Summaries of past extracurricular lectures at IWP may be found below. For more information, please see upcoming events at IWP, join our invitation list, or listen to our videos or podcasts.

A panel of experts discusses corruption and the democratic process in Angola
On Monday, February 3rd, The Institute of World Politics held its first panel event in its new lecture series focusing on Africa. A panel of experts tackled questions from the audience surrounding corruption and the democratic process in Angola. About the panelists The panel was chaired by Professor Hashem Mekki who is an Arabic professor…
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Michael Maibach discusses “Why America’s Founders Created the Electoral College”
IWP Trustee and Alumnus, Mr. Michael C. Maibach, discussed the Founders’ reasoning behind creating the Electoral College in 1787 in a speech before IWP students and friends on February 25, 2020. “Why America’s Founders Created the Electoral College” On February 25th, Mr. Michael C. Maibach, IWP Trustee and Founder of the Center for the Electoral…
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Dr. Christofilis Maggidis discusses ancient Greek democracy and its implications today
On February 7th, Dr. Christofilis Maggidis of Dickinson College gave a lecture at The Institute of World Politics titled “Ancient and Modern Democracy: Ideology, Morphology, and Pathology.” Dr. Maggidis is an active field archaeologist with nearly 30 years of experience; he has served as Field Director of the Lower Town Excavation at Mycenae, Co-Director of…
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Diane Foley discusses personal experience with current U.S. hostage policies
On December 6th, 2019, Ms. Diane Foley, Founder and President of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, came to IWP to speak on issues regarding current U.S. hostage policies. Ms. Foley spoke from a personal place, having lost her son, freelance conflict journalist James “Jim” W. Foley, after he was taken hostage in Syria in…
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Dr. Jonathan Ward discusses China’s Vision of Victory
On January 22, 2020, Dr. Jonathan D.T. Ward, Founder of Atlas Organization, a consultancy firm focused on the rise of China and India, U.S.-China relations, and the new geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, spoke at The Institute of World Politics. Dr. Ward received his D.Phil. in China-India relations from Oxford University and has traveled extensively through…
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Ethan S. Burger discusses Russia’s use of private military companies to advance foreign policy goals
On December 19th, Mr. Ethan S. Burger discussed the domestic and international consequences of Russia’s use of private military companies to advance its foreign policy goals and the international consequences of outsourcing and privatizing these traditional state functions. Mr. Burger is a Washington-D.C. based international attorney and educator with a background in cybersecurity, transnational financial…
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Ambassador Romualdez discusses the vitality of the US- Philippines relationship at IWP
On January 16, 2020, Ambassador Jose Manual Romualdez, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States, came to speak at IWP. Ambassador Romualdez elaborated on the relationship between the Philippines and the United States and how this relationship is connected to the broader dynamics of the Indo Pacific. Ambassador Romualdez began the…
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Chris Costa discusses the lessons learned from 2017’s national security threats
On January 14, 2020, Chris Costa, former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council (NSC) and current Executive Director of the Spy Museum, came to speak at IWP. Mr. Costa discussed his experience on the NSC in 2017, the global threats that arose during this time, and…
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William McCahill Describes the Generations of Leadership in China
On November 12th, Mr. William McCahill came to IWP to discuss the characteristics and the history behind China’s leadership. Mr. McCahill had a 25-year career in the Foreign Service where he worked in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Beijing and held senior posts in Western Europe, Scandinavia, and Canada. After retiring from the Foreign Service in…
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Ali Wyne discusses the construct of great-power competition
Mr. Ali Wyne came to The Institute of World Politics on November 8, 2019, as a part of the Global Impact Discussion Series, which was founded by IWP alumna Patricia Schouker. Mr. Wyne is a Washington D.C. based policy analyst for the RAND Corporation’s Defense and Political Sciences Department. Mr. Wyne started by discussing the…
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