Selected Past YPFP New York Events:

• Paul Kennedy, director of International Security Studies at Yale University and author of "The Rise and Fall of Great Powers," discussed his perspectives on American hegemony, foreign policy, and grand strategy.
• Ambassador Richard N. Gardner shared insights from his long career as a diplomat and the intersections of international business and diplomacy.
• Former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs Stephen A. Oxman discussed the evolution of the policymaking process in Washington based on his first-hand experiences.
• Joel Rosenthal, president of the Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs, discussed the importance of ethics in policymaking decisions.
• Matt Flannery, co-founder and chief executive officer of Kiva, shared his experiences with pioneering the successful person-to-person micro-lending website.

To receive invitations to events like these and other special opportunities, apply for membership at: www.ypfp.org/apply

Discussion Groups:  

In February 2008, YPFP New York established three Discussion Groups to provide members with the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss current events, share resources, and explore issues of mutual interest. The Discussion Groups meet roughly once per month and are led by a discussion group chair.

Topics for each discussion are guided by members’ input and feedback, but generally fall within the purviews outlined below. These groups are an exciting opportunity to further engage with fellow members and develop deeper understandings of the major challenges facing current and future leaders.

In order to keep these discussions intimate, membership to each group is limited. Members are expected actively to participate by attending discussion group meetings and contributing to the conversation. Enrollment in the discussion groups is conducted on a rolling basis. If you are interested in any of the Discussion Groups listed below, contact the discussion group leader directly. If you are interested in starting a new Discussion Group, please email New.York@ypfp.org

International Financial Markets and Politics
The interconnection between financial market performance and political forces has only become more complex with each passing year.  As countries conclude trade agreements, pursue reciprocal economic liberalization, and invest in each other, they become bound to one another in ways that are beneficial and, at times, unexpected.  The growth of international finance, aided by the growth of multinational corporations, has been seen by many as a positive development, while others have viewed the effects as something less than desirable.  Financial market participants and political figures often depend on each other – and spar with each other – as policy is formed on a domestic and international level.  Exploring the dynamic between the two is a key part of understanding the constraints on and abilities of both.

Contact: Matthew Gold, matthew.gold@ypfp.org or finance.ny@ypfp.org

Geopolitical Dynamics of Natural Resources
The interaction between the natural resource “haves” and “have-nots” is fast becoming a dominant theme in these first years of the 21st century.  The  shifts in power and wealth as a result of the allocation of scarce commodities will change the international political landscape for decades to come.  How does the global system allocate scant resources?  What happens when some of life’s necessities – potable water, breathable air – become commoditized?  Who are the winners and losers in a dynamic that will be defined by the power of wealth, scientific and technological progress and concerted (or disjointed) international action?

Contact: Jeffrey Thompson, Jeffrey.thompson@ypfp.org or natural.resources.ny@ypfp.org

Russia and Central Asia 
Thanks to rising oil prices and an increasingly consolidated political order, Russia has once again become a major factor in international politics.  Not only is today's Russia critical to stability and security across Eurasia and a major supplier of energy, it is increasingly a power with global interests.  In particular, Russia's growing involvement in Central Asia has sparked fears of a new "Great Game" with the Western democracies, not to mention China.  How will the world's mounting demand for energy shape political developments in this volatile region? How will the simultaneous political transitions in Russia and the US shape those countries' strategy in Central Asia?  Can the recent rapprochement between Russia and China in the region endure?

Contact: Jeffrey Mankoff, jeffrey.mankoff@ypfp.org or Russia.ny@ypfp.org