THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018
*EVENING LECTURE EVENT*
“Russia’s Border Wars & Frozen Conflicts”
with
Ambassador Steven Pifer
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine
Former Special Assistant to the President
Former Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine, & Eurasia on the National Security Council
&
James Coyle, Ph.D.
Director of Center for Global Education at Chapman University
Nonresident Senior Research Fellow, Atlantic Council
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been quite clear that he is willing to use force to protect what he believes to be Russian national interests. In short, to this day, President Putin continues to push Boris Yeltsin’s original agenda to keep the countries of the former Soviet Union under the Russian sphere of influence, highlighted, for example, by the annexation of Crimea, and multiple attacks on the power grid in Ukraine since.
On Thursday, May 24th, the World Affairs Council of Orange County will host two top experts to provide valuable insight on Putin’s agenda what it means for us now.
Former Ambassador Steven Pifer, and author of the book, The Eagle & the Trident, will discuss the history of US-Ukraine relations, what worked and did not work in America’s approach, and how Washington might more effectively promote its goal of helping Ukraine become a stable, independent, democratic state.
Dr. James Coyle, author of Russia’s Border Wars and Frozen Conflicts, argues that when the Kremlin believes that a border country is slipping in to Western orbit, it creates frozen conflicts to weaken, divide, and prevent these countries from moving away. Looking at the examples of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, he explores how President Putin has been quite clear that he’s willing to use force to protect what he believes still “belongs” to Russia.
AMBASSADOR STEVEN PIFER – BIO
Steven Pifer is currently a non-resident senior fellow at Brookings Institution, having most recently served there as the director of the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative. His more than 25 years with the State Department included assignments as deputy assistant secretary of state with responsibilities for Russia and Ukraine (2001-2004), ambassador to Ukraine (1998-2000), and special assistant to the president and senior director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia on the National Security Council (1996-1997).
JAMES COYLE, Ph.D. – BIO
James J. Coyle is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, director of Global Education at Chapman University, and a visiting professor of public policy at Pepperdine University. Dr. Coyle previously held a variety of positions in the US government, including director of Middle East Studies, US Army War College.
VENUE:
Hotel Irvine
(17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine, CA 92614)
TIME:
Registration/Reception 5:30 PM
Lecture/ Q&A 6:45 PM
TICKET PRICES:
WACOC Member $30
Non-Member $40
Student $10
10 Student Tickets $95
PARKING PRICES:
Valet $10/Self-Parking $5
Dietary Restrictions: Please e-mail orangecounty@worldaffairscouncil.org or call our office (949) 253-5751 by Thursday, May 17, 2018. Accommodations cannot be made after this date.
Refund Policy: Refund requests will not be accepted after the registration deadline. Cancellations must be made no later than the registration deadline.
Paying by Check: If you prefer to pay by check, please bring your check to the door (YOU MUST call the office to reserve your spot, otherwise your registration will be incomplete)
