(Posted September 26, 2023)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. — The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College will host its second International Symposium, “The New Cold War? Strategic Competition and the Future World Order,” on October 4–5, 2023, from 6-8:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, this event takes place at Juniata College in the Neff Lecture Hall, located in the von Liebig Center for Science, 1700 Moore Street, Huntingdon. For those unable to attend, the event will be streamed at https://juniata.zoom.us/j/95208533896?pwd=OHV3L21ENXRWc09LTE9aYzI2VXFSUT09 on Oct. 4 and https://youtube.com/live/Av3sWV1QwkE?feature=share on Oct. 5. 

The symposium brings together expert panelists from around the world to discuss the global and regional ramifications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the geostrategic competitions among major powers, which shattered the post-World War II security structures in Europe, weakened the rules-based international order, and resulted in soaring food prices, inflation, and financial insecurities.  

“Some tectonic shifts are taking place in international politics due to the rise of major powers in Asia. The geopolitical tensions and uncertainty they bring, if managed poorly, might upend the rules-based global order, undermining global peace and security, and weakening the financial systems in the West,” said Zia Haque, director of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. “I invite you all to join the Baker Institute's Symposium to learn about the regional and global consequences of these complex events.” 

Echoing the nearly half-century era of geopolitical tension known as the Cold War, which spanned from just after the end of World War II to the cusp of the 21st century, sweeping changes in international political dynamics have policy experts drawing parallels between past and present. Shifts in the global order, the rise of new powers, and blocs like BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) create new strategic tensions and risks requiring a deeper understanding and analysis. Symposium panelists and moderators will explore these complex issues and the potential repercussions.  

Symposium panelists will be Adeye Adeto, current commissioner for the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission; Leoni Cuelenaere, a former ambassador with over 20 years of service in the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Chris Dolan, expert member of the White House Transition Project; Ibrahim Fraihat, associate professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and international consultant on conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction in the Arab world; Kenji Isezaki, Emeritus Professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and former director of the United Nations-supported disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) effort in Afghanistan; and Emily Welty, director of Peace and Justice Studies at Pace University and was part of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). 

For more information and an event schedule, please visit https://www.juniata.edu/academics/baker-institute/special-events.php. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.