The Fora U n i t e d S t a t e s N av a l A c a d e my ’s Center for Regional Studies
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he United States Naval Academy’s Center for Regional Studies enjoyed a robust academic year 2016 with 3,250 midshipmen attending 26 lectures. Suffering from an embarrassment of riches, midshipmen and faculty had even greater access to world renowned thought-leaders, diplomats, and scholars whose work represents the bench-mark of achievement in their respective fields.
erhaps one of the salient features of this past year’s lecture series has been enhanced support of faculty engaging in curriculum innovation. To name a couple of examples, scholars ranging from Dr. Jesse Byock, a specialist in Old Norse and Viking literature, to Dr. Karisa Cloward, an Africanist who spoke with midshipmen interested in NGO work in Africa, supplemented USNA course offerings by providing midshipmen a public lecture as well as face-to-face interactions over their areas of specialization.
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ost notably, we hosted three diplomats whose storied careers left a profound impact on midshipmen: Ambassador Bill Burns, former United States Deputy Secretary of State, Ambassador Dennis Jett, who offered his perspective on a career with the Department of State, and Japan’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Kenichiro Sasae.
.E. Ambassador Sasae’s event was particularly touching in that the USNA was able to boast its full array of faculty and midshipmen engaged in Japan Studies, demonstrating the close relations we hold with Japan. H.E. offered an excellent lecture on U.S. - Japan Relations underscoring the vast importance of the United States’ role in working with our partners in the Pacific region. He reflected upon our Japanese-American midshipmen and how heartening it was to engage with them at the Academy—we are not distant relations, but close relatives!
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n that note, the Director for the Bilden Asia-Pacific Forum, Prof. Rick Ruth, Prof. Lee Pennington, and Prof. Lala Zuo led a trip to New York City for midshipmen to view the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art holdings. Midshipmen attending courses on Asian history, many of whom have never been to NYC, were able to benefit from our faculty’s vast knowledge of Asian art, history and language through faculty led tours of their regions of specialization. Through engaging in forms of expression not normally available to midshipmen the faculty were able to open up horizons not just for midshipmen destined to be Naval and Marine Corps officers but individuals with well-rounded educations.
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inally, The Middle East Forum lecture series hosted Dr. Moises Naim for its Kylan Jones-Huffman Memorial Lecture. Dr. Naim is best known for his ground-breaking book, The End of Power. He delivered a stellar overview of how the traditional structures of power have changed radically over the past decade and that power: “Is easier to get but harder to hold.” He suggests that through the nature of changing technology and societal norms phenomena such as Uber, Air BnB, and ISIS are nodes of activity and inspiration rather than ‘traditional’ Cold War entities. His work will greatly influence the understanding our future officers hold for their battle-space.
Bilden Asia Pacific Forum
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he Bilden Asia Pacific Forum is the primary venue for interdisciplinary discourse on matters related to Asia Pacific studies at the United States Naval Academy. It functions as the link among the Naval Academy’s vibrant group of faculty members in various departments with Asia Pacific teaching and research portfolios. But more importantly, it is also a marketplace of ideas for scholars and Midshipmen. For these purposes, through its frequently held lecture series and other forms of events such as film series, The Bilden Asia Pacific Forum hosts nationally and internationally renowned scholars to provide cutting edge research and insights on matters vital to the interest of the Brigade of Midshipmen and the USNA community.
Dr. Shaoquian Zhang, Oklahoma State University
“Selling the War: Pictorial Confrontation between China and Japan during World War II.”,
Dr. Andrea Gittleman,
Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide
October 22, 2015
“Early Warning Signs of Genocide in Burma: A Case for Prevention.”
Dr. Craig Etcheson,
Dr. Sharon Hom,
March 10, 2016
George Mason University
Human Rights in China
“Reflections on the Khmer Rouge.”
“Human Rights, Civil Society, and the Internet in China.”
November 3, 2015
Dr. Peter Lorge, Vanderbilt University
“The History of Chinese and Japanese Martial Arts.”
December 4, 2015
March 31, 2016
H.E. Ambassador Saesa, Ambassador of Japan to the U.S. “Japanese- U.S. Relations.”
April 26, 2016
Africa Forum
Eurasia Forum
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frica Forum promotes understanding of African history, politics, economics, art and languages, as well as enhances cultural proficiency in all regions of Africa. Africa Forum also supports and complements existing departmental African courses, facilitates communication and cooperation among faculty, and supports midshipmen and faculty research related to Africa.
VADM Charles Leidig, Jr., United States Naval Academy
“Al-Qaida and Counter Terrorism in Africa.”, October 20,2015
Dr. Karisa Cloward,
Dr. Ronald Suny,
Mr. Steven Lee Myers,
Southern Methodist University
University of Michigan
“When Norms Collide: Local Responses to Activism against Female Genital Mutilation and Early Marriage.”
“’They Can Live in the Desert But Nowhere Else.’ Explaining the Armenian Genocide One Hundred Years Later.”,
“Who is Vladimir Putin.”
March 4,2016
Dr. Elizabeth Coffman, James Madison University
“Moving beyond meta-aid: How can NGOs do more than help themselves in East Africa?” October 30,2016
Dr. Scott McDonald, Hohenheim University, Germany
“Semi-subsistence Farm Households and Their Implications for Policy Response.” February 10, 2016
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urasia Forum is the primary venue for interdisciplinary discourse on academic, scholarly, cultural, and pedagogical matters related to Eurasia at the United States Naval Academy. It links members of the Naval Academy faculty from several disciplines, including History, Economics, Languages and Cultures, and Political Science, whose teaching and research involve this part of the world. Its purpose is to provide midshipmen and faculty with opportunities to interact with scholars, government and business leaders, and regional experts with knowledge and experience in Eurasia. To support that goal, Eurasian Forum organizes lectures, conferences, film screenings, and other activities covering a wide range of topics relating to Eurasia.
Dr. Patrick Manning University of Pittsburgh
“Africa Yesterday and Today: Education and City Life.” March 8, 2016
New York Times
February 24, 2016
September, 18, 2015
Dr. John Sopko,
Dr. Jesse Byock,
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction
University of California, Los Angeles
“Afghanistan Reconstruction: Protecting American Taxpayers’ $100 Billion Investment from Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.”,
“Viking Archaeology and Old Norse Language: Researching the Viking Past.”
October 8, 2015
Dr. Elizabeth Wood, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“The Russian Marlboro Man: Vladimir Putin and the Crisis in Ukraine and Crimea.”
October 16,2015
April 6-7, 2016
Forum for Latin American Studies
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orum for Latin American Studies (FLAS) is the primary venue for interdisciplinary discourse on academic, scholarly, cultural, and pedagogical matters related to Latin America and the Caribbean at the United States Naval Academy.
t links members of the Naval Academy faculty from several disciplines, including History, Economics, Language Studies, and Political Science, whose teaching and research involve this part of the world.
Ambassador Dennis Jett, Penn State
“American Ambassadors – Where They Come From, Where They Go, What They Do and Why They Still Matter.”,
Dr. Bryan McCann, Georgetown University
“Rio and the Challenges of the Olympics.”
February 29, 2016
Middle East Forum
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he Middle East Forum serves to enhance the educational opportunities of midshipmen through supporting international and regional study, curricular innovation, community outreach, and as a center for resources on all aspects of the Middle East. riginally the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, the Middle East Forum enjoys a robust array of faculty members across all departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Ambassador William Burns,
Mr. Karim Sadjadpour,
“Navigating Today’s International Landscape: A Diplomat’s Perspective.”,
“The Iran-Saudi Rivalry.”
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace February 4, 2016
October 6, 2015
November 13, 2015
Dr. Jennifer Tobin,
Dr. Carrie Wickham,
Dr. Moises Naim,
“Assessing the Impact of Saude Crianca: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Health Shocks.”,
“The Muslim Brotherhood, Democracy and the Institutional Legacies of Authoritarian Rule.”,
“The End of Power.”
Georgetown University
October 15, 2015
Dr. Ernesto Acevedo-Munoz,
University of Colorado, Boulder “Almodóvar’s Cinema in International Film Cultures Today.”
March 7, 1910-2100,
Emory University
November 16, 1230-1320
Dr. Roger Sorkin,
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace April 1, 2016
Dr. Henri Barkey,
Film Maker
The Wilson Center
Film screening,”The Burden.”
“Actors, Borders, and the Reconfiguration of the Middle East.”
November 17-19,2015
April 22, 2016
MIDN at Midas
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MIDN at the MET
rofessors Lee Pennington, Rick Ruth and Lala Zuo of the Departments of History and Languages and Cultures provided 34 midshipmen a guided tour of Asian art at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in their respective academic fields of Japan, South East Asia, and China. Pennington and Ruth prepared a vetting process of midshipmen enrolled in HH215 and HH215A with the primary criteria for selection being whether they have ever been to NYC or the MET, opening new vistas for midshipmen who have not enjoyed the offerings of a world class art venue.The primary theme of the trip focused on Conflict and Contemplation. Professors were able to use the visual arts as a vehicle to cover a vast range of motifs ranging from religious belief systems to the use of artistic expression as an everyday utilitarian function.
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n April 14th, 2016, Professors Lee Pennington, Ernest Tucker, and Kelcy Sagstetter led a group of 24 midshipmen on a tour of the Archaeological Museum at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. They took students from the Department of History’s HH215 course offering which spends much of the semester covering ancient material from Europe, Asia and the Middle East.The Penn Museum has a world-renowned collection of artifacts from every part of the world, many from archaeological digs conducted by the University itself.
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ighly trained docents gave the midshipmen private tours of the Iraq, Chinese, and Roman galleries. Since only 2% of Penn’s collection is actually on display, museum staff pulled objects from the storerooms and allowed the mids to examine firsthand ancient artifacts not usually accessible to the public. Afterwards Dr. C. Brian Rose, curator of the Greek and Roman gallery and distinguished archaeologist and professor, led the group on a personalized tour of the museum’s current special exhibition, “The Golden Age of King Midas.” Dr. Rose himself is in charge of the excavations at the site of Gordion, from which the material came, so was able to give us the benefit of his first-hand expertise. After the tour, the mids had time to themselves to explore other galleries of interest to them, before finally heading back to the Yard.
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o say that the event had a major impact on the lives of the midshipmen selected is not an overstatement. At the end of the tour faculty members gave midshipmen a chance to view an exhibit not related to Asia art. Many midshipmen commented that this was their first chance to view a Van Gogh or Monet. xposing midshipmen to the Arts not only a furthers a well-rounded education but also imparts on them a greater sense of the scale of human endeavor throughout history.
rom a public diplomacy point-of-view, both the MET staff and the general public were incredibly hospitable toward the midshipmen and interested in their visit.
CRS Film Festival
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Midshipmen and Slavic Languages
rom 7-10 March, The Center for Regional Studies hosted an International Film Festival for midshipmen and faculty. Dr. Ernesto Acevedo-Munoz of University of Colorado, Boulder provided the inaugural lecture putting into perspective the work on Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar and his place in international film cultures.
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he festival itself focused on the theme of Revenge presenting films ranging from Almodovar’s “Le Piel Que Habito.”, or the “The Skin I Live in.” to the Korean film “Oldboy.”, by Park Chan-wook. The films were meant to augment current course offerings in the Departments of English and Languages and Cultures as well as an attempt to pique the interest of midshipmen in the Brigade.
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r. Naida Garcia-Crespo who teaches Film and Literature in the Department of English developed the above program in order to expose international, crosscultural narratives to midshipmen in an often overlooked medium. Her in-depth knowledge of film theory, international literature, and cross-cultural nuances challenged the midshipmen attending to move past the differences in language and culture to a broader empathy to human similarities, in this case revenge.
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ext year the series will focus on The Child Rebel!
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n November 20-22, 2015 Professors Catherine O’Neil and Thomas Sanders traveled with three midshipmen to the yearly Association for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies (ASEEES) conference in Philadelphia. The purpose of the trip was to acquaint midshipmen majoring in history and minoring in Russian with themes, approaches and new research in Russian history and culture.
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he ASEEES conference is the largest national conference for Slavic Studies in all humanities disciplines and is the primary showcase for new research and publications in the field. Midshipmen engaged in research surrounding the Former Soviet Union on topics ranging from Russian-British diplomacy during the Crimean War to the Russian Civil War as well as a midshipmen selected to study abroad in Kazakhstan were able to extend their knowledge through interaction with the larger academic community.
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istory majors at USNA are required to combine language with their major as part of the HUM/SS core (4 semesters); many of them opt to pursue a minor in the language, which in the case of Russian is 6 semesters of language study. However, they often do not use the language in their upper level work because they are not proficient enough to conduct original research in Russian by their senior year (after only 4 semesters of language study). Many of them would like to write an honors thesis on a Russian theme but are prohibited from doing so because of this problem. Professors Sanders and O’Neil are targeting these mids at an earlier level in the hope that their mentoring will direct their language study toward a deeper study of Russian history.