Archived Events
Listed below are details of events we have already hosted.
Tuesday Lunchtime Lecture
Tuesday 12th December (12:30 - 14:30)
Sir Christopher Meyer, Head of the Press Complaints Commission and a former UK Ambassador to the United States has agreed to address the Forum on 'US Foreign Policy After The Mid-Terms: New Direction or More of the Same?'.
PLEASE NOTE: This lecture will take place at One Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ (Napier and Ricardo rooms)
The January Debate
22nd January 2007
Alastair Crooke (Director of Conflicts Forum) & Michael Gove MP will debate 'The Middle East Peace Process - what role for Hezbollah & Hamas?'
The February Lunchtime Lecture
Tuesday 20th February 2007
General the Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB LVO OBE - Former Chief of the Defence Staff - will present 'UK Defence Strategy: can it still be delivered?'
The February Debate
Tuesday 27th February 2007
Trident - extend, replace or scrap?
This Debate will be Chaired by Lord Garden, the Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesman in the House of Lords. The panel so far consists of Frank Field MP (Lab), Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP (Con) and Michael Ancram MP (Con), with a fourth panellist to be confirmed. The panellists are known for their views either for or against replacing the UK's nuclear deterrent.
The March Debate
Monday 12th March 2007
'What boundaries to Mediation in the Middle East?’
Chaired by Dr Rosemary Hollis, Director of Research, Chatham House. Panellists include HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan, Michael Ancram QC MP – former Shadow Foreign & Defence Secretary and Jonathan Freedland - an award-winning journalist and broadcaster.
The May Lunchtime Lecture
Tuesday 8th May 2007
Sir Stephen Lander - Chairman of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) will be giving his thoughts on “How international organised crime affects the UK”. Dame Pauline Neville-Jones will be in the Chair.
The May Debate - THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED
TO BE RE-ARRANGED
‘Islam & Democracy: a truly (im)possible Union?’
Panellists so far include Rev Patrick Sookhdeo (Director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity) and Dr Azzam Tamimi (Director of the Institute of Islamic Political Thought). Chair yet to be decided.
The June Lunchtime Lecture
19th June 2007
Rt Hon Don Mckinnon - Commonwealth Secretary General
The Secretary General will be, in part replying to a Lecture given by Lord Howell of Guildford (July 2006), and will also present his thoughts on the future of the Commonwealth. His speech is titled 'Multilateralism: a crowded highway'. This Lecture will be Chaired by Bernard Jenkin MP.
The July Lecture I
Monday 2nd July 2007
Rt Hon William Hague MP the Shadow Foreign Secretary will be addressing the Forum on '‘Vital Steps in the Middle East: What the British Government Should Do Now’.
The July Lecture II
Tuesday 17th July 2007
Our guest speaker will be Sir Christopher Hum, former Ambassador to Beijing. He will be addressing the emergence of China on the world stage in a speech, "Managing China's Rise".
Conservative Party Fringe event
Sunday 30 September 2007 (12:30 - 14:00)
GSF will be hosting the former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton at the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool. The title of his address is "The United States, the United Nations, and International Security'.
The event itself will take place in the Theatre Bar in the Winter Gardens complex. Those wishing to attend MUST have passed the security/accrediation process in order to gain access to the venue.
The October Lecture I
Monday 15th October
Sir Crispin Tickell, former UK Ambassador to the United Nations will be addressing the Forum. The working title for his speech is 'Climate Change: implications for international security’. Guest Chair for this event will be Frank Field MP.
The October Lecture II
Monday 22nd October 2007
General Sir Mike Jackson will be addressing the Forum. The title for his Lecture is "General Reflections", with a reply from Rt Hon John Spellar MP, former Armed Forces Minister.
The November Lecture
Monday 5th November 2007
Lord (Mark) Malloch-Brown, formerly No.2 to Kofi Annan at the United Nations and presently Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, will be addressing the Forum. He will be talking on 'Finding Britain's Way in a Multilateral World'. GSF's Chairman Michael Ancram will be in the Chair.
Lunchtime Lecture ‘Nuclear Insecurity - an insider's account’ - Dr Jack Caravelli
Thursday 29th November 2007
President Bill Clinton's former principal advisor on non-proliferation policy Dr Jack Caravelli has agreed to share his thoughts on the topic 'Nuclear Insecurity - an insider's account', in which he will cover amongst others:
* The evidentiary base for his belief that Iran is seeking a nuclear weapons capability.
* That Iran could "go live" by early 2009.
* What are the implications for the strategic balance in the region if Iran succeeds?
* A brief discussion of the diplomatic/sanctions approaches that, to date, have failed to change Iranian behaviour
* How viable is the military option?
* Are there alternative approaches to military action that might yield results?
* What to do if Iran succeeds in developing a nuclear capability.
This event will take place in the Grimmond Room, Portcullis House, Westminster and is strictly by invitation only.
The December Debate
Monday 10th December 2007
A debate on the practice of international diplomacy. Does the way in which we practise international diplomacy today need re-thinking? This is what we intend to find out and under the - as of yet - rough working title 'Is our foreign policy failing (with particular reference to Iraq, Afghanistan) and if so, why and what can be done?’
The panelists are: Rt Hon Malcolm Rifkind QC MP, former Foreign Secretary; Dr Stefan Halper of the Cambridge University Centre for International Studies and author of ‘The Silence of the Rational Center: why US Foreign Policy is failing’; Carne Ross, the British career diplomat who resigned from the Foreign Office in disillusionment in 2004 and who now runs his own organisation, Independent Diplomat; and the author and columnist Oliver Kamm.
US Special Envoy to Iraq - Amb. David Satterfield: by invitation only
Monday 21st January 2008 (6 - 7pm)
Ambassador David Satterfield, Senior Adviser, Coordinator for Iraq at the US Department of State will be updating us on 'US Policy in Iraq'. This event will be Chaired by the Rt Hon James Arbuthnot QC MP, Chairman of the Defence Select committee.
Please note that this event will take place in Committee Room 12 in the House of Commons, London SW1A 2LW. Doors open at 5.30pm
January Debate - Iraq
Tuesday 22nd January 2008
Will 2008 be the year of genuine progress for Iraq? Ahead of the US Presidential Elections will we see serious troop number reductions? Will the UK finally pull out of Basra? Will the Government of Nouri Al-Maliki finally get it's act together and start running the country, if it can at all? This certainly will be a make or break year for Iraq and her people. This Debate explores the options and possible outcomes with Lord (Tom) King of Bridgewater, member of the C4 Iraq Commission, journalist Hazhir Teimourian and Sir Peter Tapsell MP. The event will be Chaired by Sir Harold Walker, former senior FCO Diplomat.
February Debate - Zimbabwe
Tuesday 5th February 2008
Zimbabwe is a basket case, full stop. The international community has done a good job at wringing its hands and 'quiet diplomacy' is a euphemism for 'inaction', and all while the country decends further into chaos and dispair. Our February Debate will bring together Zimbabwean activists, politicians and journalists to examine what can be done...all in the shadow of the Presidential Elections due for March 2008. Confirmed panellists are the BBC journalist Sue Lloyd-Roberts, Mr George Shire, who recently led the pro-Zimbabwe supporters at the recent EU-Affrica Summit, Mr Knox Chitiyo, Head of RUSI's Africa Programme and the event will be chaired by the former FCO Minister Chris Mullin.
February Debate II - Iran
Tuesday 26 February 2008
A timely debate on Iran. Panellists confirmed are Lord (Norman) Lamont, Sir Richard Dalton - fmr UK Ambassador to Tehran, Prof Ali Ansari - Chatham House and Douglas Murray of the Centre for Social Cohesion. Exact title to be confirmed.
March Lecture: British Security Policy
Monday 10th March 2008 (12.30-2.30pm)
Professor Michael Clarke, Director of RUSI, will be addressing Global Strategy Forum on the subject of 'British Security Policy: new environment, old problems'
The May Debate: Pipelines and Politics: perspectives on Central Asia's role in European energy security
Tuesday 6th May 2008 12.30-2.30pm
The Rt Hon Lord Fraser of Carmyllie QC, Mehmet Ogutcu of BG and Dr. Shamil Yenikeyeff of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies will give their perspectives on Central Asia's role in European energy security in a panel discussion to be chaired by Michael Ancram QC MP.
The June Lecture
Monday 2nd June 2008 12.30-2.30pm
Sir Roderic Lyne KBE, CMG was Britain's Ambassador to Russia from 2000-2004 and we are delighted that he will be our June guest speaker. His lecture will be entitled: “Is Russia a ‘strategic partner’ and a worthy member of the G8?”
The June debate
Monday 9th June 12.30-2.30pm
Sir Gulam Noon MBE, Lord Ahmed of Rotherham and Baroness Warsi will be taking part in a discussion on the potential for the radicalisation of Islam in the UK and the implications for the UK, entitled: 'Radicals v. moderates: does Islam in Britain face a 'war within'?'
The June Debate II
Tuesday 10th June 2008 12.30-2.30pm
The Kurdistan Regional Government Head of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, will be joined by Mike Gapes MP, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Sir Hilary Synnott KCMG in a discussion chaired by Michael Ancram QC MP which will cover the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq's relations with Baghdad and with its neighbours, Turkey and Iran, as well as the KRG’s future prospects. Please note: this event will take place in the Lady Violet Room at the National Liberal Club.
The July Lecture
Monday 14th July 2008 12.30-2.30pm
The Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP, GSF's Chairman, will give a lecture entitled 'Isolation and Polarisation: the West's failed international agenda?'
The July Debate:
Thursday 17th July 2008 12.30-2.30pm
Our July debate will focus on the Special Relationship and its future prospects. Our panel includes Professor John Dumbrell at the Durham University School of Government and International Affairs, Bronwen Maddox, Foreign Editor of the Times, Dr Nao Matsukata, formerly director of policy planning at the US Trade Representative's Office and Andrew Tyrie MP. The debate will be chaired by specialist fraud lawyer, Mark Spragg. Please note that this event will take place in the Lady Violet Room
Conference Event: 'Might 12,000 nuclear weapons be more than we need? The case for multilateral nuclear disarmament'
Sunday 28th September 12.30-2pm
For any members of GSF who have accreditation to attend the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, GSF will be holding an debate between the Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP and Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC MP, entitled: 'Might 12,000 nuclear weapons be more than we need? The case for multilateral nuclear disarmament.' The venue will be the Allegro Suite, Hyatt Regency Hotel (which is within the secure area - conference passes will be required) and will take place from 12.30 on Sunday 28th September.
The October Lecture
Tuesday 14th October 2008 12.30-2.30pm
Dr. Liam Fox MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, will be addressing the Forum. The title of his lecture is 'General Overview of Conservative Defence Policy.
The October Debate
Tuesday 21st October 2008 5pm-6pm
Ambassador Denis Bauchard, Dr Jack Caravelli and Ambassador William R Polk will be sharing their thoughts on 'Iran's Nuclear Ambitions and Energy Security'. Please note that this event will take place at 5pm in Committee Room 9 in the House of Commons.
The October Lecture II
Monday 27th October 2008 12.30-2.30pm
Sir Emyr Jones Parry GCMG, former British Permanent Representative to the UN (2003-2007) will be addressing Global Strategy Forum. The title of his lecture will be 'Is the UN's future behind it?'
The November Debate
Monday 24th November 2008 (12.30-2.30pm)
Bill Barnard, Chair of Democrats Abroad UK and Sir Christopher Meyer KCMG will be discussing the implications of the result of US Presidential election on American foreign policy in a discussion entitled 'The global challenges facing President Obama: time for a new US foreign policy?'
The December Debate
Monday 1st December (12.30-2.30pm)
As memories of the Beijing Olympics recede, our December debate will focus on China's influence in Africa in a discussion entitled 'China in Africa: friend or foe?' Confirmed panellists include Dr Chris Alden, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at LSE and author of 'China in Africa', Tom Porteous, London Director of Human Rights Watch and Dr Steve Tsang, Louis Cha Senior Research Fellow in Modern Chinese Studies, St Antony's College, Oxford.
The December Lecture
Monday 8th December 2008 (12.30-2.30pm)
The Shadow Minister for Security, Baroness Neville-Jones of Hutton Roof, will be addressing Global Strategy Forum (the title of her lecture is to be confirmed).
