The Institute of World Politics

The Institute of World Politics Vice Chairman John Lovewell gave this address at Commencement on May 19, 2018 at the Fairmont Hotel.

CPT (P) Gregory Abide was Valedictorian of The Institute of World Politics Class of 2018. His Valedictory remarks were given at Commencement on May 19 at the Fairmont Hotel.

The Institute of World Politics Founder and President John Lenczowski gave this address at Commencement on May 19, 2018 at the Fairmont Hotel.

U.S. Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis addressed the Class of 2018 at The Institute of World Politics Commencement Ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel on Saturday, May 19.

Mamadou Niang presented a lecture on "Terrorist Threat in the Mali and Sahel Region" during the student symposium at The Institute of World Politics on May 17, 2018.

David Stoffey presented his paper "Chinese Economic and Security Statecraft in Central Asia" during the student symposium at The Institute of World Politics on May 17, 2018.

Erik Khzmalyan presented a lecture on "Russia's Pacific Fleet: History, Strategy, and Attempts for Revival" during the student symposium May 17, 2018 at the Institute of World Politics.

About the Panel: In August 2017, the White House unveiled a new South Asia Strategy presenting a narrow definition of victory through increased military firepower against ISIS, al-Qaida, and Taliban. While the President called for an expansion of rules of engagement for US military in Afghanistan, he also promised a harsher stance on Pakistan and a closer reliance on India in Afghanistan’s future. Nine months later, how much closer is the US and its allies towards stabilizing the complex security environment in Afghanistan? Our panelists will cover persistent challenges facing the country and its neighbors as the US endeavors upon a broader South Asia Strategy.

The Lost Kingdom: Memoir of an Afghan Prince

A lecture at The Institute of World Politics, May 8, 2018.

About the Book: His Royal Highness Prince Ali Seraj, a member of the royal family of Afghanistan, brings four decades of history to life—from the Cold War era when his famed nightclub in Kabul was a hotspot for global celebrities, jetsetters, and spies, to the communist Soviet takeover that killed members of his family, put a price on Prince Ali’s head, and forced him to make a harrowing escape from his homeland in disguise with his American wife and family.

Prince Seraj’s intimate and historic portrait of modern Afghanistan tells the inside story of a proud, ancient culture grappling with a turbulent history of invasion and transformation. His passionate and adventure-filled story opens a new door to understand a nation irrevocably linked to the stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and to the United States.

About the Author: Prince Ali Seraj is a direct descendant of nine generations of Kings of Afghanistan. He is the nephew of His Majesty King Amanullah (1919-1929), known as the Victor of Afghanistan, the grandson of His Majesty Amir Habibullah (1901-1919), the great-grandson of His Majesty Amir Abdurrahman (1880-1901), known as the Iron King. His ancestry continues on to His Majesty Amir Dost Mohammad who assumed the throne in 1827.

After the communist coup d'états in 1978, Prince Ali escaped to the United States and made a successful career in business development, sales, and marketing. He also helped establish several multi-million dollar businesses in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. Prince Ali worked very closely with the Reagan and Bush administrations during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. attack on the Taliban/Al Qaeda, respectively. He returned to Afghanistan after decades of exile to continue his charitable work. Since then, Prince Ali has developed a very important relationship with all the different tribes in Afghanistan as a result of his involvement with his country's people. Due to this relationship, Prince Ali has embarked on a mission to unite the Tribes as one, and established a movement under the name, "National Coalition for Dialogue with Tribes of Afghanistan."

Today, Prince Ali assists NATO commanders with setting up meetings among tribal and religious elders to establish a dialogue of common understanding between Coalition Forces and locals. He is also assisting ISAF commanders in establishing a security network in the district of Kabul through his contacts with different tribal elders.

Prince Ali will discuss his recently released memoir, The Lost Kingdom: Memoir of an Afghan Prince.

Russian Lobby in Belarus: Could Belarus be the Next after Ukraine?

A lecture at The Institute of World Politics, May 8, 2018

About the lecture:

After the occupation of Crimea, Russia began to expand its presence in Belarus. Hundreds of Russia-backed initiatives, formally cultural, media, or educational, emerged. Besides that, Sputnik opened its office in Minsk and had almost 1400% audience growth during two years. We observe increasing polarization between pro-Western and pro-Russian Belarusians, which apparently could lead to open conflict.

About the speaker:

Franak Viačorka is an M.A. candidate at American University in New Media, Democracy, and International Affairs. Previously, he studied at the College of Europe (2017), Warsaw University (2010-2014), and Belarus State University (2005-2008). Currently, he works for the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Belarus service. Franak is a Vaclav Havel Fellow, nominated by Vaclav Havel himself, and also the laureate of the Civil Society Leadership Award.

Franak is the founder and vice president of Belarusian cultural initiative Art Siadziba. In 2014, after the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity, he launched a nation-wide campaign promoting the national identity of Belarus, which followed up in so-called "soft Belarussization." Before that, Viacorka served as a leader of the youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front (BNF). He has been arrested four times and was tortured while serving under forced conscription in the Belarusian army. In Belarusian army, he was fighting for the right to speak Belarusian. His personal story became the plot for the award-winning Polish-French movie Viva Belarus.