Realizing Democracy: Lessons from Poland

Speaker: Grzegorz Ekiert
Presider: Isobel Coleman

Isobel Coleman hosts Grzegorz Ekiert and George Soroka for a discussion about the political and economic transition of Poland as part of a Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Initiative series on Realizing Democracy: Lessons from Transitioning Countries.

Evaluating American Values in an Uncertain Time

Speaker: Andrew Kohut
Presider: Irina A. Faskianos

Andrew Kohut, founding director of the Pew Research Center, discusses the themes outlined in his forthcoming CFR Working Paper Resilient American Values: Optimism in an Era of Growing Inequality and Economic Difficulty, as part of CFR's State and Local Officials Conference Call series.

See more in United States, Polls

Lessons from Emerging Markets

Speakers: Joyce Chang, Richard H. Clarida, and Peter B. Henry
Presider: Tim W. Ferguson

Joyce Chang, Richard H. Clarida, and Peter B. Henry discuss how emerging markets have responded to the global recession of 2008–2009 and potential lessons for developed countries.

Effects of Investment Treaties in the Global South

Speaker: Lori Wallach
Presider: Terra Lawson-Remer

Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, discusses investment treaties, their implications for policies to promote financial stability and sustainable use of natural resources, and the flaws of the arbitration system used by investors and nations to settle conflicts, with a focus on the global south.

See more in Economics, Business and Foreign Policy, Emerging Markets, International Finance

The Future of U.S. Special Operations Forces

Presider: Stephen Biddle

Linda Robinson discusses her recently released Council Special Report, The Future of U.S. Special Operations Forces, which calls for conceptual, institutional, and operational changes to reorient U.S. special operations forces to ensure that they are employed to best effect.

See more in United States, Defense/Homeland Security, Cybersecurity, Defense Strategy, Defense Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence, National Security and Defense, Preparedness, Wars and Warfare

Film Screening: "Manhunt"

Speakers: Greg Barker, Nada Bakos, Peter Bergen, and Philip Mudd
Presider: Fareed Zakaria

A panel of experts discuss the new HBO documentary film, Manhunt, which details the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

See more in 9/11

The Future of U.S. Space Policy

Speakers: Scott Pace and Robert Walker
Presider: James Fallows

Scott Pace and Robert Walker discuss U.S. space program budget cuts, the indefinite cancellation of U.S.-government-sponsored human space exploration, and the rise of private sector activity in the area.

See more in United States, Space

A Conversation with Helen Clark

Speaker: Helen Clark
Presider: George Rupp

Helen Clark discusses the 2013 Human Development Report, The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World. The report identifies more than forty developing countries that have done better than expected in human development in recent decades, with their progress accelerating markedly over the past ten years.

See more in UN