Policy Events (Sept 21-27)
Your weekly update on upcoming webinars, conferences and other events held by think tanks around the world.
Each week Policy People lists a number of noteworthy think tank events from around the globe. Below is a selection of events being held between September 14 and 20.
With November 3rd drawing closer, the US election and its global impact is a recurring theme in many of next week’s events. There are also various webinars on China’s role in global politics as well as climate and immigration policy too.
Want to get the word out about your institute's upcoming event? We’re happy to help. Simply reply to this email and send us the details with a link the event page.
Want to get more value from Policy People? Subscribe here today.
Webinar Series
ISEAS YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE - Monday, 21st September @ 3pm Singapore Time (UTC+8)
ISEAS has several interesting events coming up including -
Social Media and Democracy: A Complicated Relationship
For many years, social media such as Facebook and Twitter were hailed as effective tools to hold powerholders accountable and strengthen democracy. However, recent trends in political uses of social media indicate that while democratic efforts continue to be channelled effectively through social media, many platform’s popularity and affordances are also exploited in ways that destabilise or erode democracy’s functioning. This webinar discusses the complicated relationship between social media and democracy, at different levels of the political process, in various Southeast Asian settings.
Joining the webinar discussion will be Professor Merlyna Lim, Dr Janjira Sombatpoonsiri, and Dr Clarissa Lee Ai Ling.
For more information and registration: https://www.iseas.edu.sg/mec-events/social-media-and-democracy-a-complicated-relationship/
Webinar
THE WILSON CENTER - Monday, 21st September @ 11am Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-5)
Trump or Biden: What Would it Mean for Latin America and the Caribbean?
Countries across the Americas face one of the most difficult social and economic scenarios in decades as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic contraction. The generally grim regional picture that existed at the beginning of 2020 has turned decidedly negative, with significant implications for U.S. domestic and foreign policy interests. Whether President Trump wins a second term or former Vice President Joe Biden is elected, the United States will face urgent challenges in the region, where the public health and economic crises are compounding preexisting pressure on democratic institutions, exacerbating inequalities, and deepening the Venezuela crisis and its impact on neighboring countries.
Register here: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/trump-or-biden-what-would-it-mean-latin-america-and-caribbean
Zoom Webinar
EAST-WEST CENTER - Tuesday, 22nd September @ 6pm Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-5)
Building Strategic Leverage in the Indian Ocean Region
The East-West Center in Washington invites you to participate in a Zoom Webinar event. This presentation offers a conceptual framework and policy recommendations for managing the growing risks associated with Chinese military expansion in the Indian Ocean region. While the United States and its partners have agreed to pursue a "free and open Indo-Pacific," they have not developed a sound theory of victory of how to achieve that end-state. This presentation offers a concept built around a strategy of denial, by which the US, India, and their like-minded partners can impede potential Chinese coercion and mitigate its wartime advantages.
This discussion will feature Dr. Arzan Tarapore, Ms. Nilanthi Samaranayake and Dr. Satu P. Limaye.
For more information and registration: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/building-strategic-leverage-in-the-indian-ocean-region
Webinar event
CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES - Tuesday, 22nd September @ 9am Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-5)
CSIS has several interesting events coming up this week including -
The China Economic Risk Matrix: Pinpointing the Dangers in China’s Financial System
Despite rising inefficiency, China’s financial system has served as the shock absorber that has helped China’s economy recover from the virus outbreak and maintain growth. But the same elements that have driven China’s recovery have also pushed China’s financial system deep into a gauntlet of systemic financial risks. The China Economic Risk Matrix is the combination of indicators of financial vulnerability that threaten to overwhelm Beijing’s policy tools to manage them, along with a novel, China-specific financial stress indicator. Building on the earlier CSIS volume, Credit and Credibility, this report explores the specific conditions and markets in which changes in government credibility can have a significant impact on systemic stability in China.
Following a presentation of the report’s key findings, Ann Rutledge of CreditSpectrum, Kenneth Kang of the IMF, and Michael Taylor of Moody’s Investors Service will provide commentary, moderated by Trustee Chair Scott Kennedy. The event will conclude with live Q&A with the audience.
For more information and registration: https://www.csis.org/events/online-event-china-economic-risk-matrix-pinpointing-dangers-chinas-financial-system
Webinar
AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - Wednesday, 23rd September @ 6pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10)
Does Australia have a policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
The Australian Government justified its recognition of Israeli sovereignty over West Jerusalem in late 2018 and its support for President Trump's "Vision for Peace" in early 2020 as steps towards a two-state solution. Given that there is no prospect whatsoever of two states, where does that leave Australian policy? Does it matter? Peter Rodgers is former Australian ambassador to Israel and author of two books on the Middle East. He is also a former award-winning journalist and author of prize-winning fiction.
For more information and registration: https://aiiaact.tidyhq.com/public/schedule/events/30809-does-australia-have-a-policy-towards-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict
Know someone who’d be interested in these events? Share this email with your people.
Webinar
THE NETHERLANDS ATLANTIC ASSOCIATION - Tuesday, 22nd September @ 4pm Central European Summer Time (UTC+1)
November 3rd and American Foreign Policy
This program focuses on American foreign policy in the face of the upcoming presidential election in November. COVID-19 rages through American cities and leaves a serious mark on the American economy. Predictions about economic recovery are bleak. Demonstrations and riots have led to an attitude of mistrust towards the authorities. Internationally, the U.S. is involved in a trade war with an increasingly assertive China, while its influence over the European Union decreases. How will the outcome of the election change the face of American foreign policy? Will Trump or Biden, when elected, be able to cope with the economic challenges?
Ivo Daalder is the President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He was the U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013. He was also connected to the Brookings Institution as a senior fellow. The program will be moderated by political expert Robert van de Roer.
For more information and registration: https://www.atlcom.nl/english/
Webinar
STOCKHOLM ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE - Wednesday, 23rd September @ 9am Eastern European Summer Time (UTC+3)
Private Sector Adaptation Finance and Nature Based Solutions
In 2018, nearly 62 million people were affected by climate events. Climate events, such as storms, droughts, and sea level rise will continue to occur even as we strive from no more than 1.5C change in temperature. As climate events occur more often, funding to help people adapt to climate change will also need to increase. The Global Commission on Adaptation estimates the cost of adaptation to be $180 billion per year between 2020 and 2030. As part of this year’s Climate Week NYC, SEI welcomes you to an event organized jointly with The Nature Conservancy and UNEP. Experts will share their views on how to increase funding for nature-based solutions to build resilience in coastal areas. The aim is to provide concrete recommendations on a finance roadmap to support nature-based solutions to reduce disaster risks.
For more information and registration: https://www.sei.org/events/private-sector-adaptation-finance-and-nature-based-solutions/
Video Conference
FRENCH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Wednesday, 23rd September @ 4:30pm Central European Summer Time (UTC+1)
Anti-immigrant Politics and Nativism in Europe and in the US
Western immigration countries are suffused by anti-immigrant discourses based on nativist and populist claims. Recently, extreme-right wing parties have won general elections and participated in government coalitions in Austria and Italy, where more restrictive immigration laws were passed and implemented. In a few instances, field actors and NGOs have also become the targets of policies which criminalize their actions and prevent lawyers and advisors from accessing migrant centers. This webinar will discuss strategies European and US-based field actors have developed in order to cope with anti-immigrant policies: How can we assess the impact these politics and policies have had on their actions in the field of migrant and refugee assistance and integration? How have these actors responded to this situation and to what extent have they created alliances to meet the challenge?
For more information and registration: https://www.ifri.org/en/debates/anti-immigrant-politics-and-nativism-europe-and-us
Webcast
PACIFIC COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL POLICY - Thursday, 24th September @ 4:30pm Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-8)
Free and Fair? Challenges to U.S. Election Security
As U.S. states brace for the upcoming November election, the threat of a pandemic, voter suppression, and foreign interference looms large. These challenges are not unique to the United States, but the country already struggles amongst its peers in voter turnout and ease of voting. With less than 40 days to go until election day (as of the date of this event), what is the outlook for U.S. election security? How have cyber warfare tactics from actors like Russia, China, and Iran progressed and tested U.S. voting systems? What lessons can the U.S. follow from other developed countries to prepare its election security for the future?
Featuring Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Camille François, Chief Innovation Officer, Graphika.
For more information and registration: https://www.pacificcouncil.org/activities/free-and-fair-challenges-us-election-security
Webinar
ASIA SOCIETY - Friday, 25th September @ 9am Hong Kong Time (UTC+8)
ASIA SOCIETY has several interesting events coming up including -
U.S., China and Russia: Great Power Competition
We kicked off the dawn of a new decade with a sobering analysis on the geopolitical crossroads the world currently finds itself in through the eyes of eminent historian Niall Ferguson. As 2020 is soon coming to a close, Prof. Niall Ferguson’s prescient description of an imminent return to a Cold War narrative shaping American foreign policy towards China and Russia has largely proven to be accurate. What are the similarities and differences in U.S.-Russia relations during the height of the Cold War versus presently? Are China and the United States entangled in a Cold War currently? What are the lessons to avoid from the past and learnings to emulate for the future?
Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Michael McFaul, will disseminate further critical insights into U.S.-Russia and U.S.-China relations, in a dialogue with Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of Asia Society Hong Kong Center in what promises to be a lively and eye-opening discussion on the state of the world’s superpowers.
For more information and registration: https://asiasociety.org/hong-kong/events/us-china-and-russia-great-power-competition
Webinar
THE ENERGY AND RESOURCES INSTITUTE - Thursday 24th September @ 3pm India Standard Time (UTC+5.30)
Global and Indian Best Practices of Climate Action in Cities
TERI and the European Union International Urban Cooperation programme are delivering a capacity building programme on 'Mainstreaming Urban Climate Action' . The programme includes four short webinar modules focusing on building the capacity and knowledge of practitioners in urban local bodies (ULBs), state representatives, policy experts, researchers, scholars, and university students.
This Webinar Module III on 'Global and Indian Best Practices of Climate Action in Cities' is the third of the series and illustrates examples of global and Indian best practices of climate action in cities, with respect to both mitigation and adaptation strategies. It is an extension of Module II that provides an overview of the existing frameworks and strategies for mitigation and adaptation which can help cities address and deal with the impacts of climate change. The Webinar is accompanied by a resource module and an informative video which will be available to the participants.
For more information and registration: https://www.teriin.org/event/webinar-module-iii-global-and-indian-best-practices-climate-action-cities
Webinar
TAKSHASHILA INSTITUTION - Friday, 25th September @ 7pm India Standard Time (UTC+5.30)
The China Challenge: Is Belt and Road Asia’s Destiny?
Is Belt and Road Asia's Destiny?: Will China’s sprawling Belt and Road Initiative succeed in connecting Asia’s economies? What are its strategic implications? Why is India the only major country in Asia that has contested BRI? Can India develop other options for connectivity in Asia given its own economic constraints? The expert commentators will be Aparna Pande: Director, Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, Hudson Institute, Ambassador Vijay Gokhale: Former Foreign Secretary of India and John Lee: Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute.
For more information and registration: https://takshashila.org.in/event/the-china-challenge-is-belt-and-road-asias-destiny/
Webinar
CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN POLICY STUDIES - Friday, 25th September @ 1:30pm Central European Summer Time (UTC+1)
The euro: no legitimacy without solidarity?
Can a monetary union work without financial solidarity? Is financial solidarity only legitimate when there is empathy between the states sharing a single currency? And does public opinion allow for the solidarity the EU’s redistributive policies demand? This summer’s heated debate on the coronavirus recovery fund showed the public sentiments’ strong effect on the course and outcome of European negotiations. According to new research, however, there is space for governments to shape public opinion. In fact, national leadership is necessary in order to find the solidarity necessary for the EU’s survival.
For more information and registration: https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-events/the-euro-no-legitimacy-without-solidarity/
Know someone who’d be interested in these events? Share this email with your people.