Previous Events from Spring 2008

Monday, May 19, 2008
Lyala Tungatarova, Professor of Political Science from Caspian Social University, presented, "Political Leadership Style in the Post Soviet Areas of Kazakhstan and Russia: Issues in the Process of Democratization." Dr. Tungatarova is a visiting Fulbright Scholar at the Walker Institute, studying the process of democratization in countries of the former USSR.

Thursday, May 1, 2008
Dr. Karl G. Heider, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, presented a screening and discussion of films about Indonesia with comments by anthropologists about Dr. Heider's contribution to Asian Arts: Jim Hoesterey (University of Wisconsin, Madison, doctoral Candidate), Dr. Karen Nakamura (Yale), and Dr. James Peacock (UNC Chapel Hill).

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Ph.D. candidate in Community Psychology from USC’s Department of Psychology, Eric Green, presented a colloquium entitled, "Communities in Transition: Recovering from War and Displacement in Northern Uganda." The presentation was based on fieldwork for his Ph.D. dissertation in an internally displaced persons' camp in Northern Uganda, where Eric lived for eight months, and where research assistants continue to gather data.

April 17-18, 2008 Presidents Lecture Series in Comparative Education
The Office of International and Comparative Education proudly presented the Second Annual Presidents Lecture Series in Comparative Education featuring Dr. Stephen Heyneman Professor of International Educational Policy at Vanderbilt University, CIES President 1992-1993.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
"Problems of Making Education Policy at the World Bank"
Friday, April 18, 2008
"If there were a World Bank for American Education…"

Wednesday, April 16, 3:30pm, Gambrell Hall 429
New faculty member Erik Doxtader, from the University of Wisconsin, in USC’s Department of English, presented a colloquium entitled “Nonsense without Stilts?: The Rhetorical Question of Reconciliation in the UN’s Discourse on Transitional Justice.”

Monday, April 14, 2008
Dr. Fatma Muge Göcek, Associate Professor of Sociology and the Program of Women's Studies at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, gave a lecture on, "Nationalism, Minority Rights, and the EU." This lecture was part of the Lecture Series, “East and West in the Turkish Nation: Contemporary Issues in Turkey.”

Monday, April 7, 2008
The Walker Institute presented a forum on "Religion, Tolerance, and Politics: Reflections on the Life and Work of Salman Rushdie," in which participants (USC faculty representing Anthropology, English, Law, and Religious Studies) of the panel explored the life and work of Salman Rushdie. The distinguished writer, Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses and Midnight's Children, appeared in Professor Janette Turner Hospital's class, "Caught in the Creative Act," on Wednesday, April 9th.

Monday, April 7, 2008
Peter Chapman, Financial Times journalist and Former Correspondent, BBC and The Guardian in Central America and Mexico, presented a lecture followed by a book signing and reception for, BANANAS! How the United Fruit Company Shaped the World.

April 3 - 5, 2008
The Garibaldi Conference, "Garibaldi Abroad" included a public lecture by Lucy Raill (University of London), "Garibaldi: the First Global Hero," an exhibit from the Anthony P. Campanella Collection, "Garibaldi In His Time," as well as an International Conference honoring Giuseppe Garibaldi. For more information, please see the program.

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Visiting scholar, Sverker Finnström, from the Department of Social Anthropology at Stockholm University in Sweden presented a colloquium entitled “Fieldwork Under Fire: Anthropological Research During War in Northern Uganda.”

Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The 2008 Taiwan Studies Symposium, "Taiwan's Religions, Political Process, and Civil Society," focused on the ways in which Taiwan's religions create a civil society, compete with political institutions, and create a symbiotic relationship with the government to lead towards a healthier society. Please click here to view the program.

March 28 - 30, 2008
SERMEISS - Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Seminar's Spring 2008 meeting was held at the University of South Carolina.

March 24 - 30, 2008
Asian Arts Week celebrated the arts of Southeast Asia from ancient to contemporary in, "Asian Arts Week 2008: Southeast Asia."

Friday, March 21, 2008
Dr. Peter Singer, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, delivered a lecture on, "The New Face Of War: Child Soldiers, Corporate Warriors, and Automated Warfare."

Thursday, March 20, 2008
Colleagues Rob Rolfe and Doug Woodward from the Moore School of Business presented a colloquium on “The Crisis in Kenya.” This event is co-sponsored by the African Studies Program, the Center for International Business, Education, and Research (CIBER) in the Moore School of Business, and the Development Studies Working Group.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Development Studies Working Group of the Walker Institute welcomed Dr. Jude Fernando of Clark University (from the Department of International Development, Community, and Environment), where he presented, "Micro-Finance: Empowerment of Women vs. Empowerment of Capital."

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The British Consul-General in Atlanta, The Honorable Martin Rickerd, presented the lecture, "Key Priorities for Britain in the World."

Friday, March 7, 2008
The Arts Institute and The Center for Asian Studies presented, "Subtle Confluence: Master Poet Afaa Weaver, Sculpture, and Taiwanese Culture." The event presented, "Discovering Connections: Master Class with Poet Afaa Weaver" where Award-winning poet Afaa Weaver discussed his life and work, and "Discovering a Greater Secret: Taiwan and the Creative Process," a reading by Afaa Weaver, a sculpture exhibit with USC students, Matthew Berglund and Bradford Lee Davis, a symposium with the artists, and was moderated by artist Anna Redwine.

March 6 - 7, 2008
The Southeast German Studies Workshop is an event dedicated to fostering creative, interdisciplinary dialogue among faculty members, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students interested in the history, society, and cultures of German-speaking Central Europe. The workshop held a keynote address by Prof. Sander Gilman.

Thursday, March 6, 2008
Ch'ing-lung Huang, visiting fellow of CAAPS of the Brookings Institution and Vice President of China Times, presented, "Big Media, Alternative Media, and Democratic Politics in Taiwan." Huang is one of the most important figures in journalism in Taiwan today, as former editor-in-chief of the China Times, he is currently a fellow at the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution.

Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Southeast German Studies Workshop presented“Whose Body is it Anyway? Sexual Transformation in Germany 1890-1933,” with Dr. Sander Gilman from Emory University. Dr. Gilman's lecture was the keynote address for the inaugural Southeast German Studies Workshop, an event dedicated to fostering creative and interdisciplinary dialogue.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Walker Institute and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation presented, “Iraq, Iran, & U.S. Policy in the Middle East,” with General John Johns & Colonel William Hauser. Gen. Johns and Col. Hauser discussed the Iraq War, relations with Iran, and the future of U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Friday, February 29, 2008
Dr. Longin Pastusiak, former President of the Polish Senate, presented, "Is Poland America's "Trojan Horse" in the EU?"

Thursday, February 28, 2008
Professor Quansheng Zhao, from American University presented, "North Korea and China: The Impact of Nationalism and Globalization."

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Dr. Banu Gökariksel, Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, presented, "Neoliberalism, Islam and Gender: Neoliberal Muslim Subjects and Veiling Fashions in Instanbul." This lecture was part of the Lecture Series, “East and West in the Turkish Nation: Contemporary Issues in Turkey.”

Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Research Fellow from the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies presented, "The Global War on Terrorism and the Bangladeshi Community in the US: In Search of an Islamic Identity or Not?"

Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Dr. Sudha Ratan from the Department of Political Science of Augusta State University led a Walker Institute Colloquium and presented, "The Situation in Pakistan: Repercussions and Reverberations."

Tuesday, February 5, 2008
"Beyond the Classroom: China" screening with Professor Laura Kissel.

Monday, February 4, 2008
The premier of Professor Laura Kissel's (Art Department) documentary, "Beyond the Classroom: China," highlighting the experiences of 23 Capstone Scholars on their cultural journey through China. Provost Mark P. Becker spoke, and a reception followed.

Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dr. Joseph Lumbard, Assistant Professor of Classical Islam at Brandeis University and former adviser of interfaith affairs to King Abdullah II of Jordan presented, "New Horizons in Interreligious Dialogue: Finding Common Ground in the 21st Century." He is the editor of Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition (World Wisdom, 2004), a collection of essays that examines the religious, political and historical factors that have led to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.

Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dr. Christine Philliou, Department of History, Columbia University, presented, "The Paradox of Perceptions: Interpreting the Ottoman Past Through the National Present." This was part of the Lecture Series, “East and West in the Turkish Nation: Contemporary Issues in Turkey.”

January 18-20, 2008
The Association for Asian Studies Southeast Region 47th Annual Meeting was held at the Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort at Hilton Head Island, SC.

January 18, 2008
General Michael W. Hagee, the 33rd Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, spoke on the future of U.S. Foreign Policy in his lecture, "America and the World: How Can We Restore America's Image?"

January 14, 2008
The Walker Institute hosted a panel discussion titled, "Interrogation and Torture in US Policy: Former US Military Leaders Speak Out." Participants included: Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn (USN), Major General Fred E. Haynes (USMC), Brigadier General James Cullen (USA), Brigadier General David R. Irvine (USA), Brigadier General Richard O'Meara (USA), and Brigadier General Stephen N. Xenakis (USA).

Previous Events from Fall 2007

December 7,2007
Dr. Roberto M. Dainotto presented "Rhymes of Discord: Notes on the Question of the Arab Origin of Rhyme." For more information on Professor Dainotto, please visit: http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/Romance/faculty/dainotto

December 6, 2007
Dr. Roberto M. Dainotto, from Duke University presented a lecture discussing Italy’s entry into the Euro-zone titled, “Europe in Theory: Italy and the Euro-zone”. His new book, Europe (in Theory), came out this year from Duke University Press and covers, among other things, the north / south divide in Europe.

December 6-8, 2007
ARENA presented, "Secession as an International Phenomenon" at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Historic Charleston, SC. This event included eight separate sessions as well as a tour of Fort Sumter.

December 2007
Aaron Hale (University of Florida) discussed his research in Africa in a talk titled: "In Seach of Peace: An Autopsy of Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo."

December 2007
Ericka Albaugh (PhD, Duke University) presented a candidate presentation in comparative politics of Africa, titled "Dangerous Diversity: The Politics of Multilingual Education in Africa."

November 28, 2007
The Immigrant Ranger, Javier Pérez and Jesus Rivas, presented songs about immigration reform, human rights, the Latino population, and American politics. The Immigrant Ranger is an activist-singer-songwriter who performs his own corridos (narrative songs) about the experiences of Mexican immigrants - the songs focused on the pressing topic of immigration reform and human rights in the United States. To hear a piece on him from National Public Radio, go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14415291.

November 27, 2007
Professor Wei-chin Lee, Wake Forest, presented "Sound and Fury: US-Taiwan Relations since 2000,” examining why the initially cozy relations between the US and Taiwan in the early 2000s gradually turned tense in recent years by concentrating on two primary issues, Taiwan's referendum proposals and arms purchases from the US.

November 26, 2007
"Ceramic Art: from SC to Taiwan" was a joint presentation by Virginia Scotchie and her students Bradford Davis, a BFA Student, and Matthew Berglund, a MFA Candidate. Virginia Scotchie is a ceramic artist and area head of ceramics at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.

November 26, 2007
Esra Ozyurek, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of California-San Diego, gave a lecture on “New Religious Minorities of the New Europe: Turkish Christians and German Muslims.” This was part of the Lecture Series, “East and West in the Turkish Nation: Contemporary Issues in Turkey.”

November 14, 2007
Sean Chen, Associate Professor of Accounting at Furman University presented “Taiwan’s Convergence of Accounting Standards with International Financial Reporting Standards: Issues and Future Prospects." Dr. Sean Chen specializes in artificial intelligence, knowledge management, accounting information systems, continuous auditing, and international accounting.

November 6-7, 2007
Professor Yuling Huang presented a lecture on, “Art Symbols of China and Taiwan.” Professor Huang served as Curator of Asian Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art and is a leading expert in the field of Asian Art and currently teaches Art History at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, GA.

November 5, 2007
“What Will It Take to Meet the Energy Challenge?” with John Hofmeister, President of Shell Oil Company.

November 2-7, 2007
2007 Peace Science Society Meeting
Forty-First Annual Meeting of the Peace Science Society at the Columbia Marriott in Columbia, South Carolina.

November 1, 2007
Paul Silverstein, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Reed College in Portland, Oregon presented, "Antisemitism and Islamophobia: Lessons from France" He is the author of Algeria in France: Transpolitics, Race, and Nation (Indiana University Press, 2004), who specializes in the study of ethnicity, migration, and transnational flows, particularly involving France and the countries of North Africa.

October 26, 2007
Dr. Resat Kasaba, professor at Jackson School of International Relations, University of Washington, lectured on, “Modern Turkey in Historical Context: National Identity and the Transition from Empire to Nation-State.” This was part of the Lecture Series, “East and West in the Turkish Nation: Contemporary Issues in Turkey.”

October 25, 2007
Dr. Joel Samoff, Consulting Professor of African Studies at Stanford University (a Political Scientist (PhD, Wisconsin-Madison, 1972)), one of the leading figures in the study of comparative politics, development and education in Africa, presented two lectures: “Partnership and Dependence: The Dysfunctions of Foreign Aid," and “Education for All: Still a Distant Dream.”

October 24, 2007
“U.S.-China Relations: The Domestic Political Game Behind the Strategy of Engagement” with Dr. Jean Anne Garrison of University of Wyoming. Dr. Garrison.

October 10, 2007
The Office of International and Comparative Education proudly presented Dr. Lesley Bartlett, from the Teachers College of Columbia University, who lectured on "The Word and the World: The Cultural Politics of Literacy in Brazil."

October 9, 2007
Sociologist Dr. Laurent Mucchielli presented, "Fall 2005 : A Review of the Most Important Riots in Contemporary French History".

October 5, 2007
Latin American Studies invited distinguished Spanish scholar, Dr. Jorge Mari, who presented, "Re-Focusing the Trans-Atlantic Lens: U.S., Latin American and Spanish Cinemas & Film Criticism in the Era of Globalization," which discussed trans-Atlantic dialogues between U.S. and Hispanic films.

October 5, 2007
Ms. Joan Mower, a US Public Affairs Officer, presented, “Darfur Today: U.S. Policy on Sudan.”

September 28, 2007
Dr. Jacques Semelin, from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris presented a talk on European genocide titled “Understanding Massacre? Exploring the Genocidal Process: Holocaust, Rwanda, Bosnia.”

September 20-22, 2007
"Science, Technology and National Identity" Conference.
This event brought together sixteen humanities scholars whose research covers a broad chronological and geographical scale. To view the conference program, please click here. To view more information on the conference, click here.

September 10, 2007
“Challenges of European Integration” with Dr. Desmond Dinan of George Mason University.

September 8, 2007
Conference on Taiwan Issues, “The Politics of Taiwanese Businesspeople in China”
The Conference included 3 Panels; Panel 1: The Experiences of Tai-shang in Mainland China, Panel 2: Tai-Shang and Economic and Cultural Connections, and Panel 3: Hollowing Out or Helping?: Debating the Impact of Tai-shang on Economic Development.

Previous Events from Spring 2007

May 2007
The Office of International and Comparative Education presented a colloquium by Neil Roos, from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Chicago, “From Didactics towards a Critical Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Reconstructing the Teacher-Education Curriculum at a South African University.”

May 2007
Grupo Siquisiri: Music of Veracruz, Mexico.

April 26, 2007
This event announced the creation of the Office of International and Comparative Education, and its inaugural event, a Colloquium with Columbia University's Dr. Gita Steiner-Khamsi. Dr. Steiner-Khamsi presented "International Standards and Education Policy in Developing Countries"; for more information about the new Office of International and Comparative Education, please visit: http://www.ed.sc.edu/ice/

April 25, 2007
George Azar, Al-Jazeera English and NY Times Correspondent presented "Reporting from the Middle East: From the Ground Truth to the News," about how foreign news is gathered and disseminated is explored by veteran journalist George Azar (New York Times / Al-Jazeera English) with special emphasis on Israeli / Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Iraq.

April 24, 2007
Dr. Kiki Skagen Munshi, a U.S. diplomat who recently returned from nine months in Iraq, discussed reconstruction efforts in Iraq in a public lecture entitled "Not in a Sound Bite: Reconstruction in the Iraq War."

April 20, 2007
Dr. Natsu Saito, Professor of Law at Georgia State University and noted legal scholar on human and civil rights, presented a colloquium entitled "The Patriot Act and the Loss of Civil Liberties Since 9/11."

April 17, 2007
Dr, Tim Lindsey, professor and foundation fellow, director of Asian Law Center, Deputy Director, Center for the Study of Contemporary Islam at the University of Melbourn, presented a video confrence workshop, entitled "Islam in Post-Tsunami Aceh", which included the Islamic history and law of the region as well as the present government structure and comparative law as representative of increasing Islamization also outside the Middle East.

The African Studies Program and Amnesty International hosted a program titled "Uganda Rising," that explained the conflict that has ravaged Northern Uganda for over 20 years and impacted the lives of thousands.

April 2-5, 2007
The Walker Institute hosted the Global Issues Forum: Responding to Global Hunger.
"Alleviating Global Hunger: Are We Getting Anywhere?" by Edward A. Frongillo, Jr., Professor and Chair, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior of the Arnold School of Public Health, Univerity of South Carolina.
"Putting a Human Face on Hunger", a photo presentation by Matthew Powell, professional photographer.
"Using Food Aid to Achieve Sustainable Reductions in Food Insecurity and Malnutrition: Title II Food-Assisted Development Programs" by Anne Swindale, Directory, Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project of the Academy for Educational Development.
"U.S. Food Aid: What Has Changed and What Still Needs to Change" by Christopher B. Barrett, International Professor, Department of Applied Economics and Management of Cornell University.
"What Political Commitment Can Do: An Inspirational Response to Hunger in Guatemala" by José Andrés Botrán B., Secretary of Food and Nutrition Security of the Government of Guatemala.
"Hunger in America and What We Can Do About It" by Sonya J. Jones, Research Assistant Professor, Center for Research on Nutrition and Health Disparities, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health of the University of South Carolina.
"Tackling Hunger in Emergency and Development Settings: Trends, Successes and Challenges" by Patrick Webb, Dean for Academic Affairs & Associate Professor, Former Chief of Nutrition for the UN World Food Programme, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy of Tufts University.
"Challenges to Reaching People in Need with Food Assistance: A View from the Ground" by Douglas Casson Coutts, Special Advisor to the Esecutive Director for Child Hunger, Office of U.S. Relations, World Food Programme.

The Department of Rare Book & Special Collections of the Library presented an exhibition celebrating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.
A related earlier exhibition, on the European encounter with Africa 1500-1900, also drawn from the holdings in Rare Books & Special Collections, is available at: http://www.sc.edu/library/spcoll/sccoll/africa/africa.html. In connection with this exhibit, Prof. Patrick Scott, Department of English and Director, Rare Books and Special Collections, gave an illustrated talk, “Olaudah Equiano and the Abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade: Some Rare Books from Thomas Cooper Library and What They Might Tell Us."

March 16 - April 6, 2007
First Annual Asian Arts Festival: The Festival will be an interdisciplinary celebration of Asian arts, which focuses on a different Asian country each year - this year all events are related to Japan, including visiting artists and lecturers, film screenings, special exhibitions at the Columbia Museum of Art, poetry workshops and a dance performance.

March 23, 2007
Alice Kaplan of Duke University lectured "On Violent Judgement: Louis Guilloux’s Novel about Race, Justice, and the Segregated Army that Liberated France."

March 23, 2007
In the first Social Foundations’ Colloquium of 2007, Dr. Alan Wieder, Chair of the Educational Studies Department in the College of Education, discussed his soon-to-be published book, Teacher and Comrade (SUNY Press), focused on one educator’s fight for democracy in South Africa. The title of the colloquium was "Researching & Writing: Teacher and Comrade: A Narrative/Biographical Study of Apartheid Resistance."

March 6, 2007
Dr. David Cuthell, Executive Director of the Institute of Turkish Studies, presented a colloquium: “Turkey and Turks: Pan Turkic and Irredentist Possibilities.”

February 21, 2007
"Reality of the Holocaust - 21st Century Diplomatic Perspective" presented by Ambassador Edward O'Donnell, Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues at the U.S. Department of State from 2003-2006. O'Donnell discussed the denial of the Holocaust, and it's relevance for today's diplomatic relations.

February 20, 2007
Sergey Sevastyanov, Professor of International Relations; Director of the International Studies Center; and Vice President for International Programs, Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service (Vladivostok, Russia) presented the colloquium “The Security Situation in East Asia: The Russian Perspective.”

February 17, 2007
At the 33rd Annual Conference on South Carolina Archaeology, Dr. DeCorse gave this year's keynote address, entitled, "Making Connections: West Africa, the Carolinas, and the African Diaspora."

February 10, 2007
George Packer, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2006, presented the keynote lecture in the Walker Institute’s National Security and U.S. Foreign Policy Forum: “Reporters in Harm’s Way: The Media and the Iraq War."

February 9, 2007
As part of the US Foreign Policy Forum, the Walker Institute hosted a panel disscussion on the Iraq War titled, “Iraq: Strategies for the Future.” Participants included:
George Packer, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq;
Pauline H. Baker , President of The Fund for Peace and author of the new report, Lessons Learned From Iraq: Where Do We Go from Here?
Thomas Donnelly, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and noted defense analyst. Among his numerous books and articles is The Military We Need: The Defense Requirements of the Bush Doctrine.

February 1, 2007
Dr. Ibro Chekaraou, Coordinator of African Languages at Michigan State University, gave a lecture titled "Education in Africa: Elementary School Teachers' interaction with a bilingual education reform policy in two Hausa-French schools in Niger".

The USC School of Law’s 2007 Randolph C. Barnes Symposium's panel, “Conflicted Societies and Legal Development,” focused on African affairs. . The two panelists were Professor (Colonel) Cindy Jebb, from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Justice Albie Sachs, South African Constitutional Court, Johannesburg. USC African Studies faculty members Joel Samuels (Law) moderated the panel and Ronald Atkinson (History) was the commentator.

"Yes, but is it History? Reflections on Historical Archaeology."

January 24-26, 2007
Han Bing , China's internationally recognized performance artist, was this seasons Center for Asian Studies visiting artist. Public events included a lecture on contemporary Chinese Art at the Center for Asian Studies, cabbage walking performance art events on Main Street and in the Vista, and a video-installation and reception at the Columbia Museum of Art.

January 24, 2007
Han Bing's Walking the Cabbage performance art "happenings" have become urban legend in China and beyond. In streets across China, Japan and now the US, Han Bing has walked his cabbage (the quintessential Chinese comfort food of common folk) on a leash, inciting the emergence of the "Cabbage-Walking Tribe" of alternative youth who question the "normal" order of things and remind us how the practices of everyday life come to constitute that order.

January 25, 2007
Lecture on "Contemporary Chinese art" by curator Maya Kòvskaya
Beijing-based art critic and curator Maya Kòvskaya discussed the contemporary
climate of visual art in China, and introduced visiting artist Han Bing and other young forces who are leading the New Culture Movement.

January 26, 2007
Han Bing video installation at the Columbia Museum of Art

Previous Events from Fall 2006

Ambassador Richard Miles, former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia and to Azerbaijan, spoke on “Russia's Evolving Role in the Caucasus.”

October 23, 2006
A Symposium and exhibition in memory of Brig. Gen. Evans F. Carlson included several historians of China and the American military discussing Carlson and his legacy. An exhibition was open during the symposium that featured the Carlson archives of letters, diaries, photographs, and maps, along with medals and other artifacts belonging to Den. Carlson. 
 
December 4, 2006
Speaker Ophelia Eglene, from Middlebury College held a lecture on "Britian and the Euro: The Politics of Non Decision."
 
Igor Ilievski, State Secretary of the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke at a Walker Institute of International and Area Studies Colloquium on, "The Search for Stability and Security in Southeastern Europe: Options for Small States."

The Center for Asian Studies presented a panel of distinguished visiting Chinese officials who discussed China's impact on global trade since joining the WTO in 2001. "China's Role in the Future of World Trade: A Roundtable Discussion" included: Ambassador Mei Ping, Chinese Ambassador to Canada from 1998 to 2005, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Committee and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Chair of China's National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, Ambassador Jiang Chengzong, Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, Chen Xiuxia, Senior Advisor for the Beijing Women Journalists Association, Deputy Director of UNESCO National Commission on Communication, the former State Council Director of Negotiations with Foreign Firms for joint ventures, the former Assistant Director of China's Foreign Ministry Information Department and a member of the Chinese Delegation at the UN, Ambassador Gu Pin'e, Chinese Ambassador to St. Lucia and the Vice President of the China Society for Friendship Studies.

Dr. Gregg Miller of the University of Oklahoma presented a lecture titled, "Confronting Terrorisms: Group Characteristics and Effective State Policies." 

November 6, 2006
Professor Lisa Pollard of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington gave a lecture titled, "Gender and the Marital-Political Contract in Inter-revolutionary Egypt: From Emancipation to Emasculation."

Dr. Joanna Casey, of the Univesity of South Carolina Anthropology Department, presened a paper titled, "Gendered Work and Resources in Northern Ghana: Shea Butter Production in Three Communities."

November 10-12, Columbia Marriott:
TAIWAN CONFERENCE -- The New Ties that Bind: The Economic and Cultural Influence of Taiwan on Mainland China

"James Klein and the Politics of Doing Business in Taiwan: A Conversation," James Klein interviewed by Murray Rubinstein, Baruch College, CUNY.

"Chilean Judicial Reforms in a Complex Scenario: Human Rights and Consumer Protection Laws." The guest speakers for the event were Mr. Maias Cortes and Mr. Rodrigo Alcaino, two visiting Chilean attorneys.

Four undergraduates who had recently traveled to Africa took part in a panel discussion entitled “Studying and Living in Africa: Four Student Experiences.” The four participants – Denise Dunovant, Shelly Fleming, Jesse Grainger, and Thomas Scott – talked about some of the reasons they went to Africa, some of the difficulties they faced, some of what they learned, what was positive about their respective trips, and what impact the trips have had on their lives and on the way they view the world.

Dr. Tim Mousseau, Professor of Biological Sciences and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education gave a lecture on "Hot Topics from Eastern Europe: A Biologists Perspective on Ecological, Medical, Social and Political Fallout from Chernobyl," in which he summarize his key findings, their relationship to the International Atomic Energy Agency's perspective, and anecdotes concerning social and political conditions in Ukraine and Belarus.

October 9, 2006
The Center for Asian Studies and the Walker Institute for International and Area Studies hosted a presentation organized by the International Labor Rights Fund, titled “The High Cost of Cheap Labor: Testimonies of Working Conditions from Around the World.” Workers from Colombia, China, Honduras, United States, and Swaziland will share stories of their lives and labor conditions.

The Panel Discussion, "US-Cuban Relations at a Turning Point," consisted of scholars of Latin American affairs, some of whom have recently traveled to Cuba, including: Professor Michael Scardaville (History), Professor Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra (International Business), Louis Dessau (International Business), and Professor Jorge Camacho (Languages, Literatures, and Cultures).  The panel was moderated by Dana Bruce, International Support for Faculty and Staff. 

September 15, 2006
Latin American Studies and the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies hosted a lecture by Dr. Arturo Escobar titled, "The 'Turn to the Left' in Latin America and the 'Epistemic Turn' in Latin American and Caribbean Studies". 

September 25, 2006
The Walker Institute hosted a colloquium with Mr. Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, titled "International Security: The Polish Perspective." 

September 26, 2006
Public lecture by Mr. Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, titled "Poland's Role in the New Europe". 

Dr. David Decker presented a colloquium entitled “Darfur: A Regional and Historical Perspective," providing a more in-depth look at Darfur.

Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel discussed his memoir, "Night," based on his experiences during the Holocaust, as the university's annual Solomon-Tenenbaum lecturer.

The Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship featured a panel discussion on Darfur, the Sudanese region torn by conflict and genocide, titled, "Darfur: It's Happening Again". Charles Bierbauer, former journalist and dean of the USC College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, moderated a panel that includes; Prof. Ronald Atkinsonof the USC History Department, Prof. Ann Kingsolver of the USC Anthropology Department, Prof. Joel Samuels of the USC Law School, and Prof. Scott Straus of the University of Wisconsin Political Science/International Studies Department, who discussed genocide and social responsibility in a post-Holocaust world. 

September 6, 2006
The Walker Institute hosted a colloquium with Dr. James Zogby titled "After Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon: How We Get Out of the Mess We're In.".
 

Previous Events from Spring 2006 Semester

Professor Robert Pape, associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago and the author of numerous influential and controversial publications, lectured on, "The Growing Threat of Suicide Terrorism."

Professor Mia Bloom, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati and the author of a recently published, high acclaimed book, Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terror (Columbia University Press, 2005) and An expert on terrorism, martyrdom, rape in war and child soldiers, Bloom interviews terrorist leaders and would-be bombers, lectured on, "Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terror."

Dr. Jay Cook, Professor of History at the University of Michigan, spoke on "How American Mass Culture Became Global."

The USC Law School hosted the Barnes Symposium where the topic of discussion was, "Legitimacy and Western and Non-Western Views of Human Rights."

Dr. Hyeong-Jung Park, a Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification spoke on "The Two Koreas Between the U.S. and China."

The Anthropology Department, African Studies Program and the McKissick Museum presented "Somali Lenses, " a photographic exhibition of work by six Somali Bantu Families, with an opening reception open to the public, with a talk by Dr. Garane from Allen University.

Dr. Wen-hua Kuo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will spoke on "Before It's Buried: Racial Difference at the Frontier of Pharmaceutical Regulation."

The American Conference for Irish Studies featured 3 Irish poets and a keynote address on transnational feminism. Several sessions were held in conjunction with the annual USC Women's Studies Conference. The theme for the Irish Studies Conference was Geographies and Genders, and many sessions focused on the relation of gender to understandings of nation and national identity.
The highlights included:
Eavan Boland: A reading by the internationally renowned Irish poet
Margot Backus: University of Houston, Joiny plenary address for Irish Studies and Women's Studies
Vona Groarke: Irish poet, Reading and discussion with award-winning Irish poet
Conor O'Callaghan: Irish poet, Reading and discussion with award-winning Irish poet and memoirist.

Dr. Ron Atkinson, Professor of History at the University of South Carolina, presented a colloqium on "War, Displacement, and the Issue of Resettlement in Acholi, Nothern Uganda."

Ismail Lagardien, a visiting scholar from South Africa and PhD Candidate in the Department of International Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, spoke on "Some Social and Historical Antecedents of Contemporary Inequality in the World Trade Organization: A Critical Realist Response to the Neo-Classical Model."

Dr. Cemil Aydin, UNC lectures on "East Asian Regionalism in Global Historical Context: Comparative on Pan-Asian and Pan-Islamic Thought."

Ms. Bridget McDonnell, a graduate student in the Anthropology Department at the University of South Carolina, presented a colloquium titled, "Shifting Representations: The Somali Lenses Exhibition."

Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware, Ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will speak on "Challenges Facing U.S. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century."

Sergei Zhuravlev, Institute of History, Moscow, presented a colloquium on "The American Victims of Stalin's GULAG."

The 44th Southern Conference on Slavic Studies Annual Conference
A keynote address featured Nancy Condee of the University of Pittsburgh, a prolific author on Soviet and Russian culture. Her talk was entitled, "Does the Empire Have No Close? Problems of 'National Identity'."
For more information, click here.

"Reporting from Moscow" Panel: Three highly acclaimed former Moscow correspondents gathered at USC for a panel discussion focusing on their personal and professional experiences in Russia over the last half century.
"Reporting from Moscow: Khrushchev to Putin": This panel featured Marvin Kalb, Charles Bierbauer and Peter Baker, and was moderated by USC Russian politics expert, Gordon Smith. The panel ranged over many important issues in U.S.-Russian relations, including the collapse of Stalinism and censorship, the Cuban missile crisis, the end of the Cold War and the irse of Putinism, informed by the combined experiences and insights of these three prominent journalists appearing together for the first time.

Professor Vijay Kapur, Faculty of Management Studies at the University of Delhi, spoke on "India's Himalayan Frontier: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century."

Aslam Fataar, University of Western Cape and Fulbright Scholar/University of Illinois, presented "Educational Renovation in a South African Township on the Move."

Colloquium with Dr. Alejandro Bernal and Dr. Ramona Lagos:
Dr. Alejandro Bernal: The Art of Rewriting and Escaping Dictatorship: Donoso and Bolano
Dr. Ramona Lagos: Law and Justice in Chilean Cinema: The Pinochet Year

Professor Dan Reiter, professor of Political Science at Emory University, spoke on "Information, Commitment and War Termination."

"Islamic Minorities in the West"
Speakers and Topics include:
"The French Veiling Ban as Human Rights Issue," by Jocelyne Cesari, Harvard & CNRS (via videoconfrencing from Cambridge).
"Turkish Islam, Human Rights and EU Accession," by Hakan Yavuz, University of Utah.
"Islam in Australia and Recent Challenges," by Imran Lum, Centre for Study of Contemporary Islam, University of Melbourne (via videoconferncing from Melbourne).
"The Cartoon Controversy: Muslim Responses in America," by Juliet Hammer of Elon College.

Dr. Mary Louise Nagata, Francis Marion University, spoke on "From Mom-and-Pop to Multinational Corporation: The Evolution of Japanese Business Enterprises."

Indian Student Organization UNICEF Benefit Concert
Classical Sitarist Hidayat Khan and Tabla Guru Jayawant Bantwal - see flyer.

Dr. Carol Wise, University of Southern California and Wilson Center, presented "East Asian Investment in Latin America: Trends and Politics."

In a second collaboration, the African Studies Program and the McKissish Museum presented a photographic exhibition, "Sudan: The Land and the People."
Drawn from a book with the same title, with text by Timothy Carney and Victoria Butler, the selected photographs by Michael Freeman illustrate the incredible diversity and potential of Africa's largest and most culturally-varied nation.
"Sudan: The Land and the People" is a nationally traveling exhibition from the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. For more information on the book, authors, and photographers, visit: http://www.meridian.org/ARTS/Suden/welcome.html
This exhibition also featured responsive works to the exhibition's content by photography students from USC's Art Department and a poetry worksop focused around poetic responses to the exhibit.

Mr. Frank S. Jannuzi of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee met with undergraduate and graduate students for an informal session entitled, "How to Find a Job or Internship on Capitol Hill."

Mr. Frank S. Jannuzi of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee presented a colloquium on the topic, "The Evolving Role of South Korea in Northeast Asia: Implications for American Foreign Policy."