The Institute of World Politics

Combat historian, bestselling author, and public speaker Patrick K. O'Donnell has written ten critically acclaimed books that recount the epic stories of America's wars from the Revolution to Iraq. He is a premier expert on elite and special operations units and irregular warfare. O'Donnell's books are described as "nonfiction that read like fiction."

"Perhaps no war in American history has been more difficult to see through soldiers' eyes than the Revolutionary War. Patrick O'Donnell brings their experiences to life for twenty-first century readers in a way that no other historian has managed to do, accomplishing for the Revolutionary War what Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers did for World War II. The 1st Maryland Regiment participated in some of the most important battles of the war, gradually progressing from ordinary to elite status. Its story is the story of how the people of the United States became free."

-Edward G. Lengel, editor in chief of The Papers of George Washington and author of General George Washington

This talk by Vilen Khlgatyan focuses on the recent coup attempt in Turkey: a discussion on its causes, immediate and long term effects, and implications for regional security and geopolitics.

About the speaker:

Vilen Khlgatyan is the founder and president of Global Research Center (GRC). He specializes in the geopolitics of energy, non-kinetic warfare, and the post-Soviet region with an emphasis on the Caucasus.

In addition he is a principal at The Renovatio Group, a holistic business consulting firm.

Mr. Khlgatyan received his M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from The Institute of World Politics and his B.A. in International Business and International Relations from Webster University.​​

Ulan Bigozhin, a Visiting Scholar at George Mason University, gave this lecture at The Institute of World Politics on July 29, 2016.

About the lecture:

Central Asia is little understood, despite its geostrategic importance. Kazakh anthropologist Ulan Bigozhin will discuss several of the key dynamics in a region that is undergoing dramatic change. One of the most important of these is the evolution of the role of Islam in the region, which is impacting the manner in which Muslims perceive the relationship between their faith and their citizenship. The rise of a conservative brand of Islam within Central Asia is under-appreciated by many Western scholars who continue to believe that the legacy of atheism and secularism left by the Soviet system will continue to define the relationship between Islam and the Central Asian states for the foreseeable future. As we have seen in Turkey, however, this could change rapidly, with broad implications for the rest of the world.

The Soviet heritage in Central Asia does remain strong in certain areas, including the Russian influence in mass media and how that influence shapes popular views of Russia and the rest of the world, as well as the cultural influence Russia retains given the fact that the Russian language remains the lingua franca of the region (this despite the growth in the importance of English through the region).

Ultimately, Mr. Bigozhin urges the US and its Western allies to keep a strategic foothold in the region in order to not cede the region to its two giant, authoritarian neighbors, Russia and China, and also to help influence its political and social development and evolution as much as possible.

About the speaker:

Ulan Bigozhin is a Visiting Scholar at George Mason University, and a PhD candidate in anthropology at Indiana University. His scholarship focuses on Islam, state-society relations, and sacred families in Kazakhstan. He will defend his PhD dissertation, "State, Shrine, and Sacred Families in Post-Soviet Kazakhstan," in 2017.

This talk will address India's compelling security environment and challenges in the face of rising Chinese influence in the region. India's rising profile demands a proactive action towards international security, but poor policy planning and other factors have created huge challenges to current modernization efforts. India's new "Make in India" strategy provides opportunities to forge a stronger India-U.S. strategic partnership, one which hopes to counterbalance Chinese expansionism and launch India on a new path to modernization.

Air Marshal M Matheswaran was the Deputy Chief of Intergrated Defence Staff for the Indian Air Force until his retirement in 2014, and was responsible for Policy, Plans, and Force Development. Commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1975, he has held many important commands and staff appointments in his 39-year service career. He is currently President of Aerospace Business for Reliance Defence Ltd.

Alexander B. Gray is Senior Advisor to Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and Co-Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus. Since joining Chairman Forbes' staff in 2013, Mr. Gray has been responsible for his China Caucus portfolio, as well as handling the Congressman's broader foreign policy portfolio, focusing on Asia-Pacific security issues.

This event is co-sponsored by Puneet Ahluwalia of The Livingston Group.

The historical significance of sea power has been long since established. In 1890, naval expert Alfred Thayer Mahan authored a well-regarded and timeless book, "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" which outlined the influential history and perpetual importance of naval warfare. The concepts in Mahan's book have largely become a foundation for how experts currently regard naval strategy. Building off of these concepts, today's lecture will explain the impact of naval thought on the current geo-political system and the modern implications of naval supremacy.

owensDr. Mackubin Thomas Owens is Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor at The Institute of World Politics. He is a Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in Philadelphia, and editor of Orbis, FPRI's quarterly journal. He recently retired as Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. At the War College he specialized in the planning of US strategy and forces, especially naval and power projection forces; the political economy of national security; national security organization; strategic geography; and American civil-military relations. From 1990 to 1997, Dr. Owens was Editor-in-Chief of the quarterly defense journal Strategic Review and Adjunct Professor of International Relations at Boston University.

Before joining the faculty of the War College, Dr. Owens served as National Security Adviser to Senator Bob Kasten, Republican of Wisconsin, and Director of Legislative Affairs for the Nuclear Weapons Programs of the Department of Energy during the Reagan Administration. Dr. Owens is also a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, where as an infantry platoon and company commander in 1968-1969, he was wounded twice and awarded the Silver Star medal. He retired as a Colonel in 1994.

Dr. Owens earned his Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Dallas, a Master of Arts in Economics from Oklahoma University, and his BA from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has taught at the University of Rhode Island, the University of Dallas, Catholic University, Ashland University of Ohio, and the Marine Corps' School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW).

With intensifying international threats, nuclear proliferation has come under close scrutiny as nations attempt to establish security. Given the implications of North Korea's recent missile testing and tensions in the Mid-east, non-proliferation has become an increasingly relevant topic. Today's debate will evaluate the considerations for and against the U.S. supporting nuclear weapons development in South Korea.

Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. He worked as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan and editor of the political magazine Inquiry. He writes regularly for leading publications such as Forbes and National Interest and has been a regular commentator on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC. He holds a JD from Stanford University.

Paul Coyer covers foreign policy, with a focus on Eurasia, for Forbes, and is a Contributing Editor for Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy, published by the Institute for Religion and Democracy.

Richard Weitz is Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at Hudson Institute. His current research includes regional security developments relating to Europe, Eurasia, and East Asia as well as U.S. foreign and defense policies. Dr. Weitz is also an Expert at Wikistrat and a non-resident Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).

Dr. Erick Langer is Professor of Latin American History in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He served as the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgtown from 2009 to 2013. Prior to that, from 1999-2003, he served as Director of the Venezeula program at the Center. Dr. Langer has published numerous books and articles on Latin America, particularly in the area of indigenous movements in Latin America and in the history of Christian missions in the region. He has won numerous owards, including the Orden Award from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. Among the many additional hats that Dr. Langer wears, he serves as the senior editor of the Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture (2nd ed.), and is a news analyst on the Club de Prensa show on the Colombian news channel, NTN24.

Ms. Ana Quintana is Policy Analyst, Latin America and the Western Hemisphere at The Heritage Foundation's Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies. She leads the foundation's efforts with regard to U.S. policy toward Latin America. She concentrates largely on issues of security cooperation, democratic governance and economic freedom.

Dr. Paul Coyer covers foreign policy, with a focus on Eurasia, for Forbes, and is a Contributing Editor for Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy, published by the Institute for Religion and Democracy.

Dr. Erick Langer is Professor of Latin American History in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He served as the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgtown from 2009 to 2013. Prior to that, from 1999-2003, he served as Director of the Venezeula program at the Center. Dr. Langer has published numerous books and articles on Latin America, particularly in the area of indigenous movements in Latin America and in the history of Christian missions in the region. He has won numerous owards, including the Orden Award from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. Among the many additional hats that Dr. Langer wears, he serves as the senior editor of the Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture (2nd ed.), and is a news analyst on the Club de Prensa show on the Colombian news channel, NTN24.

Ms. Ana Quintana is Policy Analyst, Latin America and the Western Hemisphere at The Heritage Foundation's Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies. She leads the foundation's efforts with regard to U.S. policy toward Latin America. She concentrates largely on issues of security cooperation, democratic governance and economic freedom.

Dr. Paul Coyer covers foreign policy, with a focus on Eurasia, for Forbes, and is a Contributing Editor for Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy, published by the Institute for Religion and Democracy.

About the speaker:

Charles Snyder, a career intelligence officer and Africanist, has served in many different positions within the government.

After serving for 22 years in the Army, finishing with the rank of LTC, Mr. Snyder served as National Intelligence Officer for Africa, where he provided a detailed forecast of the potential impact of HIV/Aids. Previous to this project, Mr. Snyder worked as Senior Political-Military Advisor to the Africa Bureau, where he served on the team that mediated the Tripartite Agreement between Cuba, Angola, and South Africa.

Other positions Mr. Snyder has held include: Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; Director of the Office of Regional Affairs in the Africa Bureau; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civilian Police and African, Asian, European and Middle East Programs; and Senior Advisor to State Department's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL).

At IWP, Prof. Snyder teaches US-African Relations.

About the speaker:

Charles Snyder, a career intelligence officer and Africanist, has served in many different positions within the government.

After serving for 22 years in the Army, finishing with the rank of LTC, Mr. Snyder served as National Intelligence Officer for Africa, where he provided a detailed forecast of the potential impact of HIV/Aids. Previous to this project, Mr. Snyder worked as Senior Political-Military Advisor to the Africa Bureau, where he served on the team that mediated the Tripartite Agreement between Cuba, Angola, and South Africa.

Other positions Mr. Snyder has held include: Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; Director of the Office of Regional Affairs in the Africa Bureau; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civilian Police and African, Asian, European and Middle East Programs; and Senior Advisor to State Department's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL).

At IWP, Prof. Snyder teaches US-African Relations.