In recent weeks, world attention has focused on Burma as thousands of Buddhist monks and average citizens staged the largest peaceful protests for democracy and justice in their country in a generation. The brutal crack down that followed has offended international sensibilities and led to questions about what the international community, including the United States, should do in response. What lies ahead for Burma? Who are the key players inside and outside the country that may affect change? What policy alternatives are there for the U.S. and others to pursue? And why should we care what happens in a relatively forgotten corner of Southeast Asia?

The discussion will be held from 6:30 – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 6th. To attend, please register by responding to ypfp.programming@gmail.com. Guests are welcome, but please register the name and affiliation of any guests you wish to bring.

Derek Mitchell

Derek Mitchell has served as a senior fellow for Asia in the CSIS International Security Program (ISP) since January 2001. He manages all of ISP's Asia-related studies, which include projects on security of the Taiwan Strait, the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance, China's foreign and security policy and U.S.-China relations, congressional attitudes toward South Korea, and the integration of India into the strategic mix of East Asia. Mitchell was special assistant for Asian and Pacific affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1997 to 2001, where he served as senior country director for China, Taiwan, Mongolia, and Hong Kong (2000-2001); director for regional security affairs (1998-2000); country director for Japan (1997-1998); and senior country director for the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore (1998-1999). He was principal author of the Department of Defense (DOD) 1998 East Asia Strategy Report, and received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Exceptional Public Service in 2001.

Prior to joining DOD, Mitchell served in many roles at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, including as a senior program officer for Asia and the former Soviet Union. He also developed the institute's long-term approach to Asia and worked on democratic development programs in Armenia, Burma, Cambodia, Georgia, Pakistan, and Thailand. He has worked as an editor and reporter at the China Post in Taiwan and on the foreign policy staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). Mitchell graduated from the University of Virginia (1986) and received his master's degree in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (1991). He speaks Mandarin Chinese proficiently and is coauthor of China: The Balance Sheet (PublicAffairs, 2006).

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With YPFP's Washington D.C. branch now over 1,000 members strong, space at our events is becoming increasingly limited. We ask that you please RSVP for our events by 5:00pm the day prior to the event. Additionally, we ask that if you are unable to attend the event, you notify us as soon as possible, preferably by 5:00pm the day before the event. To afford our members the best chance to attend, we are unfortunately unable to assure guests a place at our events. If you would like to invite a guest, please provide us with a name, affiliation, and e-mail. We will place the guest on a the wait list and, if space permits, we will contact them directly and invite them to attend.

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