2008 Washington Symposium Recap

Washington Symposium Explores Foreign Policy Challenges New Administration Will Inherit

On March 10 and 11, NAFSA, in collaboration with George Mason University, presented the eighth annual Washington Symposium. This year’s program was rated the highest ever by participants for its richness of content and the outstanding quality of the speakers.

Guest speakers explored the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy and what changes international educators might expect under a new administration. The speakers also offered participants an overview of how the United States is seen in various parts of the world, examined the foreign policy challenges that arise as a result, and explored the implications for international education.

The Honorable Lee H. Hamilton, president and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, presented a keynote address that strongly resonated with the audience. He said the next administration will have to work on reestablishing respect for the U.S. internationally and creating a dialogue that takes into account international concerns, and not just American ones.

A number of noted experts shared their expertise on the regions of Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East and discussed what they felt the challenges would be in these regions for the next administration. The experts included:

• Harry Harding, The George Washington University
• Robert Pastor, Center for North American Studies, American University
• Carol Lancaster, Georgetown University
• Shibley Telhami, University of Maryland

Higher education concerns and perspectives were raised by NAFSA leader respondents - for Asia, Stephen Dunnett, and for Africa, Robert Gosende.

At the symposium dinner, Bruce Stokes, fellow, Pew Research Center, and International Economics Columnist, National Journal, presented the group with the results of a recent survey he conducted with Pew that measured global attitudes and beliefs that included feelings toward U.S. foreign policy and Americans in general.

The symposium ended with an entertaining and informative luncheon speech by Norman Ornstein, a well-known elections expert and commentator, and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Feedback

Participants expressed great satisfaction with program. Barbara Burch, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Kentucky University, said the "program was informative and caused me to reflect on how we might approach changes in our own curriculum. It made clear the importance of having students think more globally and the implication for general education as well as area studies."

John Tigue, dean of liberal arts from Baton Rouge Community College, appreciated the symposium’s intimate atmosphere for sharing ideas and commented that "the symposium is an excellent opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field of international affairs and public policy, who, additionally, have much international and governmental experience."