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Home page  About CSIS Programs Pacific Forum CSIS Young Leaders Program
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Young Leaders Program
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| The Young Leaders Program at Pacific Forum CSIS invites selected up-and-coming young professionals and post-graduate students to participate in a series of Pacific Forum policy dialogues and conferences, which are normally limited to seasoned experts. The program serves as a catalyst for training young Asian and American professionals in international policy affairs at an early juncture in their careers, while also giving greater voice to the younger generation’s viewpoints within the elite circles of policy specialists. The Young Leaders program has four primary objectives:
- To foster education in the practical aspects and complexities of policy-making;
- To generate a greater exchange of views between young and seasoned professionals;
- To promote cross-cultural interaction and cooperation among younger professionals;
- To enrich dialogues with generational perspectives for the benefit of all attendees.
Criteria for selection. The Pacific Forum typically selects 8 to 12 Young Leaders to participate in each of our policy dialogues. Fellows must have a strong background in the area covered by the conference they are attending and an endorsement from respected experts in their field. The typical candidate has extensive academic and on-the-job training, but is limited in personal interaction in dialogue settings. The goal is for Young Leaders to attend multiple meetings over the initial three-year pilot period (2004-2006) to build a learning curve, gain confidence, and build a core network. Repeat invitations are based on performance. Program Description. Each Young Leader event begins with a pre-conference introductory session, where Young Leaders become acquainted with each other and with the program. Recently, the Young Leaders Program has expanded to include a full day of meetings by the host organization to gain insight into local views of security issues and to gain familiarity with local political and security institutions.
During the conference, Young Leaders are encouraged to participate and contribute views, and Pacific Forum senior staff encourages sidebar interactions with senior experts. At the conclusion, Brad Glosserman, executive director of Pacific Forum and director of the Young Leaders Program, chairs a Young Leaders seminar to probe for more in-depth views. Each Young Leader is required to write a brief position paper on a topic dealt with in the meeting, which is critiqued at the Young Leaders Seminar. Thus far, five volumes of Young Leaders’ essays are available at www.pacificforum.org. Young Leaders also have their own website pacforumyoungleaders.org to exchange thoughts and ideas. For more information, contact Brad Glosserman, executive director, pacforum@hawaii.rr.com or 808-521-6745 (Honolulu, Hawaii).
Young Leader Conferences – 2007/2008
The Pacific Forum intends to run Young Leaders programs coincident with the following conferences in 2007/2008:
Asia-Pacific Security Forum (Taipei, Aug. 29-31, 2007). The Pacific Forum collaborates with the Institute for National Policy Research (INPR, Taiwan), the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS) (Manila), and the Asia Centre (Paris), to conduct this annual forum of about 30 senior experts aimed at promoting multilateral security dialogue on regional and global issues, including (but not limited to) the cross-Strait relationship. We plan on involving at least 12 Young Leaders, from Asia, Europe, and the United States. We will arrange separate briefings and meetings for the group with institutes and government agencies in Taipei either before or after the conference, along with a possible filed trip.
Preventative Security Workshop (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Oct. 30-31, 2007). This workshop examining best practices in preventive diplomacy (PD) in the Asia Pacific region will be co-chaired by CSCAP-Singapore and USCSCAP/Pacific Forum and held back to back with an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) PD Seminar. A dozen or more Young Leaders will be included.
U.S.-China Strategic Dialogue (Honolulu, Nov. 5-6, 2007). In partnership with the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the Advanced Systems and Concepts Office of the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Pacific Forum CSIS has held two rounds of a track two dialogue to discuss the two countries’ nuclear weapons strategy, doctrine, and crisis management techniques. These meetings aim to identify misperceptions regarding each side’s nuclear strategy and doctrine and highlight potential areas of cooperation or confidence building measures that might reduce such dangers. A dozen or more Young Leaders will be included.
Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP) Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Study Group (Jarkarta, Indonesia, Dec. 9-10, 2007 and Southeast Asia, Spring 2008). The biannual Study Group on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction draws about 40 senior participants from the 21 Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific member institutions (including North Korea) to examine multilateral and consensus-building approaches to addressing proliferation concerns and other divisive security issues. We plan on bringing 18-20 Young Leaders from Asia, North America, and elsewhere to each conference.
Re-examining Strategic Goals in U.S., Japan, and China Relations (Tokyo, Japan, Spring 2008). With core funding from the US-Japan Foundation, the Pacific Forum is convening this workshop with a cross-section of 15-20 experts from the three countries to examine a range of political, security, and economic challenges facing the three powers, particularly putting recent China-Japan tensions in a broader context of U.S. interests. The outcome will draw attention to the long-term strategic goals of the three countries, and how current policy positions and pronouncements – on all three sides – impact the realization of those goals. We plan to involve about 12 Young Leaders from the three countries, including those based in China.
13th Annual U.S.-Japan Security Seminar (San Francisco, March 2008). The Pacific Forum joins with the Japan Institute for International Affairs (JIIA) each year to convene a senior-level policy dialogue on the future direction of the alliance. This seminar has earned a reputation for playing a critical role in promoting candid, off-the-record dialogue between our two nations, aimed at strengthening the alliance by anticipating and offering suggestions to address potential problems. Participants include 40-50 current and former government officials, analysts, and scholars who are the most knowledgeable in our two countries on alliance management. We plan on involving about 12-14 primarily Japanese and American Young Leaders, including from Tokyo, Honolulu, San Francisco, and other cities.
U.S.-Japan-ROK Relations for the 21st Century (Honolulu, April 2008). Trilateral coordination among the U.S., Japan, and the ROK is essential, but strains between Tokyo and Seoul have made trilateral cooperation difficult, if not impossible. This series of meetings will explore the roots of conflict, ways to ameliorate tensions, and the stakes involved as the three countries deal with North Korea, the rise of China, and military modernization efforts. A dozen or more Young Leaders from all three countries plus others working on associated issues, will be invited, and one extra session will highlight future generation views.
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