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As we look back on 2019, all of us at Hudson are grateful for many things: the chance to pursue important research, engage with policymakers who are passionate about improving the world, and most of all, to have your support. Whether you attended one of our 160 events this year, read one of our experts' 400 articles, or downloaded one of our 100 reports and research memos, you were a key part of Hudson's success.
Here is a brief—and far from complete—list of the policy issues and moments that we were honored to share with you this year.
Shedding Light on Human Rights Abuses
Dictators who abuse their most vulnerable citizens often do so under a veil of secrecy and ignorance from the global community. To counter this, Hudson served as a constant forum to bring attention to human rights abuses by state and non-state actors.
US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback shared details of how the Chinese government is interning and indoctrinating over one million Muslim Uygurs in the Xinjiang province.
In a heartrending presentation, Cindy Warmbier discussed the death of her son, Otto Warmbier, who was tortured and held hostage by North Korean officials. She was joined on stage by others with family members currently held hostage by Kim Jong-un's regime.
Senator Tom Cotton laid out the Global Hostage Act, a current piece of legislation aiming to protect Americans in Iran, Venezuela, China, and across the world by deleveraging the strategy of hostage-taking.
Envisioning a US-China Future
While US officials finalize a trade agreement with China, both vigilance and optimism are needed when planning policies for both countries' futures.
As the recipient of the 2019 Herman Kahn Award, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlined what a successful and prosperous US-China future could look like, noting "we want China to be successful. We want to see a prosperous China that is at peace with its own people and with its neighbors."
Senior Fellow John Lee examines how an outwardly confident China is masking growing financial problems in his new report, China's Economic Slowdown: Root Causes, Beijing's Response and Strategic Implications for the US and Allies. Lee notes that the massive debts accrued by China's local governments, if left unaddressed, could result in major discord in China and abroad.
From the theft of intellectual property to the production and distribution of fentanyl in US, shell companies have become the handmaidens of CCP criminal activity. Hudson Research Fellow Nate Sibley examines what can be done to eliminate shell companies in his new policy memo, Countering Chinese Communist Party Threats with Corporate Transparency.
Navigating Global Unrest
Across the Middle East, growing unrest challenged US interests at every opportunity. Hudson experts tracked and debated the ramifications throughout the region, often demonstrating the wide and varying range of views housed at Hudson.
What is the value of a military alliance with the US? This question was the focus of a lively debate at Hudson moderated by PBS NewsHour's Ali Rogin. Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Mary Beth Long and former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Mark Kimmitt joined Hudson fellows Mike Doran and Blaise Misztal to debate the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw troops from Syria and its impact on America's Kurdish allies.
In recent months, millions of people have demonstrated against the oppression of the Iranian regime—both in Iran and across the Middle East, in Lebanon and Iraq. Hudson fellows Blaise Misztal and Mike Doran examined what these protests mean, both for the people of Iran and for US policy.
"What is the middle ground between democracy, set up with US assistance, and Taliban rule?" asks Hudson's Director for South and Central Asia Husain Haqqani in The Wall Street Journal. In his op-ed, the former ambassador of Pakistan to the US highlighted the broader challenges of attempting peace agreements with terrorist groups.
Can the US provide assistance to fragile states while supporting American interests? Hudson was joined by the heads of the State Department's Office of US Foreign Assistance Resources for a discussion on the unique challenges of operating in conflict-torn environments.
Strengthening Ties with Japan
An "America First" policy means strong allies and global partners. In 2019 Hudson launched a number of initiatives to explore how the US and Japanese governments can work together towards securing a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Former US National Security Advisor Lieutenant General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster became Hudson's inaugural Japan Chair. In this role, his work advances the common principles shared by Japan and the United States as free, open, and democratic nations. He is joined by Japan Chair Fellow defense analyst Masashi Murano.
Asia-Pacific Security Chair Patrick Cronin examined the rocky relationship between two indispensable American allies, Japan and South Korea. His report, The Cornerstone and the Linchpin: Securing America's Northeast Asian Alliances, provides a road map on how the US can stabilize this key relationship while addressing the threats posed by North Korea and China.
Now-former US Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty visited Hudson to share a close look at the priorities governing the US-Japan relationship.
Following Anti-Semitism's Growth
Tragically, 2019 brought a spate of attacks aimed at terrorizing Jewish communities in the US and abroad. From polling to a translation of important anti-semitism research originating from Germany's domestic intelligence service, Hudson's experts sought to understand the rise of anti-semitism and contribute to a base of knowledge that may prevent future attacks.
What do American voters think about anti-semitism? Nina Shea worked with pollster John McLaughlin to gauge views ahead of the 2020 elections and provide actionable insights on how misinformation—such as holocaust denial—can persist in the US.
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