UAS and JWAC Host world Affairs Forum - "Europe: Allies and Alliances in a Turbulent World"

The forum brings together experts on international relations to discuss the U.S. rise to undisputed world leader following World War II, and the institutions developed to protect western democracies; the challenges facing Europe today, their perception of America’s shift in foreign policy; and international institutions' reaction to these changes – particularly in the areas of defense, trade and social policy.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: March 13, 2018

This month, the Juneau World Affairs Council (JWAC) is presenting its annual World Affairs Forum at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). This year’s theme is “Europe: Allies and Alliances in a Turbulent World.” All lectures take place in the Egan Lecture hall at the UAS Auke Lake Campus. All speaker events are free and open to the public.

The forum brings together experts on international relations to discuss the U.S. rise to undisputed world leader following World War II, and the institutions developed to protect western democracies; the challenges facing Europe today, their perception of America’s shift in foreign policy; and international institutions' reaction to these changes – particularly in the areas of defense, trade and social policy.

The forum opens Thursday, March 22 at 7:00 pm with its first speaker:

• Dr. Kurt Huebner – “Changes in the World Order – From 'Embedded Liberalism’ to 'Hyper Globalization' to 'Economic Nationalism’.” Huebner is Chair for European Integration and Global Political Economy at the Institute for European Studies, part of the University of British Columbia.

Beginning at 1:00 on Friday afternoon, March 23, speakers include:

• Dr. Wade Jacoby – “Contemporary U.S.-German Relationships.” Jacoby is a Senior Fellow of the Transatlantic Academy and Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University.
• Dr. James Nafziger – “Making America Normal Again – With a Little Help From Europe.” Nafziger is a Thomas B. Stoel Professor of Law, and Director of International Law Programs at Willamette University.
• Dr. Mai’a Cross – “Europe. Russia, and the Transatlantic Divide: Security Relations in Turbulent Times.” Cross is an Edward W. Brooke Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University. She is currently a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
• Dr. Terrence Hopmann – “What Happened to Cooperative Security? The Rise and Fall of the Post-Cold War Security Regime.” Hopmann is from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

The final day of the forum is Saturday, March 24, starting at 9:00 am, featuring:

• Dr. Merje Kuus – “Where is Europe's Power? Transnational Standards and Diplomatic Expertise in Brussels.” Kuus is from the University of British Columbia, Department of Geography, and is a political geographer who studies diplomatic practice in multinational settings.
• Dr. Svetoslav Derderyan – “A Democratic Paralysis? How the US Withdrawal and the EU's Malfunctioning Bureaucracy Helped Russia Undermine Pro-Democracy Civil Society in Eastern Europe.” Derderyan is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
• Dr. Jürgen Salay – “Climate Policy in the European Union.” Salay is from the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington, and is an expert on European climate policy.
• A panel discussion featuring many of the earlier speakers.

The JWAC forum is sponsored by UAS, AEL&P, Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine, Haight & Associates, Sealaska, The Prospector Hotel, and Wostmann & Associates. The next forum will take place during UAS’ annual fall lecture series in October. JWAC and UAS take no stand on any public issue, nor recommend any policy, party, viewpoint, or candidate.

A full schedule and more information about each speaker are available on the Juneau World Affairs Council website.