Dissent Message: The “Long Telegram” of the 1990s

Monday, March 10 // 3:30–4:30 pm (ET)

In March 1994, Wayne Merry, a top US embassy official working in Moscow, wrote a “Dissent Channel” message to Washington criticizing the then-US policy to support economic reforms undertaken by the Yeltsin government. This document, which was kept classified over 30 years until December 2024, reported that the Russian population was growing frustrated with the pro-market reforms underway and the associated economic hardships.

Merry will discuss his message and more in conversation with Dr. Svetlana Savranskaya, Director of Russia Programs at the National Security Archives.

STILL TO Come THIS WEEK

The Morning After: Assessing the Economy Inherited by Canada’s New Prime Minister

Monday, March 10 // 2–3:00 pm (ET)

On Sunday, March 9, the Liberal Party of Canada will select a new leader and prime minister to succeed Justin Trudeau. Between North American tariffs, an unpopular national carbon tax, support for lower interprovincial trade barriers, and a looming review of the US-Mexico-Canada agreement, the 24th Prime Minister of Canada will take office facing a host of issues and opportunities with significant implications for the Canada-US relationship. Join us for a webinar on Canada's economic outlook as its new prime minister takes over in Ottawa. This program is part of the Canada Institute's flagship economic initiative, the Washington Forum on the Canadian Economy.

Against the Liberal Order: The Soviet Union, Turkey, and Statist Internationalism, 1919-1939

Monday, March 10 // 4–5:30 pm (ET)

In the aftermath of the First World War the Western great powers sought to redefine international norms according to their liberal vision. They introduced Western-led multilateral organizations to regulate cross-border flows which became pivotal in the making of an interconnected global order. In contrast to this well-studied transformation, Hirst considers in detail for the first time the responses of the defeated interwar Soviet Union and early Republican Turkey who challenged this new order with a reactive and distinctly state-led international politics.

Germany’s Election Aftermath: Implications for Foreign Policy

Thursday, March 13 // 11:00 am–12:00 pm (ET)

On Sunday, February 23, German voters cast their ballots to elect the members of the Bundestag in a snap election triggered by the collapse of the ruling “traffic light” coalition in November 2024. The election campaign largely centered on immigration and the state of the economy, reflecting widespread public concern over these pressing domestic issues. However, the newly elected German government will also face a rapidly evolving foreign policy landscape. Our panelists will discuss the election results and their implications for Germany’s foreign policy, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine and the future of transatlantic security.