SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Pakistan and Afghanistan: Domestic Pressures and Regional Threats
To mark the launch of its Fall/Winter 2009 issue, the Journal of International Affairs hosted a debate on President’s Obama’s AfPak strategy. The conversation was moderated by Kiran Khalid, and featured C. Christine Fair, Georgetown University; Kimberly Marten, Columbia University; W. Pal Sidhu, EastWest Institute; and Marvin Weinbaum, Middle East Institute. [December 7, 2009]
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Iran: After the Election
Leading Iranian scholars and analysts discuss the impact of the recent elections, Iran’s relationship with the international community and the theocratic foundations of the Islamic Republic. The conference was sponsored by SIPA and the Middle East Institute. [December 5, 2009]
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“Appraising the Life of the Islamic Republic of Iran”
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Professor Austin Long: “Complacency Kills: Observations from the Field on Counterinsurgency and the Future of Iraq”
SIPA's Alumni Relations Office presents an alumni policy forum in Washington, D.C. with Professor Austin Long. Professor Long teaches security policy at SIPA, focusing on national security, counterinsurgency, and political science. [November 18, 2009]
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Christophe de Margerie, CEO of Total
Christophe de Margerie, the Chief Executive Officer of Total SA, discusses energy and international relations with SIPA Dean John Coatsworth and Professor Ghassan Salamé. Topics include the challenge of global warming and the development of future energies, human rights and leadership of a multinational company in times of crisis. Co-hosted by the Alliance Program, the European Institute and the Maison Francaise. [November 12, 2009]
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Syed Mustafa Kamal: "Urban Policy, Global Challenges"
SIPA's Global Mayors Forum presents a discussion with Syed Mustafa Kamal, Mayor of Karachi, Pakistan. With 18 million residents, Karachi is one of the largest cities in the world, and the main seaport and financial center of Pakistan.. [November 9, 2009]
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Martin Griffiths: “International Conflict Resolution in the New Millennium”
Martin Griffiths, founding director of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue and former senior humanitarian official at the United Nations, addresses mediation and the peace process in the 21st century in discussion with Alvaro de Soto. The discussion with Mr. Griffiths is part of the Center for International Conflict Resolution’s "Conversations with Alvaro de Soto" series. [October 28, 2009]
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Margot Wallström: "Women, Peace and Security: Challenges Ahead"
Margot Wallström, vice-president of the European Commission, discusses her work towards implementation of UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which recognized the linkage between violence against women in armed conflict and women's roles in peace building, and its follow up (Resolution 1820), related to sexual violence in situations of armed conflict. Sponsored by SIPA, the Alliance Program, the Center for the Study of Human Rights, the European Legal Studies Center, the European Institute, and the UN Studies Program. [October 15, 2009]
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Bernard Kouchner: "Europe's Power in the 21st Century: Overcoming the Challenges of Globalization and Geopolitics”
SIPA and the Alliance Program present a discussion with Bernard Kouchner, French Minister for Foreign and European Affairs. Kouchner is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, and Doctors of the World. [September 24, 2009]
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Prospects for a Global Climate Treaty in Copenhagen: Will the U.S. Join the Struggle for the 21st Century?
SIPA and Earth Institute's Columbia Climate Center present a discussion with Connie Hedegaard, Minister for Climate and Energy, Kingdom of Denmark. [September 23, 2009]
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Kofi Annan: “Climate Change: The Leadership Challenge of Our Age”
Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan discussed climate change during his delivery of the Gabriel Silver Lecture at Columbia’s World Leaders Forum. Annan is part of the first cohort of SIPA's Global Fellows Program, a distinguished group of global leaders, each of whom has played a significant role in designing, shaping, or implementing solutions to critical global problems. [September 23, 2009]
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Martti Ahtisaari: "Peacemaking in the Post-Cold War Era"
A dialogue between Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland and Nobel Laureate and Alvaro de Soto, former United Nations official. This is part of the Center for International Conflict Resolution’s series "Conversations with Alvaro de Soto." [September 21, 2009]
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A Conversation with Lord Nicholas Stern
SIPA hosted Lord Nicholas Stern, British economist and former head of the UK's Government Economic Service. Lord Stern is the author of "The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review" and Patel Professor of Economics and Government, as well as chair of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science.. [September 21, 2009]
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“The Indian Road to Copenhagen”
SIPA, Columbia Law School and Columbia Business School co-hosted India's Minister for the Environment, Jairam Ramesh. Ramesh’s lecture, entitled "The Indian Road to Copenhagen," discussed India’s position during the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.. [September 18, 2009]
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THINKING BIG New York and London: Heading Back to the Top
In a program co-hosted by SIPA’s Global Mayors Forum, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and London Mayor Boris Johnson addressed a variety of issues facing their respective cities, including the future of the cities’ financial sectors, economic diversification, affordable housing and more. [September 15, 2009]
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Breaking the Green Ceiling—Affordable Housing Meets Environmentalism
Nancy Biberman, President, Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation, spoke on "Breaking the Green Ceiling—Affordable Housing Meets Environmentalism" at an event organized by the School of International and Public Affairs' Urban Policy and Social Policy concentrations. [April 27, 2009]
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Negotiating Peace to Civil War—Lessons from Central America and the Middle East
The Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR) presented "Negotiating Peace to Civil War: Lessons from Central America and the Middle East," a discussion with Francesc Vendrell (Former Head of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan, Secretary-General's Representative in the Guatemala peace negotiations, Secretary-General's Deputy Representative in the El Salvador peace process and Nicaraguan Peace Negotiations); and Alvaro de Soto (International Mediator). This is the second event in the CICR series "Conversations with Alvaro de Soto." [April 22, 2009]
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Jose Serra Delivers the Gabriel Silver Memorial Lecture
Jose Serra, Governor of Sao Paulo State, Brazil, delivered the 2009 Gabriel Silver Memorial Lecture. The lecture was in association with “Ruth Cardoza: A Tribute,” sponsored in part by the Institute of Latin American Studies at Columbia University.. [April 9-10, 2009].
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Haiti—A Future Beyond Peacekeeping?
The United Nations Studies Program (UNSP) hosted a panel discussion focusing on the relationship between peacekeeping and development in Haiti. The event followed the recent mission of a SIPA research group to Haiti, which was facilitated by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).  Speakers included representatives from the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and other branches of the UN. [April 7, 2009]
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Assessing the G-20 Results—Regional Perspectives
Assessing the G-20 Results­Regional Perspectives A discussion highlighting the significant regional repercussions resulting from the recent G-20 meeting. The discussion was moderated by Merit E. Janow and discussants include Richard Clarida, Sharyn O’Halloran, Guillermo Calvo, Padma Desai,  and Arvind Panagariya. [April 7, 2009]
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The Role of the Ambassador in International Relations
Ambassador Donald Blinken discussed his new co-authored book,Vera and the Ambassador: Escape and Return. [April 6, 2009]
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The Politics of Recognition
The Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration, and Religion (CDTR) and the The Institute for religion, cultureand Public Life (IRCPL) sponsored a lecture by Charles Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at McGill University and Templeton Prize-winning author of A Secular Age. [April 6, 2009]
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Assets to Action: Unmasking Africa's Diverse Resources in a Challenging Era
The annual African Economic Forum has grown to become the largest Africa-focused event at Columbia University. Originally, conceived of and organized by the SIPA Pan-African Network (SPAN), a graduate student organization, this two-day forum features expert panels and keynote speakers on African development'. [March 27-28, 2009]
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Wounds of Peace: The Arab- Israeli Conflict After Gaza
The Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR) hosted The Alvaro de Soto Conversations entitled, "Wounds of Peace: The Arab-Israeli Conflict After Gaza," with Shlomo Ben Ami, former Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs. [March 27, 2009]
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Imagining India—The Idea of a Renewed Nation
Nandan M. Nilekani, Co-Chairman of Infosys Technologies Ltd , spoke on his new book Imagining India—The Idea of a Renewed Nation. The event was part of the School of International and Public Affairs' Annual Investcorp Lecture. [March 26, 2009]
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Where We Are Going: Economic Development and the Future of New York
Seth Pinsky, President, NYC Economic Development Corporation, presented an overview of NYCEDC and the City's economic development agenda, highlighting specific projects for the future and the increased focus on diversification initiatives in light of the current financial downturn. The event was co-sponsored by SIPA's Urban Policy concentration and the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. [March 26, 2009]
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Democracy, Islam and Secularism—Turkey in Comparative Perspective
A two-day conference that aims to present a more integrated picture of Turkey and its future by exploring issues such as the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, secularism, religion, and democracy, civil-military relations, and the European Union and democratization. The conference was sponsored by The Middle East Institute (MEI), the Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life; the Turkish Studies Institute, and the Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion. [March 6, 2009]
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The Financial Crisis—The Government’s Response and Next Steps
The current financial crisis and the role of government will be discussed by experts in experience both in the private and public sector. Panelists include Henry Kaufman, President of Henry Kaufman & Company, Inc.; Peter R. Fisher, Managing Director, Co-Head, Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group BlackRock, Former Under Secretary of the U.S. Treasury for Domestic Finance; Harvey J. Goldschmid, Dwight Professor of Law, Columbia University, Former Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Charles Calomiris, Henry Kaufman Professor of Financial Institutions, Columbia Business School; Moderated by Merit E. Janow, Professor in the Practice of International Economic Law and International Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs. [March 4, 2009]
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Professor Joseph Stiglitz on the Financial Crisis and Global Development
United Nations University presented a lecture by Nobel Laureate and SIPA Professor Joseph Stiglitz, entitled "Explaining the Financial Crisis and What It Means for the Future of Global Development." The lecture is part of UNU-NY’s series "Emerging Thinking on Global Issues," which aims to promote thinking on global issues through lectures by world class experts and scholars. [February 24, 2009]
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Global Sex Trafficking and the Business of Modern Slavery
The South Asian Institute (SAI) presents a talk with Siddharth Kara, author of Global Sex Trafficking and the Business of Modern Slavery. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for East European Studies and the Human Rights Program. [February 9, 2009]
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Outsourcing News—Boon or Boondoggle?
The South Asian Institute (SAI) presents a round table discussion about editorial outsourcing to India with six journalists, moderated by Sree Sreenivasan of the Columbia Journalism School. [January 27, 2009]
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Muhammad Yunus—Creating A World Without Poverty
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Muhammad Yunus outlines his vision for a new business model in his talk on " Creating A World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism." The event was co-sponsored by Center for the Study of Human Rights, Center for the Humanities, SIPA's Economic & Political Development Concentration, and Committee on Global Thought. [January 27, 2009]
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