FAO Quotables

"But being right, even morally right, isn't everything. It is also important to be competent, to be consistent, and to be knowledgeable. It's important for your soldiers and diplomats to speak the language of the people you want to influence. It's important to understand the ethnic and tribal divisions of the place you hope to assist."
-Anne Applebaum

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

African Security Conference Assesses the 3 D's in Austin


Wish I could go to this conference!

EVOLVING DYNAMICS OF SECURITY IN AFRICA:
ASSESSING DIPLOMACY, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEFENSE RESPONSES

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
8am to 5pm

Bass Lecture Hall, LBJ School of Public Affairs
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas

The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law, the U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. Army Senior Service College Fellowship Program, and the University of Texas College of Liberal Arts will host a full-day conference examining the evolving dynamics of security in Africa. The conference brings together policymakers, practitioners, military personnel, and scholars to share the latest research and policy options on issues impacting African and global security.

8:00am REGISTRATION AND LIGHT BREAKFAST 
8:30am INTRODUCTION 

* Dr. Francis J. Gavin, Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law
* LTG (r) Joseph Yakovac, U.S. Army Senior Service College Fellowship Program

8:45am KEYNOTE: THE EVOLVING ROLE OF THE U.S. MILITARY IN AFRICA 

* Ambassador J. Anthony Holmes, Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Activities, U.S. Africa Command

9:30am TRADITIONAL SECURITY THREATS IN TRANSITION: NEW PATTERNS AND TRIGGERS OF CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE
How are historical patterns and hot spots for conflict and violent extremism changing in Africa, and how do these trends interact with new security threats like climate change? How are conflict dynamics, drivers, and contagion patterns changing in recent years? 

* LTC Liam Collins, Combating Terrorism Center, U.S. Military Academy at West Point (moderator)
* Dr. Clionadh Raleigh, Trinity College Dublin; CCAPS Program
* Dr. Idean Salehyan, University of North Texas; CCAPS Program
* Brian Levey, Strategic Analysis Enterprises; Violent Intranational Political Conflict & Terrorism Lab, College of William & Mary

11:00am EMERGING SECURITY THREATS: TRANSNATIONAL CHALLENGES FROM CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMANITARIAN CRISES
How are climate change, migration, and other transnational issues impacting African and global security in new ways? Where are pandemics and humanitarian crises affecting security most acutely in Africa? 

* Dr. Joshua Busby, LBJ School of Public Affairs; CCAPS Program
* Jeffrey Stark, Foundation for Environmental Security and Sustainability
* Dr. Andrew Githeko, Kenya Medical Research Institute

12:30pm LUNCH
1:30pm CASE STUDIES IN EFFECTIVE APPROACHES: SUPPORTING NATIONAL RESPONSES
What are the substantive and institutional requirements for security in these sectors in Africa? What are the roles and responsibilities of U.S. and African military, government, and nongovernmental actors in addressing these security issues? Where are there new opportunities to support national responses on these security issues through diplomacy, development, and defense channels? 

* Dr. Terrence Chapman, University of Texas at Austin (moderator)
* Michael Casciaro, U.S. Africa Command
* Andrew Bruzewicz, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
* Jenny Frankel-Reed, U.S. Agency for International Development

3:00pm CASE STUDIES IN EFFECTIVE APPROACHES: FOSTERING REGIONAL RESPONSES
Where are there new opportunities for regional responses to address security issues through diplomacy, development, and defense channels? 

* Paul Bartel, U.S. State Department
* U.S. Africa Command panelist to be confirmed
* Dr. Michael Findley, Brigham Young University; CCAPS Program
* Maxime Nzita Nganga, Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration
4:30pm LESSONS LEARNED AND NEXT STEPS
How can research at civilian and military education institutions inform the changing intelligence, strategic, and operational needs of the U.S. government and military in Africa? 

* Dr. Kent Butts, U.S. Army War College; CCAPS Advisory Board
5:00pm RECEPTION

Additional invited panelists to be confirmed.

Registration

Advance registration is required and space is limited, so please register today <http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=m10491648&si=z499101730&pc=i2002&ei=f2258683&b=y> . There is no registration fee.

More Information

For questions or more details regarding the conference, please contact Dominique Thuot, CCAPS Program Coordinator, at dominique.t@austin.utexas.edu <http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=u10796927&si=z499101730&pc=92003&ei=f2258683&b=y> .

About the Co-Hosts

The Climate Change and African Political Stability Program <http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=g9363384&si=z499101730&pc=j2004&ei=f2258683&b=y>  is a five-year research program at the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin, conducted in partnership with the College of William and Mary, Trinity College Dublin, and University of North Texas. CCAPS analyzes how climate change, conflict, governance, and aid intersect to impact African and global security. CCAPS is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense's Minerva Initiative <http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=k12510949&si=z499101730&pc=k2005&ei=f2258683&b=y> .

The United States Africa Command <http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=612510950&si=z499101730&pc=l2006&ei=f2258683&b=y> , also known as U.S. AFRICOM, is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). As one of six that are regionally focused, it is devoted solely to Africa. U.S. AFRICOM is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for U.S. military relations with 54 African countries. U.S. AFRICOM is committed to supporting U.S. government objectives through the delivery and sustainment of effective security cooperation programs that assist African nations build their security capacity to enable them to better provide for their own defense.

The U.S. Army Senior Service College Fellowship Program, a partnership of the United States Army and the University of Texas at Austin since 1992, is a one-year resident fellowship for Army colonels. Military participants attend UT in lieu of The Senior Service College (Army War College) resident program at Carlisle Barracks, PA and receive the award of Military Education Level One (the highest level of formal military education). Through access to the world-class educational assets of a top tier university, selected officers prepare to meet the demands of strategic thinking and senior level leadership that will be required of them as they lead the Army into the future. 

The College of Liberal Arts <http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=g12510951&si=z499101730&pc=m2007&ei=f2258683&b=y>  is the largest school at the University of Texas at Austin, offering more than 55 majors through 21 academic departments and two-dozen centers and institutes. The school is committed to the idea that understanding history, society and culture helps students better understand - and, ultimately, thrive in - the world beyond campus.

2315 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78712
512-471-6267 phone | 512-471-6961 Fax

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