Smart Women, Smart Power

SWSP is creating space for women in one of the most powerful decision-making spaces in the world: national security and foreign affairs

The Smart Women, Smart Power (SWSP) Initiative has a simple starting point: people are policy. We are committed to creating a platform for respectful and inclusive discussion of the many ways in which women influence and impact the international security, foreign policy and business agendas. The Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative launched in December 2014.

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Featured Event

Featured Analysis

Photo: K. Kassens/U.S. Army via DVIDS

Photo: K. Kassens/U.S. Army via DVIDS

Women: Mission Essential Personnel

Women in the joint force are a decisive U.S. advantage. In a strategic environment wherein China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are learning from each other, the joint force needs every advantage it can get if the Trump administration intends to defend U.S. interests.

Commentary by Kathleen McInnis — November 18, 2024

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Countering China and Russia: The Hidden Advantages of Women, Peace, and Security

Gender perspectives can be better utilized to identify means to more effectively collaborate with partner nations and strengthen U.S. deterrence. This brief argues that the Women, Peace, and Security tool kit should be utilized as a strategic enabler for DoD activities.

Brief by Kathleen McInnis, Benjamin Jensen, Audrey Aldisert, and Alexis Day — November 14, 2024

Photo: CSIS

Photo: CSIS

What Difference Does It Make?

What does having women sitting at international affairs decisionmaking tables actually get us? This Smart Women, Smart Power report sheds light on the powerful contributions that women make in some of the most influential spaces in the world.

Report by Kathleen McInnis and Alexis Day — October 15, 2024

Photo: Paval Hadzinski/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed)

Why Dictators are Afraid of Girls

Rethinking Gender and National Security

Gender plays a powerful role in the construction and promulgation of power and identity that is particularly meaningful in authoritarian regimes.

See full article

Featured Podcasts

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Beating Putin’s Playbook

Marie-Doha Besancenot, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, NATO, joins to discuss the different ways NATO is prioritizing this space.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — July 12, 2024

See all podcast episodes by the SWSP Podcast

Featured Events

Photo: Rafael Henrique via Adobe Stock

Photo: Rafael Henrique via Adobe Stock

The Future of NATO is Female

July 10, 2024 • 10:00 – 10:30 am EDT
Video On Demand
Hosted by Smart Women, Smart Power
Photo: JACK TAYLOR/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: JACK TAYLOR/AFP/Getty Images

Lessons from Myanmar

May 1, 2024 • 10:00 – 10:30 am EDT
Video On Demand
Hosted by Smart Women, Smart Power
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The Truth of the Matter

The Government Clock is Ti(c)kTok-ing

In this episode of the Truth of the Matter, we feature a conversation from CSIS podcast, Smart Women Smart Power. Host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) about her whirlwind past couple of weeks. 

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis and H. Andrew Schwartz — March 22, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter

The Weaponization of the Dollar

Kathleen McInnis sits down with Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin for a discussion about her new book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order.

Event — March 20, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

The Weaponization of the Dollar

Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin joins Kathleen McInnis to talk about her new book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — March 20, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power

Welcome to the U.S., EU Ambassador Neliupšienė!

Kathleen McInnis sits down with the new Ambassador of the European Union to the United States Jovita Neliupšienė. The pair discusses the war in Ukraine, including Ukraine's membership to the EU, plus her role in Lithuania facing economic coercion from China, and much more.

Event — March 13, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Welcome to the U.S., EU Ambassador Neliupšienė!

Kathleen McInnis sat down with the new Ambassador of the European Union to the United States Jovita Neliupšienė.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — March 13, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

We’re on a Winter Break!

The Smart Women, Smart Power podcast is taking a winter break to refresh and recharge. We’ll be back in March!

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — February 23, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

All About Defense Acquisition

 

Melissa A. Johnson, an Acquisition Executive in the U.S. Special Operations Command, joins to discuss the process behind acquisition, technology, and logistics in the Special Operations Forces.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — February 14, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Montenegro’s Path to NATO

Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director of the McCain Institute and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia, joins us for a conversation on the process behind Montenegro joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — February 7, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Making “Space”

Maria Demaree, Vice President and General Manager of National Security Space at Lockheed Martin, joins for a discussion on the future of the space mission.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — January 31, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Behind the Scenes: Obama and Bourdain Share a Meal

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Liz Allen joins to discuss her mission to reimagine the power and purpose of American diplomacy.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — January 24, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power