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September 29, 2023

Wilson Weekly

Takeaways from the 2023 Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Conference

Now in its 12th year, the Africa Program hosted its annual SVNP conference in South Africa and regional meetings in Ghana. With representatives from 22 African policy, research, and academic organizations that focus on peacebuilding attending, they examined the relationship between democracy, governance, and peacebuilding; and the crosscutting opportunities to strengthen both governance and peace in Africa.

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Event | Video

A Conversation with President of Ecuador Guillermo Lasso

During his time in office, President Guillermo Lasso made a series of historic decisions to defend Ecuador’s natural spaces and address the global climate crisis, including expansion of the marine protected area at the Galápagos Islands. In this candid conversation, he reveals just how he was able to secure this and other achievements. Available in both English and Spanish.

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Blog | Asia Dispatches

Unraveling Deception: Pakistan's Dilemma After Decades of Promoting Militancy in Afghanistan and Beyond

“Sharif was sweating, and it was evident that he was not the ultimate decision-maker in Pakistan. This disparity in power dynamics has been a recurring theme in Pakistan.” -Read more from Nader Nadery

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Event | Video

Challenging Autocracy From the Front Lines

“The most frequent question I have gotten since I left Venezuela is why is Maduro still in power,” says former political prisoner Leopoldo López. “In my view, there is one reason above all, which is the support that Maduro has gotten from China, from Russia, from Iran, from Belarus, from Cuba, and from other nations... The reality is that the largest international community is a community of autocrats that are working together.” Learn more from this event, and López’ new report.

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Podcast | Need to Know

Afghanistan After Two Years of Taliban Rule: “It’s Pretty Bad!”

“Some analysts have been caught by surprise a bit by the fact that the Taliban have been able to generate revenues, they’ve been able to keep the economy from completely collapsing...and have been able to come out with a budget.” -Michael Kugelman

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Viewpoints

Conflict and Climate Collide in Libya

“Storm Daniel—a nasty, strong, tropical storm—swept into a part of Libya that had been hobbled by roughly a decade of conflict. This region was also hit extra hard by the regime of Gaddafi, which had a particular suspicion of those who lived in the far East of the country. Even under Libya’s current administration, it has been neglected in part because of its reputation as a hub of dissent and, in the government’s view, unruly inhabitants.” -Peter Schwarzstein

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Unpacking the Canada-India Dispute: Issues Behind the Current Tensions

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW, Christopher Sands of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute, and Michael Kugelman of its South Asia Institute, discuss tensions between Canada and India over the recent killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Where does the relationship stand after the Trudeau government accused India of having a role in the murder? What is the historical context behind Sikh diaspora support of the Khalistan movement in Canada and the West?

Upcoming Events

Economists in the Cold War: How a Handful of Economists Fought the Battle of Ideas

Monday, Oct. 2 // 4–5:00 pm (ET)

The Fate of Russia's First Federalization

Tuesday, Oct. 3 // 2–3:00 pm (ET)

The Arms of the Future | Book Launch with Dr. Jack Watling

Wednesday, Oct. 11 // 10:30–11:30 am (ET)

Wilson in the News

Opinion: The Transformation of Kim Jong Un’s Sister (CNN)

“Young, photogenic, smart and acerbic, Ms. Kim appears to exercise real power—with a vituperative verbal twist. She is prone to making threats of nuclear strikes against the South, and is undoubtedly the most powerful woman in North Korea today.” -Sung-Yoon Lee

The US Shouldn’t Worry About the India-Canada Rift (Foreign Policy)

“As long as competition with China remains a major focus of US foreign policy, the United States will see India as an essential counterweight. After all, India now has the world’s largest population, one of the largest armies, and one of the most rapidly growing economies.” -Michael Kugelman

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