Building The Future: Freedom, Prosperity, And Foreign Policy With Dan Runde

In this podcast, Dan is joined by former Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman. Secretary Lehman served under President Ronald Reagan and took office at the age of just 38 years old. This podcast explores the influence of the U.S. Navy during the Cold War and Secretary Lehman’s new book Oceans Ventured: Winning the Cold War at Sea. One of Secretary Lehman’s greatest achievements was Ocean Venture ’81, a naval exercise that took place in 1981 that involved 120,000 service personnel, 250 ships and about 1,000 or more planes from 14 countries. Listen to the full podcast to hear the untold story of the U.S. naval efforts during the Cold War and the important role of deterrence to U.S. national security.

In this episode, Dan sits down with Lindsay Lloyd, Deputy Director of the Human Freedom Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, to talk about the health of democracy worldwide. Mr. Lloyd was involved in the Democracy Project: a joint national survey by the Bush Institute, Freedom House, and the Penn Biden center that examines American attitudes toward the state of democracy at home and the importance of promoting democracy abroad. Dan and Lindsay discuss some of the survey’s findings and extend the conversation to questions of democracy in countries such as China, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Tune in to this episode of Building the Future: Freedom, Prosperity and Foreign Policy with Dan Runde to find out why Americans value democracy – although youth increasingly value it less – and why there is reason to be optimistic about the future of democracy all around the world.

This week Dan hosts Rick Barton, former U.S. Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and author of the recently published book, Peace Works: America’s Unifying Role in a Turbulent World. Rick discusses his extensive career trajectory at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) – where he founded the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) – the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations, and the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) at the State Department. His experience at these organizations and his dedication to foreign policy inspired his latest book, in which he discusses the need to match American ingenuity with local ingenuity to be a catalyzing – and not a colonizing – force in international affairs.

In this episode, Dan is joined by Alec Ross - technology policy expert and author of the bestseller The Industries of the Future. This book explores the technological and economic trends that will shape the next ten years and is targeted towards non-engineers interested in learning about cyber, AI, and big data. Alec served as Senior Advisor for Innovation for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a role created for him to maximize the potential of technology and innovation in service of America’s diplomatic agenda. In this conversation, Alec and Dan also discuss leapfrog technologies and labor market disruptions, both in the United States and in developing countries. Please listen to full podcast to hear more.

This week, Dan is joined by Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow with the Project on Prosperity and Development and the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS. They discuss her new report on the Future of Global Stability: The World of Work in Developing Countries. By 2030, there will be more than 3 billion people under the age of 25 years old. The future of work has recently attracted much attention from a variety of institutions: a simple Google search of the term “future of work” produces more than 2 billion results. Our world of work – both in rich and poor countries – is changing fast. Technology, globalization, environmental changes, and shifting demographics are impacting workplace environments and the types of jobs that will be available in the future. Everyone can relate to these issues since people depend on work for their livelihoods. To hear more from Dan and Romina, check out our report launch event page where you can also find the two volumes of the report and 4 country case studies (Brazil,

In this week’s podcast, Dan is joined by Todd Moss, Executive Director of the Energy for Growth Hub. On September 27, Todd launched the Energy for Growth Hub, a new global network connecting research and policymakers to build high-energy systems. Todd has spent most of his career at the Center for Global Development, where his work has focused on Africa, energy, and development finance. Todd also previously served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs. To hear more from Todd about the future of Africa, listen to our podcast.  

In this installment of “Building the Future with Dan Runde,” International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder discusses how technology is defining what work, careers, and industry will look like in the future. The ILO is at the forefront of ensuring that worker rights are preserved no matter how impactful the fourth industrial revolution is to current global labor markets. But the questions remain, how will those markets change, how will they impact welfare systems, and how do the needs of developing and developed countries differ when it comes to technology? Listen to our podcast and watch our public event to hear more about forging the future of work.

On this episode, Dan is joined by David Bohigian, Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States’ development finance institution. Mr. Bohigian has considerable experience in both the public and private sectors, working for Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund as well several key trade roles under President George W. Bush. In this episode, Dan and David discuss the changing role of OPIC and how the BUILD Act will modernize the institution. OPIC focuses on catalyzing private sector investment in some of the world’s most fragile and challenging environments. In 2017, OPIC invested $3.8 billion in new commitments, taking their global portfolio to 23.2 billion across 90 developing countries. Tune in to our podcast to hear more from Mr. Bohigian and to learn more about OPIC.  

On this episode, Dan is joined by C.D. Glin, President of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). Mr. Glin has substantial experience in Africa, beginning with the Peace Corps in Ghana and South Africa. Mr. Glin also worked for the IFC in Nigeria, for the Peace Corps under President Barack Obama, and most recently as Associate Director for Africa at the Rockefeller Foundation. USADF is the US government's African enterprise agency, providing seed capital and technical support to create African-led, demand driven solutions. Africa has long been viewed as a challenge more than an opportunity. In this episode, Dan and C.D. discuss the opportunities for the U.S. to engage further on the continent and the growing role of China. Tune in to hear more from Mr. Glin and what makes him optimistic for the future.

Dan is joined by Agnes Dasewicz, Fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation and former Director of the Office of Private Capital and Microenterprise at USAID. Her career has spanned over 20 years in development finance, working at SEAF, AIG, and IFC at different points. In this episode, Dan and Agnes discuss the beginning of career working in private capital in emerging markets in Eastern Europe. During her time at USAID, Agnes helped secure over $20 billion of investment commitments from U.S. and African financiers in support of Power Africa. Agnes is now working on a project called “Opportunity America” which focuses on opportunities to create and finance sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in the poorer parts of the United States. To hear more from Agnes, watch her recent exit interview at CSIS.

Dan is joined in this podcast by Michael Rawlings, the Mayor of Dallas and a member of our Task Force on Forced Migration. Before becoming Mayor, Mr. Rawlings worked in the private sector and was the CEO of Pizza Hut. One out of four residents in Dallas was born outside the United States. During his time in office, Mayor Rawlings was also confronted by the Ebola crisis when someone was diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas, the first reported case in the United States. Dallas has become home to people from not just Latin America but Southeast Asia and Africa. To hear more from Mayor Rawlings, check out our report launch.

In this podcast, Dan Runde is joined by Benn Steil, Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. In February 2018, Dr. Steil published a new book, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War, that places foreign aid to Western Europe in the context of the Cold War and U.S. national security interests. You can find CSIS’ review of the book here. Dan and Dr. Steil also discuss his earlier work, The Battle of Bretton Woods, which focuses on the Bretton Woods conference which established the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The role of Soviet espionage in the conference is rarely discussed and prepares you for his later work focused on the Marshall Plan. A Marshall Plan announced today would be worth closer to $103 billion and an enormous amount of effort from people like General Marshall and Arthur Vandenberg was required to ensure that it passed through Congress. For more, check out the book event hosted at CSIS.

Dan Runde is honored to be joined for this podcast by Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). In his 25 years as President, Ken Wollack has been a champion of democracy along with support from NDI chair, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In this podcast, he discusses the challenges to democracy today and the lasting impact of events like the Arab Spring. Freedom House reports that there are still 49 countries that fall in the “Not Free” category. Ken shares what makes his optimistic for the future. To hear more from Ken, check out his exit interview at CSIS.

In this podcast, Dan Runde is joined by Ambassador James Michel, a Senior Advisor to the Project on Prosperity and Development at CSIS and former chair of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In January 2018, Ambassador Michel published a CSIS report, Managing Fragility and Promoting Resilience to Advance Peace, Security, and Sustainable Development. The OECD estimates that by 2035, 80 percent of extremely poor people will live in the 56 contexts identified as fragile in 2016. The United States and other development actors are going to be increasingly focused on these fragile contexts, and Ambassador Michel provides recommendations for each of their approaches. To hear more, check out the report launch.

This podcast features Daniella Ballou-Aares, a Partner for Dalberg Advisors and former Senior Advisor for Development to U.S. Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. This discussion focuses on the role of blended finance in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Daniella also shares her thoughts on innovative data sources for development. To hear more from Daniella listen to the full podcast below and check out an event we hosted, Development Finance Institutions in a New Aid Architecture.

This podcast features James A. Harmon, the Chairman of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund (EAEF). Mr. Harmon shares his unique and insightful experiences as Chairman of the EAEF, including the obstacles he had to overcome to make enterprise funds successful in Egypt. In the early 1990s, enterprise funds were innovative because they were given the unique and dual mandate to “do development” and make money. Some enterprise funds were very successful and generated returns for the American taxpayer; however, other enterprise funds were not as successful. The blended results sent mixed signals to Washington, D.C. and ultimately, enterprise funds fell off of the global development agenda. Then, prompted by the Arab Spring—and nearly two decades after the first round of enterprise funds—the Obama Administration initiated two new enterprise funds in Egypt and Tunisia. Tune in to our podcast with Mr. Harmon to learn more about enterprise funds. 

This podcast features His Excellency Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United States. Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been strained in recent months. It is important for the United States and Pakistan to continue their 70-year relationship. Pakistan currently ranks as the sixth largest country in the world, and they will shortly become the fifth. This conversation seeks to move beyond the security concerns and focus on development, economic, and other opportunities for partnership between the United States and Pakistan. To hear more from H.E. Chaudhry, watch our recent public event.

This podcast features Shannon Green, who is the Senior Director of Programs at the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC). This podcast was recorded at the closing of Ms. Green’s time at CSIS. Her concluding remarks pose an optimistic view of the progress of human rights that reflects her hope for continued efforts. She brings deep experience in international development, human rights, and violence prevention with 15 years in the US government, academia, and the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining CIVIC, Ms. Green served as the Director and Senior Fellow of the Human Rights Initiative at CSIS where she served as Managing Director of the Commission on Countering Violent Extremism. Ms. Green also previously served as Senior Director for Global Engagement on the National Security Council. Before joining the White House, Ms. Green worked for USAID for nearly a decade. In this podcast, she discusses how countries cooperate on counterterrorism issues and the steps that governments and civil society need to take to

This podcast features Ambassador Casper Klynge, Denmark’s first Technology Ambassador. In this interview, Ambassador Klynge discusses his new role and the growing importance of technology and Silicon Valley in the development agenda. Ambassadors are typically found in Washington D.C., but Ambassador Klynge has been tasked with strengthening Denmark's relationship with technology giants like Facebook and Google. To hear more from Ambassador Klynge, listen to the entire podcast.

In this podcast, Ambassador Jim Michel, Senior Adviser at CSIS and former U.S Ambassador to Guatemala, discusses the critical role of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and the international dialogue around new approaches toward development.