Transcripts

CFR maintains an archive of unedited transcripts from its on-the-record meetings. Separate archives of audio and video recordings are also available.

Islam and Politics

Speakers: Isobel Coleman, Ed Husain, and Michael Willis
Presider: Deborah S. Amos

Isobel Coleman, Ed Husain, and Michael Willis discuss the relationship between Islam and politics following the Arab uprisings, including how Islam affects women's and minority rights, democracy, and secularism.

This session was part of a CFR symposium, Implications of the Arab Uprisings, which was made possible by the generous support of Rita E. Hauser, and organized in cooperation with University of Oxford's St. Antony's College.

See more in North Africa, Middle East, Nation Building, Political Movements, Religion and Politics

Media Conference Call: U.S. Policy in Afghanistan

Speakers: Stephen D. Biddle and Max Boot
Presider: Jonathan Tepperman

Following the attack on Afghan civilians by a U.S. Army sergeant and the recent burning of Qurans by NATO soldiers, the United States' relationship with Afghanistan has come under sharp focus. Listen to CFR senior fellows Stephen Biddle and Max Boot discuss these events, the planned drawdown of U.S. troops by 2014, and the future of U.S. policy toward Afghanistan.

See more in Afghanistan, Defense Strategy

Darryl G. Behrman Lecture on Africa Policy: A Trip Report: Sudan

Speakers: George Clooney, John Prendergast, Andudu Adam Elnail, and Omer Ismail
Presider: Ann Curry

Following their return from South Sudan with the Enough Project, George Clooney and John Prendergast assess the in-country situation in the year since southern Sudan's independence referendum, with Andudu Adam Elnail, Anglican bishop of Kadugli, Sudan, and Omer Ismail, Darfur activist and senior adviser at the Enough Project.

See more in Sudan, Democracy and Human Rights

Speaker: Robert D. Hormats
Presider: Thierry de Montbrial

Robert Hormats, Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment at the US Department of State, in a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations points out his two important priorities--economic challenges of the Middle East and North Africa and the effort to bring China into the global system.

See more in United States, Economics, Global Governance

Media Conference Call: Russia's Presidential Vote

Speakers: Charles A. Kupchan and Stephen Sestanovich
Presider: Anya Schmemann

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won Russia's presidential election on March 5, 2012 with almost 64 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results. Charging violations at the polls, protestors rallied in downtown Moscow. Listen to CFR senior fellows Charles Kupchan and Stephen Sestanovich discuss the outcome of the elections, Russia's future, and U.S.-Russia relations.

See more in Russian Fed., Elections

Russia Update

Speakers: Masha Gessen and Stephen Sestanovich
Presider: Andrew J. Guff

Masha Gessen, journalist and author of The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin, and Stephen Sestanovich, CFR's George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies, discuss Russia's March 4 election and ongoing public discontent.

See more in Russian Fed.

Russia: Politics, Protests and the Presidential Election

Speakers: Leon Aron, Stephen Sestanovich, and Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr.
Presider: Fred Hiatt

Ahead of the Russian presidential elections on March 4, Leon Aron, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., and Stephen Sestanovich assess recent demonstrations of public discontent in the Russian streets and discuss the future of the country, its leaders, and U.S.-Russia relations.

See more in Russian Fed., Elections

The U.S. Aging Population as an Economic Growth Driver for Global Competitiveness

Speakers: Joseph F. Coughlin and Kelly Michel
Presider: Michael W. Hodin

Joseph Coughlin and Kelly Michel discuss how a healthy and active aging population can contribute to economic growth, and the public policy reform, new business strategies, and profound shifts in views on aging necessary to take advantage of this opportunity.

See more in United States, Economics, Health, Population and Demography

Toward Sustainable Universal Health Coverage

Speakers: Michael S. Chen and Margaret E. Kurk
Presider: Yanzhong Huang

Michael S. Chen, Margaret E. Kurk, and Yanzhong Huang engage in a discussion to see if there is a health care model that is socially desirable, politically acceptable, technologically feasible, and financially sustainable at a time when health care programs struggle with the rising costs, slacking economic growth, globalization of disease, aging populations, and the rise of noncommunicable diseases.

See more in Global Health

Africa as a Frontier Market

Speaker: Obiageli Ezekwesili
Presider: Jendayi Frazer

Obiageli Ezekwesili discusses the rise of Africa as a frontier market, the prospects for growth in coming years, the emergence of new players in African economies, and the World Bank's most innovative projects in the region.

See more in Africa, Economics