International policy and diplomacy

Democracy around the world is both robust -- two billion people will be able to cast a ballot in 2924 -- and fragile, as threats to the voting process, to the structures of democratic society, and to the voters themselves afflict many nations. 

Join us for a fireside chat with Charles Luftig, Deputy Director for National Intelligence Policy and Capabilities, as we commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA). Moderated by Javed Ali, this conversation will explore current intelligence and envision a future shaped by advances in technology like open source intelligence, social media, artificial intelligence, and language learning models.

Two experts with long experience in Middle East policymaking discuss the violence in Palestine and Israel and its broader implications. This event is open to Ford School students, faculty, and staff, and will be streamed live and on-demand.

Former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien discusses how homeland and national security policy gets done and implemented based on his experience across four Administrations: Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden.

Former United Nations Under-Secretary General and the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), will join us to discuss the intricate relationship between health equity and economic resilience in Africa. Dr. Songwe's insights will highlight Africa's role in global power dynamics and strategies for asserting its agency amid evolving economic landscapes.

Although the China Initiative has officially ended in 2022, the hostile climate has not dissipated and scientists of Chinese backgrounds still feel the pressure especially as a proposed House spending bill wants to bring the initiative back. Put in place in 2018 under the Trump administration the China Initiative led to the arrest, intimidation, and forced resignation of faculty on American University campuses. This panel discussion brings together a group of experts who will discuss their personal experiences, the legal dimensions, the costs of the initiative in the realm of scientific and technological advancements, the effects on prospective and current students, and diversity of campus.  

This discussion, hosted by the Ford School Student Affairs Committee (SAC) will focus on how to create more inclusive communities and the politics around identity. 

Meet Mark Jacobson, a seasoned veteran who has made significant contributions to NATO, the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and held key roles at the Department of Defense. Mark's journey spans academia and military service.

Discover the captivating journey of President Zelensky's former press secretary and a globally acclaimed journalist. Uncover the behind-the-scenes stories of her impactful work in Ukraine and the dynamic world of journalism!

Join Dr. Tamma Carleton for the fourth installment of the International Policy Research Seminar (IPRS), hosted by the Ford School's International Policy Center (IPC).

Join Dr. Daniel Mattingly for the third installment of the International Policy Research Seminar (IPRS), hosted by the Ford School's International Policy Center (IPC).

Join Dr. Khalid Medani for the second installment of the International Policy Research Seminar (IPRS). 

POSTPONED: the hosts are working to reschedule this event. Please join the Nam Center for Korean Studies and the Weiser Diplomacy Center as we welcome distinguished diplomats from two countries to the University of Michigan.

Connect one-on-one with the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and other top public policy and international affairs programs from across the country!

Join Dr. Sabrina Karim for the inaugural session of the International Policy Research Seminar (IPRS). 

Join for a joint discussion hosted by the Weiser Diplomacy Center at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the American Academy of Diplomacy with four former senior diplomats on the opportunities and challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Weiser Diplomacy Center will host a policy simulation at the Ford School this fall. In this exercise, students will learn about the crisis in Cyprus and be tasked with using diplomacy to address a variety of urgent issues in this scenario.

Join the Weiser Diplomacy Center for an information session with Lou Fintor, the Ford School’s Diplomat in Residence, a U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer offering State Department career, internship, and fellowship information.

Join Brent McIntosh, UM alumna and former Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for a discussion of the power, limits, and risks of economic sanctions as a tool of U.S. statecraft and the evolution of institutions of global financial coordination.

Implications of the Iraq War at its 20-year anniversary

Janae Cooley (BA '98) will discuss her 23 years of service as a diplomat, including disaster relief work at the State Department.

This panel will analyze historical and contemporary instances of sexual violence by state and non-state actors amid armed conflict in South Asia, and discuss some policy and diplomacy tools for violence prevention.

The Peacemaker explores how Ronald Reagan and his national security team developed a multifaceted and successful Cold War strategy to win a peaceful victory over Soviet communism.

Drawing on unprecedented access to all six surviving members of Team Alpha - the first Americans behind enemy lines in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001 - Harnden tells the story of how the CIA and Green Berets infiltrated into the mountains of northern Afghanistan in a mission reminiscent of the OSS in World War II.

Join the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia for a conversation with Ukrainian-born retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, former Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council. We'll examine the current state of the war and its impacts on the Ukrainian people; the implications for global security; and prospects for peace and rebuilding.

The Weiser Diplomacy Center, Career Services, and Development and Alumni Relations are offering sessions during the winter '23 semester for you to engage with alumni who are working abroad/have worked abroad and/or work on a variety of international policy issues. 

Join the Center for Racial Justice for a workshop on decolonizing development with Farah Mahesri, part of our Racial Justice in Practice workshop series. Open to U-M students, faculty, staff, and community partners. In this interactive 3-hour session, we will collectively explore what a decolonized space or a decolonized approach for global development actually look like. How can we structure our organizations and our programs to draw to center more liberatory practices and help us radically re-imagine global development?

This presentation will explain the causes, contours, and possible outcomes of the largely unknown war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Karabakh, which is overwhelmingly Armenian in population but is located wholly inside Azerbaijan.