Global Insights

During the past few years, the China-U.S. trade war and the subsequent upheavals caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have revealed the fragility and interconnectedness of global supply chains. What does the future of supply chains look like? How will regionalization be different from globalization? And what will it take to be competitive in this shifting landscape? Join us in a conversation around cur...

The United States was once considered one of the world leaders in promoting human rights by funding and engaging in multilateral institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council. However, according to the Center for American Progress, the Trump administration’s attention toward human rights is at a record low both at home and abroad. Furthermore, Covid-19 and government responses worldwide also po...

The direction of the U.S.- China relationship will be critical to not only U.S. economic and security interests but to the future world order. However, it is unlikely that the differences between the two countries on matters like the South China Sea, Taiwan, trade, intellectual property, and how China treats its minority groups will be resolved with a change in leadership in Washington. What could...

In the final weeks of December 2010, Tunisia erupted into conflict over mounting social and economic discontent, soon giving rise to pro-democracy protests in other countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Looking back after ten years, it is clear that though the protesters may have called for the same reforms, the outcomes of the movement varied widely from country to country. Why did the A...

Under the Trump Administration, the State Department took a public hammering: funding cuts of up to a third were proposed, diversity in top positions has been practically nonexistent, more than a third of top-tier positions went vacant or were filled by acting officials, and seven percent of the Department’s staff left in one year. Yet, the issues the State Department faces have roots that predate...

After decades of tense relations between Israel and nearly all Middle Eastern countries, 2020 saw a dramatic reversal of the status quo, with four Arab countries establishing diplomatic ties with Israel. These agreements are a clear shift in policy among Israel, the United States, and the Arab world, but leave many wondering what’s to come in the future. Will these new diplomatic ties fundamentall...

Leaders often make decisions based not solely on self-interest, but also on their morals. What is an ethical foreign policy and do morals matter in decision making? What are the consequences of non-action? And is a nation’s global standing impacted by the use of morals in decision-making? Join us Distinguished Harvard Professor and former Dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Dr. Joseph...

The geopolitical contest between China and the U.S. will shape the world over the next few decades. It is a simultaneously inevitable and avoidable dynamic, the result of a rising China, poor communication between the two, and little natural empathy. What are the structural forces driving this contest? What mistakes did both sides make? And what are the potential solutions? These questions were an...

In the midst of economic collapse and ongoing demonstrations, Lebanese citizens were awaiting the verdict of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was to issue its ruling on the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on August 7th. However, days before this announcement, Beirut was devastated by an explosion that left thousands homeless, wounded, or dead. In response to accusations of...

Jack Devine oversaw some of the most famous CIA operations of the last few decades including the capture of Pablo Escobar and Charlie Wilson’s War in Afghanistan. He was a legend at CIA where he was both Acting Director and Associate Director of Operations. He is also a recipient of the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Join us on a conversation with a spymaster on the challenges facing the U....

The South China Sea is a key region for international trade, fisheries, and natural resources. Thirty-percent of all global maritime trade is conducted in this region resulting in over $3 trillion in trade. Competing territorial claims in this region have increased tensions between China, ASEAN nations, and the United States. Both China and the United States have recently increased their military...