SECWAC Presents: Michael Oppenheimer

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) is proud to host Michael Oppenheimer from the Center for Global Affairs, New York University. 

About the Topic
Soft Power, defined as our ability to generate support from other states without the threat or use of force, has been considered by most experts as essential to U.S. influence in the world. The recent decline of US soft power is a result of supply factors internal to our country (weakening democracy, political polarization, social conflicts) and external demand factors (growing nationalism, spreading authoritarianism). U.S. hard power, and the competence and judgment to use it wisely, will be central to our future foreign policy success

Presenter: Michael Oppenheimer
Michael F. Oppenheimer leads the IR Futures concentration at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, teaching courses on International Relations, The Future of International Relations, and U.S. Foreign Policy. He also oversees an ongoing research and consulting project for the UN Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate, which involves students directly in advising the UN system on counter terrorism policies and practices. His particular specialty is how potential future changes can be incorporated into the foreign policy process, in order to improve foresight and agility. His work on the future of U.S. soft power is forthcoming in “Soft Power and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy”, edited by Hendrik Ohnesorge, to be published in June of 2023 by Manchester University Press.


This meeting is held in-person at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme with a live Zoom option. For more information, visit SECWAC's event page here.

As the Administrative Partner to SECWAC, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is pleased to offer five complimentary registration to our members. Click "Register" button and log in with your Chamber profile record to access available tickets. 

About SECWAC: 

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council is a regional membership organization. Our members include a diverse group of regional citizens with backgrounds in education, medicine, law, business, academia, media, humanitarian, civic organizations, and beyond. Government officials, as well as active duty and retired military personnel, are also active members. SECWAC happily accepts those interested in foreign policy and world affairs from any walk of life.