Hindsight Up Front: Ambassador Mark Green in Conversation with Gen. David Petraeus and Sir John Scarlett

Wednesday, July 28 // 10–11am (ET)

This event kicks off Hindsight Up Front, the Wilson Center’s new Afghanistan initiative, featuring a discussion with Gen. David Petraeus and Sir John Scarlett, co-chairs of the Wilson Center’s Global Advisory Council and two of the world’s foremost public intellectuals. Their conversation—moderated by Wilson Center President, Director, and CEO Mark Green—focuses on the implications of the withdrawal for Afghanistan and the world.

They examine 20 years of U.S.-led war, consider what has and has not been achieved, and assess President Joe Biden’s withdrawal decision. They discuss the withdrawal’s potential impacts, including for terrorism risks and refugee flows. They weigh in on global reactions to the withdrawal—including from U.S. adversaries like China. They also offer insights on what U.S. policy should be in Afghanistan moving forward, and they detail what they would tell President Biden if he sought their advice.

Assignment Russia: Becoming a Foreign Correspondent in the Crucible of the Cold War

Monday, July 26 // 4–5:30pm (ET)

What was it like to be at the center of political tensions in Moscow and tasked with explaining the Soviet Union to the American public? Chosen by legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow to become one of what came to be known as the ‘Murrow Boys,’ veteran journalist Marvin Kalb shares his journey from radio newswriter to one of America’s most widely known foreign correspondents.

Arctic Security Dialogues IV | Progress on the Department of the Air Force Arctic Strategy

Tuesday, July 27 // 11:30am–12:30pm (ET)

Join the Polar Institute for a facilitated round table discussion with distinguished Department of the Air Force leaders to explore paths forward in implementation of the Arctic Strategy.

Innovative Technologies and Citizen Science to Combat Plastic Waste in the Mekong and Beyond

Thursday, July 29 // 9–10:15am (ET)

In this program, panelists working in the UNEP’s CounterMEASURE project will talk about how their work in the Mekong River Basin deploying citizen science and frontier technologies like GIS, machine learning and drones, can help identify sources and pathways of plastic pollution in river systems in Asia.

Moving Day: Nearshoring Opportunities in Latin America

Thursday, July 29// 9–10:30am (ET)

Join us for a virtual discussion of nearshoring. This event features a keynote conversation with Inter-American Development Bank President Mauricio Claver-Carone, whose “Vision 2025” plan for the region’s recovery and growth puts nearshoring at the center.

Jordan's Digital Future: A Conversation with Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship

Thursday, July 29 //9–10am (ET)

Join the Middle East Program for a conversation with His Excellency Ahmad Hanandeh, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship in Jordan, who will describe Jordan’s journey to becoming a regional tech leader, and strategy to using digital transformation as a means of recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Going Digital: The Future of Digital Trade in Latin America

Thursday, July 29 // 11am–12pm (ET)

Throughout the pandemic, the use of digital technologies in Latin America has rapidly accelerated: education has become entirely virtual in many countries, businesses have turned to cloud technologies to operate digitally, e-commerce has exploded and millions of consumers have experimented with financial technologies for the first time. Nonetheless, Latin American governments must overcome major obstacles to reap the full benefits of digitalization. Join the Latin American Program for a discussion on digital trade.