Wednesday, July 31
(virtual)
DAGR Kafeneion: Dueling Elections
Dueling Elections: the Atlantic is Narrower than it Looks
We aren't the only people anxious about the 2024 US elections. In the recent French and UK elections, voters like us mobilized to stop the far right winning. But Europe's democratic, humane core feels vulnerable. Populist leaders across Europe look to Donald Trump for inspiration and, they hope, support. Even as World War II's last surviving veterans fade away, European politicians and technocrats see echoes of the 1930s.
Working diplomats are careful as well as sensible in what they say, but these two are on holiday! On deck for Wednesday July 31 at 7:30 EET (Athens time):
Retired UK ambassador Michael Roberts (with service in Greece, Turkey, Slovakia, and Brussels) comes to us fresh from campaigning to oust the Tory government in the UK in several constituencies. He can tell us what really happened in those elections and update us on what the Labour government thinks of the UK-EU-USA triangle.
Evangelos (Evan) Kalpadakis served from 2014 to 2024 as Alexis Tsipras's diplomatic advisor. He was in the room writing notes to his boss when Europe's leaders gathered to worry about the United States. He is watching the US elections closely, and not only because every diplomat needs to.
These two very smart, idealistic professionals will answer our questions on the conversations boiling up in Europe around the up-coming US elections. Our own ex-diplomat Brady will ask any questions the audience doesn't.
Our Panel
Michael Roberts (b. 1960) was British Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, with prior service in Athens, the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, the Cabinet Office and Ankara. Since leaving the British foreign service in 2011, he has led a consultancy project for Tony Blair in Kazakhstan; advised the Lithuanian and other governments on EU issues and carried out advisory work for NATO and other international entities. His particular interests lie in helping countries pursue good governance and Euro-Atlantic integration. Now a Brexile in Brussels, Michael has an MA from the University of Oxford (PPE) and is an accomplished classical musician.
Evan Kalpadakis (b. 1979), is a career diplomat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic. He is the Coordinator of the Alexis Tsipras Institute and the diplomatic advisor of the former Prime Minister since 2014. He was the Director of the Diplomatic Cabinet of the Prime Minister (2015-2019) and the diplomatic advisor of the Head of the Main Opposition (2014 and 2019) . He has served at the Embassy of Greece in Turkey (2011-2014), at the Permanent Delegation of Greece to the OSCE during the Greek Chairmanship (2008-2010), at the Turkey (2007-2008) and NATO (2010-2011) Directorates and at various other posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Evan has an MSc in Sociology and an MSc in European Politics and Policy, from the London School of Economics.
Moderator, John Brady Kiesling is a former U.S. diplomat and the author of Rediscovering Armenia (2003), an open-access guide to Armenia; Diplomacy Lessons: Realism for an Unloved Superpower (Potomac Books, 2006); and Greek Urban Warriors: Resistance and Terrorism 1967-2014 (Lycabettus Press 2014) and the ToposText classics/archaeology mobile application. Kiesling lives in Athens, Greece, and "his happiest moments…are spent tramping over remote, thorn-covered hillsides or as an archaeological volunteer."
WHEN
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 07:30 PM Athens Time
WHERE
This is a virtual event. See the event description above or RSVP for virtual participation options.
CONTACT
Brady Kiesling
[email protected]