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

Andrew Natsios, former USAID Administrator and a key member of the CSIS Forced Migration Task Force, shares his views on the evolving role of USAID and international organizations and their responses to the forced migration crisis. More people are displaced today than any other point in human history. Mr. Natsios provides powerful insights in the root causes of the global migration crisis and the steps to reduce its impact.

Andrew Shearer, Director of the Alliances and American Leadership Project at CSIS, join Dan for this week’s podcast to discusses the importance of international partnerships and the changing landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. How can the United States and Australia strengthen their collaboration in fragile and conflict-affected places?

Antonio Rodiles, a Cuban dissident, opens up to Dan Runde in this podcast about the challenges he has faced opposing as an activist in Cuba and his hopes for political change. In addition, he discusses U.S.-Cuba relations and the ongoing challenges that have hindered the country’s progress. Tune in to hear more from our courageous guest.

In this podcast, First Lady of Afghanistan, Rula Ghani, discusses the resiliency of Afghan women and their increasing re-emergence in grade schools, universities, and professions (such as engineering and law) after years of war and oppressive Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Mrs. Ghani has her finger on the pulse of women’s empowerment in Afghanistan and shares a variety of fascinating anecdotes – which center around topics ranging from the shifting cultural attitudes of men to the changing landscape of women’s professions in conservative provinces – that have served to bolster her vision of a positive, gender-inclusive future for Afghanistan.

This week’s podcast features Lana Abu-Hijleh, who is the Palestine Country Director for Global Communities and a member of the CSIS Forced Migration Task Force. Lana shares the struggles she faced pursuing a career as an engineer growing up in Palestine and her inspiration for returning home. Palestine has made great strides in education, lowering the illiteracy rate to around 2 percent. In addition, 41 percent of college graduates in Palestine are women. Lana was named One of the Top 100 Inspiring Women in the World in 2015 by BBC.   Lana also shares her perspective on the global migration crisis. 5.2 million Palestinians are still registered as refugees today, but she remains optimistic. 52 percent of the population in the West Bank and Gaza is under the age of 25 years old. Through programs like the Global Communities Youth Local Council in the West Bank, Palestinian youth begin to understand the crucial role they play in the leading their country forward. Lana explains, “Refugee is just a status that is t