Phase Two of ‘Vaccine Diplomacy’: Expanding Global Vaccine Production Capabilities

Thursday, Sept. 29 // 10–11:00 a.m. (ET)

Throughout the pandemic, regions such as Latin America have been almost entirely dependent on imported COVID-19 vaccines. Initially, that dependency delayed vaccine campaigns, with significant public health consequences. Later, it opened opportunities for countries such as China and Russia, and later the United States, to improve diplomatic relationships through the sale and donation of shots, a strategy sometimes referred to as “vaccine diplomacy.”

As the pandemic persists, and waning immunity and new viral variants increase the importance of booster shots, many governments are emphasizing the importance of transitioning to a new phase of “vaccine diplomacy”: a global expansion of vaccine development and production capabilities. That transition would reduce the likelihood of shortages in the near future and in any future pandemic, and provide economic benefits to developing economies. In Latin America, for example, Argentina is already producing Russia’s Sputnik vaccine and Chile plans to manufacture China’s Sinovac jabs.

Should U.S. and European producers of highly effective mRNA vaccines invest more in overseas production? What are the public health and geopolitical implications of Chinese and Russian vaccine production in the developing world? What is the status of European Union and World Health Organization efforts to build vaccine development and production capabilities in Latin America and other developing regions? What are the strengths and barriers in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico?

What’s Next for Brazil? The 2022 Elections and Beyond

Monday, Sept. 26 // 10–11:00 a.m. (ET)

Brazil’s presidential election in October is a pivotal moment for the world’s fourth-largest democracy. President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently trailed former President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva in polls, though the outcome remains uncertain. Meanwhile, there are deep concerns about Brazil’s future no matter who wins. Join us for a conversation on the October elections and the future of Brazil.

The Spectre of War: International Communism and the Origins of World War Two

Monday, Sept. 26 // 4–5:30 p.m. (ET)

The Spectre of War looks at a subject we thought we knew—the roots of the Second World War—and upends our assumptions with a masterful new interpretation. Looking beyond traditional explanations based on diplomatic failures or military might, Jonathan Haslam explores the neglected thread connecting them all: the fear of Communism prevalent across continents during the interwar period.

Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Priorities: A Conversation with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Tuesday, Sept. 27 // 9:30–10:30 a.m. (ET)

Since taking office in April, Pakistan’s new government has pledged to strengthen relations with Washington and other Western capitals, and to ensure continued strong ties with China and partners in the Middle East. These relationships have taken on added importance for Islamabad as it seeks international assistance to address economic challenges, catastrophic flooding, and climate change. In this event, Pakistan’s foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, will offer his perspective on Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities. After his remarks, he will take questions from the audience.

Energy Technology Innovation and Japan-US Decarbonization Cooperation

Wednesday, Sept. 28 // 9–10:15 a.m. (ET)

Join us for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of balancing the need for growth and sustainability, and prospects for cooperation between Tokyo and Washington in developing new energy technology in the Indo-Pacific.

Report Launch: Collapsed Security Threatens the Future of Yazidis & Minorities in Sinjar

Wednesday, Sept. 28 // 12–1:00 p.m. (ET)

This panel will explore the security challenges and obstructions to long-term stability and discuss suggested policies for immediate action by national and international stakeholders.

Choreographing Correspondence: How Chaplains and Political Workers Shaped Soldiers’ Mail in WWII

Wednesday, Sept. 28 // 1–2:00 p.m. (ET)

In this talk, Title VIII Research Scholar Brandon Schechter will explore the ways in which chaplains and political workers inserted themselves into—and in many ways, helped shape—soldiers’ correspondence with loved ones.

Taiwan’s Role in the U.S. Semiconductor Supply Chain Network

Wednesday, Sept. 28 // 2–3:00 p.m. (ET)

The Wilson Center’s Taiwan Scholar Kristy Tsun-Tzu Hsu discusses the role Taiwan’s semiconductor industry can play not only in furthering Taipei’s global presence, but also partner with Washington to strengthen the supply chain of the United States and beyond. 

Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries Who Remade American Politics in the 1990s

Thursday, Sept. 29 // 4–5:30 p.m. (ET)

Ronald Reagan has long been lionized for building an enduring conservative coalition sustained by an optimistic vision of American exceptionalism, small government, and free markets. In fact, the Reagan coalition was short-lived; it fell apart as soon as its charismatic leader left office. In Partisans, historian Nicole Hemmer offers a bold new history of modern conservatism that finds its origins in the populist right-wing politics of the 1990s.