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[email protected] Spring 2006 Issue 2
International Fellows
New Project Launched Interviewing History
First Term Complete May 1 -5, AILA hosted the 2006 class of International Leadership Fellows, emerging leaders representing four countries who spent an intensive week at CSIS discussing ethics and decision-making in politics. They return in September for a second term of leadership training, which will focus on geopolitics.
On March 15, four CSIS young professional staff members interviewed Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski as part of a new AILA initiative, Interviewing History: Conversations with America’s Leaders. Nathan Puffer (Russia and Eurasia Program), Laura Keating (Global Strategy Institute), Shawn Brimley (International Security Program), and Stephanie Baker (Office of Development) spent weeks researching and preparing for an off-the-record conversation with the former National Security Adviser and his role in normalizing relations with China during the late 1970s .
“Statecraft is an art, not a science. It is only through conversations with artists that we gain a better appreciation of the intangibles of their important work.” Dr. Brzezinski, the interview team with event sponsors Linda and Mitch Hart
—Shawn Brimley
2006 Fellows From left: Iñigo Salvador Ecuador, Abba Tahir Nigeria, Claire Bai China, and James Kondo, Yuichi Goto, and Ken Oku of Japan
Zyg Nagorski
Facilitates a session on just and unjust wars, and balancing personal freedom and national security
The interview team provided the audience of over 70 with a historical overview of US–Chinese relations up to 1978. The team’s task was to draw out the private stories, thoughts, and strategies that history often overlooks, and to tease out Dr. Brzezinski’s personal recollections in moving the normalization process forward within the Carter Administration. Commenting on the lessons learned from the evening, Dr. John Hamre summarized key points after the interview. “Part of this project is an effort to look at the deeper issues – how leaders retain their strategic perspective when they are confronted with an overwhelming tactical imperative.” He went on to state that this issue represented, “…a strategic moment in U.S. history…and the challenge was to have very real tactical procedures in place to accomplish normalization.” Future events are planned for Fall 2006.
Lt. Amy Florentino, (USCG), a 2005 AIF
fellow, discusses transformational leadership
Laura Liswood
and the role gender plays in leadership
Leadership through Creativity, Character, and Practice Co-Founder Returns
leadership Program Highlights Young Professionals Exchange
Dr. Inamori Addresses AILA On April 5, Dr. Kazuo Inamori, cofounder of AILA, returned to CSIS to share his philosophy of leadership. [top]: Dr. Inamori with young professionals
[left]: Dr. Inamori with AILA Dean, Linda Jamison
“To act in accordance with the law of heaven, earth and nature; one should be truthful and must do everything with integrity, fairness, and honesty.” —Dr. Inamori
Many events in the AILA curriculum allow young professional staff to share experience and knowledge with their peers. These events highlight their areas of specialization and provide an important peer-to-peer learning environment.
Tips on How to Get Published Laura Geller, Devin Stewart, Pramit Mitra “The key to getting your op-ed published is to anticipate the debate.”
Senior Scholar Discussions Expert Briefings Anthony Cordesman, CSIS Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy, shared his experience analyzing Middle East politics. He explained there are no quick solutions, and encouraged the audience of aspiring leaders to understand the region’s history and question the quick-fix theories. “We have to think in terms of years and decades, not in terms of today’s crisis.” —Anthony Cordesman, Burke Chair, on the Middle East Rick Barton, co-director of the CSIS Post Conflict Reconstruction Project, discussed the purpose of the project and its work. Barton also walked the audience through some of the crucial steps of post-conflict reconstruction, including anticipating problems, having effective integrated strategies, and developing a system for measuring progress. “It’s not enough to build a building; you have to put furniture in the rooms before people believe it’s an office or home.” —Rick Barton, Co-director, PCR, on nation-building
—Devin Stewart
Briefing on Sudan Rebecca Linder
“The people [of Sudan] were so kind, open and liberal; they were very open to Westerners and new ideas.” —Rebecca Linder
International Travel Stephanie Baker, Shawn Brimley, Ryan Faith “Working for the Peace Corps was the best decision I ever made.” —Stephanie Baker
Presentation Skills Daniel Gregory
“Leaders in policy-making develop original ideas that change the world.” —Daniel Gregory