On February 22-23, 2024, the Mroz Institute hosted the Summit on “Conflict, Cooperation, and Diplomacy: Perspectives on the Middle East, Latin America, China, and Russia.” We brought to campus a tremendous group of distinguished academics and practitioners working on conflict resolution and cooperation in various regions around the world. Dr. Joseph Nye, David Hickton, Rose Gottemoeller, Toni Verstandig, Ambassador James Story, and Dr. Jeff Helsing were our speakers and panelists.
The recordings from all the talks are available below and on the Mroz Institute YouTube Channel.
Confronting the Cyber Threat – by David Hickton
David Hickton is the founding director of the Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security at the University of Pittsburgh. Hickton served as US attorney and prosecuted groundbreaking cyber cases, including a first-of-its-kind indictment against members of the Chinese military for economic espionage.
Are the US and China destined for war: cold or hot? – fireside chat with Dr. Joseph Nye
Dr. Joseph Nye is a Distinguished Professor of Government at Harvard University, former US Assistant Secretary of Defense, and EWI Board Member. The fireside chat was facilitated by Dr. Max Kovalov, instructor of International Studies and Director of the Mroz Institute.
The role of NGOs in conflict resolution – Dr. Jeff Helsing
Dr. Jeff Helsing is the Executive Director of the Better Evidence Project and Research Associate Professor in the Carter School for Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution.
The Middle East: post-conflict diplomacy and the two-state solution – Toni Verstandig
Toni Verstandig is the Executive Director of the Verstandig Family Foundation. She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs at the US Department of State.
A new era for US foreign policy – fireside chat with Ambassador James Story
James Story is a career foreign service officer. He most recently served as U.S. Ambassador for the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located at the United States Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia (2018-2023). This fireside chat was facilitated by Dr. Aimee Arias, professor of International Studies and Dean of the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs.
Diplomacy and cooperation without trust: responding to Russia’s nuclear threats – Rose Gottemoeller
Rose Gottemoeller is a former Deputy Secretary General of NATO. She currently serves as a Research Fellow at Hoover Institute, Stanford.
Program
Thursday, February 22, 2024
- 4:00 pm. “Confronting the Cyber Threat” – by David Hickton, founding director of the Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security at the University of Pittsburgh. Hickton served as US attorney and prosecuted groundbreaking cyber cases, including a first-of-its kind indictment against members of the Chinese military for economic espionage.
- 5:00 pm. “Are the US and China destined for war: cold or hot?” – fireside chat with Dr. Joseph Nye, Distinguished Professor of Government at Harvard University, former US Assistant Secretary of Defense, and EWI Board Member.
- 6:30 pm. Welcome reception
Friday, February 23, 8:30 am-1 pm
- 7:45-8:30am Breakfast
- 8:30am Welcome remarks by President Hsu, Provost Austin, and Dean Arias
- 9am-9:45am “The role of NGOs in conflict resolution” by Dr. Jeff Helsing, Executive Director of the Better Evidence Project and Research Associate Professor in the Carter School for Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution.
- 10am-10:45am “The Middle East: post-conflict diplomacy and the two-state solution” by Toni Verstandig, Executive Director of the Verstandig Family Foundation, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs at the US Department of State.
- 11am-11:45am “A new era for US foreign policy” by Ambassador James Story, who served as US Ambassador to Venezuela (2018-2023).
- Noon-12:45pm “Diplomacy and cooperation without trust: responding to Russia’s nuclear threats” by Rose Gottemoeller, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, currently serving as a Research Fellow at Hoover Institute, Stanford.
Photos from the summit