Brookings: Upcoming Events

A Global Overview of the Growing Internal Displacement Crisis

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 24, 2013
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

Saul/Zilkha Rooms
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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2012 saw the highest rates of internal displacement on record, with 28.8 million people around the world displaced within their own countries by armed conflict, human rights violations and violence. This is an increase of 2.4 million people over the number displaced in 2011. This rise was partially due to high-profile conflicts in countries such as Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo which had severe humanitarian consequences. People newly displaced in 2012 joined the millions who have been waiting for durable solutions to their situation for years, sometimes decades.

On May 24, the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) will present the findings of IDMC’s Global Overview 2012, which surveys the internal displacement situation in different countries around the world and analyzes the main causes that lead to the continued displacement of millions of men, women and children. Panelists will discuss directions for more effective responses to this growing, but unmet crisis and explore the role of governments, civil society and the international community at large in ensuring protection, assistance and ultimately solutions for those caught in displacement. Panelists include: Joel Charny, vice president for humanitarian policy and practice for InterAction; Nancy Lindborg, assistant administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at USAID; Elizabeth Hopkins, deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. Department of State; and Frank Smith, head of department, Middle East, Europe, Caucasus, and Asia, IDMC. Senior Fellow Elizabeth Ferris, co-director of the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement, will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion.

After the program, panelists will take questions from the audience.

Act of Congress: How America's Essential Institution Works, and How It Doesn't

Tue, 28 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 28, 2013
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT

Falk Auditorium
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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In his new book, Act of Congress: How America's Essential Institution Works, and How It Doesn't (Knopf, 2013), author Robert G. Kaiser chronicles the dramatic story of Congress’ struggle to pass financial reform overhaul in the wake of the financial collapse in 2008. As a reporter with the Washington Post, Kaiser was a first-hand observer of the legislative process that resulted in The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, one of the most significant pieces of legislation regulating Wall Street in recent memory. In this book, Kaiser pulls back the curtain and shows us the inner machinery—the politics and players, the successes and the failures—of the U.S. Congress.

On May 28, as part of the Management and Leadership Initiative, Governance Studies at Brookings will host a book event for Act of Congress, which discusses lessons from the process of passing Dodd-Frank and the impact of partisanship, lobbyists, and staffers on the legislative and policymaking process. Moderated by Senior Fellow E.J. Dionne, author Robert G. Kaiser will present his findings, followed by the reflections of Senator Chris Dodd, one of the two legislators who worked to move these reforms through Congress, and for whom the act is named, and Brookings scholar Tom Mann.

After the program, the panel will take audience questions. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by the author.

The State of the Marine Corps: A Conversation with Commandant James Amos

Wed, 29 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 29, 2013
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

Falk Auditorium
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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As more U.S. Marines come home from Afghanistan, attention is turning to the impact of general budget cuts and those related to sequestration, as well as future strategy in a world full of security threats. For the Marine Corps, this raises issues of force structure, near-term combat readiness, weapons modernization plans, overseas basing and a range of other topics.

On May 29, the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at Brookings will host General James F. Amos, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Amos has been the commandant of the Marine Corps since 2010 after serving as assistant commandant since 2008. Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow at Brookings and author of the new book Healing the Wounded Giant: Maintaining Military Preeminence While Cutting the Defense Budget (Brookings Press, 2013), will moderate a question and answer session following the commandant’s remarks.

The Obama Preschool Initiative: A Conversation with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (live webcast available)

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 29, 2013
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

Falk Auditorium
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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In his February 12 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama proposed “working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every child in America.” Two days later at a preschool in Decatur, Georgia, he called for “a national priority to give every child access to a high-quality early education.” The president’s budget for 2014, released on April 10, provides $75 billion over ten years for the administration’s preschool initiative and another $17 billion for other early childhood programs. Research shows that poor children who attend high-quality preschool are better prepared for school entry and may show other longer-term benefits as well.

On May 29, the Center on Children and Families at Brookings and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management will host Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to explore the administration’s plan to help states expand and improve their preschool programs. Secretary Duncan will begin by outlining the administration’s plan and explain how the administration will work with the states to successfully implement the initiative. Former Congresswoman and former Chairman of the House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) will then discuss some of the challenges states already face in making full use of federal preschool dollars and discuss how the new money could help states mount more effective preschool programs. Rep. Johnson will also outline potential areas of compromise between the administration and the states. Following their presentations, a panel of experts and officials will analyze the administration’s preschool plan.

All speakers will take questions from the audience. This event will be live webcast. Join the conversation on Twitter at #PreKPlan.

The Politics of Marijuana Legalization (live webcast available)

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 29, 2013
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT

Saul/Zilkha Rooms
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Is there an emerging consensus or a new divide?

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Last November, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize marijuana, and they may not be the last: legalization now has the support of about half the country, up from 25 percent two decades ago. But legalization remains controversial among the public and contrary to federal law and policy. Is a new national consensus emerging, or a new stage of the culture war? Either way, what are the implications?

On May 29, Governance Studies at Brookings and the Washington Office on Latin America will host a public forum to discuss changing attitudes towards marijuana legalization. Brookings Senior Fellows William Galston and E.J. Dionne will present findings of a detailed study of evidence from opinion surveys, some of it newly available. Two experts on politics and public opinion will comment. After the program, speakers will take audience questions.

This event will be live webcast. Follow the conversation at #MJLegalization.

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China’s Foreign Reserves and Overseas Investment

Thu, 30 May 2013 03:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 30, 2013
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM CST

School of Public Policy and Management Auditorium
Brookings-Tsinghua Center

Beijing, China

An outstanding feature of the current world economy is the internal imbalance of the economic structure in the developed entities, which has persisted and expanded due to the global trade imbalance. After the global financial crisis, China’s foreign exchange reserves accounted for 1/3 of world’s total, and 1/2 of China’s GDP. Huge risks exist when such an amount of foreign reserves are exposed to the turbulent international financial market.

On May 30, the Brookings-Tsinghua Center for Public Policy will host a public event featuring Dr. Yu Qiao, nonresident senior fellow of the Brookings-Tsinghua Center, to address the aforementioned issues of China’s foreign currency reserves and its overseas investment. Dr. Yu’s monograph "A Study on the External Environment of Chinese Investments in the United States" and his newly-released book China’s Foreign Reserves and Overseas Investment will also be presented at the event.

After the program, speakers will take audience questions. Working language of this event will be Chinese.

Rethinking Responsibility in Innovation

Thu, 30 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 30, 2013
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

Saul/Zilkha Rooms
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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While emerging technologies—like nanotechnology, synthetic biology and advanced manufacturing—bear the promise of great benefits to society, they also pose significant risks. New sciences and technologies substantially affect society and yet it is nearly impossible to anticipate every major consequence of their advancement, development and commercialization. Who is responsible for those consequences? How is responsibility distributed among the various actors who influence and regulate innovation such as private enterprises, the government, inventors and the general public?

On May 30, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings will host a public forum to discuss the role of social responsibility in each stage of the innovation process. A panel of experts will discuss the kinds of institutions and incentives that govern innovation and how they shape the behavior of researchers, high-tech firms, capital investment firms, and regulatory agencies.

After the program, panelists will take audience questions.

CANCELLED -- The Evolution of Homeownership and the Future of the American Dream

Thu, 30 May 2013 10:30:00 -0400

Event Information

May 30, 2013
10:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Falk Auditorium
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

With the housing market at the center of the recent financial crisis, attitudes toward homeownership are in flux, amongst both policymakers and the general public. A new survey from the MacArthur Foundation found that many of the positive aspects ascribed to homeownership are fading, with nearly half of all homeowners envisioning themselves becoming a renter some day. Yet, a recent Gallup poll showed that owning a home is still a part of the American Dream for young people, with 68 percent of non-homeowning 18 to 29 year-olds surveyed saying they plan to buy a home with 10 years. The policy community is grappling with seemingly similar tensions. On the one hand, there is widespread support for regulations that ensure mortgage lending by banks that avoid future housing and financial crises. On the other hand, President Obama and others have expressed concern that the housing rebound is leaving too many people behind because of the difficulty that some families are having obtaining mortgage credit.

On May 30, the Economic Studies Program at Brookings will host a discussion on historical trends, the landscape of U.S. housing policies and how they differ from other countries, and how public attitudes toward renting versus buying have changed since the financial crisis. Panelists will take audience questions.

Reviving U.S. Foreign Policy: The Case for Putting America’s House in Order

Thu, 30 May 2013 15:30:00 -0400

Event Information

May 30, 2013
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM EDT

Falk Auditorium
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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A rising China, climate change, terrorism, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a tumultuous Middle East, and a defiant North Korea all present serious challenges for U.S. foreign policy, but could internal factors actually pose the biggest threat to the United States, its security, and its position as a global leader? In his new book, Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America's House in Order (Basic Books, 2013), Richard Haass argues that U.S. national security depends on the United States addressing significant internal issues: repairing its crumbling infrastructure, improving education, reforming its immigration policies and reducing its burgeoning debt. Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, contends that these shortcomings directly threaten America's ability to project power and exert influence overseas; to compete in the global marketplace; to generate the resources needed to promote the full range of U.S. interests abroad; and to set a compelling example that can influence the thinking and behavior of other nations.

On May 30, Foreign Policy at Brookings will host Haass for a discussion on the challenging issues facing the United States at home and their impact on the successful pursuit of U.S. foreign and security policies abroad. Brookings Senior Fellow Robert Kagan will join the discussion. Vice President Martin Indyk, director of Foreign Policy, will provide introductory remarks and moderate the conversation.

After the program, the speakers will take audience questions.

Tunisia's Democratic Future: An Address by Rached Ghannouchi

Fri, 31 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Event Information

May 31, 2013
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

Falk Auditorium
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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In Tunisia, where the Arab awakening began, the move toward a more open society is experiencing growing pains. Economic pressures exacerbated by the revolution and the war next door in Libya, extremist violence, and the country's deep divisions over drafting its new constitution all present pressing challenges to Tunisia’s democratic transition. Will the country that kicked off the Arab revolutions continue to inspire the region's drive toward democracy? What can Tunisian approaches to resolving political conflicts and reconciling Islamism and democracy teach us about the prospects for successful transitions elsewhere in the Arab world?

On May 31, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings will host Rached Ghannouchi, co-founder and president of Tunisia's Nahda Party, for a special address on the future of Tunisian democracy. Vice President Martin Indyk, director of Foreign Policy, will provide introductory remarks. Following Ghannouchi’s remarks, Saban Center Director and Senior Fellow Tamara Cofman Wittes will moderate the discussion and include audience questions.

Join the conversation on Twitter using #FPTunisia.

Educational Success in Pakistan: Implications for Stability and Security

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Event Information

June 6, 2013
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

Saul/Zilkha Rooms
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Despite the steady stream of bad news from Pakistan, there have been a number of success stories. One example is the tremendous progress made in education reform in Punjab province. During the past two years, education reforms in Punjab province have resulted in more than a million and a half more children enrolled in school, increased school attendance to 90 percent, and 81,000 new teachers hired on merit. With 40 out of 70 million young people ages 5 to 19 not in school, reforms in Pakistan’s most populous province provide important lessons for the rest of the country.

On June 6, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings will host a discussion on what can be learned from the Punjab experience. Following a presentation by Chief Education Strategist at Pearson Sir Michael Barber, Brookings Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel, director of the Intelligence Project at Brookings, and Senior Advisor of the Aga Khan Development Network Iqbal Noor Ali will discuss the implications for education reform, public-private partnerships, and security in Pakistan. Senior Fellow Rebecca Winthrop, director of the Center for Universal Education, will moderate the discussion.

After the program, panelists will take audience questions.