On November 15, 2016, The American Conservative gathered leading scholars, journalists, and policy experts to discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy in the wake of the 2016 election. Former U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb delivered a keynote address at the conference, “Foreign Policy in America’s Interest: Realism, Nationalism, and the Next President”, held at George Washington University in downtown Washington, DC. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a Congressional critic of unauthorized military interventions, also made remarks, while other political analysts and foreign-policy experts discussed what type of mandate Donald Trump will have as he takes office and how the new administration should handle relations with Russia. A final discussion with prominent historians and scholars reflected on what 2016 means for the country’s longstanding commitment to intervention and globalism.
If you missed the livestream, you can view the entire program in the videos below.
8:15 am Welcome
- Samuel Goldman, George Washington University
- Daniel McCarthy, The American Conservative
8:25 am Opening Remarks
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)
9:00 am The Next President and the National Interest
- Robert W. Merry, author of books on American history and foreign policy
- Jim Pinkerton, Fox News contributor
- William Ruger, Charles Koch Institute
- Moderator: Scott McConnell, The American Conservative
10:15 am Russia, America, and Great Power Competition
- Nikolas Gvosdev, U.S. Naval War College
- Daniel Larison, The American Conservative
- Paul Saunders, Center for the National Interest
- Moderator: Kelley Vlahos, The American Conservative
11:30 am Keynote Address
- Jim Webb, former U.S. senator and Secretary of the Navy
12:15 pm Break
12:30 pm What the Election Means for War and Peace
- Andrew Bacevich, author of America’s War for the Greater Middle East
- Christopher Layne, Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security, Texas A&M
1:30 pm Closing Remarks