Speaker Programme 2008-09 (Advance) Locations TBA

Tim Allen (LSE): ‘The International Criminal Court’ Oct 7th, 5.30 PM

Tim Allen of LSE comes to talk about the problems of implementing ICC warrants in developing countries. An experienced field researcher and academic, Tim will be talking about the recent indictment of Omar Al-Bashir and the continuing problems with the arrest warrants issued for the LRA leadership in Uganda. Copies of his book will be made available at a discounted price at the event.

Wai Hnin ‘Burma and Political Prisoners’ Oct 9th, 5.30 PM

Born in Rangoon the daughter of Mya Aye, prominent leader of the ‘88 Generation Students’, at five months old her father was arrested and sentenced to prison for his involvement in the nationwide student uprising. Because of her father’s activities her studies were pressured by the military government in Burma. Her father was arrested again in August 2007. Wai Hnin is actively involved in the democracy movement in the UK. She met the Prime Minister Gordon Brown in June 2008, made a speech in July 2008 at the Houses of Parliament about the issues of political prisoners and women activists, and is campaigning at the Burma Campaign UK to release the political prisoners in Burma.

Rising Powers: Brazil

Sue Branford ‘Deforestation and the Brazilian Government’ Oct 14th, 5.30PM

Sue first got interested in the Amazon Basin in the 1970s, when she was working in Brazil as Financial Times correspondent. Violent clashes were erupting between the big cattle companies moving in and indigenous and peasant communities. She published her first book on the Amazon in the early 1980s -- 'The Last Frontier -- Fighting over Land in the Amazon'. Sue has also created an acclaimed documentary on the Amazon for the BBC. Over the last 2-3 years she has been carrying out research into why the logging of the forest is still carrying on. Sue will be available to answer questions from the audience after her talk.

Sue and Patrick Cunningham (IPCST) ‘Indigenous Communities in Brazil’ Oct 15 th, 5.30PM

Professional photographers and Reporters, Sue and Patrick work for the Indigenous People’s Cultural Support Trust, a charity that seeks to raise awareness and support for the rights of indigenous tribal communities in rural Brazil. They will be talking about the relationship between under-represented tribes and the government. Their presentation will be supplemented by their 20 year catalogue of award-winning photography.

Richard Bourne (SAS) ‘Lula, the Brazilian Model and Globalisation’ Oct 16th, 5.30PM

Richard Bourne comes to us from the School of Advanced Studiesi, in association with Zed books, to speak about the presidency of Lula da Silva, the emergence of Brazil into the global economy and the possibilities that the Brazilian model of economic growth can be transferred to other Latin American countries. Richard has recently released his biography of President Lula which will be available at the event at wholesale price.

John Russell (University of Bradford) (Title TBC) Oct 30th, 5.30 PM

Dr. Russell is an expert on Russia, NATO and the Caucuses. He has agreed to come and speak to the IAF on an element of the dynamic climate there which we will be announcing closer to the time. As the situation is changing daily, we feel it is better to wait until nearer the talk before fixing a topic.

US Election Night

Lee Marsden (UEA) ‘For God’s Sake: The Christian Right in US Foreign Policy’ Nov 4th, 5.30PM

An expert in US Foreign Policy Lee Marsden comes from UEA to address the Forum on US election night. Lee will be talking about the influence of Christian fundamentalism in the US government and its consequent effects overseas. Lee will also be available to discuss the election itself and the permutations and effects on International Affairs be it Obama or McCain. Lee’s book of the same name will again be available at a wholesale price for the audience.

Rising Powers: China

Chris Alden ‘China in Africa’ Nov 17th, 5.30PM

Also from LSE, Chris Alden comes to speak to the Forum in association with Zed books as the first confirmed event in a series on China. Chris will be talking about the growth in Chinese influence in Africa and will be answering your questions on issues such as Chinese involvement in Darfur and Zimbabwe. Again, IAF will make discounted copies of Chris’ new book available for those who enjoy the event.

Jonathan Glennie ‘The Trouble with Aid’ Nov 25th, 5.30PM

Jonathan Glennie comes to the Forum to discuss the impacts of aid at the launch of his new book on ‘The Trouble with Aid.’ Jonathan will be critiquing the effects of Western aid to Africa and the role of aid organisations, developing the argument that less aid better targeted could have a more positive effect and introducing the concept of ‘aid realism.’

Dr. Nigel Ashton ‘King Hussein of Jordan’ Nov 26th

Dr. Nigel Ashton is a senior lecturer in International History at LSE. His main area of interest is modern history of the Middle East. Despite King Hussein’s long reign and the frequent attention of the international media, he remains an elusive character. A private individual of humour and informality, an hereditary monarch whose reign spanned half a century, a statesman who negotiated with every American President from Eisenhower to Clinton, and a politician whose mere survival often seemed little short of miraculous, he is in fact one of the truly significant Arab leaders of the second half of the twentieth century.

Sir Hilary Synnott of IISS ‘Bad Days in Basra: Security Governance in Iraq.’ Feb 4th

Working with the British government as their ‘man in Southern Iraq’, Sir Hilary was responsible for governance of Basra in post-invasion Iraq. A veteran diplomat close to retirement, Sir Hilary admitted he found it difficult to refuse the challenge. Now working for the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Sir Hilary kindly comes to discuss his time in Basra, the challenges and issues that arose there, and his opinion on policy. IAF will make discounted copies of Sir Hilary’s memoir available at the event.

Linda Melvern ’15 Years On: The Role of the West in the Rwandan Genocide’ March 12th

Close to 15 years ago, up to a million people were murdered in ethnic violence in Rwanda. Linda’s book ‘A People Betrayed’ looked at the complicity of the Western countries and the UN in the slaughter. With Rwanda recently indicting top French politicians for aiding Hutus, the FDLR re-arming and massing in the DRC and high-level

genocidaires enjoying diplomatic immunity in several EU countries there has never been a more pertinent time to revisit this issue. Linda will be releasing an updated version of ‘A People Betrayed’ later in 2009.

Contact: Andrew.Sutherland@iaforum.org.uk (+447841677342) for further information and opportunities to

get involved with International Affairs Forum.