PS21 Update: Week Ending May 29

As May draws to a close, I couldn’t think of a better way to end the month than with holding an event in the Big Apple. As we host our first event in New York today on Countering Violent Extremism, it marks the expansion of PS21 into a third major city. Keep an eye on our website for the key takeaways from this event. We also have some incredible events lined up for June. For those of you who haven’t had a chance to look at our events email that went out earlier this week, see below for details, and links to RSVP.

London

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June 1, London event on the D efence of the realm in the 21st century: what does it mean? As the attention within Whitehall is turning to yet another Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), we’ll be hosting a conversation with Lieutenant-General Sir Graeme Lamb, former Director Special Forces and Commander Field Army. The discussion with be moderated by Peter Apps, Reuters global defence correspondent and executive director PS21

June 10, Beyond #bringbackourgirls: Terror and Politics in Nigeria. With former Foreign Office head of terrorism and national security analysis Chris Mackmurdo, journalist Emmanuel Akinwotu, David Otto, Intelligence and counter terrorism solutions consultant, and Sola Tayo, journalist and Chatham House associate fellow.

June 17, The Global Peace Index: drivers of peace and building resilience. Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chariman of the Institute for Economics and Peace and Member of the PS21 International Advisory Panel, will be launching the 2015 Global Peace index on Wednesday 17th June. Following this presentation, PS21 Executive Director Peter Apps will be chairing a discussion with Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, and Lieutenant-General Jonathon Peter Riley, CB, DSO. The panel will explore the practical applications of identifying the structural drivers of peace, emphasising the importance of strong institutions in building resilience. Click here to RSVP.

June 24, London Summer cocktail drinks. Enjoy a glass of wine and a breathtaking view of London as PS21 together with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) host a summer drinks evening.

Washington DC

June 4, What would a Hillary Clinton foreign policy look like? Hillary Clinton currently the strongest Democrat contender for 2016, we look at what a foreign policy under her leadership would look like and what influence her years at the State Department may have on this. Moderator: Ali Wyne: PS21 Global Fellow, Member of the adjunct staff, RAND Corporation, Ari Ratner: State Department political appointee 2009-2012, Fellow New America Warren Strobel: Chief diplomatic correspondent Reuters and Leigh O’Neill, Policy Director for the Truman National Security Project.

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What’s new with PS21 this week:

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David Murrin, author or Breaking the Code of History, chairman of Spartent Global Solutions and PS21 Global Fellow takes a look at What’s next for Britain?

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City Metric published a piece by Emmanuel Akinwotu on how The busiest airport in Lagos is offering free WiFi. Sort of.

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We had a great discussion in DC on Wednesday night on the current state of the war against ISIS chaired by PS21 global fellow Milena Rodban, with an outstanding panel including Douglas Ollivant, White House National Security Council, Iraq Director 2008-9 and Senior Fellow at New America, Rasha Elass, a PS21 Global Fellow and former reporter for Reuters, NPR and others for Damascus and last but not least Ahmed Ali, Visiting Senior Fellow and Director of the Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor at the Education for Peace in Iraq Centre (EPIC). A full transcript and takeaways will be published shortly but you can watch the video of the entire event here.

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For a comprehensive list of our previous postings, with links, refer below:

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27/05/2015 What next for Britain? – David Murrin

27/05/2015 London June 10 Event: Terror and Politics in Nigeria

23/05/2015 Upcoming Events and PS21 Update Week ending 22 May

22/05/2015 London Summer Cocktail Drinks 24th June

22/05/2015 DC June 4 Event: A Hillary Clinton foreign policy

22/05/2015 London June 1 Event: Defence of the Realm, Lt-Gen Graeme Lamb

21/05/2015 London event takeaways: The UK election – what we’ve learned

19/05/2015 Italicum: Achieving governability and democracy? – Giulia Pastorella

18/ 05/2015 PS21 Update: Week ending 15 May