Global Tennessee

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and with Belmont University Center for International Business, University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

SPECIAL EDITION

GLOBAL TOWN HALL SERIES

via Zoom

The Implications and Consequences of Russia’s War in Ukraine

Ambassador John Kornblum

Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs

with Moderator

Dr. Steven E. Sokol

President, American Council on Germany

The Unfolding War in Europe

Ambassador John Kornblum

Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs

March 2, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. CT

with moderator Dr. Breck Walker

Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria.

Dr. Breck Walker

Breck Walker received his PhD in Diplomatic History from Vanderbilt in 2007. His dissertation was on the foreign policy of the Carter administration. He taught at Sewanee, the University of the South, 2007-2012, and on the University of Virginia’s Semester at Sea Program in Spring 2013 and Fall 2015. He worked as a historian in the Historical Office of the Office of Secretary of Defense 2013-2016, researching and writing a book on early Pentagon cyber policy. Prior to becoming a history professor, Breck worked for twenty years as an investment banker, the last ten as co-head of the Corporate Finance Group at J.C. Bradford & Co in Nashville. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, and J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Stanford University. Breck serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

TNWAC's Global Dialogue speaker series brings insights, perspectives and analyses difficult to come by. We present leading figures in diplomacy, business, military affairs, think tanks, NGOs and elsewhere to help you understand important issues in global affairs.

Today we present Ambassador John C. Kornblum

War has come. The first major ground invasion of a country in the heart of Europe – cradle of two World Wars – since WWII. Putin has set fire to Ukraine. Moscow has signaled a ferocious attack and tens of thousands of civilians may be casualties. The potential for refugee flows into Eastern Europe is staggering. NATO is ramping up reinforcement of its Eastern flank. Stock markets are plunging. Oil prices are skyrocketing. For insights and analysis join TNWAC at a live virtual event with Ambassador John Kornblum, preeminent U.S. diplomatic and business voice on European affairs, NATO and U.S. interests.

Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria.

Global Nashville with Karl Dean provides a spotlight on community leaders tied to international affairs, who talk about their professions and organizations, current developments in Nashville and their views on what makes Nashville a global city.

The February 17, 2022 episode featured a conversation with John Scannapieco an attorney who is a partner at Womble Bond Dickson (US) LLP in Nashville. John has worked many years with international businesses involved in or looking to be engaged in commercial activity aboard, especially in East Asia. John has been Chairman of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee and serves on the Board of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and Belmont University Center for International Business, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

GLOBAL TOWN HALL

Russia's Threat to Ukraine:

The Crisis Unfolds

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Ambassador John Kornblum

Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs

February 15, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. CT

with Moderator

Dr. Steven E. Sokol

President, American Council on Germany

This special event is free but please consider becoming a member or making a donation when you register. Thank you.

The conversation will be guided by the President of the American Council on Germany, Steven Sokol.

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Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria.

Steven E. Sokol is the President of the American Council on Germany. Previously, he served as President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and prior to that he was the Vice President and Director of Programs at the American Council on Germany. Earlier in his career, Steve served as the Deputy Director of the Aspen Institute Berlin, was the Head of the Project Management Department at the Bonn International Center for Conversion GmbH (BICC), and a Program Officer in the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He holds a Doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern University as well as an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. He has also studied at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität in Heidelberg and as a Fulbright Scholar at the Freie Universität in Berlin.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with Belmont University Center for International Business, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Global Nashville with Karl Dean

A Conversation with Scott Hamilton

Recorded: January 26, 2022

As the world turns attention to the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing we're reminded of past American Olympic glory. We're pleased to share this conversation with Olympic Champion Figure Skater Scott Hamilton.

Among the many elements that make Nashville a global city is the athletes from around the world who have made Nashville their home. They include professional sports team members from hockey, soccer, and football. There is also a gem of an professional athlete who has made an impact on the community he has come to love -- Olympian, author, activist, youth and community leader, Scott Hamilton. In this episode of "Global Nashville" former Mayor Dean talks with the champion figure skater who broke onto the American consciousness at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, winning the Gold Medal. He has gone on to be a leader in many other areas -- advocate in the battle against cancer, having been touched by its scourge; and proponent and trainer of youth figure skating. We know you'll enjoy Karl Dean's conversation with this unique Nashvillian, Scott Hamilton.

Scott Hamilton

The most recognized male figure skating star in the world, Scott Hamilton has won 70 titles, awards and honors including an Emmy Award nomination, induction into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and a privileged member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

In 1984, Scott captured the attention of the world with his Olympic Gold medal performances in Saravejo and since has shared his love and enthusiasm for the sport as a analyst/commentator, performer, producer and best-selling author (Fritzy Finds a Hat, 2020, Finish First: Winning Changes Everything, 2018; The Great Eight, 2009; Landing It, 1999). He further inspires others as a speaker, humanitarian, and as a cancer and pituitary brain tumor survivor.

After losing his mother to cancer, then becoming survivor himself, Scott turned activist, launching the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship). He founded several education and survivorship programs including Chemocare.com and the 4th Angel Mentoring Program. Events such as Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer and An Evening with Scott Hamilton & Friends galas fund research into treatments that treat the cancer and spare the patient harm.

He is also the founder of the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy at the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch, TN and Bellevue, TN, where he may frequently be found coaching Learn to Skate students and sharing his love of skating.

In what little free time remains, Scott can be found on the golf course and enjoys spending time with his wife Tracie and four children – at their home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Germany, Egypt, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, Kenya, Venezuela, Finland, Panama, Costa Rica, Sweden and more. Nashville is home to athletes who have come from around the world.

Among the many elements that make Nashville a global city is the athletes from around the world who come to play in the city’s professional sports teams — hockey, soccer, football. Take the Nashville Predators for example. In addition to the many Canadian players the roster includes talented athletes from Switzerland, Russia, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. Just two of 22 players are from the U.S. Twenty came to Nashville from abroad.

To explore the route of international players to Nashville and their experiences in Music City, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean spoke with Mattias Ekholm, veteran defenseman and alternate captain of the Nashville Predators. Mattias hails from Borlange, Sweden and has adopted Nashville as his new home to work his trade on the NHL ice and to raise his family of four.

We’re sure you’ll enjoy this conversation about professional hockey and life in Nashville from a premier international athlete.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and Belmont University Center for International Business, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

GLOBAL TOWN HALL

Germany’s Response to the Ukraine Crisis

Ambassador John Kornblum

Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs

February 1, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. CT

with

Dr. Liana Fix

Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund Washington office

And Moderator

Dr. Steven E. Sokol

President, American Council on Germany

This special event is free but please consider becoming a member or making a donation when you register. Thank you.

When President Joe Biden met the press on January 19th he was candid when addressing consequences for Russia if it attacked Ukraine. “It depends on what [Putin] does as to what extent we’re going to be able to get total unity on the NATO front.” The White House quickly cleaned up what he “meant” to say. In the days since official statements continue to stress NATO solidarity but questions remain.

For example British aircraft carrying weapons to Ukraine flew “around” Germany sparking media questions about Berlin being onboard for support to Kiev, despite Defense Ministry denials it restricted the flights. That was followed by the resignation of Germany’s Navy chief over controversial remarks about the threat to Ukraine. Writing for the Center for European Policy Analysis, Oxana Schmies spoke of “Germany’s paralyzing fear of war,” and warned that for the new government it was “worryingly clear that forging a united Russia policy is difficult and marred by underlying disagreement. [Link]

As the prospects of Russian provocation and action against Ukraine reach the boiling point it’s a fair question to ask where Germany "is," as the United States and allies lean forward in deterrence and preparation for response.

To address this question we turn to Ambassador John Kornblum, preeminent authority on America’s relationship with Europe, and Germany in particular.

Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin.

The conversation will be guided by the President of the American Council on Germany, Steven Sokol.

Language Matters

A Conversation with Dr. Kathleen Stein-Smith, Distinguished Lecturer and Author

with Dr. Debbie Barnard

What is the state of foreign language training in the United States? We wanted to know so we asked TNWAC Advisory Board Member and Tennessee Tech University Associate Professor of French, Debbie Barnard to talk to Dr. Kathleen Stein-Smith, noted authority and advocate on the subject and author of, “Multi-lingualism as a Global Competency: Skills for a 21st Century World.”

The answer? About twenty percent of students in America are studying or learning a language according to Stein-Smith who says, “That’s very concerning,” adding, “That would mean a lot of Americans remain mono-lingual. Speaking only English. Understanding only English.

The number reflects a decline in foreign language education. Stein-Smith says the decline isn’t attributable to educators who she says are “dedicated and professional,” but rather to the lack of opportunity. “Foreign language programs have decreased in number significantly in our middle schools and most dramatically in our public schools,” she said, “The figures are really frightening.”

New World Order: The Middle East

Biden Takes Over

Amy Tachco

Office of Regional and Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State

December 17, 2020 @ 5p.m. CT

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take office on January 20 and their administration is likely to be far different from the one led by President Donald Trump.  TNWAC is pleased to join WACH in a discussions with experts in domestic and foreign affairs to discuss how the world is likely to change in 2021.

Join us 5 p.m. (Central Time) Thursday, Dec. 17 for our conversation  with  Amy Tachco, director of the Office of Regional And Multilateral Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. We will open with remarks from Irina Karmanova, from the State Department Office of Public Liaison.

ABOUT AMY TACHCO

Amy Tachco joined the Foreign Service in 2002 after a brief stint in finance in New York.  She has served in Karachi, Casablanca, Madrid (twice), Beirut, and in Washington in the Bureaus of Near Eastern and African Affairs.  She served as Political Counselor at U.S. Embassy Damascus in the run-up to closure of the Mission in 2012, and was Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under Ambassadors Samantha Power and Nikki Haley. She also served as Foreign Policy Adviser to the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet Commander in Manama, Bahrain.  A graduate of Smith College and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, she speaks French, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic.