The US-Korea Institute at SAIS and Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee present:

Bretton Woods @ 70: Past, Present and Future

In today’s world, the idea of world leaders gathering in the midst of economic crisis has become all-too familiar. But the summit at Bretton Woods in 1944 was the only time countries from around the world have agreed to overhaul the structure of the international monetary system. And what’s more, they were successful, establishing the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction, which is today part of the World Bank. Some would argue that this was the closest to perfection the world’s economy has ever been, and contemplate if the demise of the Bretton Woods system is behind our present woes.

The US-Korea Institute at SAIS and Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee invite you to join us for a discussion of the history of the Bretton Woods summit, the role the Bretton Woods system plays today and how that role will evolve to address the growing multipolarization of the global economy.

James Boughton
Former Historian, International Monetary Fund
Senior Fellow, Center for International Governance Innovation

Harold James
Professor of History and International Affairs, Princeton University
Senior Fellow, Center for International Governance Innovation

Ed Conway
Economics Editor of Sky News and Author of The Summit

Mike Dooley
Professor of Economics, University of California-Santa Cruz
Partner, Drobny Global and Cabezon Investment Group
Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research

Moderated by Ousmene Mandeng
Managing Director, Global Institutional Relations Group, Pramerica Investment Management

with opening remarks by
Marc Uzan
Director, Reinventing Bretton woods Committee

This event is open to press and public. RSVP here. 

Ironically, given the current political tensions in the region, Abe could end up having his first bilateral East Asian
summit with none other than North Korea’s Kim Jong Un—neither of whom have yet been invited to Beijing, though for entirely different reasons. ~ Dennis P. Halpin

 

With the recent round of Japan-North Korea informal talks in China last weekend and reported hopes for another round of formal bilateral negotiations in the near future, Dennis P. Halpin examines the possible motivations driving this seeming rapprochement.

Download the USKI Policy Brief: “Abe Plays the North Korea Card,” by Dennis P. Halpin.

Dennis P. Halpin is currently a visiting scholar at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Korea, U.S. consul in Pusan, and a House Foreign Affairs Committee staff member for over twelve years. 

The US-Korea Institute at SAIS is currently seeking 1-2 Communications interns. Tasks will include such activities as web content management/updates (multiple websites), social media management, media tracking, writing media advisories and event briefs, email newsletter management, event material preparation, and more.

A successful candidate should have superior writing and editing skills (in English), some copywriting experience a plus, with an eye for design, and should have some experience in the following programs: Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator; WordPress (or other web content management systems); social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn (forums).

USKI internships are unpaid and interns are expected to work at least 4 days a week.

To apply, please email cover letter, resume and short writing sample to Jenny Town, Assistant Director at jtown2@jhu.edu. Only those chosen for interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

The US-Korea Institute at SAIS is currently seeking program and research interns. Multiple positions are open and duties will vary. Some current areas of research include: North Korea political, economic, and social development, North Korean WMD issues, US-ROK nuclear cooperation, US-ROK cooperation in Southeast Asia, US-ROK cooperation nuclear security, US foreign policy to both Koreas, energy security cooperation in Northeast Asia, ROK renewable energy policies, and more.

Interns generally are asked to do a variety of tasks including research assistance, event attendance and reporting, logistical support for events and projects, and other things as necessary. They may work with USKI staff and/or Visiting Scholars on various projects.

Successful candidates should have an interest in Korea and/or East Asia policy and be at least a sophomore in college or higher; graduate students and post-grads are encouraged to apply. Foreign language skills are a plus, but not necessary. Strong writing and editing skillls are preferred. Must be able to multitask, prioitize, meet deadlines, and work well both independently and in small groups.

USKI internships are unpaid and interns are expected to work at least 4 days a week.

To apply, please email cover letter, resume and short writing sample to Jenny Town, Assistant Director at jtown2@jhu.edu. Only those chosen for interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

On Thursday, March 6, the US-Korea Institute at SAIS and Voice of America will launch the report, “Cell Phones in North Korea: Has North Korea Entered the Telecommunications Revolution?” by Voice of America reporter, Yonho Kim. Mr. Kim will present key findings from his research, which includes the influence of cell phones on social trends and economy in North Korea.

The panel also features two distinguished discussants, Alexandre Mansourov (US-Korea Institute at SAIS) and Sascha Meinrath (New America Foundation, Open Technology Institute), who will provide further insights into technical and regional uses of telecommunications and information technology.

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, RSVP is required.

Live webcast of this event can be viewed at http://webcast.jhu.edu/Mediasite/Play/c63e47afe50f400eb9bce84a5896e58e1d.

Thursday, March 6, 2014
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Bernstein-Offit Building, Room 500
1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
RSVP HERE

Utter the words “Taft-Katsura” to an average American and the response will undoubtedly be a blank stare. But I learned from my years of teaching in Korea that the words “Taft-Katsura” will almost invariably invoke a long discourse from Korean professors and students on America’s betrayal of Korea in exchange for Japanese recognition of U.S. interests in the Philippines. “Taft-Katsura” is engraved in many minds as a key element in the victimization of Korea at the beginning of the twentieth century. ~ Dennis P. Halpin

On August 14, 2013, an article from the Korea Times quoted Dr. Kim Hak-joon, president of the Northeast Asian History Foundation (NAHF), who suggested former President Theodore Roosevelt be stripped of his 1906 Nobel Peace Prize.

Dennis P. Halpin, former House Foreign Relations Committee staff member and current Visiting Scholar at the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS, examines the history of the Taft-Katsura Agreement in defense of Roosevelt’s legacy.

Download USKI Policy Brief “Teddy Roosevelt and the Taft-Katsura Agreement,” by Dennis P. Halpin.

Dennis P. Halpin is currently a visiting scholar at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Korea, U.S. consul in Pusan, and a House Foreign Affairs Committee staff member for over twelve years. 

“An August 1, 2013 editorial in the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest circulation daily, carried the title “Comfort Women Allegations Distort Japanese History.” The greatest distortion here is the amnesia of an influential portion of Japanese society in addressing World War II history.” ~ Dennis P. Halpin 

 

The Yomiuri Shimbun recently published a controversial editorial that challenged the characterization of comfort women as “sex slaves,” and suggested that such labels were historically inaccurate. It noted that the Japanese government could not find official documents proving that the women were recruited by force.

Dennis P. Halpin, former House Foreign Relations Committee staff member and current Visiting Scholar at the US-Korea Institute at SAIS, examines the 1945 report, “Amenities in the Japanese Armed Forces,” published by command of General MacArthur (declassified in 1992) and compiled by the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Forces (SCAP), which refutes the Japanese government’s claims.

Download USKI Policy Brief “MacArthur Document Reports Imperial Japanese Military’s “Sanction” of Comfort Women Brothels,” by Dennis P. Halpin.

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