WASHINGTON, D.C. — His Excellency Sidney Collie, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), accompanied by Economic Attache Ronique Brown attended the Center For Strategic International Studies (CSIS) Eleanor Roosevelt Dialogue on the current state of Hong Kong and Chinese Internal Politics on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, at CSIS, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.
Eleanor Roosevelt Dialogue began over 15 years ago as a small and informal group of ambassadors’ spouses who gathered to discuss important issues of the day, but it “has since expanded to other women and men in Washington, including those in the policy, business, military, media, and diplomatic communities,” CSIS notes on its website.
The website adds: “Each Dialogue features an off-the-record conversation led by prominent CSIS policy experts or senior government officials, lawmakers, journalists, and thought leaders, followed by lively discussion. The Dialogue began under the stewardship of Margarita Kergin, who was the wife of then-ambassador of Canada. The current chair of the Eleanor Roosevelt Dialogue is Danara Kazykhanov, wife of the ambassador of Kazakhstan. The series currently holds over 100 members.”
The following are the scheduled topics or the Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 Season:
THE NEWS MEDIA LANDSCAPE
In the first session of the season, Bob Schieffer and H. Andrew Schwartz will discuss the current state of modern media, including the issues of fake news, deepfakes, and polarization. The experts will not only provide a historical background and explanation of the current state of affairs, but look to the future and discuss what is being done and what more should be done to deal with the changes and challenges in the U.S. news media.
HONG KONG & INTERNAL CHINESE POLITICS
In this session, CSIS’s Jude Blanchette will discuss the political and diplomatic implications for Chinese leader Xi Jinping from the months’ long unrest in Hong Kong, which recently culminated in the proposed withdrawal of the controversial extradition bill. With Beijing’s handling of the protest movement closely watched in D.C. and in capitals around the world, Jude will also discuss potential options for the Trump administration.
BREXIT
Britain’s road out of the European Union has been full of unexpected twists since the 2016 referendum. CSIS’s Heather Conley will address the numerous complicating elements of this astounding political event, many of which are still unfolding. She will provide insights into what lead the United Kingdom to vote for Brexit, how tortured the process has become, and the implications of this ever-elusive exit not only for Britain but also for the European Union and the United States.
THE RISE OF GLOBAL NATIONALISM
The United States, Europe, Asia, and beyond are struggling to respond to the rise of global nationalism. Experts will dive into the various nationalist movements and regional hotspots, the dangers posed by this growing trend, and how the United Statesand the international community can address it.
SPACE SECURITY POLICY
In this session, CSIS’s Todd Harrison will provide a view into the landscape of space security policy and examine how the evolving military uses of space and the lack of norms of behavior affects escalation and deterrence.
NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL
Nuclear weapons remain a constant threat to the international community, especially given situations found in places like North Korea, Iran, and the Indian-Pakistani border. This discussion will focus on measures that could control the danger of nuclear weapons and create a receptive environment for disarmament.
CYBERSECURITY AS THE PERFECT WEAPON
The future of warfare likely will feature cyber and technological warfare rather than conventional weapons. By discussing the elements and risks of cyberattacks outlined in his book The Perfect Weapon, New York Times’ David Sanger will describe technological defense issues that will affect national security for the foreseeable future.
CLIMATE CHANGE
As devastating storms and wildfires become a frequent reality, the true effects of climate change are more apparent. CSIS experts will explore how such events may shift global politics, as well as potential actions that could mitigate further climate changes.
GLOBAL CHANGES(Finale Event)
An all-star panel of CSIS experts will address the group to wrap up the season’s various discussions on global changes. The dynamic insights and in-depth conversations that took place over the year will culminate in a discussion about the successes of the year and touch on what challenges lay ahead.
