Weekly Events for May 19 – May 23

Continue reading for some of the events next week in D.C. concerning Africa.

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TUESDAY, May 20, 2014

The Democratic Alternative from the South: India, Brazil, and South Africa
Hosted by: The Wilson Center's Africa Program, Asia Program and Brazil Institute
Location: 6th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center
1 Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Summary: The evidence from three important rising democracies makes it clear: there is no need to give up individual rights and freedoms in order to achieve growth or to expand opportunities for the majority of citizens. On the contrary, the experiences of India, Brazil, and South Africa demonstrate that the expansion and strengthening of democratic institutions can pave the way for a second wave of reforms needed to ensure steady high growth and to increase opportunities for the poor. Since the global financial crisis of 2008, however, many countries in the developing world have looked at China as a model for rapid growth. This battle of ideas between democratic and authoritarian approaches to growth will be the focus of a seminar the Brazil Institute, the Africa Program, and the Asia Program of the Wilson Center will jointly host on May 20 to mark the Washington launching of Democracy Works — a joint project of the Legatum Institute (United Kingdom), Center for Development and Enterprise (CDE, South Africa), Center for Policy Research (India), and Instituto de Estudos do Trabalho e Sociedade (IETS, Brazil). Two of the principal authors, Ann Bernstein, from CDE, and Simon Schwartzman, from IETS, are former Wilson Center Scholars. The project was in part developed during Ann Bernstein's residence at the Center in 2013.
For more information, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-democratic-alternative-the-south-india-brazil-and-south-africa

Her Excellency, Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile Seretse Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to the United States, Women's Empowerment In Botswana 2014
Hosted by: Women's National Democratic Club
Location: 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW (at Q St.)
Washington, DC 20036
Time: 11:30am – 2:00pm
Summary: Her Excellency Ambassador Seretse is the first woman ambassador to the United States from Botswana. In this role, she has championed economic development through education and served as a powerful advocate for women's rights and for opening doors to women in business, academia, and politics. From 1999 to 2004, the Ambassador served as a member of parliament and as a cabinet minister. Beginning as Acting Minister of Presidential Affairs, she then became Minister Substantive of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Wildlife and Tourism, and then Minister of Works, Transport and Communications. In these capacities, Ambassador Seretse was responsible for overseeing a number of national initiatives with international ramifications. A graduate of Morgan State University with degrees in economics and accounting, she earned an M.A. in economics from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and a law degree from the University of Botswana.
For more information, please visit: http://www.democraticwoman.org/index.cfm?action=events&sub=event&event=223

A Poisonous Thorn in Our Hearts: Sudan and South Sudan's Bitter and Incomplete Divorce
Hosted by: The Wilson Center's Africa Program
Location: 6th Floor
1 Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Summary: The Woodrow Wilson Center's Africa Program is pleased to invite you to a book launch and discussion with James Copnall, author of A Poisonous Thorn in Our Hearts: Sudan and South Sudan's Bitter and Incomplete Divorce. When South Sudan became independent in July 2011, two new nations were born, South Sudan and Sudan. In the years after separation, the two Sudans dealt with crippling economic challenges, struggled with new and old rebellions, and fought each other along their disputed border. Benefiting from unsurpassed access to the politicians, rebels, thinkers and events that are shaping the Sudans, James Copnall draws a compelling portrait of two misunderstood countries. A Poisonous Thorn in Our Hearts argues that Sudan and South Sudan remain deeply interdependent, despite their separation. The book discussion with James Copnall will also feature Amal Hassan Fadlalla, Wilson Center Fellow; and Alan J. Kuperman, Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Alan Goulty, Wilson Center Global Fellow, will introduce the panel and moderate the discussion.
For more information, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/poisonous-thorn-our-hearts-sudan-and-south-sudans-bitter-and-incomplete-divorce

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WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2014

Emerging New Frontiers in Peacebuilding
Hosted by: United States Institute of Peace and Alliance for Peacebuilding
Location: 2301 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Time: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Summary: The U.S. Institute of Peace and the Alliance for Peacebuilding invite you to a day-long event to explore emerging trends and new frontiers in the field of peacebuilding, including cross-border criminal violence, new approaches to complex conflict environments, and the technology revolution and its impact on our field.
For more information, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exploring-new-frontiers-in-peacebuilding-tickets-11253807441