Not So Old Yet: What Do Aging Populations Mean for the U.S. and the World?
1/11/12
Speaker: Stuart Anderson

While conquering early death is a significant achievement, it portends great challenges for the US and the world. Stuart Anderson examines: What do aging populations mean for tax policy, health care, immigration, technology and more?

The Islamic Bomb - Myth Or Reality?
1/18/12
Speaker: Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy

The relentless spread of nuclear weapons across the globe makes it only a matter of time before Muslim countries other than Pakistan get their bombs. Iran is close to getting its bomb, and Saudi Arabia would then likely follow suit. Will this mean that the age of the Islamic Bomb will have arrived? Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy will make the case for global nuclear disarmament.

A Much Exaggerated Death: Al-Qaeda and the Islamist Movement After Osama bin Laden
1/25/12
Speaker: Dr. Michael Scheuer

Dr. Michael Scheuer will focus on what he believes will be apparent by January, 2012: bin Laden’s death was a superb tactical victory that has not lead to a strategic victory for the United States and its allies.Americans will find that both al-Qaeda and the Islamist movement are larger, smarter, and more geographically dispersed than they were at 9/11.

The United States and Brazil
2/1/12
Speaker: Dr. Jorge Dominguez

Jorge Dominguez examines: How has Brazil changed during the past generation and in what ways does it matter? Are U.S. and Brazilian foreign policies compatible or contradictory? How much rupture or continuity has there been in the respective foreign policies across their recent presidential administrations? How do U.S.-Brazilian relations impact other Latin American countries?

Thinking Seriously About Cyberwar
2/8/12
Speaker: Stewart Baker

Is cyberwar over-hyped? Should we think about it the way we think about nuclear war? Stewart Baker will examine how new technologies have been used in war and what lessons we might draw from this for the future.

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Prospects
2/15/12
Speaker: Molly Williamson

Molly Williamson will explore the context of peace initiatives, and the challenges of efforts to seek UN recognition of an independent Palestinian state. And what happens if nothing happens?

Teacher Quality and Student Achievement
2/22/12
Speaker: Dr. Russ Whitehurst

Differences among teachers in their effectiveness in the classroom have profound effects on student achievement. Dr. Russ Whitehurst will discuss: If the U.S. is to lead the world in educational achievement we must reform our practices and policies around the training, professional development, placement, retention, and compensation of teachers.

What’s Really Happening in Russia?
2/29/12
Speaker: Dr. Robert Barylski

Twenty years have passed since the Soviet Union’s collapse. Is the new Russia a pro-Western democracy or a modernized version of the old Soviet dictatorship? Dr. Robert Barylski sheds light on the realities of Russian domestic and foreign policy and what these imply for the U.S.

The United States and China in the Early 21st Century
3/7/12
Speaker: Jonathan Pollack

The relationship between the United States and China seems certain to be among the pivotal factors shaping global politics and international security in the 21st century. To some observers, China's political, economic, and military rise will inevitably challenge America's predominant interests in Asia, with some perceiving the inevitability of a more competitive or even overtly adversarial relationship. Others are more sanguine, and believe that a world with the United States and China as the two predominant powers will be shaped predominantly by economic interdependence and convergent political and security interests. This lecture will explore the choices and consequences for policy makers in both systems, and what these will imply for US-China relations both in the near term and in future decades.

Venture Capital in the Nation’s Service: a Blueprint for Investing in Support of National Security
3/14/12
Speaker: John Serafini

With the advent of the cyber age, preservation of American national security is increasingly dependent upon the development and integration of emerging, paradigm-shifting technologies into the fabric of our security organizations. Private sector investment groups have historically played a role in bolstering government efforts in technology incubation and research & development. John Serafini will outline a blueprint for the future collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The Way Forward: How will the Differences Between Law Enforcement and Intelligence Organizations Affect Our Future National Security?
3/21/12
Speaker: Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker

With the emergence of sub-state actors, cyberterrorism, and international criminal activities, Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker examines the implications for law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and human rights.

Tax Reform: What Makes Sense and What Is Doable?
3/28/12
Speaker: Dr. Christian Weller

Reducing long-term budget deficits will require concerted efforts to reform federal taxes. Dr. Christian Weller will present the range of realistic proposals; evaluate their potential to help the economy grow, simplify the tax code, and make the tax code more fair; and also offer some sense of the chances for the political success of these proposals..