Ethics, Asia Featured in Virtual Mansfield Dialogues

MISSOULA – The Mansfield Center at the University of Montana has announced the schedule for the Mansfield Dialogues, a public series designed to bring community together to discuss critical issues in international engagement and ethics in public affairs. The series will be free and entirely virtual, making it accessible to an audience far beyond our local community.

“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Mansfield Center continues to serve our global community by fostering globally minded leaders of integrity and facilitating discussion on compelling global issues,” said Executive Director Deena Mansour. “We are honored that these thoughtful speakers will address issues central to the Mansfield mission to support ethics and public affairs and global mutual understanding, with a focus on Asia.”

The series is free and open to the public. All sessions are virtual and can be accessed live via Zoom, Facebook Live and MCAT. Register for individual dialogues at http://www.umt.edu/mansfield/. to receive the Zoom links. The schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, Oct. 8: “The Legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” A former law clerk for Justice Ginsburg, University of Washington Professor Elizabeth Porter will reflect on the Ginsburg legacy in a conversation moderated by UM constitutional law professor Anthony Johnstone. The event is co-sponsored by UM’s Alexander Blewett III School of Law and the Justice, Policy and Public Affairs Community of Excellence.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: “The Never Trump Revolt and the Future of American Democracy.” UM Political Science Professor, Mansfield Fellow and “Never Trump” co-author Rob Saldin will provide a guide to the long-term consequences that the unprecedented Never Trump revolt holds for the Republican and Democratic parties, conservatism and American democracy. The endowment of the Bob & Sue Brown Undergraduate Scholarship for Ethics in Public Policy also will be launched at this event.
• Wednesday, Oct. 21: “Jim Messina: An Insider Assessment of the 2020 Election.” Former Obama official and political strategist Jim Messina will discuss the state of the presidential election and how the candidates are framing their message to the American people. The event is co-sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: “Japan-US-China: Japan’s Indo-Pacific Diplomacy.” Dr. Mie Oba, professor at Kanagawa University, will reflect on critical relations between our three nations given the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Wednesday, Nov. 4: “Election Post-Mortem.” The MTPR Campaign Beat Crew of Sally Mauk, Holly Michels and Rob Saldin will analyze election results.
• Wednesday, Nov. 18: “The Myth of Chinese Capitalism.” Award-winning journalist and Mansfield Fellow Dexter Roberts will discuss how surging income inequality and rising social tensions block China’s continued economic rise, with global implications. It will be moderated by special guest Bay Fang, recently president of Radio Free Asia.
• Wednesday, Dec. 2: “Montana Legislative Session Preview.” Newly elected legislators will share how election results will shape the coming session, discussing issues both prominent and contentious.
• Wednesday, Dec. 16: “Cold War Imperialism: U.S.-Backed Anticommunism Movements and The Jakarta Method.” Author Vincent Bevins will discuss his new book detailing a genocidal approach to anticommunism, while journalist and human rights advocate Andreas Harsono reviews political change and bloody conflict in Indonesia, in a conversation moderated by UM Latin America expert Jody Pavilack.

Three of the dialogues feature authors of new books: “Never Trump,” “The Myth of Chinese Capitalism” and “The Jakarta Method.” In support of the local community, a portion of the proceeds from these books purchased at Shakespeare and Co. will be gifted to United Way of Missoula.

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center fosters globally minded leaders of integrity in support of citizens across Montana. For more information, contact www.umt.edu/mansfield or 406-243-2988.

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Contact: Deena Mansour, executive director, UM’s Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, 406-274-0992, deena.mansour@umontana.edu