In this episode of Building the Future, Dan is joined by Ambassador Javier Rupérez, former Spanish Ambassador to the United States for the second part of their conversation. They begin by discussing the diminishing role of Christian Democratic Parties within Europe. They then shift into the importance of NATO, the differing views on China and Russia within Europe, and the cooperation needed in dealing with the competitors’ rising power. They then discuss Covid-19 and their views on the increased connectivity and the economic struggles that followed in its wake. The conversation concludes with a discussion of how the Biden administration can reset U.S. engagement and leadership on the global stage.

In this episode, Dan is joined by Ambassador Javier Rupérez, former Spanish Ambassador to the United States. They begin by discussing Rupérez's experiences growing up under the Franco regime and his initial political experiences in organizations that opposed the dictator. After university, Rupérez joined the Spanish foreign service where he was exposed to the international system. Rupérez then describes his involvement in Spain's successful democratic transition. Once Spain became a democracy, he played a critical role in guiding the country's new foreign policy. Rupérez recounts his successful campaign for Spain's membership in the NATO, despite political opposition.

This is the first in a series of two episodes from Dan's conversation with Ambassador Rupérez.

In this episode Dan is joined by Dr. Bill Steiger, former Chief of Staff at USAID. Previously, Dr. Steiger was successively Managing Director and Chief Program Officer at Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon and worked as a Senior Advisor at the Global Fund. He was also Special Assistant for International Affairs to the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the George W. Bush Administration.

Dan and Dr. Steiger begin their conversation by discussing how Dr. Steiger began his long-term career in public service. The two then go on to discuss some of the challenges that Dr. Steiger observed during his time as Chief of Staff at USAID and the ways in which these challenges influenced the agency’s relationships within different government branches. Afterward, they speak about some of ongoing successes and “wins” that Dr. Steiger witnessed at the agency, including an entire structural change. Dr. Steiger goes on to specifically highlight a shift in culture at the agency and outlines the immense progress it has made with respect to its risk appetite statement, its acquisition and assistance strategy, and its digital strategy. Dan and Dr. Steiger then consider the lasting implications that the Covid-19 pandemic will have on global development initiatives and discuss new humanitarian assistance patterns the world might begin to see. Finally, they talk through the impacts and the potential outcomes of the upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) election in 2022.

Statistics Dr. Steiger has provided:
 

Dan's colleague and long-time friend John Simon guest hosts this week's episode to talk about how the developing world can develop and adopt a functional, reliable, and secure digital ID. Achieving universal financial inclusion requires a reliable and inclusive identification document –– a digital one, given the modern world. John, who was the former US Ambassador to the African Union, sits down with Kate Wilson (CEO of the Digital Impact Alliance) and Paul Lekas (who is with the National Security Commission on AI) to discuss how to approach the legal, structural, and design barriers to realizing a Universal Digital ID and how the U.S. can play a constructive role.

This is the first in a series of two episodes on Digital ID-enabled Financial Inclusion and has been produced thanks to the generous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

In this episode, Dan speaks with his colleague and director of the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project, Jonathan E. Hillman, who is the author of a new book on the Belt and Road Initiative, The Emperor's New Road: China and the Project of the Century. This conversation comes at an interesting time as the United States is mapping out its own infrastructure investment needs. Jon and Dan have worked closely on the issue of increasing influence of the People’s Republic of China in global infrastructure development and have produced dozens of analysis for U.S. officials and lawmakers on the geopolitical stakes of China’s multi trillion dollar global infrastructure development project that spans across the world. In this podcast, Jon chronicles some of his key takeaways from writing this book and discuss among other things the true cost of BRI investments for the developing countries, the U.S. role in enabling an alternative globally, and even the best travel destinations in Central Asia.

In this episode Dan speaks with Nicolás Massot, a politician, who currently serves on the Board of Directors of Banco Ciudad, the third largest bank in Argentina. Nicolás was also the former majority leader of Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies, the youngest leader in the Chamber’s history, and is a member of Republican Proposal, one of the most prominent parties in Argentina. In addition, he had a leading role in the Argentinian presidential campaign in 2015. The two begin their conversation by talking through why Nicolás was motivated to enter politics and discuss the first position he held when he began his career. Nicolás and Dan then talk about Nicolás’s role in the 2015 presidential election and his experience running for the House of Deputies the same year. Then they discuss some of the reasons behind the successful 2015 election of former Argentinian president, Mauricio Macri and some of the political changes the country has seen in recent years. Finally, they delve into a discussion surrounding Argentinian foreign affairs and the future of a new generation of political leaders.

In this episode of Building the Future, Dan speaks with Jack Hamilton who is the Hopkins P. Breazeale Professor at Louisiana State University for the Manship School of Mass Communication and a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center. Jack and Dan begin this podcast by discussing Jack’s most recent book Manipulating the Masses: Woodrow Wilson and the Birth of American Propaganda.” They talk about why Jack chose to write the book and the ways in which he conducted its necessary historical research. Jack and Dan then talk through the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson and analyze both the backgrounds and important roles played by some of the individuals in the book. Furthermore, they consider the ways in which the book is relevant to debates today about misinformation and how news will be spread and consumed in the future.

In this episode, Dan Runde sits down with Dr. Diana Negroponte who is a current Global Fellow at the Wilson Center. Dan and Dr. Negroponte begin their conversation by discussing her new book, Master Negotiator: the Role of James A. Baker, III at the End of the Cold War.They talk about why Dr. Negroponte wrote the book and in particular, how she decided to write about his legacy during the end of the Cold War. Dan and Dr. Negroponte discuss Baker’s open-mindedness, intellect, and determination, and how these personal attributes, in addition to his close friendship with President George H.W. Bush, ultimately shaped his success as Secretary of State. They move on and talk through the landmark events that occurred during the Cold War era as well as the history of the U.S. relationship with the Soviet Union. Finally, they discuss the important legacy that Baker will leave behind.

In this episode, Dan Runde is joined by Paul O’Brien. When this episode was recorded, Paul was the Vice President of OXFAM America and on secondment to OXFAM International to co-lead the Global Corona Virus Advocacy Task Force. He has since been hired as the Executive Director at Amnesty International USA. Dan and Paul start off their conversation by talking about Paul’s recent book Power Switch- How We Can Reverse Extreme Inequality. Dan and Paul go on to discuss why and how power switches occur during moments of deep disruption, and some of the implications of not addressing the global challenges the world is facing today. Finally, they discuss how power competition could shape the future of economics, technology, supply chains, and ultimately the way the Covid-19 pandemic is addressed.

In this episode, Dan Runde is joined by Michael Jarvis, Executive Director of the Transparency and Accountability Initiative, a donor collaborative working to expand the impact and scale of transparency, accountability, and participation interventions. Dan and Michael kick-off their conversation by talking about the importance of transparency and accountability at both the national and sub-national levels in a variety of sectors. They also discuss the role that Covid-19 has played in the global transparency agenda and further, how it will be critical in the vaccine rollout and providing economic relief to those dealing with the consequences of the pandemic. This episode also features Michael and Dan discussing debt transparency and the future role the Biden Administration can play in international engagement. Finally, they discuss Michael’s upcoming objectives at the Transparency and Accountability Initiative and the importance of incorporating transparency into a variety of different agendas as the world transitions to a post-Covid-19 world and into the future.