AGS International Graduate Student Conference 2019:

The New Landscape of International Relations:
Globalism vs Populism

Event date: Friday, April 26, 2019
Event Location: American Graduate School in Paris, 101 Blvd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France

Abstract Due: February 18 (extended deadline)

The American Graduate School in Paris (AGS) is now accepting paper submissions for its 2019 International Graduate Student Conference on the theme: The New Landscape of International Relations: Globalism vs Populism?

Theme and objectives

Globalism’s intermingling of ideas, livelihoods, and people is creating a schism between and within states. The great schisms in the past revolved around Capitalism vs Communism, Left vs Right, Social Conservative vs Social Liberal, etc. The new schism pulls people from both left and right to deposit them into modern political and social affiliations with names such as Cosmopolitan vs Nationalist, Closed Society vs Open Society, Populist vs Pluralist, the Haves vs the Have-Nots, etc. At its root is the oldest concept of all – Us vs Them.

This one-day conference will look at how the rise of populism and ethnocentrism is challenging globalism, and how these forces and the tension between them are affecting various aspects of international affairs. We hope to bring together inquisitive graduate and postgraduate students, as well as practitioners from NGOs, government agencies and intergovernmental organizations to review and assess, that which challenges the notions of globalism and populism in today’s international arena. This conference seeks to expand the discourse on the political, economic and social implications and drivers of globalism as nations reexamine policies in response to rising populism, as well as further our understanding of the various causes and drivers of populism. Attendance is open to all.

Note that the topic you choose should relate back to the field of International Relations.

What are drivers of the populist trend:

Economic, identity, political, e.g., America First.

What are possible consequences of adopting populist policies:

For the people of that country, inter-state relations, businesses, the environment, and the regional or international alliances with global governance, e.g., Brexit.

What are possible solutions:

In managing changes caused by populist policies, and more globalization, e.g., immigration, refugees, expats, businesses, etc.

List of possible themes, or possible topics to expound further:

Economics and Globalism:

Globalization’s Deficiencies, Globalization’s Lack of Environmental Sustainability in a Growing Economy, Cultural Globalization, Global Economic Interdependence, The Elephant Chart, Economic neocolonialism, Contemporary Consumption; Transnational Corporations.

Identity and populism:

Cultural Globalization, Migrants/Refugees Influence on Populism or Brexit, Populism vs Nationalism vs Globalism vs Cosmopolitanism, Sovereignty, Identity Politics; Mobs and Militias – the Rise of Violent Extremism, Populism in Africa, Brexit & Other Secessions.

Global Governance:

Big Power Countries Choices, International vs Domestic Law, Insufficient Global Governance, Transnational Corporations, Geopolitics.

This conference is organized by graduate students enrolled in the M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy program conducted at the American Graduate School in Paris in partnership with Arcadia University. It is coordinated by Erik Caufield (M.A. Candidate 2019) and Tiffany Sparks (M.A. Candidate 2020) under the faculty supervision of Professor Ruchi Anand. Selected conference papers will be published in the Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development, an online, open-source, peer-reviewed academic journal published jointly by Arcadia University and the American Graduate School in Paris (https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/agsjournal/).

Date and location

The AGS International Graduate Student Conference will take place on Friday, April 26th, 2019 in Paris, from 9 am to 6 pm. The conference will be followed by a reception. It will be held at the American Graduate School in Paris, in the 6th arrondissement, a five-minute walk from the Luxembourg Gardens and the French Senate.

Who can submit

This is a conference intended for graduate students, but senior undergraduates with a faculty recommendation, professors, academics, and professionals in the fields relating to the conference theme may also apply.

How to submit

Abstracts should be 200 to 350 words and submitted electronically to conference@ags.edu as an attachment (Microsoft Word or PDF). The subject line should include the name of the candidate as well as “AGS Conference Abstract Submission.” Please also give a potential, if not finalized, a title for your paper/presentation.

•   Additional information to include in the submission:

•   Research topic/ topic of your paper, methodology (if applicable)

•   University affiliation (degrees earned and those in the process of concentration and completion)

•   Professional affiliation (if applicable)

•   If the applicant has a prior conference presentation experience

•   Letter of reference from institution faculty (required for senior undergraduate students)

Full papers are not necessary but highly suggested before the final presentation. Note that for submissions selected for publication in the Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development, a completed draft will be required two weeks after the conference.

Submission deadlines

• Abstract: 18 February 2019 (extended deadline)

• Working draft (suggested, not required): 21 April 2019

Fees and Conditions

Fees

All accepted candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable 50-euro registration fee (payable at www.ags.edu/payment-online/login.php) that will help pay for organizational and administrative costs. Fees are due from accepted candidates within 10 days of receiving the acceptance letter. Attendance of those who do not present a paper is free. Snacks and meals may be consumed at an additional charge.

This fee does not cover personal costs to the applicant, such as transportation, accommodation, etc.

Visa

The conference committee may provide visa letters upon request to accepted candidates and moderators. In addition to verifying attendance at the conference, candidates may be asked to sign a visa liability agreement and provide a letter of attestation from their school. Please note that participants are responsible for fulfilling the visa procedure according to their home country’s rules and regulations in connection to entering France.

Housing and transportation

For information on housing and transportation to the venue, please go to www.ags.edu/conference/practical-info

Contact

For any questions about the conference, please feel free to contact Erik Caufield or Tiffany Sparks, the Student Conference Coordinators:

Graduate Student Conference Committee
American Graduate School in Paris
101, Boulevard Raspail
75006 Paris, France

+33 (0)1 47 20 00 94

Email:  conference@ags.edu

Refugee Politics in International Relations

Friday, April 27, 2018

Theme and objectives

The 2018 edition of the AGS annual International Graduate Student Conference will focus on the theme "Refugee Politics in International Relations".

This conference will bring together inquisitive graduate students and scholars as well as practitioners from NGOs, government agencies and intergovernmental organizations to review, assess, and challenge the notions of displacement in today’s international arena. It will seek to expand the discourse on the political, economic and social implications of migration as nations reexamine policies in response to these crises, as well as further our understanding of the various causes and drivers of displacement. It will look as these issues in relation to such aspects as conflict, international law, human rights, security, identity, and transcultural exchange.

This conference is organized by graduate students enrolled in the M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy program conducted at the American Graduate School in Paris in partnership with Arcadia University. It is coordinated by Chloe Bingham (M.A. Candidate 2018) under the faculty supervision of Professor Ruchi Anand.

It will be hosted at the American Graduate School in Paris, in the 6^th arrondissement - five minutes from the Luxembourg Gardens and the French Senate.

Program details will be posted here soon.

Open to all. Attendance is free. If you would like to attend please RSVP at conference@ags.edu.

See call for papers

The New Landscape of International Relations:

Globalism vs Populism

Event date: Friday, April 26, 2019, from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm
Event Location: American Graduate School in Paris, 101 Blvd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France

Globalism’s intermingling of ideas, livelihoods, and people is creating a schism between and within states. The great schisms in the past revolved around Capitalism vs Communism, Left vs Right, Social Conservative vs Social Liberal, etc. The new schism pulls people from both left and right to deposit them into modern political and social affiliations with names such as Cosmopolitan vs Nationalist, Closed Society vs Open Society, Populist vs Pluralist, the Haves vs the Have-Nots, etc. At its root is the oldest concept of all – Us vs Them.

This one-day conference will look at how the rise of populism and ethnocentrism is challenging globalism, and how these forces and the tension between them are affecting various aspects of international affairs. We hope to bring together inquisitive graduate and postgraduate students, as well as practitioners from NGOs, government agencies and intergovernmental organizations to review and assess, that which challenges the notions of globalism and populism in today’s international arena. This conference seeks to expand the discourse on the political, economic and social implications and drivers of globalism as nations reexamine policies in response to rising populism, as well as further our understanding of the various causes and drivers of populism. Attendance is open to all.

Schalors and graduate students from the US, the UK, Germany, France, Czech Republic, anfd Egypt will present their research on these issues. The first panel will look at the rise of populism as a general trend in the world today, the second panel will focus on specific nationalist discourses underpinning that trend.

The keynote panel will feature Clara Rachel Eubalin Casseus, an independent researcher specializing on issues related to migration, diaspora, and identity politics. Ms Eybalin Casseus holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Poitiers and was a visiting fellow at the University of London and the University of Birmingham and authored Globalism to Globalectics: the Making of Transnational Citizenship Through Memory. She will discuss the treatment of migration from the perspective of the countries of origin and diasporic policies, charactereized by nationalist approaches. 

This conference is organized by graduate students enrolled in the M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy program conducted at the American Graduate School in Paris in partnership with Arcadia University. It is coordinated by Erik Caufield (M.A. Candidate 2019) and Tiffany Sparks (M.A. Candidate 2020) under the faculty supervision of Professor Ruchi Anand. Selected conference papers will be published in the Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development, an online, open-source, peer-reviewed academic journal published jointly by Arcadia University and the American Graduate School in Paris (https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/agsjournal/).

Date and location

The AGS International Graduate Student Conference will take place on Friday, April 26th, 2019 in Paris, from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. The conference will be followed by a reception. It will be held at the American Graduate School in Paris, in the 6th arrondissement, a five-minute walk from the Luxembourg Gardens and the French Senate.

Attendance is free and open to all. To register please RSVP at conference@ags.edu.

SEE CONFERENCE PROGRAM

SEE CALL FOR PAPERS

AGS International Graduate Student Conference 2018:

Refugee Politics in International Relations

Friday, April 27, 2018

101 Boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris

The American Graduate School in Paris (AGS) is now accepting paper submissions for its 2018 International Graduate Student Conference, on the theme: Refugee Politics in International Relations.

Theme and objectives

This one-day conference will look at how the recent influx of migration and refugee movement has affected various aspects of international affairs. It hopes to bring together inquisitive graduate students and scholars as well as practitioners from NGOs, government agencies and intergovernmental organizations to review, assess, and challenge the notions of displacement in today’s international arena. It seeks to expand the discourse on the political, economic and social implications of migration as nations reexamine policies in response to these crises, as well as further our understanding of the various causes and drivers of displacement. Attendance is open to all.

Possible topics could include but are not limited to:

• Impact of Sovereignty and State Borders on Refugee Politics

• Movement of Refugees and Conflict

• Refugees and Security

• International Law of Refugees

• Refugee Rights and Repatriation

• Refugees and Citizenship

• Diaspora Communities and Refugees

• UNHCR and Refugee Politics

• EU Open Borders and Refugee Politics

• Identity politics of Refugees

• Asylum and Refugees

• Refugees and military intervention

• Refugee politics from a feminist perspective

• Humanitarian issues and asylum seekers

• Securitization of borders; sovereignty versus human rights

• Anthropological effects of transcultural exchange

For more options, please refer to Refugees in International Relations (Alexander Betts, Gil Loescher, Eds, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).

This conference is organized by graduate students enrolled in the M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy program conducted at the American Graduate School in Paris in partnership with Arcadia University. It is coordinated by Chloe Bingham (M.A. Candidate 2018) under the faculty supervision of Professor Ruchi Anand.

Selected conference papers will be published in the Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development, an online, open-source, peer-reviewed academic journal published jointly by Arcadia University and the American Graduate School in Paris.

Date and location

The AGS International Graduate Student Conference will take place on Friday, April 27^th 2018 in Paris, from 9 am to 6 pm.

It will be held at the American Graduate School in Paris, in the 6^th arrondissement - five minutes from the Luxembourg Gardens and the French Senate.

Who can submit?

This is a conference intended for graduate students, but senior undergraduates with a faculty recommendation, professors, academics, and professionals in the fields relating to the conference theme may also apply.

How to submit?

Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words and submitted electronically to conference@ags.edu as an attachment (Microsoft Word or PDF). The subject line should include the name of the candidate as well as “AGS Conference Abstract Submission.” Please also give a potential, if not finalized, title for your paper/presentation.

Additional information to include in submission:

• Research question

• University affiliation (degrees earned and those in the process of concentration and completion)

• Professional affiliation (if applicable)

• If the applicant has prior conference presentation experience

• Letter of reference from institution faculty (required for senior undergraduate students)

Full papers are not required, but highly suggested before the final presentation.

Note that for presentations selected for publication in the Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development, a completed draft will be required two weeks after the conference.

Submission deadlines

Abstract: March 26 (extended deadline)

Working draft (suggested, not required): April 20, 2018

Fees and Conditions

Fees

All accepted candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable 35-euro registration fee (payable at www.ags.edu/payment-online/login.php) that will help pay for organizational and administrative costs. This fee does not cover personal costs to the applicant, such as transportation, accommodation, etc. Fees are due from accepted candidates within 10 days of receiving the acceptance letter.

Attendance of those who do not present a paper is free.

Visa

The conference committee will provide visa letters upon request to accepted candidates and moderators. In addition to verifying attendance to the conference, candidates may be asked to sign a visa liability agreement. Please note that participants are responsible for fulfilling the visa procedure according to their home country’s rules and regulations in connection to entering France.

Housing and transportation

For information on housing and transportation to the venue please click here

Contact

Graduate Student Conference Committee
American Graduate School in Paris
101, Boulevard Raspail
75006 Paris, France

+33 (0)1 47 20 00 94

Email: conference@ags.edu

For any questions about the conference, please feel free to contact Chloe Bingham, the Student Conference Coordinator, at conference@ags.edu.

American Graduate School in Paris, France, September 25^th, 2017

"One of the things that we suffer from is that people take sides. Whether you are pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian. And you make a conflict in your country – between Jews, Muslims, Christians… you take a stand. And people used to deal with that before but today there is a price, a terrible price, because people are dying because of that – in your country, in our country.

One of the things that bring me outside the country is that speaking to you is so important, because you are part of it, whether you are directly part of it or not. I think that radical and terrorist movements have used this conflict a lot, including politicians and governments. So one of the reasons that we are here is because we don’t want to be used. And we cannot be used if we are clear about what we want and speak with one voice. And here, I have to say that it’s hard. It’s much easier to be part of the problem, but being part of the solution is really hard. Especially for someone like me.

I’m a Palestinian, I come from a refugee family from 1948, I’ve carried this heavy, bleeding narrative in my heart all of my life. Then I opened my eyes and I realized that I was born to a very political mother. My mother was one of the leaders of PLO; she was leading the Fatah movement with Arafat since the 1970s, and I encountered the conflict, I encountered the Jews, and I experienced, I breathed the occupation every day.

When I was a child, I saw her beaten in front of my eyes. There, you don’t need an ideology to hate. You lose your mind. I was just a child, who wanted to grow up normally. Sometimes, I’m amazed, especially when Jewish people ask me: “Why, you, Palestinians, educate your kids to hate?” Then I come up with this answer that if you grow up like this, I don’t think you need a specific curriculum for hate. It does the job for you. And this is what we are having, every day.

Just imagine: you open your eyes in the morning, you cannot think about any future. It could take you sometimes two hours to reach your school, which normally takes ten minutes. You come home with tear gas, with no school bag because you ran away from the soldiers, maybe with a rubber bullet, and you see your father being slapped on his face by a 19-year old soldier. And you live in a home that has no water – just imagine – your house has no water for 25 days during the month. No water. It’s still happening today. So what? You will not be a Mandela.

So in 1987, I found myself coming to the street where the first Palestinian uprising started, and throwing stones on Israeli soldiers. Not because I was a fanatic, not because I was a terrorist, but that was my only way to scream and to show the whole world that I deserved to live with dignity – that’s all I wanted. I was arrested, and then I was released, then I was arrested again, and in 1990 I was arrested with my mother. She spent five years in prison; I spent four years in an Israeli prison.

Here, I can say that when the military court gave me ten years to prison, I was totally broken, because I felt that that was unjust, because the only thing that the Israeli Shabak wanted was information about my mother. So they tortured me for one month and six days, physically. You cannot imagine. Some Palestinians lost their lives in that torture. But I refused. I refused to give any evidence against my mother. So there was a promise to throw me ten years to prison. And I couldn’t believe it. When the judge gave me ten years, I almost fell down. I couldn’t imagine – I was 17 years old – that the next ten years of my life, I was going to spend in prison because I threw stones at Israeli soldiers. And this is what happened.

So now you have to deal with it. You’re still breathing – you’re not alive exactly, but you’re still breathing – and you have to show that you are a hero, because you are the son of a hero, and people look at you as a leader. So what do you do? So with this broken heart, I went to prison, but I didn’t realize that I was going to one of the best universities that you can imagine, because Palestinian political prisoners succeed in creating a whole system to lead and manage their daily life. There were professors, lawyers, teachers… they created five committees: committee of education, security, management, national, and negotiation court. I always say that if a Palestinian were to create the same system outside, it would be the best nation! And that’s really what happened. So my best education, that has much influenced me and was better, I can say, that even a university, was in prison, studying psychology, politics, Judaism, Christianity, all kinds of subjects. The best travel agent was a book: if you want to travel from prison, you grab a book, and there you go on a journey. That was how I experienced different cultures.

But the big lesson was: during three years I was asking the Israeli authorities to allow me to visit my mother in her other prison. Israel refused. So in 1993, after three years, she and I decided to have a hunger strike. So we entered a hunger strike that continued for 17 days, starving everyday just to see each other. And after 17 days of that fight, we managed to meet. And that was my first transformation. Not by meeting Israelis, not by seeing the humanity of the other, not by these nice values of peace: it was targeting my mind before my heart. What is this weapon that I was too blind to see? What is nonviolence? Why did Israel agree? They could have let me die. And I started to dig into and learn about nonviolence and nonviolent struggle.

And finally, I realized that this effective weapon, I had never used before because I was stuck, and my blindness came from my rightness and anger, but deep under, I was led by being a victim. When you consider yourself as a victim, you give yourself the right to do whatever, and no one has the right even to judge you or to punish you. And this is the hidden psychology and the hidden psyche of the Jewish people and the Palestinians. And that is what keeps this conflict going. Which is right.

So finally, by also a peace initiative, I was released after four years, but I couldn’t really be part of that process. And I’ll tell you why the peace process has failed in my opinion. I think that we Palestinians, before the Oslo peace initiative that was signed in 1993, we used to have one identity: to prove our belonging to Palestine and to practice our identity as Palestinians. That identity means: “revolution”. We are the people of the Intifada (the uprising). We are the people of PLO, the resistance. These words are values of our identity. So after the signing of the peace agreement in Oslo, we were expected to do a huge shift from being part of a revolution to being part of a country, a society, to become citizens, not fighters. But we didn’t make the shift. The Israeli continuation of the occupation didn’t allow us to do that. The corruption of part of our leadership didn’t allow us to do that.

The big arguments between different political parties were that Fatah couldn’t prove that peace was welcomed and could lead us to our legal right of independence; then Hamas also couldn’t prove that violence was working. And the international investment in our conflict continued, because we are a good market for outsiders. We are a good market for the Western world, with its politics, for the congress, and for the Arab world. We are a good market to invest hate – by ourselves, because we allow others to do that with us and for us.

So by the end of the day, 2,000 Palestinians had lost their way to practice their identity. Shall we fight as a right? No, it’s not working. Should we go to peace and become citizens? It’s also not working. But there is a new reality on the ground that the Palestinian authority is there.

So on the one hand you pay wealth taxes every month to an authority that doesn’t guarantee freedom of movement as a basic right of any human being. So we become confused. That’s why the whole process has blown up. Peace collapsed, our hope collapsed, and then Israel came with new actions on the ground, and new facts, including this wall. And they’re still there, and I still believe that this wall has nothing to do with security, because hundreds, tens of thousands of Palestinians every day illegally pass and go to Israel for work. But this law has designed a new political, geographic, demographic fact on the ground.

But on the other hand, this wall is like a psychological treatment of the Jewish fear – because it defends them, and as long as this defends me, I cannot argue if this wall is legal or not, because it’s my life, and I can understand that. On the other hand, I’m sure it prevents from attacks, but it cannot prevent totally from attacks. Because when people lose their fear of dying, you cannot stop them. They will dig, they will jump, and this is what happens. So it’s not about exactly security, because in my opinion, security cannot be achieved by using people’s fear, by authorizing others, by pressuring another nation. As my argument today, we cannot achieve freedom by killing others. It doesn’t work. You don’t need to be Gandhi to realize that. And my last statement is very clear: our freedom shouldn’t pass through Jewish bodies, graves; it has to pass through Jewish hearts. Because there is enough humanity there – but I didn’t grow up with this, because of my life condition.

So finally, in 2000, the fight started. I couldn’t really find myself a fighter or a citizen. But people expect from you as a leader to come up with things and I couldn’t come up with things; I couldn’t give answers. One day I was badly wounded by a settler who was driving and using his weapon against Palestinians. I was sent to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment because I got this dumdum-exploding bullet in my knee. I was really in a difficult situation. A month later, I received the news that my older brother Youssef, 31 years old, was stopped by a group of Israeli soldiers at the entrance of my town, Beit Ummar, near Hebron, and very violently murdered.

So now, what do you do? I mean, all of my life was about a price that I had to pay, but that price was different. I experienced what it means to lose rights, what it means to lose land, and I could deal with that. But loosing him, for me, was like loosing my best reason for life. I mean, after him, nothing was worth anything. I promise you, I would be ready to do anything that you can imagine just to bring him back to his kids.

Then another struggle had started. What shall I do? I used to be a fighter. I know how to use weapons – I was trained. Yes, I have never used them, but I will be ready to go for revenge, punishment, because the murderer of my brother just murdered him for no reason. Even the officer of that unit slapped that soldier on his face, took his weapon, and threw him out. But this is not enough. That soldier has never been to prison, has never been to justice. So in general, when this happens to any human being, the first reaction is revenge. And you are right, it is legitimate, and you go for it. But something inside me rejected that because I suddenly thought: if revenge is about seeking justice, if revenge is a just act against the killer, what is justice? That is a big question. I couldn’t really know what justice was.

Then I went back with my memories to prison where I started learning about nonviolence, and I remembered reading Malcolm X, when he said: “Justice is just us.” I couldn’t really understand what he meant by saying that. But I rejected any revenge – not by lack of anger: I was so angry and ready to take revenge, but then I said: how many people shall I kill? What could replace this feeling of having him? Is it by killing ten million people, Israelis, Jews? I will not be happy because he is not there anymore. The only justice for me would be to have him back to his kids – that would be justice. Does it mean that there is no justice in life? That’s a big question. Then I realized that I was stuck with this. Because, yes, part of me believes that there is no 100% justice in life, because you cannot bring a broken hand to be the same as before it was broken. You will never have that. But you can heal it. That, for me, is sort of justice – but there is no complete justice in life.

And from there, I started a journey after my mother, a year later, hosted Israeli bereaved parents who called us, asking to come and visit us. And I was shocked. Because Israelis used to come to my home but they never called. They used to come and damage and arrest, they never paid condolences, they never showed humanity. And suddenly, my mother was hosting them. And I promise you – I was born in 1972 and that meeting happened in 2001 – that was the first time that I sat with an Israeli who was crying. I couldn’t believe that Jewish people had tears, until that minute. And suddenly, the devil had a face, and that face was human, and that mother or that father had paid the same price as my mother. And suddenly, there was an earthquake inside my heart. It was so hard to put a human face to my enemy.

I started a long, complex journey that brought me to places where I would never have imagined being, and finally, to coming and speaking – not to the people that I agree with, because talking to the Israeli leftists is nice, but what about the core of the problem? 600,000 settlers: these are the people that need transformation, or at least need to be engaged. Yes, I do have deep political arguments and disagreement. Because in my opinion, settlement is an illegal political act based on a legitimate political, ideological identity for the Jewish people – this is how they think. And dialogue is not to ask people to change their identity. Peace is not giving up our identity – who we are. Peace is giving up our behaviors. Occupation is a behavior. This is what we need to argue, not Judaism. Right of return, “refugeness”, are a behavior. This is what has to be healed in a way or another, by creating a new environment that will guarantee for these two identities to live with respect.

So design it: one State, two States, three States… as long as people will agree about that, we are fine with that. But with my sorrow, until today, we are not ready for that. What can make us ready? One is the best engagement between two identities for Palestinians; two: to have resistance, but nonviolent resistance; and also, to develop our life and to take responsibility. Because we cannot say that occupation is guilty of our violence. That has to stop. We have to take responsibility, because our freedom is stuck there.

On the other hand, Jewish people have a lot of homework to be done. Starting with overcoming the Jewish fear that has become our biggest enemy, but also to find and support partners on the ground who are making a difference, and to stop criticizing everyone and wanting to throw them to the sea. Israelis have to learn how to engage, not to disengage. That’s the only way that Israel can be saved. And the only people that Israel can engage with, in the first place, are the Palestinians. And we know that, because we come from the ground.

So finally, I created this nonviolent center, in Goush Etzion, where the heart of the problem is, four years ago. Many people, friends of mine, told me that I had lost my mind, that Israelis were going to kill me, the settlers were going to take over… And for the past four years, until today, I have received more than 30,000 people to that peace of land, from all over the world, including Israelis and Palestinians.

But the best thing that has happened is: after Roots, I succeeded, with community leaders, for the first time, to create a Palestinian national nonviolence movement, to build a new identity of nonviolent resistance and nonviolent development. It’s called Taghyeer – Change in English. This is the movement that I am really now invested in, because my dream is to see hundreds of thousands of Palestinians on the first place struggling and standing for their rights, nonviolently, with this message of dignity. That’s the key.

Our politicians will tell you that the ball is on the Israeli yard, because these are the occupiers. In my opinion, they key is in the Palestinian hands. The minute that we stand nonviolently, Israelis will stand by us. Because I believe, through experience, that there is enough humanity in our area to promote peace and nonviolence.

[Audience: How do you go from this narrative of having your enemy facing you everyday, coming to your home, to loving him? Where along the way have you found this humanity to love your enemy?]

I’m not sure it’s about loving our enemy. I have an argument for that – because sometimes we listen to these nice things: “love your enemy”, etc. I think it’s mostly about responsibility. I mean: what is the interest of Israel today? To secure its citizens, right? What is the interest of the Palestinians? To get rid of the occupation. So it’s mostly about mind before heart. Because people are traumatized – Israelis and Palestinians are totally traumatized. If you keep acting for peace with hugs, hummus, five-star peace conferences, the whole world invites us and treats us as heroes because we are the peacemakers. And these nice NGOs who have invested millions of dollars on the salaries, which can feed my village for one year… there is also so much dirt there.

So the first question has to be: what is the best for me? How do we create interest? That security and freedom can be achieved by nonviolence – that’s first. Second: meeting the other is so important. Dialogue, in my opinion, is not heart agreement. Dialogue is to create a secure environment for argument. People need to feel secure to argue. Not to love – to argue first, because you cannot start with love. We don’t love each other, but we share the same destiny.

What does that mean? What is the future of Israel, having four million Palestinians and five million outside? What is the future of Palestine when Israel has six million inside and some millions outside, 17 million Jews? Are they going to disappear tomorrow? They will not. Are they going to give up their rights? They will not. It’s the opposite. Both sides will fight until the last drop of blood. Because this is the only place where we belong. Not just that: this is the only place where we want to live. And not just that: this is the place where everyone around us doesn’t want us. If Jews think that the Arab world wants the Palestinians they are making a big mistake. If we think that Americans want the Jews, we are making a big mistake. But we need to learn that together.

We need to create benefits from peace. There is a psychological benefit from revenge, because it feeds our anger and hatred. But it victimizes us – we don’t see that. But there is a great benefit from nonviolence: it gives us a taste of life. My life didn’t become better, my conditions are the same – even worse, because now, I’m carrying two nations on my shoulder, and they are so heavy… but my life today has a taste. So my interest is also through my mind.

So how do we bring them? First, we create a framework, because Palestinians will not come just to meet Israelis and go back to their refugee camps. This will not be enough; the peace movement has to learn that lesson. What will bring them is to guarantee two things for them: a place for their anger to come out without harming themselves or anyone, which is nonviolence; and on the other hand a place that they will benefit for their life, from their engagement in peace-building: to have bread on their tables, to have water in their houses… This is what the peace movement is missing.

And finally, I’m not sure it’s about marriage, love, but it’s not about divorce either. I used to think it was about divorce: two States, we need to divorce, then we will be ready to get married again. No, we cannot do that. We need a relation of covenant. Nobody is authorizing anyone, but also it will prepare us maybe to get married, but if we don’t get married, we will not separate. Two states acting with deep cooperation in all values of life, including security and staff: this is my political vision. Because we cannot live without each other, we know that very well. If you ask a Palestinian “do you want Israel to disappear tomorrow?” they will say “no, but we don’t want the occupation”. If you ask Israelis “who is the closest people to you?” they will tell you Palestinians, more than Syrians, more than Jordanians, more than whatever. So it’s about managing it in a framework.

People need to feel secure to admit for their mistakes. Why this competition of suffering? I’m telling you: because if you criticize one side, it will become defensive. And this is what I’m experiencing with Jewish people who live in France, because the whole movement is against them, so you put them in a corner, then they become defensive. No. We need to create a secure environment for them to stand and end the occupation. Because it’s their job, but it’s by us, whether we are Muslims, Christians, Buddhists… whatever. This is hard, this is really hard, because the judgment is very clear: Israel is the occupier. Should we compliment the Jews for that? No, you are not complimenting the Jews. But you are helping also the Jews, and by helping them, you are helping me. By threatening them, you are victimizing me, because I’m the one who is dying over there.

So that is the deep value of nonviolence that we want the international community to understand. We want Trump to understand that investing in Israel and supporting Israel blindly, you are killing Israel, you are not killing the Palestinians. Because this blindness is disengaging Israel from a normal future with its neighbors. You cannot do that, because one day, it will blow up. And here, what are we facing? In France, in Europe, in America, these attacks are the consequences of the Western politics that we face and you are not aware of. And before you discuss hoping to open your borders for refugees don’t create them. Don’t send your Marines to Iraq to bring down Saddam Hussein, and you bring down a dictator but you create fanatics. That Middle East has been damaged. People think it was an Arab Spring – it was an Arab winter. Because you cannot bring down a dictator and have the whole country collapse. I agree: Hosni Mubarak in Egypt was a dictator, but bringing him down with killing all of Egypt was not the right thing to do. Look at the consequences. Look at Syria. And stop blaming Muslims. You want us to be closer to the Jews? Don’t push us to the corner, don’t label us fanatics. It’s not Islam, it’s Muslims, it’s their behavior, it’s not their ideology. And by the way, in Islam, in Judaism, in Christianity, there are enough crimes and enough acts of reconciliation. It’s up to you to choose. You can have legitimacy for violence and war and you can have legitimacy for peace. So let’s stop this argument between religions – the issue is about the people."

Keynote speakers

Georges Vivien Houngbonon

Georges Vivien Houngbonon is an economist and currently the president of a think-tank called L'Afrique des Idées. His research interests include, but are not limited to, Industrial Organization, Development Economics, and Econometrics.

Georges Vivien Houngbonon holds a Ph.D in Economics from l'Ecole d'Economie de Paris, a Master's degree in Public Policy and Development by PSEa and a Graduate Diploma in Statistical Engineering from l'ENSAE, Sénégal.

Marc Raffinot

Marc Raffinot is a senior lecturer in LEDa-DIAL at University Paris IX-Dauphine, France. He is a Member of the French Association of Economists, the French Association of Development Economists, the Association Française de Comptabilité Nationale, and the Société Française de l’Evaluation. His area of expertise expertise includes, but is not limited to, Macroeconomics, Macro-Modelisation, and Financial Progamming.

Marc Raffinot holds a Ph.D in Economics from University Paris VIII, France.

Moderators

Patrick Clairzier

Patrick Clairzier specializes in Haitian politics, neoliberalism, the political economy of developing countries, and global inequalities. He is a Ph.D. Candidate at the American Graduate School in Paris; the working title of his dissertation is: "Beyond the Neoliberal Free Trade Development Paradigm: The Potential of Cooperative Ownership in the Haitian Apparel Industry". Patrick Clairzier also teaches American Law and Environmental Law at the University of Cergy-Pontoise. 

Bertrand de Largentaye

Bertrand de Largentaye has a forty-year experience as a policy expert in the French government and EU institutions. He currently teaches at the American Graduate School, Science-Po and the Ecole de Management du pôle universitaire Léonard de Vinci. He is a member of the Management Council and Strategic Orientation Council of the Institut des Hautes Etudes d'Amérique Latine (IHEAL). Bertrand de Largentaye has a degree from ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administation), France.

Douglas Yates

Douglas Yates is a political scientist, specialized in African politics. He teaches at the American Graduate School and also is an associate professor at the Université de Cergy-Pontoise. His latest book is entitled The Scramble for African Oil: Oppression, Corruption and War for Control of Africa's Natural Resources (London: Pluto Press, 2012).

Douglas Yates holds a Ph.D in Political Science from Boston University.

Off the Beaten Track: Non-Western Perspectives in International Relations

Date: Friday, April 21, 2017

Venue: American Graduate School in Paris - 101 Boulevard Raspail, Paris 75006

Located in the heart of Paris in the 6th district, a five-minute walk from the beautiful Luxembourg gardens which host the French Senate, the American Graduate School in Paris (AGS) organizes its Graduate Student Conference each year on different themes.

This year’s theme is ‘Off the Beaten Track: Non-Western Perspectives in International Relations.’ The conference will be held on Friday, April 21st 2017 and will include four graduate student panels and an additional keynote panel with experts & professionals. The conference theme derives inspiration from the non-Western students at AGS from such countries as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Philippines, Liberia, Vietnam, Thailand, who often ask questions about the Western biases in IR as well as from Amitav Acharya and Barry Buzan’s book entitled “Non-Western International Relations Theory: Perspectives on and Beyond Asia” (Routledge 2009).

"Given that the world has moved well beyond the period of Western colonialism, and clearly into a durable period in which non Western cultures have gained their political autonomy, it is long past time that non Western voices had a higher profile in debates about international relations, not just as disciples of Western schools of thought, but as inventors of their own approaches. Western IR theory has the advantage of being the first in the field, and has developed many valuable insights, but few would defend the position that it captures everything we need to know about world politics." (Acharya and Buzan 2009)

We invite paper submissions to present at our 2017 graduate student conference which will be divided into four panels: "International Theories", "International Law", "International Organizations" and “Proponents of Continuity: Why Change the Status Quo?”

Submission

Who can submit?

Submissions will be accepted from senior level undergraduate students, graduate and doctoral level students, academics, and professionals in the fields related to the theme of the conference. Attendees are not restricted to those that submit papers. All are welcome to attend the conference. 

Deadlines

- Abstract Submission Deadline - extended deadline: March 27th, 2016

- Working Draft / Complete Paper Submission Deadline: April 3rd, 2017

How to Submit?

Abstracts are to be a maximum of 500 words and submitted electronically to conference@ags.edu as an attachment (Microsoft Word or PDF).

The subject line should include the name of the candidate as well as “AGS Conference Abstract Submission.”

Please also give a potential, if not finalized, title for your paper.

Additional Information (Abstract):

- Research question

- University affiliation (degrees earned and those in the process of concentration and completion)

- Professional affiliation (if applicable)

- If the applicant has prior conference presentation experience

- Letter of reference from institution faculty (if applicable)

Fees and Conditions

All accepted candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable 50-euro registration fee (payable here) that will help pay for organizational and administrative costs. This fee does not cover personal costs to the applicant, such as transportation, accommodation, etc. Fees are due from accepted candidates within 10 days of receiving the acceptance letter.

Visa

The conference committee will provide visa letters upon request to accepted candidates and moderators. In addition to verifying attendance to the conference, candidates may be asked to sign a visa liability agreement. Please note that participants are responsible for fulfilling the visa procedure according to their home country’s rules and regulations in connection to entering France.

For visa information, transportation and housing please click here.

Contact

Graduate Student Conference Committee
American Graduate School in Paris
101, boulevard Raspail
75006 Paris, France

Telephone : +33 (0)1 47 20 00 94

Email: conference@ags.edu

For any questions about the conference, feel free to contact Megan Pritchard and Wanrawee Kruawan, the Student Conference Coordinators, at conference@ags.edu.

12th International Graduate Student Conference:

Date: Friday, April 21, 2017

Venue: American Graduate School in Paris - 101 Boulevard Raspail, Paris 75006

"Given that the world has moved well beyond the period of Western colonialism, and clearly into a durable period in which non Western cultures have gained their political autonomy, it is long past time that non Western voices had a higher profile in debates about international relations, not just as disciples of Western schools of thought, but as inventors of their own approaches. Western IR theory has the advantage of being the first in the field, and has developed many valuable insights, but few would defend the position that it captures everything we need to know about world politics." (Acharya and Buzan 2009)

The 12th edition of the AGS Graduate Student conference is entitled: "Off the Beaten Track. Non Western Perspectives in International Relations". This theme derives inspiration from Amitav Acharya and Barry Buzan’s book entitled Non-Western International Relations Theory: Perspectives on and Beyond Asia (Routledge 2009), as well as from the non-Western students at AGS from such countries as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Philippines, Liberia, Vietnam, Thailand, who often ask questions about the Western biases in International Relations.

This conference is the 12th edition of the AGS annual Graduate Student Conference, which brings together Master's and doctoral students, scholars, diplomats and other international practitioners to discuss a different theme of international relations each year. The conference is held at the American Graduate School in Paris, located in the heart of Paris in the 6th district, a five-minute walk from the beautiful Luxembourg gardens which host the French Senate.

Conference attendance is open to all on RSVP to rsvp@ags.edu

See Conference program

Contact

Graduate Student Conference Committee
American Graduate School in Paris
101, boulevard Raspail
75006 Paris, France

Telephone : +33 (0)1 47 20 00 94

Email: conference@ags.edu

For any questions about the conference, feel free to contact Megan Pritchard and Wanrawee Kruawan, the Student Conference Coordinators, at conference@ags.edu.

Call For Papers

The Complexity of Religion in International Relations: 
Theoretical, Legal and Geopolitical Perspectives

Paris, 21-22 April 2016

Conference Theme

The American Graduate School in Paris invites submissions for its 11th annual AGS Graduate Student Conference. The theme for this year’s conference is titled “The Complexity of Religion in International Relations: Theoretical, Legal and Geopolitical Perspectives”. The links between religious beliefs and global politics was not extensively explored before 9/11 and the ‘war on terror’. Today, we know that religion can change the basic patterns of how international relations is done, raising crucial questions about who the main actors are, what they want, and how they change the landscape of politics, law and diplomacy in contemporary IR. As Ikenberry states, “religious movements can reinforce state authority or undermine it, and religion can reinforce the territorial boundaries of state or mobilize loyalties that cut across borders.”

The function of religion in international relations might seem like a challenging topic, but nonetheless a crucial one. As scholars of IR, it is imperative to constantly analyze influences that impinge on world politics. There has been prominent focus on how religious differences create barriers to peace, and leads to war. However, all religions have deep roots in peace and have subtle conflict resolution mechanisms rooted in their scripture. Religion, like nationalism, allows its followers to rationalize peace or war depending on a variety of variables.

Theoretically, it is interesting to assess how religion asserts influence on the various levels of analysis i.e. individual, societal, state and international. It pushes the need for definitions and redefinitions and forces us to identify ‘a nouveau’ our choice of problems in IR, redefine our theoretical starting points, hypotheses and conclusions

Legally, the treatment of religion in national and international laws, as a human right, as a factor leading to the responsibility to protect, in theocracies as well in secular states, are dynamic topics to explore, among several others.

Geopolitically, the evaluation can deal with the interaction between the different religions – the various ways in which they influence each other, the identity politics of, and in between, religions – giving a richer and fuller understanding of international conflict and collaboration.

Possible sub-themes:

• Religion and International Relations Theory

• Religion and International Law

• Religion and Geopolitics

• Religion and NGOs

• Religion and Human Rights

• Religion and Identity

• Religion and Peace building

• Religion as response to Humanitarian Crisis

• Religion and Gender Politics

• Religion and Media   

• Youth Engagement in Religion 

About the Annual AGS Graduate Student Conference (+ Workshop)

This conference is a student-led event, which offers a forum that discusses timely issues and events in the disciplines of Political Science and International Relations (see past conferences here). The conference provides opportunities to analyze and examine contemporary issues in academia by inviting contribution from students, scholars and professionals on a new theme each year. The conference is held in English.

The first day of the conference, the 21^st of April 2016, will include the presentation of the selected papers as well as a Keynote Panel comprised of specialists on the topic. In addition to the conference, AGS will also be organizing an applied workshop on the second day, the 22^nd of April 2016. This workshop will be run by scholars and students with a wide range of backgrounds in International Relations. This workshop will provide a forum for discussing how religion has a role in contemporary international relations, and specifically focused on conflict resolution and peace building. The workshop will be tailored to the interest of the attendees and participants. A certificate of attendance will be provided at the conclusion of the workshop.

Submission

Who can submit?

Submissions will be accepted from graduate and doctoral level students, academics, and professionals in the fields related to the theme of the conference. Senior level undergraduate students can also apply along with a letter of reference from a professor/supervisor. Attendees are not restricted to those that submit papers. All are welcome to attend the conference.

Deadlines

-       Abstract Submission Deadline (extended deadline): 29 February 2016

-       Final Paper Submission Deadline: 27 March 2016

How to Submit

Abstracts are to be a maximum of 500 words and submitted electronically to conference@ags.edu as an attachment (Microsoft Word or PDF). The subject line should include the name of the candidate as well as “AGS Conference Abstract Submission.” Please also give a potential, if not finalized, title for your paper.

Additional Information (Abstract):

-       Research question

-       University affiliation (degrees earned and those in the process of concentration and completion)

-       Professional affiliation (if applicable)

-       If the applicant has prior conference presentation experience

-       Letter of reference from institution faculty (if applicable)

Fees and Conditions

All accepted candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable 50-euro registration fee (payable here) that will help pay for organizational and administrative costs. This fee does not cover personal costs to the applicant, such as transportation, accommodation, etc.  Fees are due from accepted candidates within 10 days of receiving acceptance letters. Please also indicate if you want to attend one, or both days. If you are interested in becoming a Panel Moderator, please indicate the same in your subject line “Panel Moderator AGS Conference Abstract Submission”. Moderators will be selected once panels have been organized by the end of February.

Visa

The conference committee will provide visa letters upon request to accepted candidates and moderators. In addition to verifying attendance to the conference, candidates may be asked to sign a visa liability agreement. Please note that participants are responsible for fulfilling the visa procedure according to their home country’s rules and regulations in connection to entering France.

For information on visa, transportation and housing please click here.

Contact Information

Graduate Student Conference Committee
American Graduate School in Paris
101 boulevard Raspail
75006 Paris
France
Telephone: +33 (0)1 47 20 00 94
Email: conference@ags.edu

For any questions about the conference, feel free to contact Aurora Nilsen and Sakshi Mishra, the Student Conference Coordinators, at conference@ags.edu.

Keynote Panel on the Complexity of Religion in International Relations

Friday, April 22nd 2016, 3 pm-5 pm

Ambassador Graeme C. Clark

Ambassador Graeme C. Clark is currently Minister, Deputy Head of Mission at the Canadian Embassy in France. Educated in French and English, he is a graduate of the universities of Toronto and Oxford. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Clark taught English in a Paris lycée; was a freelance broadcaster for Radio-Canada; and served as a Parliamentary Intern in the House of Commons. At DFATD, he has been assigned to divisions covering international economic relations, Soviet affairs and security and defence relations. He was Director of Mexico and North America; Head of the Media Relations Office; Director General, Assignments and Executive Management; and Acting Assistant Deputy Minister for Human Resources (2010- 2014). He has also served as Legislative/Departmental Assistant to two Ministers of Foreign Affairs (1993-1995) and as Legislative Assistant to the Prime Minister, from 1995 to 1997. His assignments abroad have included San José, Costa Rica; Lima, where he was Ambassador to Peru and Bolivia from 1997 to 2001; and Washington, where he served as Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States from 2006 to 2010. He has contributed to books on parliamentary reform and Latin American security questions.

Dr. Christophe Grannec

Christophe Grannec has a PhD from the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes-Vème Department of Religious Sciences. He defended his thesis in 1996 under Jean Baubérot, on the subject of l’ACAT (Action des Chrétiens pour l’Abolition de la Torture). Dr. Grannec was a Professor in Canada from 2003 et 2009 at the Department of Religious Sciences at the University of Sudbury in Ontario. He then returned to France and became a Professor at the Université Catholique in Lille from 2010 et 2013, as a Sociologist of Religions. He was a Research Associate at the GSRL-CNRS from 2006 et 2011 and is a statutory member of the GSRL-CNRS since 2012. He is also a researcher affiliated with the SISR (Société internationale de sociologie des religions). His teaching and research interests focus on the role of NGOs and international organizations in inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogues, the role of religion post-globalization and in international relations and social action. Dr. Grannec is highly published in his areas of specialization. His most recent publications include (2014), Le dialogue interculturel et interreligieux à l’heure de la mondialisation, Christophe Grannec, Olivier Landron et Sophie-Hélène Trigeaud (sous la direction de), Parole et Silence, Paris and (2012), Les religions dans la mondialisation, entre acculturation et contestation, Christophe Grannec et Bérengère Massignon (sous la direction de), Karthala, Paris.

Dr. Manlio Graziano

Professor Manlio Graziano is an Italian scholar specializing in geopolitics and geopolitics of religions. He lives in Paris. He teaches at the American Graduate School in Paris and the Sorbonne. He regularly publishes in Limes, and he is the geopolitical columnist of La Voce di New York. He has also collaborated with the journals Modern Italy, Geopolitical Affairs, International Affairs Forum, Heartland, Outre-Terre, as well as with the Corriere della Sera and Il Sole 24 Ore. The American edition of his book, published in the United States on Italian political identity, The Failure of Italian Nationhood, was reviewed by The New Yorker and The Economist. In June 2015 he was invited by the UN Correspondents Association to discuss his thesis about the geopolitics of religion at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. Besides Paris IV-La Sorbonne and the American Graduate School, Graziano teaches at the École des hautes études commerciales de Paris (HEC), and at the Geneva Institute of Geopolitics. He has authored several books and articles on the geopolitics of religion: In Rome We Trust. Cattolici e politica negli Stati Uniti, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2016, Holy War and Holy Alliance: Religions and Global Desorder in the 21st Century, Columbia University Press, 2016 (original version: Guerra santa e santa alleanza. Religioni e disordine internazionale nel XXI secolo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2015), Essential Geopolitics: A Handbook (French edition: Manuel essentiel de géopolitique) Manlio Graziano, 2011 , Il Secolo Cattolico. La Strategia Geopolitica della Chiesa, Laterza editore, Roma, 2010 (Spanish edition: El siglo católico. La estrategia geopolítica de la Iglesia, RBA Libros, Barcelona, 2012), The Failure of Italian Nationhood: The Geopolitics of a Troubled Identity, Palgrave-Macmillan, New York, 2010 (original version: L’Italie. Un État sans nation ?).

Dr. Sabrina Pastorelli

Dr. Sabrina Pastorelli is a member of the Groupe Sociétés, Religions, Laïcités (GSRL UMR 8582/EPHE Sorbonne-CNRS). Author of several publications on Religion in Europe namely: S. Ferrari, S. Pastorelli (dir.), Religion in the Public Spaces, Ashgate, 2012, A. Ferrari, S. Pastorelli (ed.), The Burqa Affair across Europe: between Public and Private, Ashgate, 2013, "Public policies towards new religions" in F. Foret, X. Itçaina (ed.), Politics of Religion in Western Europe. Modernities in conflict?, Routledge ECPR, 2012, pp. 224-240, “The European Union and the New Religious Movements”, in L.N. Leustean, J.T.S. Madeley (dir.), Religion, Politics and Law in the European Union, Routledge, pp. 187-200, 2010. Thèse de doctorat en sociologie, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Sorbonne – cotutelle avec Université de Padoue (Italie). Direction : Jean-Paul Willaime et Enzo Pace. Titre : «Gestion étatique de la diversité religieuse. Analyse comparée Italie-France au miroir des institutions européennes ».

Ambassador Michael M. Einik (moderator)

Ambassador Michael M. Einik is a Paris-based Senior Policy Level Diplomat who is also a Professor at the American Graduate School in Paris currently teaching the Core courses on Diplomacy. Ambassador Einik has been involved in diplomacy and foreign policy formulation from the administrations of Richard Nixon through that of Barack Obama. His Regional area of focus is Europe (Balkans, Former USSR, Central Europe) while his specializations include Multilateral and multinational team management, Development, Strategy, Science/Innovation and the Market Place, Non-proliferation challenges. Among his many important and high-level positions, Ambassador Einik served as the American Ambassador to Macedonia.