UCF Global Perspectives
and International Initiatives
Maintaining Global Dialogue
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| A Message from our Executive Director
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| Uncertainty with Mission Does Not End with Afghanistan
Quite simply, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was not a good look. Scenes of Afghans desperately trying to escape the victorious Taliban were heartbreaking. The death of 13 servicemembers in the course of the evacuation served as a terrible explanation point and tragic end to American military involvement. It cannot be forgotten that most of the young Americans killed were toddlers when the U.S. first launched military action in that battle-scared nation in wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Pundits from across the ideological spectrum have since struggled to explain the conflict’s bitter, embarrassing end.
In accepting responsibility for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, President Kennedy stated, “Victory has a thousand fathers and defeat is an orphan.” Today, many fingers point at President Biden. The reality of course is much more complex. To turn JFK’s comment on its head, responsibility for American defeat in Afghanistan has many fathers and mothers, including all four presidents who occupied the White House during the course of the 20-year conflict.
Washington would be wise to assess what went wrong; such a review should first focus on the strategy. What was the U.S. trying to accomplish? Defeat Al Qaeda? Destroy the Taliban? Building a modern, centralized state? Quite simply, America lacked a clear mission, and as a consequence much blood was shed and money spent in a futile slog. The speed of the final collapse speaks volumes.
Years ago, I had the honor of facilitating a visit by the Congressional Black Caucus to Egypt. The delegation included seven African American members of the U.S. House of Representatives. One of the members was Rep. Barbara Lee (D-California). Lee was the only member of the House to vote against authorizing military action in Afghanistan, a position for which she was heavily criticized. Lee, who remained popular in her Berkley-based district, explained to me at the time that the mission was far too vague for her comfort. Today a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, she has been seen as something of a sage in recent weeks.
To paraphrase Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” Such unfortunately in the story of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. More broadly, it explains American foreign policy today. The Global War on Terrorism has had its successes to be sure, but in the end one can accurately say it has been a massive distraction. The world has changed a great deal since 2001. Has the United States adjusted to new realities?
Much is written about the rise of China and growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Clearly, China’s economy has grown exponentially, and has its global influence. Many see Beijing as a malevolent force, a country which throws its weight around with little responsibility for maintaining order or solving problems. Whether conflict between the established superpower and the emerging one is inevitable, or whether this relationship can be managed to create a new global order, remains unclear.
One can criticize China’s gameplan, but can’t rebuke it for having one. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) lays out a strategy for global commerce, economic development, and expanded diplomatic relations. BRI benefits China and places it in the center of world affairs. China has funded massive infrastructure projects throughout the developing world, and many nations participating in BRI desperately need economic development. BRI has succeeded in enhancing Beijing’s ties around the world, even though there has been blowback as some nations allege the price of Chinese support has been far too high.
The United States needs a gameplan. One can go from continent to continent and find confusion with American strategy. In Latin America, the U.S. long pursued a strategy of trade liberalization and democracy. Today there is a sense of drift as issues such as increased authoritarianism, government instability, economic stagnation, and immigration proliferate. In the Middle East, the U.S. long supported stability and the status quo, preventing large-scale conflict and guaranteeing global energy security. Today, regional allies and adversaries alike question America’s commitment to the region. In Europe, NATO allies openly debate American reliability. The new AUKUS pact – between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. – suggest to some that the “Asian pivot” is underway at the expense of traditional European allies like France. More generally, protectionist impulses and anti-immigrant policies suggest an American disengagement from the world it supposedly leads.
The world is going through a period of profound transition, and the United States must clarify its mission and understand its priorities. Through our upcoming events and activities, GPII looks forward to examining key global issues and international partnerships. It is critical for the nation and global community to understand the world as it is today, and the challenges to be faced tomorrow.
– David Dumke, Executive Director, UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives
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Together with the Puerto Rico Research Hub we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month as we pay tribute and honor the culture and heritage of all the Hispanic and Latino Americans.
- Diverse Student Voices (Virtual)
October 12, 2021 from 3:00PM - 4:30PM
Join our student panel as they discuss personal reflections around diversity, identity, immigration and migration experience.
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
- Mujeres de la Diaspora Puertorriqueña (Virtual)
October 14, 2021 from 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Puerto Rico Research Hub authors across generations share how their identities have inspired their work.
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
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Consul General of Morocco in New York Abdelkader El Jamoussi's Poetry Session
October 29, 2021 from 1:00PM - 2:00PM
GPII Middle Eastern Studies Program, joined with UCF’s English Department and the Modern Languages and Literatures Department, bring you a session of creativity and poetry with Mr. Abdelkader El Jamoussi, the Consul General of Morocco in New York. A diplomat, an author, and a poet, Mr. Jamoussi will discuss his journey with Arabic Haiku and share some of his poetry. This event is in partnership with the Kerouac Project of Orlando.
Event is limited capacity, please contact mirvate.eljerdi@ucf.edu to register.
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Crucial Partners: A Conversation on the Future of U.S. – India Relations
October 15, 2021 from 2:00PM - 3:00PM
Join the India Center at UCF in a conversation with Dr. Nikola Mirilovic of UCF’s School of Politics, Security and International Affairs and Dr. Milan Vaishnav of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as they discuss how the current U.S. Administration is addressing its crucial partnership with India.
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Human Trafficking Fall 2021 "Lunch and Learn" Series
Series Event #1
Florida Department of Health’s Human Trafficking Dashboard
Oct 14, 2021 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM
Join us for a presentation by Florida Department of Health’s Director of Public Health Research, Keshia Reid, PhD.Dr. Reid will discuss DOH’s new Human Trafficking Dashboard hosted in Florida CHARTS (Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set), which offers a data-driven human trafficking profile for the state of Florida.
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
Series Event #2
Identifying and Assisting Minor Male Victims of Trafficking
November 10, 2021 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM
The Department of Justice estimates that 36% of minor sex trafficking victims are boys. In this training, provided by John Long, the Executive Director of the U.S. Institute of Human Trafficking, we will look at the under-identified and under-reported minor male victims of sex trafficking. Participants will also learn how to better identify minor male victims of trafficking.
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
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Afghanistan: What's Next?
September 15, 2021 from 10:00AM to 11:30AM
This discussion highlighted the latest development in Afghanistan; what the Taliban’s return will mean for the country’s citizens and the implications and lessons for the U.S. This session featured Dr. Omar Sharifi of the American University of Afghanistan, Ambassador Rick Barton of Princeton University, and moderated by Owen Kirby, Former Director of USAID Office of Transition Initiatives and GPII Non-Resident Fellow.
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Diplomatic Fellowships - UCF Information Session
September 8, 2021 from 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Students, faculty, and staff learned about fellowships for the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development. This event was in collaboration with the Office of Diplomatic Fellowships at Howard University.
Start Watching
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Hispanic Heritage Month September Events
Browse the events you have missed from climate change and Latinos in media and art to Latino demographic changes and federal issue impacting Puerto Rico
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Listen to GPII's latest podcasts to get insights and news from around the globe.
Check out these titles and much more:
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| | | Ambassador Harriet Elam-Thomas
Last Podcast
We are excited to share this special episode of Ambassador Harriet’s Conversations.
Ambassador Harriet retires after 18 years at UCF when she first started as a Diplomat in Residence. She since became a permanent fixture at the university impacting the lives of so many students. For the past year she hosted her originally produced podcast interviewing women in "unusual" places and reconnecting with her former students.
For this episode, her producer, Charlotte, interviews the Ambassador on her career path, highlights, and accomplishments.
We are so grateful to have had the Ambassador as a member of the GPII team. Make sure to listen to this episode.
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| | | Mirvate El Jerdi Conversation with Janna Benge
Mirvate El Jerdi, GPII Senior Coordinator and Special Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa, sits down with Janna Benge, the President and Board Member of the Kerouac Project.
The pair discuss how the Kerouac Project supports writers from all over the world through residency, enriches the Orlando community, and develops future program plans.
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| GPII Intern Eric Hardman and Fellow Knights Shine at FSU’s NoleMUN
From investigating the role of multinational corporations in the development of the global south and debating the development of outer space, to crashing the economy of the Holy Roman Empire, UCF’s delegates had an exciting and enriching experience this past weekend at NoleMUN I.
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The first ranked conference hosted by FSU’s World Affairs Program was held from the 16th to the 19th and brought delegates from all over the Southeastern circuit together to debate, learn, and in some cases wreak havoc on their committees. The first in-person conference for almost all the delegates, and the first ever for some ended with a placement and a commendation: Kyle Tavoletti placed Outstanding Delegate as Paku in the “Avatar the Last Airbender: the Blitz of Ba Sing Se” committee and Eric Hardman received a verbal commendation as Lord Anton Fugger in the “Court of Archduke Ferdinand I: Council of State 1535” committee. All of UCF’s delegates did an outstanding job in their committees, learning and growing as delegates.
The team, housed within the United Nations Association at UCF, is open to all majors, levels of interest, and experience. It seeks to help students apply their knowledge and skills practically, as well as develop public speaking, debate, research, quick thinking, and writing skills while having a lot of fun and networking with like-minded students.
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| | | UCF Professor Fernando Rivera Says Latest U.S. Census Data Shows How Latino Community Is Shaping Central Florida
Dr. Rivera, Director of UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub, discusses how the growing Latino community in Florida is impacting culture, education, healthcare, and politics.
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| | | Puerto Rico Day Downtown Orlando - Parade & Festival
UCF Puerto Rican Student Association, Puerto Rico Research Hub, and the GPII team joined in the Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival that took place in Downtown Orlando on September 18, 2021. Florida Puerto Rican Parade & Festival aim to celebrate and promote the contributions of the Puerto Rican community to the State of Florida.
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| | | Fall 2021 Research Colloquium
The UCF History Department hosts its Fall 2021 Research Colloquium on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 4:00PM, featuring Dr. Yovanna Pineda, Associate Professor of History and Dr. Hakan Özoğlu, Professor of History and GPII Middle Eastern Studies Program Director. Research Colloquium is a series of monthly presentations and conversations featuring faculty and student research.
Dr. Pineda will present her research, Conducting Digital and Ethnographic/Participatory Action Research during COVID, while Dr. Özoğlu will discuss his latest book, The Decline of the Ottoman Empire and The Rise of the Turkish Republic: Observations of an American Diplomat, 1919-1927.
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|  | UCF GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
4356 Scorpius Street, Orlando, FL USA 32816
Phone: 407.823.2337 | Fax: 407.823.2526
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