The Ellison Center at the University of Washington

During his campaign, President-Elect Donald Trump made trenchant remarks regarding US allies, the NATO pact, relations with Russia and China and his views on U.S. immigration policies. Faculty at the Henry M. Jackson School for International Studies at the University of Washington held a roundtable to discuss the implications of a Trump presidency on China, Russia, European Union, the Middle East and refugees and immigrants in the US.

Featured panelists:

Scott Radnitz, Associate Professor and Director of the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies with a focus on the post-Soviet region, authoritarianism and protests.

Sabine Lang, Associate Professor of International Studies and Director of the Center for West European Studies with a research focus on on transnational advocacy and multilevel governance in the European Union.

Kathie Friedman, Associate Professor of International Studies and an expert on forced migration and refugees.

Joel Migdal (via Skype), Robert F. Philip Professor of International Studies and an expert in Middle East politics, states and societies. He is currently on sabbatical in Israel.

David Bachman, Henry M. Jackson Professor of International Studies and an expert on China and US-China relations.

NOTE: Due technical difficulties, portions of Dr. David Bachman's responses were inaudible and thus have been cut from this podcast. His remarks as recorded will are available on the Jackson School's YouTube account here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKdU6FiYRLY&feature=youtu.be

Dr. Daniel Newman discusses the experience of Holocaust victims in the Soviet Union and addresses the ways the tragedy is remembered in countries of the former USSR. Remembrance of the millions of Jews who were murdered proved a contentious political issue during the decades of Soviet rule and remains so today. Dr. Newman is the Program Manager of the Initiative for the Study of the Holocaust in the Soviet Union at the United States Holocaust Museum's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies in Washington, DC.

Donald Trump has broken with the Republican Party line in his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, promoting good relations with Russia, and criticizing NATO. What's more, Putin has spoken warmly of Trump, and Russia is accused of hacking emails that are then leaked to help Trump's presidential campaign. A week before the election, former LA Times Moscow Bureau Chief Carol J. Williams addressed the intrigue involving Trump, Putin, and Russia at a discussion moderated by Ellison Center Director Scott Radnitz. Williams is former senior international writer for the Los Angeles Times and has won five Overseas Press Club awards, two Sigma Delta Chi citations, and was a 1993 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in international reporting.

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and current U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Policy Board Member Nicholas Burn spoke recently on the challenges and opportunities for US foreign policy during a visit to the University of Washington. Burns, who previously also served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, discussed the conflict in Syria, the global refugee crisis, US-China relations, climate change, and Russian foreign policy.

The undeclared Russo-Ukrainian war has substantially changed the political views and geopolitical orientations of many Ukrainians. It has also caused a shift in identities and value systems. Mykola Riabchuk, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Political and Nationalities Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, discussed how political attitudes have shifted since the 2013-2014 Euromaidan revolution in Ukraine.

This podcast features Michelle O'Brien, a doctoral candidate in the Sociology Department and a Graduate Fellow at the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology. Ms. O'Brien spoke about relationships between groups within Russia, such as the "Night Wolves" biker gang and Vladimir Putin. She also discussed the importance of films in instruction, highlighting "Putin's Kiss" as an example that could be used in a classroom setting. Ms. O'Brien's talk was part of a day long workshop for K-12 educators at the University of Washington's Jackson School of International Studies.

At the University of Washington's Jackson School of International Studies summer teacher workshop, experts spoke about populism movements across Europe and Russia. This podcast based on those talks features Phillip Shekleton, a lecturer at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and the former Managing Director of the Center for West European Studies and the European Center. He spoke about the ramifications of "Brexit," diving into some of the demographic issues behind the UK's vote to leave the European Union and explored some of the potential financial consequences.

This podcast features James Felak, a Professor of History at the University of Washington. Professor Felak spoke about the historical development of political groups and movements such as the Law and Justice Party in Poland and the Fidesz and Jobbik parties of Hungary. Dr. Felak's talk was part of a day-long workshop for K-12 educators at the University of Washington's Jackson School of International Studies.

At the University of Washington's Jackson School of International Studies summer teacher workshop, experts spoke about populism movements across Europe and Russia. This podcast based on those talks features Steve Pfaff, a Professor in the Department of Sociology and an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Washington. Dr. Pfaff formerly served as the Director of West European Studies. During the workshop, Professor Pfaff spoke about how radical-right political movements in Europe have transformed over the last several decades.

The United States and Central Asia – 25 Years After Independence, Why Should We Care? By Daniel Rosenblum, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central Asia at the U.S. Department of State

Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Rosenblum visited UW and spoke at the Ellison Center hosted a talk to a room full of students, faculty, and community members, including representatives of the Seattle Tashkent Sister City Association. He started his remarks by sharing the story of his own journey through a career in various roles focused on the region before launching into the United States’ role in the region and why the West should care.