National Defense University 2009 Topical Symposium

2009 Topical Symposium
America's Security Role in a Changing World
A Global Strategic Assessment

Organized by

The Institute for National Strategic Studies

at
National Defense University
260 5th Avenue
Fort Lesley J. McNair
Washington, DC 20319
Phone: 202-685-3857 Fax: 202-685-3866

7-8 April 2009

Symposium overview

The United States faces many daunting national security challenges in the coming years, some not traditionally viewed as security issues, to include redistribution of economic power; international political flux; globalization of communications and information; energy and environmental security; fragile states and ungoverned spaces; transnational terrorism; the changing character of war; and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. America's new leaders must respond to these challenges with a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of the issues, decisive, yet collaborative action, and strategic patience.

The Institute for National Strategic Studies has identified eight global trends driving tomorrow's complex security environment. These trends represent challenges and in some cases opportunities for America's civilian policymakers and military leaders. These trends amount to a paradigm shift and policymakers may increasingly find themselves operating in terra incognita. To shed light on this emerging global environment, the Institute for National Strategic Studies has produced a seminal volume, Strategic Global Assessment, which details these driving trends, assesses them in regional context, and finally, offers a number of pathways for American policymakers to deal with them.

The program is open to the public. Participants are expected from government, business, universities, and research institutes from the United States and abroad.

Key concepts:

Speakers will include U.S. military officers, government officials, and think-tank researchers (government and non-governmental)
Presentations will be covered by NDU non-attribution guidelines, (similar to “Chatham House” rule), with willing participants available for on-the-record interviews

Featured speakers include current and former senior government officials and civilian scholars. Agenda and other information is available at: http://www.ndu.edu/inss/symposia/TOP2009/agenda.htm

* Links to non-U.S. Government sites are provided for information only. The National Defense University does not endorse these sites, and does not vouch for the content provided by them.