SAIS will examine the interplay between elections and foreign policy as a special substantive theme for the 2007–08 academic year.

The “Year of Elections and Foreign Policy” coincides with the upcoming U.S. presidential elections as well as dozens of significant presidential and parliamentary elections recently completed or soon to be held around the world.

“The presidential campaign calendar in the United States means that the coming academic year will be a time of great political fervor,” said SAIS Dean Jessica P. Einhorn. “As we looked at the changes in leadership in the United Kingdom and France, as well as upcoming elections in Korea, Pakistan, Russia and elsewhere, we thought that for our international student body this theme would be of great general interest. SAIS faculty bring a range of outstanding perspectives on the broad issue of elections and foreign policy. With the many distinguished visitors to our campuses, we are confident this theme will offer our community excellent occasions for both learning and lively discussion.”

The school is planning a variety of related initiatives and events for this academic year.

For example, “Elections and Foreign Policy” will be the focus of the 2007 issue of SAISPHERE to be published in December.

Under the direction of Robert J. Guttman, the Center on Politics and Foreign Relations (CPFR) will continue its ongoing breakfast series featuring U.S. and international policymakers, including numerous 2008 U.S. presidential candidates. CPFR hosts these events in conjunction with the Financial Times and The Johns Hopkins University School of Government.

On October 29, the SAIS International Policy Program and the JHU Press, publisher of A Contract With the Earth by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and Terry L. Maple, will co-host the book’s Washington launch. Gingrich will discuss his argument that environmental stewardship is a mainstream value that transcends partisan politics and that environmental leadership is integral to America’s role in the world.

In late fall, the Center for Transatlantic Relations and the University of Paris I (Sorbonne) will sponsor a conference at SAIS that explores how issues of identity, immigration and integration influenced the recent French presidential election and how these topics may affect the 2008 U.S. race.

Other planned events include the Washington, D.C., premiere in November of Orange Revolution, a new documentary that chronicles the 2004 citizen protest in Ukraine that resulted in a revote in the country’s presidential election, and a U.S. presidential candidates’ “town hall” on foreign policy toward Africa.

In addition, SAIS will co-host a series of policy forums with Newsweek to coincide with milestones throughout the upcoming U.S. presidential campaign. Forums will examine foreign policy, strategic and historic implications of news events, with appearances by Newsweek editors and notable newsmakers.

To stay informed about initiatives and upcoming events for the “Year of Elections and Foreign Policy,” go to www.sais-jhu.edu/elections.

See the calendar for details about election-related events at SAIS this fall.