Belmont’s International Center for Business partnered Tuesday night with the Tennessee World Affairs Council and the Nashville Chamber’s International Business Council in association with the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute to present a timely conversation on “Russian-American Relations: From Obama to Trump.”
With the tempestuous ties between Russia and the United States dominating the news, a standing room only audience was treated to a briefing on Russian-American relations by distinguished scholar Dr. Mark Katz on Tuesday evening in Belmont’s Janet Ayers Academic Center. Katz is a professor of government and politics at the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government and a non-resident fellow at The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. The town hall meeting was organized by the Tennessee World Affairs Council and moderated by David Plazas, opinion engagement editor at The Tennessean.
Katz provided an overview of how the relationship evolved through the Cold-War period up to the latest confrontations and the rise of Putin and his imprint on the government and society in Russia. Dr. Katz set the scene for understanding the path ahead for Russian-American relations as new President Donald Trump and his team begin to shape the next chapter. Katz advised those watching global developments to pay close attention to the new administration’s actions, especially as Russia may challenge Trump in the early days to test his mettle.
The town hall was presented by the Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC) in cooperation with Belmont, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce International Business Council and the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington. The World Affairs Council, which is housed on Belmont’s campus, and the University frequently partner to bring global affairs awareness programs to campus and the community. The next Belmont/TNWAC town hall is set for Feb. 28 and will feature Ambassadors Charles Bowers and Ronald Schlicher in an assessment of the new President’s first 30 days of handling foreign affairs. The event is free, but registration at this link is requested.
