The End of US Global Leadership? Foreign Assistance, US National Security, and the Case for Human Rights
With Dr. Bama Athreya, Former Deputy Assistant Administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships and Innovation
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Dr. Bama AthreyaDate & time
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About the Event:
This event will offer a timely and thought-provoking discussion on the implications of the suspension of U.S. foreign assistance, with a particular focus on the nation’s role in supporting international human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. In light of recent decisions to terminate grants deemed not to serve core national interests, we will explore why the U.S. has supported human rights and democracy efforts as a fundamental aspect of its foreign policy since the Carter Administration. What has changed in the U.S. perspective since then? We will also examine the Biden Administration's stance on expanding support in this area and ask: Is there a compelling case to be made that international protections for rights and the rule of law ultimately benefit the U.S.? Join us for a deep dive into these pressing questions shaping the future of U.S. foreign policy.
From the Speaker’s Bio:
Bama Athreya, Ph.D, most recently served as Deputy Assistant Administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships and Innovation, where she managed global portfolios related to gender equality, child protection, youth in development, and ensuring the rights and inclusion of marginalized and underrepresented populations. She has been a senior leader in the public and nonprofit sectors. She has led interagency and multilateral engagement and represented the US government in delegations to the UN General Assembly, Commission on the Status of Women, G20 and COP28. She previously held an Economic Inequality Fellowship with Open Society Foundations focused on the digital economy and served as a senior advisor for gender, equity and inclusion to Laudes Foundation. Past positions include a previous stint at USAID’s Center for Democracy, Rights and Governance, where she worked on new policy guidance and developed global programming to advance labor rights and women’s economic empowerment. She also spent several years leading human rights advocacy as the Executive Director of the International Labor Rights Forum. She has a longstanding affiliation with the University of Michigan. She has previously served on the Board of Advisors for the Erb Institute, taught short courses as a visitor at Ford School, and completed her. Ph.D. in cultural anthropology at the Rackham Graduate School.
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