Dude, Where’s My Party?

Do our parties effectively represent the will of (most of) the people? Some researchers (Morris Fiorina) believe the parties have been pulled to the polls and the moderate views that most Americans hold are left behind. One of the ways that our parties might “die” is not by ceasing to exist, but by existing in such a way that there is considerable fluidity in voter loyalty and few distinguishable issues that are represented in alignment with the interest of most voters. Join Scott Jennings for a discussion of this important topic.

Introductory Discussion

This class will provide an overview of the arc of policy formation and enactment, and give IOP participants a chance to hear about some of my personal experiences as a party chair, Capitol Hill and White House aide, and candidate for United States Senate and Governor.

Introduction and Overview of the State of the Democratic Party Today
This week, we will start with a personal introduction and an overview of the state of the Democratic Party as it stands today. What are the barriers the Democratic Party apparatus currently faces? Who are the players at the key players at the table? Where does the party currently stand and where is it going over the course of the next year?

Remarks by
Dr. Salam Fayyad
Prime Minister, Palestinian Authority (2007-2013)
Minister of Finance, Palestinian Authority (2002-2005, 2007)
International Monetary Fund Resident Representative, West Bank and Gaza Strip (1996-2001)
Senior Fellow, The Middle East Initiative, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, HKS
Melani Cammett (Moderator)
Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, Dept. of Government, Harvard University
Faculty Affiliate, Middle East Initiative, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, HKS
Commissioner, Lancet Commission on Syria

Clashing Over Commerce: A History of U.S. Trade Policy

Culturally and economically, there is a deepening divide among those who want to see America as an active, trading and international engaged country, and those that think we should focus on American businesses and workers, as well as tighter borders. How is that realigning our politics?  How did we get here? What does each side get right, and each side get wrong?  Globalism is on its heels, how does it come back?

Confirmed Guest:  Doug Irwin, John French Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College  

Join the IOP and Professor Richard Parker for pizza and discussion on Congresswoman DeLauro's book The Least Among Us: Waging the Battle for the Vulnerable.

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Co-sponsored by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy 

A discussion with
Marina Walker Guevara
Deputy Director, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
Frederik Obermaier
Investigative Reporter, Süddeutsche Zeitung
P Vaidyanathan Iyer
The Indian Express
Edward Mason Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School MPA/MC 2018
Samantha Henry (Moderator)
Assistant Director for Programming and Special Projects, The Nieman Foundation for Journalism, Harvard University
Harvard Kennedy School MPA/MC 2019

A discussion with
José Andrés
Internationally-Recognized Culinary Innovator, Author, Educator, Humanitarian, Chairman, World Central Kitchen and Chef & Owner, ThinkFoodGroup
Jason Jackson
Senior Director of Emergency Management, Walmart
Jeh Johnson
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (2013-2017)
Senior Fellow, The Homeland Security Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, HKS
Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Brad Kieserman
Vice President of Disaster Operations and Logistics, Red Cross
Juliette Kayyem (Moderator)
Robert and Renee Belfer Lecturer in International Security, HKS
National Security Analyst, CNN
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Intergovernmental Affairs (2009-2010)

Sarah Westwood, White House Reporter, Washington Examiner

*** This Event is Open to the Public ***
A Conversation with
George W. Casey, Jr.
General, US Army (Retired)
Jeffrey D. Dunn
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sesame Workshop
Harvard College ‘77  HBS ’81, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow ‘14
Ann Compton (Moderator)
Fall 2016 Resident Fellow, Institute of Politics
ABC News, White House Correspondent (1973-2014)

Special appearance by:
Elmo

A conversation with IOP Spring 2018 Resident Fellows
Adam Conner
Former Government and Public Sector Lead, Slack Technologies
Ed Gillespie
Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate (2017)
Chairman, Republican National Committee (2003-2005)
Betsy Hodges
Mayor of Minneapolis (2014 – 2018)
Scott Jennings
Founding Partner, RunSwitch Public Relations
Political Commentator, CNN
Symone D. Sanders
Strategist, Priorities USA
National Press Secretary, Bernie Sanders 2016
Dan Balz (Moderator)
Chief Correspondent, The Washington Post
Fall 2017 Resident Fellow, Institute of Politics

Stop by L166 on February 2nd from 3-4pm with any last minute questions for applying to our Director's Internship program.

The IOP's Director's Internship Program offers over 100 fully funded positions to Harvard college undergraduates. The deadline to apply is February 4th, 2018. If you are looking to dedicate your summer to politics and public service through the Director's Internship program, please don't hesitate to join us with questions.