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2009 Eliot S. Berkley Lecture
"One Nation Under Contract"
December 4
Noon
Kansas City Marriott Downtown
200 W. 12th St., KCMO 64105
3 hours free self-parking available in garage
Join the International Relations Council for the 2009 Berkley Lecture, delivered by Allison Stanger, Russell Leng Professor of International Politics and Economics and Director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College.
Stanger's new book, One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy, was released in October. In this timely new book, Stanger provides a definitive and disturbing look at one of the most important trends in politics: the privatization of American foreign policy and its consequences. Stanger shows how private contractors became an integral part of American foreign policy, often in scandalous ways.
New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman interviewed Dr. Stanger and discussed her book in his November 4 column: "The Best Allies Money Can Buy." In addition, Fareed Zakaria recommended Stanger's book on his foreign affairs news show Fareed Zakaria GPS, saying that it is "a fascinating book about military contractors, and just how big a role that play in U.S. defense policy...Stanger argues that these are modern day
mercenaries essentially operating for their own benefit, rather than always the U.S. government's, in the midst of very deadly conflicts and complicated situations. A really interesting book about American government and foreign policy. I know you'll enjoy it."
The Eliot S. Berkley Award for International Achievement winner will also be announced at this event.
$40 members/$45 non-members/$400 table of ten
Register now!
The Khaarijee: A Chronicle of Friendship and War in Kabul
with Malcolm Garcia
January 25
7:00 p.m.
Location TBA
J. Malcolm Garcia, who has worked as a reporter for The Kansas City Star, has recently released his newest book The Khaarijee: A Chronicle of Friendship and War in Kabul, a memoir about six orphans, a dog, a Muslim man, and an inexperienced American journalist--thrust together in post-9/11 Afghanistan. Join the IRC as Garcia, a former social worker new to both journalism and war, dicusses his time in Afghanistan, where he found both a professional and emotional center.
In addition to working for The Kansas City Star, Garcia is a regular contributor to The Virginia Quarterly Review. His travel essays have appeared in Best American Travel Writing, and Best American Non-Required Reading.
More details to be announced as the date approaches.
Financing Terrorism
February 15
7:00 p.m.
UMKC Law School
5100 Rockhill Rd., KCMO
Jean-Louis Bruguière, international judge and High Representative of the European Union to the United States, will speak on the issue of terrorism financing. Bruguière is an expert at the Council of Europe, the Commission of the European Union and the United Nations (UNODOC). This program is sponsored in conjunction with Alliance Francaise.
$10 members/$15 non members
Register now!
Governance & Emerging Markets in Fragile States
Co-sponsored by WACA and Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
In partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the UMKC Bloch School
March 3
7:00 p.m.
Kauffman Foundation
4801 Rockhill Rd., KCMO
For several years, American foreign and defense policy has focused on a nexus of critical, interconnected issues: good governance, anti-corruption, rule of law, and strengthening civil society. Dr. John D. Sullivan, Executive Director of CIPE, will discuss how these issues are related, how they are being addressed (or not), what works, and what doesn't. Focusing on the context of fragile states, Dr. Sullivan will address the role of private enterprise in promoting a strong, well-functioning society and the challenges that fragile states in particular confront in developing and leveraging the market toward that end.
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) works to strengthen democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For 25 years, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and journalists to build the civic institutions vital to a democratic society.
This program is free, thanks to a grant from the Kauffman Foundation, but RSVP requested.
WorldQuest 2010
Team Trivia Challenge: The Ultimate Global Brainteaser
April 13
6:00 p.m. Check-in and buffet dinner
7:00 p.m. WorldQuest game, prizes, and more surprises!
UMKC Pierson Auditorium
5000 Holmes St., KCMO 64110
Free parking in the University Center Parking Lot (Entrance on Rockhill Road)
Eat, drink and tease your brain in the company of friends and colleagues! WorldQuest is a fun-based Q&A about global events, people, places, cultures, the past, and the future! So build a team, bring a friend, or come solo - ad hoc teams of eight will be formed.
Cost (includes dinner & drinks): $40 per person or $320 for a table of 8
Registration coming soon: watch our website for details!
Giving Diplomacy a Chance:
The Iranian and North Korean Nuclear Problems
April 28
Rockhurst University
As the world becomes increasingly nervous about the nuclear capabilities of Iran and North Korea, join the IRC as Christopher Preble, Director of Foreign Policy Studies at the CATO Institute, discusses diplomatic strategies for dealing with these two volatile countries.
Preble has written several books, including The Power Problem: How American Military Dominance Makes Us Less Safe, Less Prosperous and Less Free, Exiting Iraq: How the U.S. Must End the Occupaion and Renew the War Against Al Qaeda, and John F. Kennedy and the MIssile Gap. In addition to his books, Preble has published over 100 articles in major publications including USA Today, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Reason, the National Interest, the Foreign Service Journal, and the Harvard International Review. He has also appeared on many television and radio news networks including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, NPR, and the BBC.
More details to become available as the date approaches.
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