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NBR Summer Seminar 2022
June 20 - August 12, 2022
China poses an unprecedented challenge for the United States and the rules-based liberal international order. The challenge spans multiple dimensions from human rights, military, economics, and technology to global governance. To better understand China and formulate effective policy, the United States needs a new generation of experts and policymakers who possess a deep understanding of China’s challenge to the United States and how the United States can address this. To train the next generation of Asia specialists, and as part of the Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship Program, NBR organizes the annual Summer Seminar.
In 2022, a group of 10 undergraduate, graduate, and professional participants was selected to examine and assess the peaceful integration of China into the international system in a manner acceptable to the United States and other democracies. Held in person in Seattle and online for remote participants, the seminar ran eight weeks, with two-hour meetings each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Mondays and Wednesdays, lectures and discussions were led by guest instructors from NBR’s network of experts. Guest instructors included military and government leaders, leading academics, specialists, and practitioners in the fields of policy, international relations, and foreign area studies, and business entrepreneurs. On Fridays, seminar staff led site visits to consulates, military bases, and other policy hubs in the greater Seattle area. The site visits allowed participants to meet with practitioners and officials whose daily work impacts U.S. policy toward Asia.
As part of the seminar, participants were given the option to research a topic related to course themes and develop a presentation and/or policy memo as a result of their findings. At the end of eight weeks, seminar participants presented their research, offered their assessments of the China challenge, and proposed unique policy options to seminar attendees, instructors, and invited guests.
NBR Summer Seminar participants with NBR president Roy Kamphausen, who spoke with them on U.S. policy toward China.
The NBR Summer Seminar traveled to Joint Base Lewis-McChord for a briefing with the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) regarding U.S. strategy, partnerships, and response options in the Indo-Pacific. The 1st SFG (A) is the lead Special Forces Group on operations in Asia and the Pacific.
Lieutenant General Charles Hooper (U.S. Army, retired) spoke virtually with NBR Summer Seminar participants on lessons learned as a Foreign Area Officer during his 40 years of service with the U.S. Army.
Consul General SEO Eunji of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle welcomed NBR Summer Seminar participants to the consulate for an introduction into the consulate’s functions, roles, and U.S.-South Korea relations.
