Past Events

IWP conferences and seminars provide opportunities for government officials, scholars, business executives, and journalists to discuss important public policy issues with each other and with members of the Institute's research faculty.

Listed below are events IWP has held in the past.

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Post-Fidel Cuba: Threats and Opportunities Thursday, April 24, 2008 On April 24, 2008, IWP Adjunct Professor Roger Fontaine delivered a detailed examination of the complex psychology of Cuba's current leadership and the ways in which this psychology affects Cuba's political, military, and economic future.  Numerous IWP students, professors, staff, and guests were on hand to hear Prof. Fontaine's personal views on the future of Cuba, as well as gain perspective on the multiplicity of challenges that nation faces.Although Raul Castro appears more willing to embrace change than was his brother (for example, in permitting Cuban citizens to purchase cellphones for the first time), Prof. Fontaine provided evidence that meaningful and lasting change to Cuba's economy, military, and political structure are not likely as long as the current regime maintains power.  Prof. Fontaine noted the difficulty in gaining any useful intelligence on Cuba's plans and intentions, and suggested that the visit of a personal emissary of the US President -- not an ambassador -- might provide some insight for policymakers.Professor Fontaine invited Ambassador Alberto Piedra, himself an expert on Latin America with first-hand knowledge of the Castro family, to offer his own views on Cuba's future as a counterpoint.  Professor Fontaine's course, "Latin America: Politics, Economics, and Security," is being offered in the summer semester.  It's not too late to register for this course; for more information, please click here.  Or, to apply to study at IWP as a continuing education student, please click here.  {read more}

Republic of Srpska interior minister speaks at IWP Wednesday, December 5, 2007 His Excellency Stanislav Cadjo, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Srpska, was the featured speaker at a symposium on December 5, 2007 at The Institute of World Politics.  The Minister spoke on the future of the Republic of Srpska and answered questions from students, faculty members, and guests.  The symposium was led by Ambassador Thomas P. Melady, Senior Diplomat in Residence at IWP.   {read more}

Signing on November 27 for Prof. Pilon's new book, Why America is Such a Hard Sell Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Dr. Juliana Geran Pilon, adjunct research professor and Earhart Fellow at The Institute of World Politics, will sign copies of her latest book, Why America is Such a Hard Sell: Beyond Pride and Prejudice, at the Institute on Tuesday, November 27, 2007, from 5-6:30 PM.  {read more}

Official release of Public Diplomacy Reader at IWP Wednesday, November 7, 2007 The most ambitious book on public diplomacy to date will be released officially at a book signing on November 7, 2007.  The Public Diplomacy Reader is a 500-page compendium of quotes, documents, essays, and other materials on a key element of the international war of ideas.Edited by Dr. J. Michael Waller, Annenberg Professor of International Communication at The Institute of World Politics (IWP), The Public Diplomacy Reader is the first in the IWP course reader series.  {read more}

Tennent Bagley, CIA veteran and author, speaks in IWP class Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Dr. Tennent Bagley, retired CIA counterintelligence officer and author of Spy Wars: Moles, Mysteries, and Deadly Games (Yale University Press, 2007), spoke to a capacity crowd at The Institute of World Politics on October 30, 2007, delivering a fascinating account of his personal involvement with the highly controversial Yuri Nosenko defection case.   {read more}

IWP President speaks at Clemson Monday, March 27, 2006  {read more}

Albanian foreign minister visits Institute Tuesday, February 14, 2006 Albanian Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj visited the Institute of World Politics on February 14 to tell students, faculty and others about the unfolding conflicts in the Balkans. His speech and answers to questions were, in diplomatic terms, remarkably frank and insightful.  {read more}

President of Bosnia speaks at IWP Friday, February 3, 2006 The President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivo Miro Jovic, visited the Institute of World Politics on February 3 to discuss world events and his nation's internal situation with IWP students, faculty and alumni.  {read more}

House Int'l Affairs Chairman Hyde gives IWP commencement address Friday, October 1, 2004 Rep. Henry Hyde, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, gave the commencement address at the Institute of World Politics on October 1, 2004, and received an honorary degree.  {read more}

Poland's former president Lech Walesa visits IWP Wednesday, September 22, 2004 Lech Walesa, former president of Poland who led his country's resistance to Soviet control, visited the Institute of World Politics on September 22, 2002. He gave a personal look at the implosion of the Soviet empire and an optimistic view of his country's future as a staunch American ally within a united Europe.  {read more}

On Arab satellite TV, professor talks of Hezbollah political warfare Thursday, May 27, 2004 Annenberg Professor J. Michael Waller was a guest on Alhurra, the Arab satellite TV channel, May 27, to speak about political warfare operations of the Hezbollah terrorist group and of extremist Shi'ite forces in Iraq.  {read more}

Students, faculty visit Gettysburg battlefield Saturday, May 1, 2004 Professors Charles Smith and John Tierney accompanied students and staff to the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg.  {read more}

Former NASA and SPACECOM officials at military strategy class Tuesday, April 27, 2004 A former senior NASA official and a retired Air Force officer who ran military satellites for the U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) spoke at Professor Walter Jajko's military strategy class on April 27, 2004.  {read more}

Eritrean ambassador at IWP, stressing stronger US ties Thursday, April 1, 2004 Eritrean Ambassador Girma Asmerom visited IWP for a lunchtime talk on April 1, encouraging stronger bilateral ties, welcoming the United States to establish a miliitary base on its territory, and stressing that his nation seeks no foreign aid.  {read more}

Croatian foreign minister at Institute reception Thursday, March 25, 2004 The Institute of World Politics hosted a reception for Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul. The American Croatian Friendship Association co-hosted the event.  {read more}

Michael Novak lectures on 'Democratic Capitalism' Wednesday, March 24, 2004 Author and theologian Michael Novak delivered a lecture on Democratic Capitalism to Professor Joshua Muravchik's class on Ideas and Values in International Politics.  {read more}

'Christianity and Statecraft' subject of Weigel lecture Wednesday, March 17, 2004 Author George Weigel delivers a lecture on Christianity and Statecraft to Professor Joshua Muravchik's class on Ideas and Values, March 17, 2004.  {read more}

Kosovo bishop tells IWP of threats to religious freedom Thursday, February 5, 2004 The Christian bishop in Kosovo visited IWP on February 5, warning of new ethnic cleansing in the stricken province under the noses of NATO and United Nations peacekeepers.  {read more}

Pearl Harbor Day Dinner Wednesday, December 10, 2003 Our annual dinner marks the anniversary of Pearl Harbor and reminds us of the unseen or misunderstood threats to our nation's well-being. By invitation only.  {read more}