WorldBoston Recommends 1/6/25 – 1/10/25

Re-Kindling the U.S.-China S&T Relationship: Challenges and Opportunities

Tuesday, January 7th

12:00 – 1:00 PM ET

On Dec 13, 2024, the U.S. announced that it has renewed, with substantial revisions, the U.S.-PRC Science and Technology Agreement (STA). The U.S. decision to continue forward with an S&T cooperation agreement with China occurred against the backdrop of continued tensions between Beijing and Washington. To understand the reasons underlying the Biden Administration decision in its final days to approve the agreement, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft will hold a webinar to discuss various aspects of the new agreement, why renewing the agreement with China is so important, and what we can expect to happen once the Trump Administration is in place. Join a conversation featuring experts Denis Simon, Mark Cohen, and Caroline Wagner, with Marcus Stanley moderating.

The Future of Irregular Warfare

Tuesday, January 7th

2:00 – 3:00 PM

Join the CSIS Defense and Security Department for a virtual conversation with Christopher Maier, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. Mr. Maier will sit down with Dr. Seth G. Jones, president of the Defense and Security Department, to discuss irregular warfare, the direction of the special operations forces (SOF) enterprise, and how technology will impact SOF activities in the future.

Russia’s Difficult Road to Freedom: A Conversation with Vladimir Kara-Murza

Wednesday, January 8th

5:30 – 7:00 PM ET

A leader of the anti-Vladimir Putin opposition, Vladimir Kara-Murza was arrested in Moscow in April 2022 for publicly opposing the war in Ukraine. Sentenced to 25 years in prison, he spent two and a half years behind bars and 11 months in solitary confinement. In May 2024, Mr. Kara-Murza received a Pulitzer Prize for the Washington Post columns he wrote while in jail. Released on August 1 in a multilateral prisoner swap, Mr. Kara-Murza continues to promote Russia’s freedom. He travels tirelessly and speaks to Western political leaders, parliaments, and civic organizations about the strategy and tactics of isolating Putin’s regime and sustaining Ukraine’s defense of its nationhood and sovereignty. Join the American Enterprise Institute as Mr. Kara-Murza of the Free Russia Foundation talks with AEI’s Leon Aron about these efforts, the Russia he left behind, and the Russia he hopes to return to.

Trump, trade, and tariffs: The global economy in 2025

Thursday, January 9th

9:00 AM ET

In 2024, the United States stayed on track for a soft landing as the Federal Reserve began its rate-cutting cycle. Meanwhile, China struggled to regain its economic strength post-COVID, and conflict around the world continued to impact the global economy.

Now, the new administration in the United States has threatened substantial tariffs against a range of trade partners, including those in Europe, China, Mexico, Canada, and BRICS members. The Federal Reserve has signaled caution on further rate cuts. Domestic budget constraints have caused major political uncertainty in France and South Korea. Join the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center as they host Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs, in conversation with the GeoEconomics Center Senior Director Josh Lipsky to discuss what 2025 has in store for the global economy.

Science and Democracy: What They Are and Why They Need Each Other

Thursday, January 9th

Reception at 6 PM ET

Program at 7 PM ET

Hybrid Event

Science and democracy need each other to thrive – and both require public trust. In a time of polarization and misinformation, how can we come together to create a new era of scientific and democratic participation? To value their symbiotic relationship? To get back to the basics of what they need to thrive? This vital conversation includes an introduction by Brian Bergstein, editor for the Ideas section of The Boston Globe, and a conversation between Danielle Allen, a leading political philosopher, public policy expert, and advocate for democracy renovation, and David Kaiser, Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science and professor of physics at MIT. This conversation will be moderated by Tim Ritchie, president of the Museum of Science.

Profit and purpose: Aligning business for a sustainable future

Friday, January 10th

9:30 – 10:30 AM ET

Hybrid Event

As global challenges intensify, the relationship between capitalism and sustainable development has reached a critical juncture. Private enterprises have long driven societal progress, yet market forces have also deepened societal challenges and environmental stresses. On January 10, the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institute will launch the book, “For the World’s Profit” edited in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency Ogata Sadako Research Institute. This event will discuss actionable strategies for aligning business goals with global priorities, notably the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting landscape of sustainability standards and policies. It will share insights on how business leaders, financial actors, policymakers, and regulators can contribute to an ecosystem where the targeted pursuit of business profits can better add up to the world’s profit, broadly defined.