Policy Events (Oct 19 - Oct 25)
Your weekly update on upcoming webinars, conferences and other events held at think tanks around the world.
Each week Policy People puts together a list of think tank events from around the globe. Below is our selection for October 19 to October 25. As always, there are a number of interesting panel discussions on issues ranging from cyberspace to climate change. Of particular interest is a special event for students being held at Clingendael, which aims to introduce participants to the world of think tanks. This is a great opportunity for aspiring policy people to have any questions they may have about working in think tanks answered by the institute’s staff and to virtually go ‘behind the scenes’ to get a glimpse of life at the institute.
Want to get the word out about your institute's upcoming event? I’m happy to help. Simply reply to this email and send me the details with a link to the event page.
Enjoy the events!
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Webinar
THE INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES - Monday, October 19 @ 3pm Singapore Time (UTC+8)
Contested Hegemonies and Changing Struggles in Cyberspace
Cyberspace provides a new battle arena both for state propaganda and for civil society struggles against corruption and authoritarianism. This webinar examines how state and civil society interactions in cyberspace affect various ongoing democracy and anti-corruption struggles in Southeast Asia. The webinar features Ms Thieu-Dang Nguyen (University of Aberdeen) who will present on “State-Society Interaction in Cyberspace in the Formosa Crisis: A Counter-Hegemonic Project?”, Mr Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi (Leiden University; Gadjah Mada University) will talk about “Digital Affective Citizenship and Anti-Corruption Movement in Indonesia: A Provincial Case”, and Ms Kieu Ngoc Hoang (University of Amsterdam) will discuss “Everyday State Propaganda and Activists’ Strategic Responses on Social Media in Vietnam”. Dr Yatun Sastramidjaja (ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute) is the moderator of this webinar.
For more information and registration: https://www.iseas.edu.sg/mec-events/contested-hegemonies-and-changing-struggles-in-cyberspace/
Webinar
BROOKINGS - Monday, October 19 @ 1pm Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
Amid multiple crises, a divided nation
In the wake of over 210,000 deaths from the coronavirus, massive unemployment, protests over racial justice, the death of a U.S. Supreme Court justice, and unprecedented wildfires in multiple western states, questions remain about who will turn out to vote and what will drive them to the polls. On October 19, Governance Studies at Brookings and PRRI will host the release of PRRI’s eleventh annual American Values Survey (AVS). A panel of experts will discuss what the results of this national survey of over 2,500 citizens reveals about Americans’ attitudes toward a variety of issues that will shape the outcome of this presidential election. The survey also highlights the impact of media consumption on attitudes, long-term trends in partisan and religious affiliation, and how these changes have produced two starkly contrasting visions for the nation.
For more information and registration: https://www.brookings.edu/events/amid-multiple-crises-a-divided-nation/
Online event
UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE - Tuesday, October 20 @ 10am Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
Women Transforming Peace
Join USIP and the U.S. Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace and Security to mark the 20th anniversary of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325. The discussion will look at how countries are expanding on the Women, Peace and Security agenda by adopting feminist foreign and development policies—and how civil society organizations have invested in masculinities programming as a complementary approach. These and other frameworks may prove more effective in advancing gender equality in peace and security, especially in light of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
For more information and registration: https://www.usip.org/events/women-transforming-peace
Webinar
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - Thursday, October 22 @ 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC+11)
The World in 2021: Allan Gyngell and Dennis Richardson in Conversation
You are invited to join us for a stimulating and insightful conversation on world affairs post COVID-19 featuring two of Australia's leading experts in foreign affairs, defence and security, Dennis Richardson AC and Allan Gyngell AO. Richardson has held numerous posts over his career including Secretary of the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ambassador to the United States and Director-General of ASIO. Gyngell is an honorary professor with the ANU's College of Asia and the Pacific and is a founding Executive Director of the Lowy Institute. His most recent book is Fear of Abandonment: Australia in the World Since 1942.
The two speakers will discuss at length on the seismic shifts that have occurred in 2020 and speculate on what may lie ahead for Australia and the global order in the coming year.
For more information and registration: https://aiiaact.tidyhq.com/public/schedule/events/31346-the-world-in-2021-allan-gyngell-and-dennis-richardson-in-conversation
Webinar
TONY BLAIR INSTITUTE - Thursday, October 22 @ 10:00am British Summer Time (UTC+1)
Is the unemployment crisis fracturing climate consensus?
The 2019 general election saw Labour lose the ‘red wall’ as more socially conservative, traditionally Labour voters, switched to Boris Johnson’s Conservative party. The COVID unemployment crisis is likely to hit these areas hard. They are also home to some of the industries that will be most affected by the net zero transition. As government tries to stem the unemployment crisis, and appease its new voters, will investment in jobs in polluting industries fracture a fragile consensus on climate? Panelists include Claire Perry O’Neil, Professor Rebecca Willis and Mary Creagh.
For more information and registration: https://institute.global/policy/events
Virtual Open Day
CLINGDENDAEL - Thursday, October 22 @ 3pm Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Clingendael Meets Students
Would you like to know what it is like to work for a think tank on international relations? And to meet the experts & interns that work each day to inspire and equip societies, businesses and governments to encourage a secure, sustainable, prosperous and just world? Unfortunately this year we cannot welcome you at Clingendael, but we will go virtually ‘behind the scenes’. You will have the opportunity to ask questions to our experts and interns from our different research units and academy.
For more information and registration: https://www.clingendael.org/event/clingendael-meets-students
Online Lecture
CANADA INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL - Thursday, October 22 @ 5pm Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Canada-China Trade In A Shifting Global Environment
With Canada-China relations at a low point, and with mounting China-US tensions, what kind of a trade relationship should Canada aspire to have with Xi Jinping’s China? What are the short-term and long-term challenges and global influences, and what approaches should Canada consider? This talk will explore these questions, as well as the current state of Canada’s relations with China. The featured speaker, Philip Calvert spent 34 years in Canada’s Foreign Service, with three postings in Beijing (including as Deputy Ambassador), as well as an assignment as Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives at the University of Victoria, and a Senior Fellow at the China Institute at the University of Alberta. He has a Ph.D in Chinese history from the University of Washington.
For more information and registration: https://thecic.org/event/cic-prince-george-canada-china-trade-in-a-shifting-global-environment/
Online Book Discussion
OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION - Thursday, October 22 @ 4pm India Standard Time (UTC+5:30 )
Kautilya’s Arthashastra: Philosophy of Strategy
This book examines in detail the strategic relevance of the Arthashastra. Attributed to the fourth century BC, this classical treatise on state and statecraft rests at the intersection of political theory and international relations. Adopting a hermeneutic approach, the book discusses certain homologies related to concepts such as power, order and morality. Underlining the conceptual value of the Arthashastra and classical texts such as Hitopdesha and Pancatantra, this volume highlights the non-western perspectives related to diplomacy and statecraft. It shows how a comparative analysis of these texts reveals a continuity rather than a change in the styles, tactics and political strategies. The book also showcases the value these ancient texts can bring to the study of contemporary international relations and political theory. Moderated by Harsh V. Pant, the discussion will involve Kajari Kamal, Medha Bisht and Col. P.K. Gautam.
For more information and registration: https://www.orfonline.org/research/book-discussion-kautilya-arthashastra-philosophy-strategy/
Zoom Webinar
EAST-WEST CENTER WASHINGTON - Friday, October 23 @ 1pm Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
Japan’s Geoeconomic Strategy in the Asia Pacific
Japan’s leadership helped to save the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after the US withdrew. Formerly cast as a trade villain, Japan is now the hero of the rules-based international liberal order. Once characterized by bilateralism, informality, and neomercantilism, Japanese policy has shifted to a new liberal strategy emphasizing regional institution building and rule setting. How did this happen? As China and the United States wrestle over economic leadership initiatives, Japan currently occupies a pivotal position, one that is capable of tipping the geo-economic balance in the region. Professor Katada’s new book, Japan's New Regional Reality: Geoeconomic Strategy in the Asia-Pacific, discusses this new era of Japanese foreign economic policy. Derived from transformation of the country’s domestic political economy and strategic position in the region, Japan’s new role is bound to shape regional economic order for years to come.
For more information and registration: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/japan%E2%80%99s-geoeconomic-strategy-in-the-asia-pacific
That’s all for now. Don’t forget to check in next week for more updates.
Stay well and stay safe,
- Liam
Founder of Policy People