International Issues Discussion (IID) series talk on the “Arab Spring” and other democratic transitions
In recognition of the one-year anniversary of the “Arab Spring”, the International Issues Discussion (IID) series at Ryerson University is pleased to present a special round-table discussion on democratic transitions in the world today; “The Struggle for Democracy: Part II.”
Our guests include:
• Jeremy Kinsman, whose career in the Canadian foreign service spanned more than 40 years and included appointments as the Canadian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, the European Union, and Italy, as well as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He heads the international democracy support project for the Community of Democracies, and currently serves as the Distinguished Visiting Diplomat with the Department of History at Ryerson University (http://www.diplomatshandbook.org/bios/kinsman.html)
• Ferry de Kerckhove, whose 40 year career in government and academia included appointments as Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador to Indonesia, and, most recently, as the Ambassador to Egypt until September 2011. He is currently Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa (http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/api/eng/profdetails.asp?id=1281 )
• Ben Rowswell, a career diplomat and specialist in the Arab and Muslim world, who served in the Political Section of the Canadian Embassy in Egypt, Chargé d’Affaires in Iraq (2003-2005), Deputy Head of Mission in Kabul (2008-2009), and as Representative of Canada in Kandahar, leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team of diplomats, aid workers, civilian police and other experts. He currently heads Cloud to Street: a research project supporting democracy activists in Egypt (www.cloudtostreet.org) and
• Dr. Arne Kislenko, Associate Professor of History at Ryerson University and instructor in the International Relations Programme at Trinity College and the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. His research and teaching expertise focuses on modern international relations, particularly U.S. foreign policy, national and international security issues, and modern Southeast Asia (www.ryerson.ca/history/faculty/kislenkoa.html )
They will be giving short talks on current or prospective developments in the Arab world, Russia, and Burma, with discussion (and audience engagement) following on the broader questions of democratic transitions elsewhere in the world.
The event will be held Wednesday, February 15, from 6:30-9:30pm, in the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, room ENG 103, Ryerson University (245 Church Street, see: www.ryerson.ca/maps )
All are welcome and admission is free. Light refreshments will be available. A poster advertising the talk is attached. Democratic TransitionsV2
Founded in 2005, the IID is a non-partisan, student-led forum designed to engage all members of the Ryerson University community on major events and issues in contemporary global affairs through reasoned, objective, and scholarly discourse. For further details about the IID and our series please see http://iid.kislenko.com or contact the IID student leaders at ryerson.international.issues@gmail.com