engaging the world - Elliott School of International Affairs - The ...

iGiS
INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
The Institute for Global and International Studies (IGIS) places a special emphasis on bridging the theory and
practice of international relations. IGIS advances scholarship by examining real-world, global issues—such
as climate change, economic development, intellectual property rights, human rights, migration, and the
challenges of international cooperation. It applies international relations theory to these real-world issues to
help scholars and policymakers better understand them.
UNDeRSTANDiNG GLoBAL GoVeRNoRS
In 2009-10, the institute and its scholars provided an
important platform for discussion and analysis of
significant transnational challenges, with a particular
focus on the various actors who seek to set the
global policy agenda in their respective fields.
IGIS Director Susan K. Sell
In June 2010, IGIS Director Susan Sell, faculty member
Martha Finnemore, and co-editor Deborah Avant
published a major book, Who Governs the Globe?
(Cambridge University Press). In the book, the
authors seek to understand the global actors—from
international organizations and corporations to
professional associations and advocacy groups—
that aim to create rules that “govern” activity in
issue areas they care about. Who Governs the
Globe? was the result of a multi-year collaboration
between IGIS scholars, other GW academic units,
and external researchers focused on the topic of
global governance.
FoSTeRiNG ReSeARCH oN GLoBAL iSSUeS
IGIS promotes innovative research and actively
disseminates new ideas through academic publications
and seminars. In 2009-10, the IGIS Research Seminar
Series hosted 24 scholars who presented their
scholarship for interdisciplinary discussion, constructive
feedback, and debate. These popular seminars
covered topics ranging from demography and conflict
in modern Africa to software piracy.
IGIS contributed to GW faculty development
by hosting two “book incubators,” in which GW
scholars presented their works-in-progress and
received feedback from expert commentators.
In February 2010, the institute sponsored a book
incubator for GW Assistant Professor Emmanuel
Teitelbaum, who presented his manuscript on the
politics of labor protest in India. An April 2010 book
incubator featured the work of Assistant Professor
Stephen Kaplan, who presented his manuscript From
Spendthrifts to Misers, which analyzes Latin American
economic reform.
During 2009-10, IGIS hosted nine visiting scholars
from around the world, whose research and insights
deepened the intellectual atmosphere within the
Elliott School community.
AN iNTeLLeCTUAL HUB
IGIS capitalizes on its central Washington, DC,
location and its reputation as a leading center for
scholarly engagement.
Stephen Walt, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of
International Affairs at Harvard University, discusses
“Cutting Losses in Wars of Choice” at an IGIS event.
Joe Karaganis, program director for media and
democracy, Social Science Research Council,
discusses “Media Piracy and Enforcement” at an
IGIS event.
In March 2010, the institute hosted the threeday
“New Era Foreign Policy Conference.” This
conference brought together scholars and students
from around the country to discuss the challenges
facing U.S. foreign policy in the next decade.
In December 2009, IGIS partnered with the student
organization GW Social Enterprise Forum to host
a public event with human rights activist Awista
Ayub. Ms. Ayub presented her book, However Tall
the Mountain, in which she detailed her efforts to
create a soccer program for girls in Afghanistan.
In February 2010, the institute hosted Elliott School
alumna Eleni Tsingou, who presented the Warwick
Commission Report on International Financial Reform.
iGiS-AFFiLiATeD PRoGRAMS
The GW Diaspora Program, led by faculty members
Jennifer Brinkerhoff and Liesl Riddle, hosted five
seminars and a policy colloquium in 2009-10.
Affiliated faculty members represented the program
at a number of conferences around the world and
provided training to members of the U.S. Department
of State’s Policy Planning staff and diaspora
organizations worldwide.
The Culture in Global Affairs (CiGA) program, led
by associate dean and faculty member Barbara
Miller, sponsored 10 public events that advanced
understanding of the role of culture in international
affairs. Speakers included U.S. and international
A May 2010 IGIS event on “Media Piracy and
Enforcement: Global and Economic Perspectives”
highlighted the economic consequences of
media piracy and the implications for the protection
of intellectual property.
Also in May, IGIS hosted the Cybersecurity Workshop,
which brought together leading scholars and experts
in the field of technology security to produce a plan
for international cooperation on the challenges of
cybersecurity.
Under the leadership of Director Susan Sell, IGIS
hosted two Intellectual Property Enforcement
Agenda conferences in March and April of 2010. The
conferences examined the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement (ACTA) and the broader enforcement
agenda from a diverse range of perspectives. In
June 2010, IGIS hosted a conference in conjunction
with American University and the University of
Ottawa that brought together scholars and policy
experts to discuss ACTA.
Thirteen days after the January 2010 Haiti earthquake,
CIGA sponsored a panel on “Risk, Suffering, and Response:
The Haiti Earthquake Crisis of 2010.” Panelists
included (l-r) Drexel G. Woodson, associate professor
of applied research in anthropology, University of
Arizona; Erica James, associate professor of anthropology,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Julia
Frank, associate clinical professor of psychiatry, GW;
and Kyrah Daniels, junior curator, National Museum of
American History (not shown).
scholars, an independent researcher from India, and
an official from the U.S. Department of State. CIGA
also maintains a robust online presence through a
blog, anthropologyworks, and Twitter handle.
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