Advancing Democracy and Human Rights Promotes U.S. National Security Interests
On Wednesday, September 21, 2016, The McCain Institute and National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies hosted a conference on “Advancing Democracy and Human Rights Promotes U.S. National Security Interests.”
The event featured a number of experts, former senior government officials, and practitioners to highlight the importance of advancing democracy and human rights in promoting American national interests. It marked the release of the Democracy and Human Rights Working Group Report, which includes papers on how to pursue democracy and human rights interests in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. In addition to discussing the challenges in some of these countries, the speakers will offer recommendations for the next administration and the next Congress.
Convened by The McCain Institute, the Democracy and Human Rights Working Group is comprised of academic and think tank experts, NGO practitioners, and former administration officials. The working group seeks to elevate the importance of democracy and human rights issues in U.S. foreign and national security policy by developing monthly policy papers with practical recommendations.
Speakers included Cynthia Arnson, Director, Latin American Program, The Wilson Center; ADM Dennis Blair, USA (Ret.), Former United States Director of National Intelligence; Thomas Carothers, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Charles Dunne, Non-resident Scholar, the Middle East Institute; Larry Garber, Senior Advisor, USAID; Carl Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy; Monica Vegas Kladakis, Senior Advisor for Human Rights and Democracy, The McCain Institute; David J. Kramer, Senior Director for Human Rights and Democracy, The McCain Institute; Senator John McCain, United States Senator, (R-AZ); Michael Miklaucic, Director of Research, Information and Publications at the Center for Complex Operations (CCO) at National Defense University; James A. Schear, Visiting Professor, Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Institute, U.S. Army War College; and, Ambassador Kurt Volker, Executive Director, The McCain Institute.