The Institute of World Politics

This event is part of the Intermarium Lecture Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics.

About the book: “The Katyn Forest Massacre: An Annotated Bibliography of Books in English” begins with a history of the Katyn Massacre and an overview of the literature on Katyn. The subsequent chapters discuss the authors and contents of some 38 books that have been published over the decades in English about Katyn. Each book contributed something to the evolving literature and general knowledge about the history of the Massacre. Books were written by some prisoners who survived (Czapski and Młynarski), witnesses who were brought to the exhumations (Stroobant and Werth), diplomats and generals who tried to find out what happened to the missing officers (Kot and Anders), family members who were deported to Kazakhstan and Siberia (Adamczyk), researchers and historians (Zawodny, Ciencala, Sanford and Maresch), and authors who believed that raising awareness about Katyn was worthwhile because it might help rectify an injustice (FitzGibbon and Allen). Books written before the Soviet admission of guilt pointed an accusatory finger at the Kremlin. Those written afterwards had the benefit of archival revelations that helped shed light on previously unknown details of the NKVD Katyn operation.

The Foreword is by Dr. Alexander M. Jablonski, President of the Oskar Halecki Institute in Canada.

About the speaker: Mr. Andrew Kavchak was born in Montreal. He studied political science (BA – Concordia University, MA – Carleton University) and law (LL.B. – Osgoode Hall Law School). He spent his career in the Canadian federal civil service mostly working in policy units with the departments of revenue, industry and international trade. Since retiring he has pursued his hobbies of reading and writing about history. He has written and published several books that are available on Amazon, including Remembering Gouzenko: The Struggle to Honour a Cold War Hero and The Katyn Forest Massacre: An Annotated Bibliography of Books in English. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Full title: Experiences of a Polish Officer in the Austrian Army in WWI Dying Echoes: Memoirs of the War 1914-1920 by Stanisław Kawczak

This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference

by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies.

About the lecture: Andrew Kavchak will discuss his grandfather’s, Stanisław Kawczak, memoirs of WWI, and the subsequent conflicts following Poland’s independence. Dying Echoes: Memoirs of the War 1914-1920 by Stanisław Kawczak was first published in Poland in 1936. The book tells the story and experiences of a young Polish conscript in the Austrian army who fought during WWI wearing the Austrian uniform against the Russian army on the Eastern Front and the Italian army on the Southern Front. From the beginning of the war, his heart was in the struggle for Polish independence and the defeat of the three occupying powers (Germany, Austria, and Russia) which had partitioned Poland since the 1790s. The narrative is vivid and gives the reader an image of the life of a soldier on the march and in the trenches, as well as an account of the political debates about national interests during the “Great War”.

About the speaker: Mr. Andrew Kavchak was born in Montreal, Canada. He studied political science earning a BA from Concordia University and MA from Carleton University) and law (LL.B. – Osgoode Hall Law School). He spent his career in the Canadian federal civil service working in policy units with the departments of revenue, industry, and international trade. Since retiring he has pursued his hobbies of reading and writing about history. He has written and published several books that are available on Amazon, including Remembering Gouzenko: The Struggle to Honour a Cold War Hero and The Katyn Forest Massacre: An Annotated Bibliography of Books in English. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference

by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies.

About the lecture: The lecture will present the life and work of a devoted midwife, Stanislawa Leszczynska, who tirelessly assisted pregnant women prisoners of Auschwitz and helped them safely deliver their babies against all odds.

About the speaker: Mrs. Maria Juczewska is a communication specialist with a versatile international experience. Her education in linguistics, culture studies, and international affairs, combined with years of living abroad, makes her point of view unique and comprehensive. Mrs. Juczewska worked for the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies from 2014-2020, and she is a graduate of IWP’s M.A. program. At present, she is working on her Ph.D. in political philosophy.

This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference

by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies.

About the lecture: 2020 marks what would have been the 100th birthday of St. Pope John Paul II as well as the 42nd anniversary of his election as Pope. This is a great moment to reflect on Saint John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan, two of the most influential figures of the 20th century. With their will, belief in God, and the power of the spoken word, the Polish Pope and American President together liberated Europe and changed world history. There are no coincidences, but Providence is at work. John Paul II stepped onto the world stage just as the most powerful country on earth was about to elect a president unwaveringly committed to the cause of freedom. One became the spiritual leader of the world, the other the political leader of the free world. The two great men are no longer with us, but our need for moral clarity and moral leadership remains.

About the speaker: Mrs. Monika Jablonska is a consultant with expertise in international business transactions and NGOs, lawyer and philanthropist. Ms. Jablonska is working on her Ph.D. thesis in political science. She is the author of “Wind from Heaven: John Paul II, The Poet Who Became Pope.” Her second book about St. John Paul II will be released in 2021. She is a contributor to the National Catholic Register, Crisis Magazine, Newsmax and other publications in the United States and Europe.

About the book: Even as historians credit Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II with hastening the end of the Cold War, they have failed to recognize the depth or significance of the bond that developed between the two leaders. Acclaimed scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor changes that. In this fascinating book, he reveals a singular bond—which included a spiritual connection between the Catholic pope and the Protestant president—that drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the twentieth century: Soviet communism. A Pope and a President is the product of years of research. Based on Kengor’s tireless archival digging and his unique access to Reagan insiders, the book reveals the inside story of the friendship between Reagan and Pope John Paul II.

About the speaker: Dr. Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, and a New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books. He is senior director and chief academic fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom and former visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. His articles have appeared in publications from the Washington Post and USA Today to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He is a longtime columnist and senior editor for The American Spectator. Kengor is an internationally recognized authority on Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, communism, socialism, and conservatism.

This lecture is a part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference

by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies.

About the Lecture: Count Janos Esterhazy opposed the Nazis and Communists; he escaped the former only to be imprisoned and killed by the latter. Now he is hailed as a hero by the Hungarians, Poles, and Jews; the Catholic Church has recognized him as a Servant of God and launched Esterhazy’s beatification process. Meanwhile, Czechia and Slovakia cannot forgive the Count’s Hungarian patriotism and irredentism, thus stalling and derailing his rehabilitation.

About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.

This lecture is part of the 13th Annual Kościuszko Chair Conference hosted by the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies and the Center for Intermarium Studies.

About the book: The triumph of the conservative movement in reshaping American politics is one of the great untold stories of the past fifty years. At the end of World War II, hardly anyone in public life would admit to being a conservative, but as Lee Edwards shows in this magisterial work, in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, a small group of committed men and women chipped away at the liberal colossus, and their descendants would scale the ramparts of power in the 1980s and 1990s. Lee Edwards shows that the modern conservative era grew out of the words and deeds of many heroes, particularly the men he calls the Four Misters — Robert Taft (Mister Republican), Barry Goldwater (Mister Conservative), Ronald Reagan (Mister President), and Newt Gingrich (Mister Speaker). Join us as we interview Mr. Edwards about the careers of these four larger-than-life leaders who transformed the conservative movement into a political majority.

About the speaker: Dr. Lee Edwards is a Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought at the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at The Heritage Foundation, and an Adjunct Professor of politics at the Catholic University of America. Edwards is a leading historian of American conservatism and author or editor of over 25 books. He was the Founding Director of the Institute of Political Journalism at Georgetown University and a Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

His awards and honors include the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, the Millennium Star of Lithuania, the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia, the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy from the Republic of China (Taiwan), the John Ashbrook Award, the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award, Legend of YAF from Young America’s Foundation, and the Walter Judd Freedom Award. Edwards holds a Ph.D. in world politics from Catholic University and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Grove City College. He lives in Arlington, Va., with his wife Anne, who assists him in all his writing.

This event is part of The African Strategic Forum sponsored by The Institute of World Politics.

About the lecture: As Sudan transitions to a more transparent, civilian rule, and democratic governance, its Sudan Sovereignty Council civilian and military leadership in Khartoum will be tested on its willingness to dismantle and reform its security sector. The process of building a strong civil society and preparing the country for elections in the next two years will be scrutinized by the global community and other regional stakeholders. This panel will discuss what steps will increase the likelihood of a successful transition and reformed security sector.

About the panelist:

Dr. Linda Bishai is an adjunct professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs and a Research Staff Member on the Africa Team at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). She works on a wide range of international security issues including African regional economic communities, security cooperation in Africa, and monitoring instability in central and southern Africa. She has twenty years of experience in teaching, training and writing on international law, peacebuilding and security sector reform, and preventing/countering violent extremism. In her previous positions at the American Bar Association and at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Bishai designed and delivered programs on preventing election violence in Sudan and South Sudan, civic education and higher education reform in Sudan, and women’s role in preventing violent extremism in Nigeria and Kenya. As Director of North Africa programs at USIP, Bishai facilitated dialogues on just and sustainable security sector responses to violent extremism and border security in the Sahel and the Maghreb. As Director of Research, Evaluation and Learning at the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, Bishai oversaw the activities of a team of legal researchers and monitoring & evaluation professionals.Bishai has maintained an active academic profile and has taught courses in international relations, international law and human rights. Bishai holds a B.A. in history and literature from Harvard University, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and LLM in international law from the University of Stockholm, and a Ph.D. in international relations from the London School of Economics.

Dr. Sarah Detzner is a consultant based in Washington, D.C. Her research and consulting work, on behalf of various governments, multilateral institutions, and think tanks and foundations, is focused on security sector reform, particularly monitoring and evaluation as well as the role of civil society and other forms of participation in post-conflict security sector reconstruction efforts. Previously, she served in the Obama administration as a speechwriter for former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, campaigned as an Obama 2008 staffer, and worked with the National Democratic Institute in Washington, D.C., Lebanon, and Jordan. She received her doctorate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and is a fellow of the World Peace Foundation.

About the coordinator and moderator:

Prof. Hashem Mekki, MA, has taught Arabic Language, Culture & Middle East Media at IWP since 2012. He is the owner of Bridge Language Solutions, providing an array of language translation, interpretation and teaching services to the Washington DC metropolitan area, and the founder of Kele Global, a nonprofit organization that promotes education, health, and economic empowerment in the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. He also teaches Arabic language to federal employees & professionals at the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy.

About the lecture: The rise of great power politics has resulted in a new, global competition for political influence. Alliances and partnerships are critical to expanding US influence, yet building these partnerships is challenging. This webinar will discuss the importance of these partnerships and suggest ways for the US to expand and strengthen them.

About the panelists:

Dr. Frank Marlo is Dean of Academics at The Institute of World Politics. He formerly served as a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He received his Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in May 2006. From January 2002 until January 2005, he served as Assistant for Counterproliferation Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy. He is the author of Planning Reagan’s War: Conservative Strategists and America’s Cold War Victory.

Ambassador Philip Hughes served as the United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean from November 1990 until July 1993. Prior to this ambassadorial appointment, he served as Executive Secretary of the National Security Council during 1989 and 1990. Ambassador Hughes is currently Senior Director of the White House Writers Group in Washington, DC.

Dr. Cailtin Schindler is a Research Professor at The Institute of World Politics and Adjunct Professor at Patrick Henry College. In addition to teaching, Dr. Schindler works for a U.S. Defense contractor providing subject matter expertise research and analysis to various government customers’ operations and programs. Dr. Schindler obtained a Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence from the Institute of World Politics in 2010 and completed her Ph.D. on the historical origins of U.S. public diplomacy at the University of Leeds. Dr. Schindler authored The Origins of Public Diplomacy in US Statecraft: Uncovering a Forgotten Tradition.

This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics.

About the lecture: After 20 years of White House National Security Strategies premised on the hope that great power competition might be mitigated by cooperation with China on counter-terrorism, financial governance or climate change, the Trump administration announced unapologetically in its 2017 National Security Strategy that the United States is in strategic competition with China. The same year the State Department introduced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy and brought back the US-Japan-Australia-India “Quad” to check Chinese expansion in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. No matter who wins the Presidency in November, these key pillars of U.S. strategy should continue. But serious changes are necessary or the strategy will fail. Over the next four years, the United States must re-invest in alliances, multilateral institutions, trade negotiations, and military deterrence or the framing of strategic competition with China will become hollow.

About the speaker: Michael Jonathan Green is senior vice president for Asia and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and director of Asian Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He served on the staff of the National Security Council (NSC) from 2001 through 2005, first as director for Asian affairs with responsibility for Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, and then as special assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for Asia, with responsibility for East Asia and South Asia. Before joining the NSC staff, he was a senior fellow for East Asian security at the Council on Foreign Relations, director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center and the Foreign Policy Institute and assistant professor at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, and senior adviser on Asia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also worked in Japan on the staff of a member of the National Diet.

Dr. Green is also a nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, a distinguished scholar at the Asia Pacific Institute in Tokyo, and professor by special appointment at Sophia University in Tokyo. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Aspen Strategy Group, the America Australia Leadership Dialogue, the advisory boards of Radio Free Asia and the Center for a New American Security, and the editorial boards of the Washington Quarterly and the Journal of Unification Studies in Korea. He also serves as a trustee at the Asia Foundation, senior adviser at the Asia Group, and associate of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Dr. Green has authored numerous books and articles on East Asian security, including most recently, By More Than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia Pacific Since 1783 (Columbia University Press, 2017). He received his master’s and doctoral degrees from SAIS and did additional graduate and postgraduate research at Tokyo University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Kenyon College with highest honors. He holds a black belt in Iaido (sword) and has won international prizes on the great highland bagpipe.