White House – A Global Outlook in Light of the U.S. Elections
On November 3rd, the U.S. will elect a new (or re-elect its current) president. Who is it going to be? And what does it mean for Europe? Are we looking at four more years with President Trump and a renewed focus on “America first”? Or will President Biden return to multilateralism and liberalism? What would either outcome mean for Europe and Switzerland? U.S. elections have a big influence on global affairs. They make headlines from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and are closely followed in Switzerland as well. In the last four years we have seen weakened multilateral institutions, speed up nationalist trends and the beginning of a tech and trade "Cold War” between the U.S. and China. We are happy to welcome Prof. Rundquist, a true expert for U.S. affairs, and other esteemed guests to discuss these questions and present an outlook on foreign policy in the next presidential term.
For more information and registration: https://www.foraus.ch/en/events/
Virtual Launch
THE ENERGY RESOURCES INSTITUTE - Thursday, October 15 @ 3:00pm Indian Summer Time (UTC+5:30)
Climate Services for Regional Policy Planning
There is an increasing demand and attention among various stakeholders in developing countries like India to take into account potential implications of climate variability and change for planning and prioritizing of development strategies and activities. In this regard, TERI in collaboration with Norwegian Embassy developed two climate service products. These tools fill the current gap between climate information services and demands in India by incorporating the best available high resolution climate and weather risk data. They will be launched followed by a discussion on climate change adaptation. Speakers include H.E. Hans Jacob Frydenlund, Ambassador of Norway to India.
For more information and registration: https://www.teriin.org/event/climate-services-regional-policy-planning
Eventcast
THE MANHATTAN INSTITUTE - Friday, October 16 @ 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
Practical Wisdom In A Time Of COVID And Beyond
2020 severely tested the governing abilities of our leaders. America faced a once-in-a-century pandemic, a collapsed economy, civil unrest, shuttered schools, toxic politics, and more. Despite months of opportunities to solve these problems, the U.S. has now surpassed 200,000 COVID deaths, millions remain unemployed, several cities continue to face turmoil, thousands of schools remain closed, and the political climate remains radioactive. Why have we fared so poorly? Good governance requires the capacity to appreciate competing claims, understand trade-offs, and demonstrate prudence. Sound public decision-making requires not only technical ability or scientific knowledge, but “practical wisdom,” which develops only with repeated engagement in a particular task, along with its various causes, contours, and implications. It can produce shrewd, robust decisions even in the most challenging circumstances. Perhaps one explanation for our governing failures in 2020 is the paucity of practical wisdom in statecraft—and perhaps the key to a better 2021 is more of it.
For more information and registration: https://www.manhattan-institute.org/practical-wisdom-time-covid-and-beyond
Online Book Launch
UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION OF INDIA - Friday, October 16 @ 11:00am Indian Summer Time (UTC+5:30)
The End of an Era - India Exits Tibet : Claude Arpi
This is Volume IV of this indepth look at India-Tibet relations. The first three volumes contain a treasure of knowledge which the author has painstakingly extracted from the national archives maintained by the Nehru Memorial Museum Library as well as other sources. These books are of great referral value and offer readers rare insights about China’s annexation of Tibet and opportunities missed by India. USI looks forward to launching the fourth volume to complete the series.
For more information and registration: https://usiofindia.org/events/virtual-book-release-vol-iv-india-tibet-relations-claude-arpi/
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There is another event being hosted by Defense Research and Studies Think tank on 11th October on Future relations of India with China. The speakers are mostly retired military officials!