AWC Conference Convenes Scholars and Practitioners to Discuss Grand Strategy

From June 12-14, AWC hosted its annual Policy Conference on the role of American grand strategy in the current global context. Over the course of three days, scholars and practitioners convened on various panels to discuss relevant topics such as what the world can expect to occur next in the Ukrainian conflict, the future of democracy at home and abroad, great power conflict, and U.S. military strategy and reform.

AWC Post-Doctoral Fellow William Chou observed, “At a time when the United States faces numerous acute challenges at home and abroad, the AWC Conference's examination of a wide range of issues—conflict in Ukraine, democracy at home, competition with China, and defense planning reform—delineated the multifaceted approach necessary for reinvigorating the resolve and strategy America needs to play its leading role in the world.”

At the conference’s outset, Drs. Hal Brands, Peter Feaver, and William Inboden hosted the Honorable James Steinberg—Dean of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies—who delivered the opening keynote address. AWC was also honored to hear from the Honorable Elliott Abrams—Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations—who delivered the second keynote address.?

AWC Pre-Doctoral Fellow Joseph Ledford remarked on his conference involvement saying, “As a rising scholar, the annual Policy Conference was a formative experience, where I had the unique opportunity to engage with senior practitioners and scholars on the pressing domestic and international issues shaping America’s role in the world.”

The keynote speakers and panelists conversed openly with our visiting scholars and AWC fellows which ensured that this year’s conference yielded a productive exploration of the current geopolitical environment and the multilayered nature of American grand strategy.