September 11, 2019
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Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, is currently the President and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute of America. Ambassador Stephens will start our Foreign Policy Forum season with a discussion of the dynamic alliance between the United States and South Korea confronted with new and evolving challenges. Crucially, the alliance is now tasked with maintaining military preparedness against North Korea while simultaneously pursuing diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This, however, comes amid rising competition between the U.S. and China, South Korea’s largest trading partner and a key player in resolving the North Korea issue, as well as a more critical view from the White House on the role of allies. Though the path forward for the alliance is not yet clear, close coordination on a range of issues will be needed to advance the shared goals of both countries. How will the United States and South Korea continue to shape their alliance while facing these new challenges?
Ambassador Stephens retired from the Foreign Service in 2015 and assumed leadership of KEI as President and CEO in September of 2018. Ambassador Stephens was a career diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service from 1978 to 2015. She was U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2008-2011) and was the first woman and first Korean speaker to serve in that position. Korea has been significant throughout Ambassador Stephens’ life, as she served in Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer and trainer from 1975 to 1977. Other Foreign Service assignments included postings to Portugal, former Yugoslavia, China, Northern Ireland, and India. In addition, Ambassador Stephens served in a number of policy positions in Washington including acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2012), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2005-2007), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (2003-2005), and National Security Council Director for European Affairs at the Clinton White House.
Schedule:
5:30 PM Reception
6:00 PM Program begins
6:45 PM Q&A
7:15 PM Program concludes
Admission: Non-Members $25; Members $15; Students $5
Location: The Union Club, Wedgwood Room. 1211 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.
Registration:
Parking:
Parking at the Union Club is $12 (cash only) for valet service. Additional parking options include other lots in the downtown area and street parking, if parking restrictions are not in place. Car services, such as Uber and Lyft, are always an option. CCWA also encourages walking, biking, or public transportation, including the RTA.
ADMISSION
Documentary songwriting is a powerful vehicle for telling women's stories. It turns difficult experiences into beautiful music, and through collaboration it creates lasting bonds between participants. These real, truthful stories can help connect even more people.
ACTIONS
An Uneasy Ambiguity: A New Path for U.S. – China Relations
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Ivan Kanapathy is the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. From 2018 to 2021 he served on the White House’s National Security Council staff as director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia and deputy senior director for Asian affairs.
Why America’s Army Can’t Win America’s Wars: Ukraine, Afghanistan, and the Future of Conflict
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
John Nagl is Associate Professor of Warfighting Studies at the Army War College. A West Point graduate and retired Armor officer, he attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, earning his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in International Relations. His doctoral dissertation was published as “Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam.”
Nigeria: What is At Stake for Africa’s Largest Economy Facing Challenging 2023 Elections?
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Oge Onubogu is senior program officer for Africa Programs at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) where she leads programming in Nigeria. In this position, she provides leadership, strategic management, and oversees the design and implementation of projects to promote inclusion and community security by partnering with policymakers, civic leaders, and organizations in Nigeria.
Brazil’s Presidential Elections and Implications for U.S. – Brazil Bilateral Relations
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Liliana Ayalde is Senior Adviser in the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In her 38-year career as a Foreign Service Officer, she was dedicated to foreign affairs, development, defense and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. She served as the U.S. ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil from 2013-2016.
The Evolving World Order: How Geopolitics Shape American Security
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Richard Fontaine is the Chief Executive Office of the Center for a New American Security. Prior to CNAS, he was foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain and worked at the State Department, the National Security Council (NSC), and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Topic: U.S. – Saudi Arabia Relations
Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Dr. Courtney Freer is Visiting Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Emory University. Her academic work focuses on the domestic politics of the Arab Gulf states and Islamism.
What if…?: Scenarios for the Future of Ukraine
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Liana Fix is a Resident Fellow, German Marshall Fund; Professor, International Affairs, Koerber Foundation in Berlin. She is a historian and political scientist, and her work focuses on Russia and Eastern Europe and European security.
Topic: Global Food Security
Date in May to be determined
Speaker: To be announced in the new year
Foreign Policy Forum COVID-19 Guidelines
In light of the ongoing evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of our members, speakers, and staff remain a priority for the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. We ask that all Foreign Policy Forum attendees agree to maintain vigilance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by:
- Refraining from attending Foreign Policy Forum events if you:
– Have had recent contact with an infected person
– Are experiencing symptoms or feeling unwell - Maintaining a vaccination and booster schedule appropriate for your own risk level and health implications.
- Continuing to follow local health authorities’ guidelines in an evolving environment.
- Agreeing to comply with requests, such as masking, if necessary, made by CCWA staff to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Questions? Contact Amy Moniot, Manager of Programming at amoniot@ccwa.org or 216.255.9006.
VENUE INFORMATION
Who Am I As a Leader?
Cleveland and the Global Economy
Social & Political Change Around the Globe
Diplomatic Toolkit in Action
Who Am I As a Leader?
Cleveland and the Global Economy
Social & Political Change Around the Globe
Diplomatic Toolkit in Action
ADDITIONAL EVENT MATERIALS
A documentary song comes from a person's actual, lived experience. DocSongs document the emotions of that experience through music and share it with the world.
A documentary song comes from a person's actual, lived experience. DocSongs document the emotions of that experience through music and share it with the world.
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