The Week at CSIS: the speeches, discussions, and events from February 27 — March 3
CSIS hosts over 2,000 events a year, from major public speeches to small briefings. Join us here for an inside look at the events of the week.
Afghanistan During the Transformation Decade: Implications for the New U.S. Administration
Afghanistan has undertaken significant reforms since the creation of the National Unity Government. Major reforms in Afghanistan include developing and implementing various projects on infrastructure, human capital, and technology. Domestically, infrastructure projects will aim to lead Afghanistan towards self-reliance. Across the region, the major economic projects will aim to improve regional connectivity, enhance regional cooperation, and make an impact on peace and security in Afghanistan.
The CSIS Burke Chair in Strategy hosted a discussion with Dr. M. Homayun Qayoumi, Chief Adviser to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan. Dr. Qayoumi expanded upon Afghanistan’s reform agenda and highlighted specific plans and projects within the country, the region, and how these might affect relations with the new U.S administration.
Tilting the Playing Field: How Misaligned Incentives Work Against Cybersecurity
Despite persistent efforts to defend against them, cyber criminals continue to have the upper hand against defenders. Organizations across the globe are spending more than ever to manage cyber risk, but attackers continue to get through.
CSIS commissioned a survey of 800 companies across multiple countries and major industry sectors, and interviewed technical experts and law enforcement officials on the underground hacker economy to understand the incentives that shape attackers’ and defenders’ behavior in cyberspace. The new report examines how misaligned incentives, both within organizations and between attackers and defenders, put defenders at a disadvantage, and highlights some of the key lessons that defenders can learn from adversaries in order to improve their cybersecurity.
Womenomics: Progress Made and Challenges Remaining
The CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy and the Asia Society Policy Institute discussed the progress Japan has made on greater equality for women in the workforce, and on the challenges it faces going forward.
Nnamdi Obasi and Hans De Marie Heungoup of the International Crisis Group joined CSIS for a discussion on the challenges confronting the Lake Chad basin region as the fight against Boko Haram continues. The two recently authored ICG publications on the state of security and humanitarian responses to conflict in the region. Watchmen of Lake Chad: Vigilante Groups Fighting Boko Haram traces the origins and evolution of vigilante groups in Nigeria and Cameroon and examines their role in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency. The Humanitarian Fallout from Cameroon’s Struggle Against Boko Haram considers the plight of refugees and IDPs in Cameroon.
Aligning Partnerships for Security: A Human Rights Based Approach to Security and Economic Cooperation
The CSIS Human Rights Initiative launched a new report, Aligning Partnerships for Security: A Human Rights Based Approach to Security and Economic Cooperation. This Chevron Forum focused on enhancing partner security forces’ respect for human rights through increased collaboration and communication between U.S. government agencies, the private sector, and civil society. It featured experts from all three communities to discuss concrete avenues for cooperation on security and human rights.
The U.S.-Mexico Border: The Way Forward
How do we improve security while managing the nearly $1 billion in trade that crosses our land border every day? What are the current challenges? What is working well at the border and can be replicated in other locations? What approach would allow the two countries to achieve better results?
The CSIS Americas Program led a two-part panel discussion examining the way forward for the United States and Mexico on managing our shared land border. Given the high-profile political moment, expert panelists took a step back to reflect on the US-Mexico border’s dual function as a security instrument and also as an entry and exit valve for the massive two-way flows of people and goods in our commercial relationship.
Future Vertical Lift: Family of Systems
As part of CSIS’s series on Future Vertical Lift (FVL), the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group hosted two key Defense Department leaders to discuss the family of systems approach to FVL. This discussion explored what the family of systems approach means for the future of vertical lift including the opportunities and challenges for development, the importance of open systems architecture, and leveraging commonality.
Careers in Global Development: Mark Frohardt
“Careers in Global Development” is a monthly series featuring U.S. senior-level, multilateral and NGO officials who have worked in the field of development for at least twenty years. The series is aimed at young professionals who are interested in working in development and will include a one-hour dialogue on both the specific expertise of the speaker, as well as the career path and influences along the way.
This week, Mark Frohardt — the Senior Vice President for Strategic Practice at Internews — led a discussion at CSIS. Throughout his lengthy career, Mr. Frohardt has also worked with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Department for Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Fred Cuny’s Interect, and the Center for the Study of Societies in Crisis. He has designed information systems that maintain operations and connections between communities affected by crisis and instability. Since joining Internews in 1999, his research has focused on improving the information landscape in fragile areas and innovative data analysis.
After Munich: A Conversation on the Future of Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship
Called the engines of Europe, France and Germany have played central roles in the evolution of European integration and the development of a larger foreign and security role for Europe beyond its borders. Economic challenges, rising Euroscepticism, instability on Europe’s periphery, and a new U.S. administration have raised questions about Europe’s future.
This week, two of Europe’s thought leaders, Andreas Michaelis, Political Director of the German Federal Foreign Office, and Nicolas de Rivière, Director General for Political Affairs and Security of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in a timely and interactive discussion on Germany and France’s future vision for Europe, the transatlantic relationship, and Europe’s role in the world.
To register for any of our events or watch them live, visit www.csis.org/events (updated daily).
