UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for our insightful webinar, “Marketing Democracy: The Political Economy of Democracy Aid in the Middle East.” We are especially thankful to Erin A. Snider for sharing her groundbreaking research on the challenges and complexities of democracy aid in the Middle East. Her compelling analysis of how democracy can sometimes reinforce authoritarian regimes, rather than challenge them, provided an invaluable perspective that sparked such thoughtful dialogue. If you missed the event or would like to revisit the conversation, the webinar and podcast are available on our website. https://lnkd.in/e8t4gW3j This event was sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of Political Science. #BurkleCenter #UCLAPoliSci #DemocracyAid #MiddleEastPolitics #ForeignAid #InternationalRelations #MarketingDemocracy #BushSchool

Join us on Tues. Mar. 11 at 11am for the 2025 Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture! We are honored to welcome Haviv Rettig Gur, senior analyst at The Times of Israel as this year’s honored speaker. His work focuses on Israeli politics, foreign affairs, and the country’s regional dynamics. At a time when journalism is more important than ever, this event will offer critical insights into the evolving media landscape, the challenges facing democracy, and the power of reporting in shaping public discourse. We are excited to have veteran journalist Akiko Fujita moderate the webinar, bringing more than 20 years of experience reporting on business and international news. She has held positions at ABC News, CNBC International, and most recently, Yahoo Finance. Join us to help honor Daniel Pearl’s legacy and continue his mission of fostering global understanding through journalism. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g-etA4eX This event is sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and co-sponsored by The Daniel Pearl Foundation, Hillel at UCLA, and UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies.

Join us in person on Tue., Mar. 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM (PT) for an insightful event with Eddie Fishman, Senior Research Scholar in the Faculty of International and Public Affairs and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University. ? Fishman, author of “Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare” (Penguin Random House, 2025) will explore how the US has leveraged economic chokepoints — such as the US dollar, advanced technology, and control over global energy trade — to exert influence on the world stage. Join us to learn how these strategies are shaping the global economy and international relations, and what the future holds for economic power in the 21st century. Register today! https://lnkd.in/gS7hMB4c ? This event is sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of Political Science. #EnergyPolicy #EconomicWarfare #GlobalTrade #ColumbiaUniversity #PenguinRandomHouse #EdwardFishman?

A Big Thank You! We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who joined our webinar last week for the insightful discussion with Fiona S. Cunningham, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, on her book, "Under the Nuclear Shadow: China's Information-Age Weapons in International Security" (Princeton University Press). Professor Cunningham provided a captivating analysis of China's unique approach to military deterrence, shedding light on the strengths and weaknesses of their "strategic substitution" strategy. We are incredibly grateful to Professor Cunningham for sharing her expertise and to all attendees for their engaging participation. Watch the webinar and listen to our podcast on our website! https://lnkd.in/gcixRY67 This event was sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of Political Science. #CyberWarfare #InternationalSecurity #MilitaryStrategy #NuclearDeterrence #InformationAge #Geopolitics #UCLAPoliSci #BurkleCenter

Join us Fri., Feb. 21 at 12:30 PM (PT) for an engaging discussion on Carbon Politics, American Power, and the Almighty Dollar, with renowned economist Mark Blyth, William R. Rhodes ‘57 Professor of International Economics at Brown University and Acting Director of the Climate Solutions Lab. The event will explore critical topics shaping the global landscape including the implications of US carbon reliance on the global economy, the intersection of green re-industrialization and carbon-based growth models and the role of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency in a post-carbon world. Register today! https://lnkd.in/gN7SFCSx ? This event is sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of Political Science. #CarbonPolitics #GlobalEconomics #ClimateChange #UCLABurkleCenter #MarkBlyth #AmericanPower #UCLAevents #PostCarbonEconomy

Join us on Wed., Feb. 5 at 12:30 PM (PT) for a revealing discussion with Erin A. Snider on her book “Marketing Democracy: The Political Economy of Democracy Aid in the Middle East“ (Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2022). Learn how billions of dollars in US democracy aid have been spent in the Middle East and why their impact has been so limited. Discover the complex dynamics between donors, recipients, and democracy promoters as we explore the political economy of this global effort. Register today! https://ucla.in/400qYvA This event is sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of Political Science. #BurkleCenter #UCLAPoliSci #DemocracyAid #MiddleEastPolitics #ForeignAid #InternationalRelations #MarketingDemocracy

Register now for “The Gaza Ceasefire: An Assessment” moderated by Kal Raustiala, Director of the UCLA Burkle Center, this Thursday, Jan. 23 at 4:00 PM (PT) for a webinar with Dr. Dalia Dassa Kaye, Senior Burkle Fellow, UCLA and Prof. Dov Waxman, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Chair of Israel Studies and Professor of Political Science, UCLA. The long-awaited cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect Sunday, January 19, 2025, ending hostilities between the two sides for the first time in over a year. The cease-fire deal, brokered by Qatari and Egyptian negotiators and a surprisingly cooperative pair of Biden-Trump envoys, will unfold in several phases. Each phase will see the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners, largely women and minors, from Israeli prisons. Palestinian will also be able to return to their cities and homes across Gaza, assess the damage and start anew. The first phase is scheduled for six weeks and negotiations for the subsequent phase are scheduled to begin partway through phase one. The cease fire deal has been greeted with enthusiasm by Palestinians and many Israelis and has drawn fierce criticism from far-right members of the Israeli government, threatening its survival. Given that both Benjamin Netanyahu’s and Hamas’ political futures hinge on continued strife, can the ceasefire deal survive? What can we expect? What will the next few weeks bring? What will it take to bring sustainable peace to the region? There will be a live Q & A! Don't miss this opportunity to have your questions answered by our esteemed speakers! This event is sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and co-sponsored by UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies., the UCLA Center for Middle East Development, The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law, ?and the International and Comparative Law Program at UCLA Law (ICLP) at the University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law.

Join us on Wed., Jan. 29 at 12:30 PM (PT) for a discussion with Fiona S. Cunningham, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, on her new book, "Under the Nuclear Shadow: China's Information-Age Weapons in International Security" (Princeton University Press). Professor Cunningham will explore China's unique approach to military deterrence, focusing on its reliance on information-age weapons like cyber operations, counterspace capabilities, and precision missiles. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of China's "strategic substitution" approach, and gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of international security in the 21st century. This event is sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and and co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of Political Science. #Cyber Warfare #SpaceWeapons #InternationalSecurity #InformationAge #Geopolitics #NationalSecurity

Thank you to Texas A&M University - The Bush School of Government and Public Service Cullen-McFadden Professor of Political Science Matt Fuhrmann for unpacking the impact of nuclear latency in our recent book talk. Fuhrmann shared how the mere capability to build nuclear weapons shapes international security dynamics without escalating to weaponization. He highlighted the delicate balance of nuclear capability and restraint in his book “Influence Without Arms: The New Logic of Nuclear Deterrence.” (Cambridge University Press & Assessment University Press) If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording or listen to the podcast on our multimedia page: https://lnkd.in/grgKc2T Thank you to the UCLA Department of Political Science for co-sponsoring this event and the UCLA International Institute for their suppor

Thank you to Associate Professor Erin Lin, The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences, for sharing about her book “When the Bombs Stopped: The Legacy of War in Rural Cambodia.” (Princeton University Press) She shared powerful insights about the economic impact and delicate work of farmers operating in a literal minefield, about the difficult work of demining and the need of the international community to consider the human toll of unexploded ordnances before deployment. The engaging discussion shed much needed light on the often-overlooked, long-term consequences of war and the resilience of communities facing these challenges.?? If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording or listen to the podcast on our multimedia page: https://lnkd.in/grgKc2T Thanks to our co-sponsor, the UCLA Department of Political Science and to the UCLA International Institute for their support.