World Affairs Council of Miami

Interested in becoming a U.S. Foreign Service Officer? Check the post below or click this link -> https://lnkd.in/eNwe2JUv <- to learn how to take the Foreign Service Officer Test and embark upon the path of becoming an American Diplomat.

The World Affairs Council of Miami was proud to support the October visit to Miami by His Excellency Urban Ahlin, Sweden's Ambassador to the United States. Thank you to Global Miami Magazine for this media piece in examination of Florida-Sweden economic relations. To read further, click here: https://lnkd.in/eQTY39VY

It was a pleasure to sit down with Ålands Radio to share observations from recent travel to #Romania, #Moldova, and #Finland with Eisenhower Fellowships following a lecture at Åland University of Applied Sciences on the Swedish-speaking autonomous, demilitarized, and neutral Åland Islands. We discussed what makes some populations more effective at resisting manipulation via mis/disinformation and so-called “fake news”, and why Finland's democracy in particular is so resilient. Some answers include (1) high public trust in critical institutions such as military, press, crisis response systems, police, and government; (2) strong media freedom; (3) an inclusive national identity that cultivates good relations between majority and minority populations; and (4) strong instruction in the school system of media- and digital literacy skills, which teach students how to critically interpret information, whether graphic, textual, numeric, or other. Of course, a low level of poverty is part of the picture, too. Interview is mixed English & Swedish and can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eXMPqeWu

World Affairs Council of Miami President Aaron Rosen traveled to #Moldova to meet with the following experts in the context of Eisenhower Fellowships' exploration of mis/disinformation, media literacy, public trust, and democratic resilience. - Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration (former Eisenhower Fellow): Discussed the government's work to become an EU member by 2030, as well as how Pres. Maia Sandu overcame interference by Russia to win re-election and narrowly a referendum on EU membership in 2024. Sandu is the first female president of Moldova and is leading the former Soviet republic's movement toward the West. - Vladimir Soloviov, journalist and prior Kommersant correspondent: Discussed the status of Transnistria—an unrecognized separatist region supported by Russia, one of the ex-USSR "frozen conflicts"—and how the reintegration of the region appears unlikely; Moldova does not want to invite further tension with Russia amid the Ukraine war next-door. This complicates Moldova’s desire for EU integration. - Mihai Lupascu, Director, Agency for Cybersecurity of Moldova: Reviewed the task of the newly established agency in enhancing cyber resilience in the public and private sectors by identifying and strengthening the defenses of Moldova's most essential institutions and firms. Discussed recent support by the U.S. government (USAID) to help Moldova train a new generation of cybersecurity experts through the CyberCor educational facility. - Nadine Gogu, Director, Independent Journalism Center in Chișinău: Discussed the Center's promotion of independent media, journalist training and legal support, as well as its efforts to teach media information literacy in Moldovan schools. Assessed the development of press freedom in Moldova since the end of Soviet control and its role in a healthy democracty. -Valeriu Pasha, Chairman, WatchDog.MD Community: Discussed Moldova's vulnerability to Russian influence operations including media manipulation, vote buying, and targeted social media campaigns, which nearly resulted in a "no" on Moldova's recent EU referendum and did succeed in significantly inflating the number of anti-EU votes. This created the perception of a 50/50 split in society, even as prior polls showed a clear majority of Moldovans supporting the EU. -Liliana Busuioc, Executive Director, Alliance of Small and Medium Enterprises from Moldova: Discussed the impact of propaganda, fake news, and misinformation on a bilingual Romanian/Russian society; and how Moldova can continue to build its democracy amid the obstacles of hybrid war. - Stella Jemna, County Rep., Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (former Eisenhower Fellow): Participated as a judge in an Upcelerator by Dreamups AI-themed startup pitch to observe Moldova's innovation ecosystem; visited the winery Mileștii Mici, which boasts the world's largest wine cellar and epitomizes the grandeur and scale of Moldova's wine industry. #efjourney

Eager to learn the latest about what's happening in #Syria? The World Affairs Council of Miami is proud to join the Alaska World Affairs Council, World Affairs Council of Orange County, and WorldOregon in co-sponsoring a virtual program by the World Affairs Council- Seattle featuring former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford on what's next for Syria and the broader implications for the Middle East and global stability. Register here -> https://lnkd.in/efbftrmj <- to join us virtually on Friday, December 13th from 9:00am-10:00am PST. More info here: https://lnkd.in/g_gaaCMK

World Affairs Council of Miami President Aaron Rosen traveled to #Romania's historic #Transylvania region to meet with the following experts in the context of Eisenhower Fellowships' exploration of mis/disinformation, media literacy, public trust, and the status of national minorities. Romania is a general mix of three historic regions. ⬇️ South: Wallachia, historically connected to Balkans and Turkey. ➡️ East: Moldova region, formerly influenced by Russia. ⬅️ West: Transylvania, influenced by German settlers, Austrian imperial rule, and approximately 700 years of full or partial Hungarian association. Today, whole regions remain Hungarian speaking and strongly supportive of neighboring Hungary's Viktor Orbán. Complex relations between Hungarians and Romanians are a contention point between the two states, despite both being NATO and EU members. - Dr. Stefan Tobler, Professor of Theology, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. Discussed the status and religious identity of the Roma minority, the role played by German settlers in the historical development of the Transylvania region and scale of religiosity in Romania. - Dr. Ciprian Cucu, Disinformation Expert & Lecturer, Universitatea „1 Decembrie 1918” din Alba Iulia: Discussed the obstacles to media literacy and civic engagement due to political resistance and lack of institutional follow-through. Explored trends of nationalist and anti-Western sentiment, often blending extreme right and left ideologies, and concerns about Romanian democracy. - Codruta Simina, Cluj Napoca Journalist and Co-Founder, Misreport: Discussed coordinated networks of fake accounts and pages, often linked to local political actors and Russia, and how social media platforms have increasingly limited access to research tools on misinformation. Assessed the role of AI in spreading but also combating fake news. - Zoltán Sipos, Founder and Editor, Átlátszó Erdély, investigative journalism promoting transparency among Transylvania’s Hungarians: Discussed identity related to the Hungarian minority and how their consumption of state-led information from neighboring Hungary influences the community's political trends and relations with Romania. - Istvan Szakatz, President, AltArt Foundation and Fabrica de Pensule: Discussed empowerment of marginalized Roma communities through community radio and cultural projects, and how local initiatives challenge the state's control over information, allowing communities to create their own narratives. Reviewed tension between development funding and the need for communities to define success on their own terms. - Dr. Valentin Muresan, Digital Advisor to Mayor of Timișoara: Discussed efforts to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Romania, and the challenge of encouraging global scalability for Romanian startups. Explored how to leverage the Romanian diaspora’s resources and expertise, with attention to diaspora development models in Ireland, Israel, and Armenia. #efjourney

Yesterday we had the incredible honor of hosting Shih Chien University VP Tony Kuo to Florida International University! We spent the day encouraging students to study abroad in Taiwan, celebrated Chinese culture and met with various FIU leaders to expand the academic partnership. The day culminated in a public discussion on the future of cross-strait relations under Trump 2.0. Thank you to TECO Miami, World Affairs Council of Miami, Books & Books, and National Committee on U.S.-China Relations for all your support! FIU Jack D Gordon Institute for Public Policy FIU Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs

Bucharest Part II: World Affairs Council of Miami President Aaron Rosen held the following meetings in the context of Eisenhower Fellowships' exploration of mis/disinformation, media literacy, public trust, and the status of national minorities within #Romania. - Elena Calistru, Chair & Co-Founder, Funky Citizens: discussed the role of Romanian NGOs in boosting civic engagement, transparency, and good governance. Examined how deficiencies in historical knowledge of life under past dictatorship, as well as nostalgic sentiment among older people, create the conditions for the growth of anti-democratic politics in Romania. Learned that Romania remains the only former communist country in Eastern Europe that does not have a national museum of communism to help educate the public about improvements in life brought by democratization. - Alina Bargaoanu, Professor and Dean, College of Communication and Public Relations, Scoala Nationala de Studii Politice si Administrative (SNSPA): Discussed progress and challenges associated with Romania's ongoing integration into the EU. Reviewed Bargaoanu's efforts to address fake news and disinformation in the EU and the virality of conspiracy theories in climates with particularly low public trust. Examined Romania's geography and the spillover effects of the war in Ukraine on security and politics in the country's border regions. - Hannah Slavik & Valeriu Nicolae, Asociația Casa Bună: visited an educational center and under-construction Kindergarten run as a non-profit to provide children - primarily from Bucharest's poorer neighborhoods - with private tutoring, lesson plans, exam preparation, arts & crafts, workshops on reading and writing, and a safe environment with healthy food. Learned about efforts taken by NGOs like Casa Bună to break generational cycles of poverty. - Gelu Duminica, Executive Director, Agentia Impreuna: Learned about the work of a leading NGO that empowers the Roma minority through focus on civil rights, labor market access, and other Roma organizations' development. Discussed the legacy of Roma enslavement and efforts to teach about Romania's history of slavery in school. Reviewed positive communication strategies to empower the Roma community, which may make up between 5% - 10% of Romania's population but remains largely disempowered and socially ostracized. - Dragos Stanca, Founder of UPGRADE 100, President of BRAT - Biroul Roman de Audit Transmedia: Discussed the challenges of combating misinformation due to contemporary media business models. Reviewed how social media platforms are disincentivized to tackle mis/disinformation by their prioritization of ad-revenue regardless of content quality. Examined Stanca's work via Romania's Ethical Media Alliance to help fund media startups and investigative journalists whose work generates positive social impact. - Joined an EF Romania alumni dinner warmly hosted by country-coordinator Andreea Leonte and Catalin D. Tenita. #efjourney

Make sure to come TOMORROW to our event "Taiwan-China: Cross-Strait Relations and Opportunities for Florida." This is a joint event with the FIU Jack D Gordon Institute for Public Policy, World Affairs Council of Miami, with support from the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Don't miss it!

As we near the end of this year's Give Miami Day fundraiser for community non-profits, we express our gratitude to those who have chosen to support the World Affairs Council of Miami. Each contribution advances local access to global education and helps us build Miami's first independent and non-partisan think tank for international affairs. 🌎🌴 For those yet to give, today is the last chance to make a donation - 👉 click here: https://lnkd.in/eANhJ4E7 Every contribution, from $25 to $10,000, receives a partial match. We are proud of quite the productive 2024. A few key developments include: 📝 Mark Samuelian Distinguished Speakers Series: enhanced Miamians' knowledge of international affairs via cost-free programs featuring General David Petraeus, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, EU Deputy Ambassador Michael Curtis, and Swedish Ambassador Urban Ahlin in partnership with Miami Dade College. 📝 C-The-Future: brought together Miami’s foreign consulates and our city's tech community to explore global innovation in programs featuring the Consulates of Türkiye, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, and the U.S. Navy. 📝 Academic WorldQuest: supported youth education by hosting 72 high school students for an international affairs trivia contest at FIU. Sent winning team, Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High, on fully funded travel to D.C. Organized students' visits to U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Wilson Center, Embassy of South Korea, FIU in DC, U.S. Institute of Peace, and State Department. 📝 Leadership Roundtables: facilitated expertise exchanges featuring the U.S. State Department on the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity; USAID on China's role in global development; and a workshop with the German Consulate and National Association of Hispanic Journalists on AI-manipulated information and elections. 📝 Policy Research: selected by Eisenhower Fellowships to conduct research in Romania, Moldova, and Finland on mis/disinformation, media literacy, public trust, and democratic resilience. Upon completion of research travel, will advance findings and recommendations to Miami Dade County. 📝 International Affairs Author Talks: launched a new partnership with Books & Books and the University of Miami to feature renowned international affairs authors for literary talks and book signings. Through these and other programs, we help Miami to engage the world. But we can't do it without your support. Every donation sets a stone on our path to building Miami’s leading independent and non-partisan think tank for international affairs education. Thank you, Miami, for considering a contribution and for allowing us the privilege of serving our community.