Perry World House Weekly
Posted: 19th April 2021
Today, the U.S.-China bilateral relationship is defined not only by deep economic interdependence, but also increasingly by strategic rivalry. Recent talks between representatives of the two countries in Alaska saw a flareup in tensions, with Chinese diplomats criticizing the U.S. on a range of global issues. Competition – economic, military, technological, diplomatic, and more – between the two countries is starting to determine the direction not just of the Asia-Pacific region, but of the entire world. Music can help topple regimes, promote international cooperation, or bridge cultural divides, but its strength as a diplomatic tool has not received its due attention in global policy circles. How does music shape international relations? Join Perry World House for this rescheduled event exploring the role of music in diplomacy with Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, and drummer for the rock band Coalition of the Willing; Ambassador András Simonyi, distinguished Hungarian diplomat and guitarist for Coalition of the Willing; and Lolita Jackson, the former climate diplomat for New York City and a jazz singer. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has seen it all in the span of his career, in which he earned two purple hearts in Vietnam, served in the U.S. Senate during the post-9/11 era, and prepared the United States to meet emerging threats while serving in the Obama Administration.
Monday, April 19 – Friday, April 23, 2021 
FEATURED | PERRY WORLD HOUSE EVENTS U.S.China Relations and the Biden Administration Tuesday, April 20, 2021, 12:00pm-1:00pm ET | Virtual Event Foreign Affairs Emerging Scholars Policy Prize closing May 11 The deadline is coming up for this year’s Perry World House-Foreign Affairs Emerging Scholars Policy Prize! This $10,000 prize recognizes outstanding, original essays on any topic related to international issues that draw on original academic research and intend to influence policy debates.
How should the Biden administration approach this critical juncture in the U.S.-China relationship? Join Perry World House, Penn’s Center for the Study for Contemporary China, and a panel of seasoned experts to learn more.
FEATURED | PERRY WORLD HOUSE EVENTS Hard Beats and Soft Power: Music in International Diplomacy | Global Lens Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 3:00pm-4:00pm ET | Virtual Event
FEATURED | PERRY WORLD HOUSE EVENTS Securing the World: Emerging Threats and American Defense Policy Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 12:00pm-1:00pm ET | Virtual Event
On April 27, he’ll join us to discuss the new threats awaiting the United States and the world in the coming decades; how the United States can pursue a consistent defense strategy abroad with hyper-partisan politics at home; and share his advice for the new administration and its Department of Defense.
FEATURED | PERRY WORLD HOUSE IDEAS The Economist | How spooks are turning to superforecasting in the Cosmic Bazaar April 14, 2021 Perry World House’s recent white paper on geopolitical forecasting is referenced in this piece from The Economist.
“Every morning for the past year, a group of British civil servants, diplomats, police officers and spies…[have been] part of Cosmic Bazaar, a forecasting tournament created by the British government to improve its intelligence analysis,” the article says. “Cosmic Bazaar represents the gamification of intelligence. Users are ranked by a brutally simple measure: the accuracy of their predictions.” Read more 
FEATURED | PERRY WORLD HOUSE PROGRAMS Perry World House
This competition is open to emerging scholars from around the world, including junior faculty, postdocs, and advanced Ph.D. candidates. Click the link below to learn more about how to apply. Read more 
UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday, 4/20 12:00pm-1:00pm The World Today presents: U.S.-China Relations and the Biden Administration Learn more Wednesday, 4/21 3:00pm-4:00pm Hard Beats and Soft Power: Music in International Diplomacy Learn more Friday, 4/23
8:45am-9:30am Cybernationalism and Global Governance with Ambassador Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar Learn more Tuesday, 4/27 12:00pm-1:00pm The World Today presents: Securing the World: Emerging Threats and American Defense Policy Learn more 
Business Hours
Perry World House is closed until further notice and our team has moved to remote work. For more information on Penn’s response to coronavirus, click here.