North America

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Though the entire world confronts the threat of climate change, developing countries are poised to bear the brunt of its ill effects. Clustered in tropical areas, they risk experiencing increased natural disasters and facing dramatic declines in agricultural productivity. Moreover, developing countries are least able to afford the precautionary measures necessary to protect against global climate change. On the other hand, developing countries may also use the climate change threat as an opportunity to "leapfrog" the dirtier technologies of the industrialized world. A growing number of scholars and development practitioners are addressing these questions, and YPFP is delighted to welcome David Wheeler, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, to speak on this important issue. This discussion will take place from 6:30-8:00 pm on Thursday, December 13. To attend, please register by responding to events@ypfp.org.

Event Description:
PLEASE NOTE THE REVISED TIME.   THE EVENT START TIME HAS BEEN MOVED TO 6:30 PMThese days, it can be a struggle to tell whether relations with Iran are moving closer to or farther from war. In recent months, the U.S. has marked the elite Iranian Quds force as a terrorist group and pushed for stronger sanctions at the United Nations, while engaging in direct talks with Iranian officials in Iraq and releasing Iranians held by the U.S. military. What do the final months of the Bush administration hold for the U.S. and Iran? Is the President willing to let the counter-proliferation problem fall to his successor, or does he intend to resolve it on his watch? To discuss these issues and more, please join Danielle Pletka, Vice President for Foreign Policy and Defense Studies. The discussion will be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 3. To attend, please register by responding to events@ypfp.org with your name and affiliation. Danielle Pletka Danielle Pletka is the vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at AEI. Her research areas include the Middle East, South Asia, terrorism, and weapons proliferation. While at AEI, Ms. Pletka has developed a conference series on rebuilding post-Saddam Iraq and a project on democracy in the Arab world. She recently served as a member of the congressionally-mandated Task Force on the United Nations, established by the United States Institute of Peace. Before coming to AEI, she served for ten years as a senior professional staff member for the Near East and South Asia on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. She received a B.A. from Smith College and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies.

Event Description:
This summer's annual Pentagon report on the Chinese military noted the increasingly rapid expansion in the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army.  What was once a military notable for its outdated equipment, shoddy training, and lack of professionalism is becoming a leaner, more sophisticated force.  Which capabilities are of particular concern to the United States? What conclusions, if any, can be drawn from these developments? Please join Colonel Tom Ehrhard (USAF, retired), Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, to discuss these and other issues related to Chinese military modernization.

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The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) signified a shift in U.S. international development policy. The MCA is based on statistical evidence showing that foreign aid promotes economic growth in good policy environments, including solid fiscal, monetary and trade policies.  Under the stewardship of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the MCA has now become a major pillar of U.S. foreign assistance.  While the MCA has been lauded by President Bush and many U.S. policymakers, it has also faced criticism—for example, for concentrating funding on middle-income countries and spending funds too slowly.

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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?

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The United States has historically been a global leader in refugee protection, whether through assistance overseas or accepting refugees for resettlement. In recent years, however, tightening security regimes have weakened the commitment of the United States and other industrialized countries to refugee rights. What is the current global situation for refugees and internally displaced people, and how can their plight be ameliorated in the current global political environment?
To discuss these issues and more, we are pleased to welcome Joel Charny, Vice President for Policy at Refugees International. To attend, please register by responding to events@ypfp.org with your name and affiliation.

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With military problems abroad and political stalemates at home, the United States is facing challenging times.  Some historians and pundits argue the United States is in decline, comparing it to the Roman Empire in its final years.  Can the United States preserve its status as the world's sole superpower?  If not, how will it have to adjust its global strategy?   And can U.S. engagements and activities abroad today affect the trajectory of U.S. power?  Please join YPFP New York to explore these and other issues with renowned scholar Paul Kennedy, J. Richardson Dilworth Professor of History and Director of the International Security Studies program at Yale University. The discussion will be held from 6:30-8:00 pm at 522 5th Avenue, 7th Floor Auditorium on Thursday, October 4th.  This event marks the inaugural event of the New York branch of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy. For more information, please contact Laura Keating at Laura.Keating@ypfp.org.

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1333 H Street, NW, 11th Floor

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As the situation in Iraq challenges American commitment and Iraqi-U.S. relations begin to strain, one of the most pressing issues is the prospect of political reconciliation among competing Iraqi factions. With mixed assessments of the 'surge' and questions about the quality of international reporting from inside Iraq, assessing this from outside of the country is difficult at best. To discuss the situation inside Iraq and present his views on political reconciliation, we invite you to join a discussion with Samir Sumaidaie, Iraqi Ambassador to the United States.
To attend, please RSVP at events@ypfp.org with your name and affiliation.

Event Description:
In his opening address to the 17th Party Congress this week, Chinese President Hu Jintao called for negotiations with Taiwan to peacefully resolve the 50-year stand-off across the straights. The Taiwanese government and both major political parties rejected the offer, reasserting that any discussion predicated on the "one China principle" is unacceptable. This offer came after a summer of heightened tensions, which stemmed from the Taiwanese government's decision to hold a referendum on applying for UN membership as "Taiwan." The current situation has placed the United States in a difficult position – should it accommodate the wishes of a quickly rising power in East Asia or support an old, but increasingly challenging, relationship? How should U.S. policy balance support for democratic governance with the difficulties of regional power politics?

Event Description:
The attacks of September 11 and the continuing U.S. interest in securing access to oil and other natural resources have led to a rapid expansion of U.S. military involvement in Africa. When U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) is established by the Department of Defense on October 1st, there will still be many unanswered questions. How can the United States balance the promotion of human rights and development with national security issues? How should the United States approach the region and how will AFRICOM affect this approach? What is the African response to the proposed command?
Addressing these issues will be Colin Thomas-Jensen, Policy Adviser for ENOUGH and expert on Africa issues.

Event Description:
Joel Charny Vice President for Policy, Refugees International
 The United States has historically been a global leader in refugee protection, whether through providing assistance overseas or accepting refugees for resettlement at home. In the context of the war on terror, however, tightening security regimes are weakening the commitments of the U.S. and other industrialized countries to refugee rights. What is the current global situation for refugees and internally displaced people, and how can their plight be ameliorated in the current global political environment?
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Event Description:
We are pleased to present a special joint session of YPFP Europe and YPFP Middle East to discuss recent political developments in Turkey, a country with profound implications for both regions.  The July 22nd elections in Turkey were by any standard a resounding success for the AK Party.  With a 341 seats in the Turkish Parliament, the AK Party now enjoys broader and deeper support amongst the Turkish electorate than at any time since coming to power in 2002.   Notwithstanding this support and the significant progress made by the AK Party in Turkey’s economic sphere, concerns continue to mount in Turkey and abroad over AK’s Islamic ties and overall agenda.  Please join Peter I. Belk, attorney and former diplomat at the U.S. Department of State, to discuss the implications of this transformative event for Turkish, regional and international politics.

Event Description:
For years, the United States and Israel have had an exceptionally close relationship. Substantial political, economic, and military support has provided the United States with a staunch, democratic ally in the Middle East, but it has also severely strained relations with the Arab world and produced substantial criticism at home and abroad. How should the United States judge the costs and benefits of this relationship? Does current US policy toward Israel best suit American interests? Just how much influence does America have over Israeli policies, and how should Washington use what leverage it has?

Event Description:
The US and the UN
Gillian Sorenson Senior Advisor, UN FoundationUN Assistant Secretary General, 1997-2003
Wednesday, August 17:00 – 8:30 pm
RSVP to events@ypfp.org
 
Gillian Sorensen is Senior Adviser at the United Nations Foundation. She has had a long career working with and for the UN. Since l993, she served as Special Adviser for Public Policy for Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, then as Assistant Secretary General, head of the Office of External Relations for Secretary General Kofi Annan. She was responsible for outreach to civil society including NGO’s and worked closely with diplomats, academics, parliamentarians, religious leaders and others committed to peace, justice, development and human rights. She is an experienced public speaker and often represented the World Organization in this country and abroad.