Wolf Riedel and Kevin Smith joins CSPC on June 18th, 1PM EST/10AM PST to discuss the book “With a Few Guns,” the pivotal role of artillery in Afghanistan, and lessons learned from that experience for the era of strategic competition. They will be in conversation with Ethan Brown, Senior Fellow for Defense Studies at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress.

CSPC is pleased to invite you to its first National Security Space Program book event welcoming Dr. John Klein to discuss his book “Fight for the Final Frontier: Irregular Warfare in Space”. Dr. Klein will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, Senior Vice President for National Security and Intelligence Programs.

Dr. William James joins CSPC on 11 April to discuss his book and will argue that British politicians and officials have thought in grand strategic terms under American hegemony - even if they do not realize or admit to this. James also demonstrates that the role of allies in shaping British grand strategy has been overstated. Moreover, James highlights the conditions under which domestic political actors can influence grand strategic decision-making.

Joining CSPC (virtually) to discuss the intersection of sports and geopolitics are the Wall Street Journal’s Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg, authors of the recently published “The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World’s Fastest Growing Sport”.

Propaganda, disinformation, and misinformation are old tools in a state’s arsenal to influence allies and adversaries alike. Now, turbocharged through the Internet and via social media everyone is a target and potential node in the modern incarnation of the information wars of days past. In “How to Win an Information War” disinformation and propaganda expert Peter the rogue WWII propagandist Sefton Delmer who confronts hard questions about the nature of information war: what if you can't fight lies with truth? Can a propaganda war ever be won?

Elisabeth Braw, author of “Goodbye Globalization: The Future of a Divided World” joins CSPC on 7 March to discuss her book which explores these questions and more, tracing the story of globalization from the seemingly unstoppable days of the 1990s to the risks and challenges of today. She will be in discussion with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs.

On 1 March, CSPC is honored to welcome Rear Admiral Tim Woods, the Defence Attaché of the United Kingdom, to reflect on London’s support to Kyiv, the course of the war, and the prospects of future success. Prior to assuming his position in London, Rear Admiral Woods served as the Defence Attaché to Kyiv and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and insights.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress is pleased to invite you to an online conversation with Lt. Gen. David Barno, Dr. Nora Bensahel, and Michael Kofman to discuss these questions, and many more, and to reflect on the war after two years and what the year ahead holds for Kyiv. They will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs.

Allen joins CSPC on 25 January to discuss her book, “Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World”, Taiwan’s elections, and the future trajectory of strategic competition between the United States and China with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs

On 19 January, Dr. Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at RUSI in London, joins CSPC to discuss how technology is affecting the modern battlefield, what lessons Ukraine holds for conflicts more broadly, and his superb new book “The Arms of the Future”.

Russia’s expanded war against Ukraine has been described as a mash-up between “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Blade Runner”, and with good reason.

First-person drones attack Russian troops in networks of trenches. Modern fire ships—uncrewed ships guided by Starlink and GPS signals—strike Russian naval vessels in port. Mass artillery batteries are joined by long-range precision munitions and loitering drones to disrupt logistics networks deep behind enemy lines. It is a curious proving ground of both old concepts and new technology. What lessons should the U.S. and allied militaries draw from this conflict and how will emerging technology affect future force planning and development?

The Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress is pleased to welcome Maximilian Hess to discuss his new book, Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict Between Russia and the West, and how Russia responded to Western sanctions. He will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress is pleased to invite you to join us for a unique conversation with the United Kingdom’s new Defence Attaché, Rear Admiral Tim Woods. He will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs.

How Russia’s war will reshape Europe’s security architecture and how NATO reorients itself toward a reduced, but not eliminated, threat is an open question. Joining CSPC to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine, the future of European security, and America’s role in trans-Atlantic security at a time when it seeks to pivot to the Indo-Pacific is Lieutenant General Ben Hodges (USA, ret.) the former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe.

He will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress is pleased to welcome Dr. Garner to discuss his new book, the emergence of this phenomenon, and what it means for the war in Ukraine. He will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress is pleased to welcome Ms. Salisbury to discuss these challenges and what it means for the pivot of the United States and the tilt of the United Kingdom to the Indo-Pacific. She will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress is delighted to welcome University of Nottingham professor of international relations, Dr. Rory Cormac to discuss the United Kingdom and the past and future practice of intelligence.

On 31 May at 1000, CSPC welcomes Dr. Ramani virtually to discuss the timely new book and what the West should be paying attention to on the continent. He will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs.

Dr. Oscar Jonsson, the author of “The Russian Understanding of War” joins CSPC to discuss how the expanded invasion of Ukraine fits within Russia’s longer-term understanding of war and, perhaps even more importantly, how the outcome of the war will affect the thinking of Russia’s elites on military affairs and the country’s strategic culture. Dr. Jonsson will be in conversation with Joshua C. Huminski, the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs.

Dr. Paul Scharre of the Center for a New American Security explores how AI will affect America’s security and strategy, and offers up a new framework for understanding AI in his new book “Four Battlegrounds” (a brief description of which is below). Dr. Scharre joins CSPC on 10 April at 1300 to discuss his book, his framework of the titular four battlegrounds—data, computing power, talent, and institutions—and what policymakers should know and can do to ensure that America is on a better footing for AI competition.

As authoritarian governments look to challenge the current international order, democratic countries seek to mount a robust defense of a free and open internet through cooperative action. Protecting democracy and ensuring the sound development of digital economy and innovation requires a free open Internet, reliable and secure digital infrastructure, and countermeasures against disinformation and repressive digital tools. Shortly after 5pm, we will hear remarks from the speakers and briefly discuss approaches for the United States and its allies to maintain digital freedom and to contribute to building secure digital infrastructure globally, through bilateral and multilateral collaboration including the G7. A reception will follow. 

How has the war affected the armies of Russia and Ukraine? How has each adapted to the battlefield? What will the year ahead hold? Is Western support sustainable? What are the risks of escalation? What lessons, if any, does the war in Ukraine hold for the future of modern warfare, and for other theatres? Joining CSPC to discuss these questions and more are Lt. Gen. David Barno and Dr. Nora Bensahel—authors of “Adaptation Under Fire”—and Michael Kofman, the director of CNA’s Russia Studies Program. The Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs, Joshua C. Huminski, will moderate this timely discussion.

The West’s awareness of the challenge that China represented to the international order surged in recent years manifesting in nearly every domain including politics, diplomacy, finance, business, and national security. How this dynamic came about over the last decade, and how the West slowly realized it and what it means is the story of “No Limits” by Andrew Small, a senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund. Mr. Small joins CSPC on 1 February to discuss his timely new book and the West’s relationship with China in the wake of President Xi Jinping’s extended tenure, the end of Zero Covid, and the recent news about population decline.

On 26 January, CSPC is pleased to host Chatham House Russia expert Keir Giles, author of “Russia’s War on Everybody” (January 2023, Bloomsbury) to discuss his book, Russia, Ukraine, and the West’s policymaking toward Moscow. If you would like to join CSPC at this event, please email sophie.williams@thepresidency.org for additional information.

Free and open nations have woken up to the threat posed by Chinese government and linked-firms’ involvement in their 5G telecommunications and to the importance of maintaining the lead in semiconductors. There is less awareness of the risks incurred by using Chinese cellular IoT technology. In the longer term the risk posed by the pervasive presence of Chinese cellular IoT modules in our systems and processes poses a greater threat than does relying upon Chinese companies for 5G.

When the new Congress sits in January of next year, the newly elected and re-elected representatives will face a full plate of issues, including a slate of issues related to space. From setting budgets for NASA and the Space Force, to outlining rules and regulation for commercial activity in near earth orbit and beyond, the decisions Congress makes in the next cycle could have profound impacts on America’s national and economic security in and from orbit. Joining CSPC to discuss what will and should be on Congress’ agenda are three space experts—Casey Dreier of the Planetary Society, Sandra Erwin of Space News, and Victoria Samson of the Secure World Foundation. The Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs at CSPC, Joshua C. Huminski, will moderate this fascinating and timely conversation.

As the world continues to find a “new normal” in a post Covid-19 world, the risk of future pandemics—whether man-made or natural—remains. The incoming Congress has an opportunity to learn the lessons of the Covid-19 response, but also make strides in ensuring that the country is better prepared for the next disease. Key questions remain unanswered: how will Congress fund pandemic preparedness? What investments are needed for the next vaccine? How should the strategic national stockpile be recapitalized and reinvested? Joining CSPC for this timely and critical discussion are Phyllis Arthur of BIO and Christopher Joyner a career Congressional staff member. CSPC’s Vice President and Director of Policy, Dan Mahaffee, will moderate this discussion.

Russia’s expanded invasion of Ukraine has refocused the attention of the United States and Europe, and indeed the world, on Moscow’s wars in the post-Soviet era. From Chechnya to the Balkans, and from Syria to Ukraine, Russia has asserted its interests through military force on multiple occasions. What these wars say about Russia, about President Vladimir Putin, and the country’s politics and direction is the subject of author Mark Galeotti’s forthcoming book “Putin’s Wars” (out 8 November from Osprey Publishing). A full description of this extremely timely book is below.

Join CSPC for an in-person book launch event with Mark Galeotti on 1 December at 0900-1030. He will be in discussion with the Director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence & Global Affairs, Joshua C. Huminski.

On 13 October, CSPC welcomes Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges authors of “Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World” to discuss the background, experiences, and worldview of the head of the Chinese Communist Party and how it shapes his interactions both at home and aboard. In conversation with CSPC’s Vice President & Director of Policy, Dan Mahaffee, the authors will explore what we know about Xi, what we don’t know, and how should we understand the ‘most powerful man in the world’”?