Fall 2024

Events for the upcoming semester!

"Bending" Institutions to Meet the Moment: Reimagining Asia's Role in the G7

September 5 | 4:00PM | 223 Philosophy Hall 

Unprecedented challenges from geopolitical rivalry, emerging technology, and autocratic bloc formation have rendered ineffective many of the traditional institutions of regional and global governance including the UN, WTO, and G20. The mandate is not to create new institutions but to “bend” existing ones to meet the moment. The G7 is the only viable institution of like-minded partners to support the rules-based international order. However, reforms are necessary for the grouping to take on this task, including an expanded role for industrialized Asian democracies.

IIS Student Reception

September 17 | 2:00PM | 223 Philosophy Hall 

Please join us on September 17th from 2:00-3:00pm at 223 Philosophy Hall to learn more about the Institute of International Studies’ career talk series, affiliated student groups with an international focus, and ways for you to get involved. This is an excellent opportunity for you to connect with other student organizations and individuals who share a passion for international studies. Food provided!

When the Disaster Comes to Visit: The Chernobyl Children and the Transnational History of a Nuclear Catastrophe

September 22 | 5:00-7:00PM| 223 Philosophy Hall

In this talk, Melanie Arndt shows how the Chernobyl children became witnesses to and symbols of a vanishing political system, the dissolution of the bipolar world order, and life in the Anthropocene — an age where human impact on the planet has become increasingly borderless.

Academic Freedom and The Rise of China

September 27 | 4:00PM| 223 Philosophy Hall

Join us for an insightful discussion on how People’s Republic of China has exerted pressure on academic freedom in think tanks and universities around the world. This event will feature remarks from three distinguished speakers, each offering a unique perspective on the challenges posed by China’s influence on academic institutions.

Matrix on Point: War is Back

September 30| 12:00-1:30PM| Social Sciences Building 

War is back. Open military operations in Europe and the Middle East have driven an escalation of geopolitical tensions in those regions. The conduct of warfare is changing, too, fueled by the deployment and sometimes live-testing of new technologies. Meanwhile, a new cold war seems to be settling in. The growth of China’s economic power and worldwide influence has triggered proliferating sovereignty disputes and defensive trade and security policies. In this Matrix on Point panel, UC Berkeley experts will discuss these and other transformations, and offer their views on what to expect in the short to medium term.