Phi Beta Delta Conference Announced

Northwest Ohio International Affairs Consortium Conference and Symposium

“Current Issues in American Foreign Policy and National Security “

Hosted by Tiffin University, Tiffin, Ohio

Friday 19 March 2010

12:30 pm Registration and Informal Social Franks Hall Lobby, Tiffin University

1:30 pm Welcome and Opening Plenary Session Chisolm Auditorium, Franks Hall

2:00 pm Opening Presentation and Panel Discussion

Topic: U.S. National Interests: How Are They Defined and Achieved?

This session is intended to open our conversation by exploring the ways by which US policymakers and, in a democracy, the public determine how national interests may be identified, what are the appropriate costs of achieving such interests, and what mechanisms and tools are to be applied in the effort.

4:00 Closing Remarks Chisholm Auditorium

6:00 Informal Icebreaker Social Camden Falls Conference Center

SR 231, Tiffin OH

7:00 Conference Dinner Camden Falls Conference Center

Keynote Speaker (AMB Peggy Mason (CAN))

Saturday 20 March

9:00 am Plenary Session Chisholm Auditorium

Papers and Panel Discussions

Topic: Addressing the Military Dominance in American Foreign Policy

This session is intended to explore the extent to which the military has usurped or has had thrust upon them a disproportionate role in American Foreign Policy and National Security Policies – increasingly used in non-traditional manners to provide relief, support development, governance reform and other functions which had historically been the province of the foreign service and non-governmental agencies. Much discussion has taken place about the move toward a “comprehensive approach” or other “whole of government” approach which restores this balance, but what are the theoretical and practical difficulties being encountered?

11: 30 Lunch

1:30 Plenary Session Chisolm Auditorium

Papers and Panel Discussion

Topic: Is There an Obama Doctrine?

This final session will seek to explore the degree to which the Obama Administration has developed and begun presentation of a grand strategy for Foreign and National Security Policies. Language has changed, as have some policies. Recent speeches at West Point and at Oslo have provided a glimpse at what some are calling an approach to foreign policy reminiscent of the writings of Reinhold Neibuhr – a complex approach to realism which seeks to balance the paradoxes of diplomacy and militarism, of reason and of force. Is such a doctrine emerging, and what might it mean for policymakers and practitioners?

4:30 Closing Plenary and Final Remarks Chisolm Auditorium