Past Symposia
2022 Symposium, Mar. 10-11
International Diplomacy: Evolving Dynamics in the 21st Century
Hybrid Format (Virtual and In-person)
17 panelists, co-panelists, and lecturers from around the world came together for the 51st Annual Frank Church Symposium to discuss these issues:
- Climate Change
- Global Peace
- African Economic Investment and Growth
- Distribution Chains and Economic Stability
Schedule
Frank Church Symposium Program 2022
Links
Access the Facebook recordings.
2021 Symposium, Feb. 25
Transformation and Stability in the Global Order
As periods of transitions are often marked by the unpredictable, experienced leaders embrace peace and stability to ensure progress even for societies in flux. Indeed, transformations, as the world has witnessed in the past two decades, could cause chaos and dislocations of immense proportions in our healthcare system, education, science and technological advancement, and economic development. The new state of the global community has severely tested the capacity of our socio-economic and political institutions to protect our future existence. What are the challenges and opportunities that would either make or break our future? These are some of the questions experts addressed during the 2021 symposium as humanity struggles to make meanings out of a very turbulent and unpredictable world order.
Schedule:
Lecture 1: Shin Kue Ryu
Lecture 2: Dr. Obi Aginam
Lecture 3: Dr. Stephen Bezruchka:
Closing Remarks/ Discussions
Links
2020 Symposium, Feb. 20-21
The End of Democracy?
The keynote address was held at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20, in the Stephens Performing Arts Center and featured international democracy expert Larry Diamond. Diamond is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. He frequently consults on policies and programs to promote democracy.
The two-day symposium was largely held in the Rendezvous Complex A, B, C Suites from 10 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Feb. 21. The Frank Church Symposium was free to attend.
Schedule:
February 20th
“Rise of Authoritarianism” roundtable
"Populism's Threat to Democracy: Comparative Lessons for the U.S.," lecture by Kurt Weyland
“Media's Effect on Democracy” roundtable
Keynote speech by Larry Diamond in the Stephens Performing Arts Center
February 21st
“Minorities and Majorities: Our Role in Democracy” roundtable
“Post-Soviet Transitions: Corruption, Collusion, Clientelism” lecture by Christoph Stefes
“Globalization and Democracy” roundtable
International Career Q&A
Links
2019 Symposium, Jan. 31- Feb. 1
The Best and Worst of Us
This year’s theme was “The Best and the Worst of Us: Confronting Injustices in the World” and brought together academics, refugees, and activists debating the challenges and successes around environmental justice, refugee rights, and minorities rights.
The day events of the two-day symposium were held in the Salmon River Rooms in the ISU Pond Student Union. The event ran from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1. The symposium was free to all.
Schedule:
January 31st
Refugee Rights Panel
Richard H. Foster Lecture
Minorities Panel
Keynote Address, Frazier Hall
February 1st
Environment Panel
Joseph and Priscilla Hearst Memorial Lecture
Discussion on Global Careers
2018 Symposium, March 1-2
U.S. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century
Speakers discussed international affairs, global governance, law and the political economy.
Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, president of Women in International Security, presented the keynote address “The Importance of Gender and the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda for International Peace and Security” on March 1 at 5 p.m. in the ISU Rendezvous Complex Planetarium, Room 203. De Jonge Oudraat was previously a senior advisor to the Center of Gender and Peacebuilding of the U.S. Institute of Peace and was the founding and executive director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. She also held previous positions with the U.S. Institute of Peace Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program; Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; and the Center for Transatlantic Relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Her areas of specialization include women, peace and security, gender, international organizations and more.
On March 1, events ran from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Salmon River Suites with the keynote address at 5 p.m. in the Rendezvous Complex Planetarium, Room 203. On March 2, events ran from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Salmon River Suites.
Schedule:
March 1st
Richard H. Foster Lecture, lecturer Shadman Bashir
Panel 1: U.S. Relations with Asia
Panel 2: Trade and Political Economy
Keynote Address, Rendezvous Complex Planetarium, lecturer Dr. Chantal de Jonge Oudraat
Friday, March 2nd
Joseph Hurst Memorial Lecture, lecturer Tobias Hofmann
Panel 3: Global Governance
2017 Symposium, Mar. 2-3
The Post-Colonial State
Speakers and panelists discussed Central Asia and Afghanistan, colonialism, intervention in the Middle East, gender and sexuality and conflict.
Bonny Ibhawoh, professor at McMaster University, Canada, will present the keynote address. He will speak on “Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle: Human Rights and the Post-Colonial World Order” on March 2 at 7 p.m. in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center. Ibhawoh was a professor of global human rights history, peace and conflict studies and African studies, and an associate dean for research at the University. He previously served as the director of the Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster University, has taught in universities in Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada and was previously a human rights fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs, New York. He has also been a research fellow at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Copenhagen, Denmark and associate member of the Centre for African Studies School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, UK. He is the author of several books on African history, human rights and peace and conflict studies.
The Symposium’s main panels were held in the Pond Student Union Salmon River Suites on Pocatello’s campus on March 2 and 3. The event was also broadcast live on the ISU-Idaho Falls campus in the Bennion Student Union Building. All events are free and open to the public.
Schedule:
March 2nd
Panel 1: Inter-regional Issues
Joseph Hurst Memorial Lecture
Panel 2: Colonialism
Panel 3: Intervention in the Middle East
Keynote Address: “Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle: Human Rights and the Post-Colonial World Order” by Bonny Ibhawoh in the Stephens Performing Arts Center Bistline Theatre.
March 3rd
Panel 4: Conflict
Richard H. Foster Lecture Global Health
Panel 5: Gender and Sexuality
Panel 6: Opportunities for Students in the World (for ISU students only)