Programme of events

RUSI is the podium of choice for world leaders and senior policy makers, and is ideally placed to attract high-quality speakers and participants at its events. These vary in size and format from set-piece lectures to conferences and seminars.

Members' Event: Foreign Policy Priorities for the United Kingdom 13:00, 23 Mar 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by Mike Gapes MP, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee, House of Commons. UK foreign policy is at a crossroads. We face too many commitments and not enough resources, against a backdrop of major political, economic and institutional challenges. In his lecture, Mike Gapes will summarise the lessons and conclusions for UK foreign policy of recent years, drawing on the reports which the Foreign Affairs Committee has produced on the Middle East, Asia and the United States; as well as on global human rights issues and the foreign policy aspects of the Lisbon Treaty.

Members' Event: Reconnecting the People with Defence 13:00, 29 Mar 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by the Rt. Hon. James Arbuthnot MP, Chairman, House of Commons Defence Committee. Since the end of the Cold War, the people of the United Kingdom, and of Europe generally, have become increasingly distant from the idea of defence. They have not felt threatened and have been comfortably sheltered by an American umbrella. The attacks in New York on 11 September 2001 did not change that general perception, and neither did the attacks in London or in Madrid. The power of modern weapons means that greater defence can be provided by fewer people, resulting in a diminishing relationship between the armed forces and the people they protect.

Members' Event: Military History Lecture - Norway 1940: The First Fully Joint Campaign 12:45, 16 Apr 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
The Norwegian Campaign of 1940 was, on both sides, the first campaign where naval, air and land forces were used in equal synergy to achieve, or attempt to achieve, decisive effect. In his lecture, Professor Eric Grove will assess what light the campaign sheds on the capacity for joint operations at the outset of the Second World War and the influence of the campaign on the outcome.

Members' Event: Whitehall Dialogue - Security and Cross-Agency Working: The Military Role 15:45, 12 May 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A presentation by Brigadier Chip Chapman, Head of Counter-Terrorism and UK Operations (Military), Ministry of Defence.

Members' Event: The Rise of China 13:00, 17 May 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by the Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes CH, Chancellor, University of Oxford. The rise of China is transforming the geopolitical landscape. If current growth rates continue, China is expected to become the world's largest economy by the middle of the century, if not before. Her strong economic growth coupled with substantial financial reserves means that China’s international prestige is high. This economic 'coming of age' is increasingly being recognised by a place at the top table of world leaders. In his lecture, Lord Patten will discuss how Britain and Europe should engage with a country that will shortly be once again the largest economy in the world.

Members' Event: Gallipoli Memorial Lecture: The Gloved Fist – Flexible Utility in Defence and Security 13:00, 24 May 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
This year’s Gallipoli Memorial Lecture will explore the enduring characteristics of amphibious forces by drawing lessons from the Gallipoli Campaign. As Commander of the Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Paul Bennett OBE Royal Navy will reflect on these conclusions where they apply to the modern defence and security environment.

Members' Event: The Foreign Secretary: Two Centuries of Conflict and Personalities 13:00, 10 Jun 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
In their lecture, the Rt Hon Lord Hurd of Westwell CH CBE and Edward Young will examine eleven of the most colourful and controversial Foreign Secretaries of the past two centuries including: Castlereagh and Canning; Aberdeen and Palmerston; Derby; Salisbury; Edward Grey; Austen Chamberlain; Ramsay MacDonald; Anthony Eden and Ernest Bevin. They will assess how they argued, succeeded and failed, and in the process draw conclusions with enormous relevance for today. This lecture will provide a fascinating history of British political life and foreign policy as the country climbed to its peak of Empire and became for a few decades ‘chance guardian of the globe’.

Members' Event: Military History Lecture - The Great Power Struggle in East Asia, 1944-50: Britain, America and Post-War Rivalry 12:45, 25 Jun 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by Dr Christopher Baxter, Research Fellow in Intelligence History, Queen's University Belfast. This lecture will focus on British policy towards China, Japan and Korea from the final stages of the Second World War to the outbreak of the Korean War. Dr Baxter will assess the significance of this policy in the broader context of Far Eastern developments, the beginnings of the Cold War, dealings with the Commonwealth and, above all, relations with the United States. Based upon research in British, American and Australian archives, he will examine the tensions that emerged within the Anglo-American relationship as the United States sought to dominate the East Asian agenda and Britain agonised over her international role in the region.

Members' Event: Russia and Afghanistan: Lessons Learned 13:00, 13 Jul 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by Alexander Sternik, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Russian Federation, London. A stable and democratic Afghanistan which will act as a responsible neighbour and a predictable regional player is of vital interest to Russia. Drawing on Moscow's experience of the 1980s, Alexander Sternik will reflect on the challenges facing the international community and discuss why a delicate equilibrium of tribal interests and practical assistance in rebuilding infrastructure at all levels is required to achieve these goals.

Members' Event: Command in Helmand 13:00, 27 Jul 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by Major General Gordon Messenger DSO* OBE, recently Commanding Officer, 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines. In his lecture, Brigadier Messenger will reflect on the challenges facing those leading joint operations in Southern Afghanistan at Brigade level. As a recent British Commander of Task Force Helmand on Op HERRICK 9, he will discuss how the joint approach across military, civilian, governmental and international lines is vital to the success of the mission in Afghanistan.

Members' Event: All Politics Are Global 13:00, 20 Oct 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by His Excellency Mr Louis B. Susman, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Court of St. James’s.

Members' Event: Military History Lecture - Kut 1916: Courage and Failure in Iraq 12:45, 10 Nov 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by Colonel Patrick Crowley, Assistant Director, Media and Communication, Ministry of Defence, UK and Deputy Colonel in the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. The allied campaign in Mesopotamia began in 1914 as a relatively simple operation to secure the oilfields in the Shatt-al-Arab delta and Basra area. Initially it was a great success, but as the army pressed towards Baghdad its poor logistic support, training, equipment and command left it isolated and besieged by the Turks. In his lecture, Colonel Crowley recounts this dramatic tale and its terrible aftermath. The siege of Kut is a story of blunders, sacrifice, imprisonment and escape.

Members' Event: Whitehall Dialogue - Climate Change and Environmental Security 15:45, 18 Nov 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A presentation by the Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury, Chairman, Environment Agency.

Members' Event: Building National Resilience 13:00, 24 Nov 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A lecture by Sir Paul Stephenson QPM, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, UK. Sir Paul Stephenson QPM, 25th Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, will outline the challenges of building national resilience to the many and varied threats facing London and the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the 2012 London Olympics.

Members' Event: Whitehall Dialogue - Delivering Effective Strategic Communications in the UK Ministry of Defence 15:45, 7 Dec 2010, RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
A presentation by Nick Gurr, Director Media and Communication, Ministry of Defence, UK.

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Programme of events