Leading the Free World: Freedom and Democracy in US National Security Strategy

A recent poll shows that 85% of President Trump’s own voters believe the United States should support freedom and democracy wherever possible in world affairs. But since the late 2000s, American foreign policy has taken a realist turn, and the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy reinforces this trend. How does the American public’s historic support for freedom and democracy fit into the National Security Strategy? Please join us for a timely discussion with Dr. Twining about freedom, democracy, and national security objectives in the emerging world order, through cases including Venezuela, Iran, Ukraine, and U.S.-China strategic competition.

Daniel Twining, PhD, is President of the International Republican Institute, one of the National Endowment for Democracy’s core institutes advancing freedom and democracy in more than 100 countries worldwide. Previously, Dr. Twining was Counselor to the President and Director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund; a member of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s Policy Planning Staff handling Asia; and foreign policy advisor to U.S. Senator John McCain. Among his many other roles, he taught at Georgetown University, was an Associate of the U.S. National Intelligence Council, served on the Bush Institute’s Advisory Council and Microsoft’s Human Rights Advisory Council, and was a columnist for Foreign Policy and Nikkei. A graduate of the University of Virginia, he earned his MPhil and DPhil at Oxford University.

This seminar will be held in E40-496 (Pye Room). Lunch will be available. Please RSVP here.

Contact Kate Danahy at kdanahy@mit.edu with any questions. 

This event is part of the CIS Global Research & Policy Seminar Series. Join our mailing list here to learn about upcoming seminars in the series.