Join the Wilson Center for a half day symposium on Russia and China's political interference activities in NATO small states. For both Russia and China, foreign political interference activities are a useful and cost-effective method of foreign policy. In Russia it is theorized as “smart power”, while China uses the Soviet-era term “united front work”. The activities of Russia and China go beyond accepted norms of public diplomacy and are having a corrupting and corrosive effect on many societies. This half-day symposium focuses on Russia and China's political interference activities in NATO small states. The world is seeing a return of both “might is right” politics and spheres of influence. As history has shown, the weakness of small states in a time of rising security threats can undermine the security of larger powers. The symposium examines case studies of representative small NATO states experiencing Russia and China’s political interference activities, points out the patterns of interference to look for and discusses what is to be done. RSVP is requested.

Speakers:

Neringa Bladaitė, University of Vilnius

Anne-Marie Brady, Wilson Center; University of Canterbury

Donald J. Jensen, Center for European Policy Analysis

Ryan Knight, Georgetown University

Martin Hála, Charles University

Margarita Šešelgytė, University of Vilnius

Khamza Sharifzoda, Georgetown University

Mark Stokes, 2049 Project

Alan Tidwell, Georgetown University

Baldur Thorhallson, University of Iceland

Abe Denmark, Asia Program, Wilson Center (moderator)