Networking / Past Lectures and Talks

RSIS frequently organise public lectures and colloquiums which are attended by a broad cross-section of the public including policymakers, foreign diplomats, civil servants, journalists, businessmen, and students. The lectures and colloquiums organised to date are listed below under the following categories:

Strategic Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Distinguished Lecture Series
Strategic Trends in the 21st Century Colloquium Series
Distinguished Public Lecture Series
Developments in Indonesia Public Lecture Series
Joint Public Lectures

Strategic Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Distinguished Lecture Series

HE GEN Phan Van Tra, Minister for Defence, Vietnam on "National Defence Policies of Vietnam", 3 Apr 04
The Right Honourable Geoffrey Hoon, MP, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom, on "British Defence Diplomacy in the 21st Century", 28 Feb 01
HE Alain Richard, Minister of Defence, France, on "French Defence, European Defence Policy and Their Implications in Asia Pacific", 24 Feb 99
HE Max Bradford, New Zealand Defence Minister, on "Our Future Security: Challenges and opportunities for New Zealand and Singapore", 2 Oct 98
HE General Chi Haotian, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and State Councillor and Minister of National Defence of the P.R.C., on "China's Defence Policy", 27 Nov 98
HE William S. Cohen, Secretary for Defence, U.S.A., on "Continuity, Change and Commitment: America's Asia-Pacific Security Strategy", 21 Nov 97

Strategic Trends in the 21st Century Colloquium Series

RSIS Colloquium by Mr Ali Soufan, Visiting Senior Fellow in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Chief Executive Officer of the Soufan Group LLC on "The Changing Face of Terrorism", 21 Aug 08
RSIS Colloquium by Prof Neil MacFarlane, Head of Dept, Dept of Politics and International Relations, Lester B. Pearson Professor of International Relations, Fellow, St. Anne's College, Oxford University and S. Rajaratnam Chair in Strategic Studies (2008) on "Why did the US intervene in Iraq?", 14 Aug 08
RSIS Colloquium by Laurie Garrett, APPSNO speaker on "Public Health, National Security and Resilience.", 16 Apr 08
RSIS Colloquium by Mr Richard C. Smith, Former Secretary of the Department of Defence, Australia on "Australia's Response to the Rise of China", 28 Sep 07
RSIS Colloquium by Professor Edward A. Kolodziej, Director, Center for Global Studies and Emeritus Research Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois, USA on "From Superpower to Besieged Global Power: Restoring Global Order after the Failure of the Bush Doctrine", 25 Sep 07

Professor Richard K. Betts, S. Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies on "Coming Choices in U.S. Defense Policy.", 20 Aug 07
Prof. Bruce Hoffman, Security Studies Program, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, DC on "Terrorism, Radicalization and Subversion: Al Qaeda’s Resurgence", 17 Aug 07
Prof. Robert H. “Robin” Dorff, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College on "Addressing the ‘Good Governance Deficit’: The Strategic Imperative of the 21st Century.", 13 Aug 07
Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor, University of Exeter, UK on “Diversity and Disciplinarity in International Relations Theory”, 11 Jan 07
Professor Rosemary Foot, S Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies on “China and the Asia-Pacific Security Order”, 13 Oct 06
Major-General Zhu Chenghu, Commandant, College of Defense Studies on "The Modernization of PLA", 25 Aug 06
Professor Bruce Hoffman, Director, RAND Corporation, Washington D.C, USA on "Al Qaeda: In Retreat or on the March?", 24 Aug 06
Professor Wael Hallaq, James McGill Professor of Islamic Law on "Islamic Law and the Challenge of Modernity", 21 Aug 06
Dr. Gerard Chaliand, Visiting Senior Fellow, IDSS on “"The U.S. Counterinsurgency War in Iraq: Light at the End of the Tunnel?", 9 Sep 05
Professor C Raja Mohan, S Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies on "The Role of Great Powers in the Current Strategic Enviornment", 19 Aug 05
Professor Sumit Ganguly, Professor of Political Science, Indiana University-Bloomington, U.S.A on "India as an Emerging Power", 16 Aug 05
Dr. Bruce Hoffman, Director RAND Washington Office; and Corporate Chair in Counter Terrorism and Counterinsurgency RAND Corporation, U.S.A on "The London Blast and Beyond: Are We Winning the Global War on Terrorism?", 15 Aug 05
Professor Martin Van Creveld on “The Transformation of War Since September 11", 17 Sep 04
Professor John Mearsheimer, S Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies on “US Foreign Policy”, 25 Aug 04
Dr. Muthiah Alagappa, Director, East-West Center, Washington D.C. USA on "Deterrence and Security in the Twenty First Century: Managing the Taiwan Strait, Korean, and Kashmir conflicts", 29 Mar 04
Professor Stephen M. Walt, Academic Dean, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. on "The Global Response to American Primacy”, 14 Jan 04
Professor Alastair Iain Johnston, S Rajaratnam Professor in Strategic Studies, IDSS on “Is China a Status Quo Power?”, 21 Apr 03
Professor Eliot Cohen, Professor and Director of Strategic Studies, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, on “Implications of a Second Gulf War”, 9 Jan 03
Professor Wang Ji Si , Director of the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, on "China-U.S. Relations at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Old Problems and New Hopes", 7 Mar 02
Professor Jack L. Snyder, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Relations, Institute of War and Peace Studies, Department of Political Science, Columbia University, on "Democratization and Ethnic Relations", 2 Aug 01
Professor Eliot A. Cohen, Professor and Director of Strategic Studies, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, on "Problems of Civil-Military Relations in the 21st Century", 9 Jan 01
Professor Stephen M. Walt, Harvard University, S Rajaratnam Professor in Strategic Studies, on "Violent Conflicts in the 21st Century", 20 Jan 00
Professor Joseph S. Nye, Dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, on "The Information Revolution and Relations Among Nations", 7 Jan 99
Professor Ezra Vogel, Henry Ford Professor of the Social Sciences, Harvard University, on "The Strategic Environment of East Asia: Prospects for Co-operation and Conflict", 17 Aug 98

Distinguished Public Lecture Series

Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam President of India, 2002-2007 and Professor of Technology and Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai on "Dynamics of national development", 27 Aug 08
RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Mr. Jean Francois Clair, former Deputy Director of Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire (DST), French Internal Security Department, on "Resilience, Vigilance and Countering Fatigue in a Security Agency", 12 Aug 2008
RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr. Yan Xuetong, Director, Institute of International Studies, Tsinghua University on "China's Foreign Policy: Continuity and Change in the Short Term.", 22 May 08
RSIS Public Lecture by Dr. K. Subrahmanyam, a prominent strategic analyst, diplomat, journalist and former Indian civil servant on "Balancing power in the 21st Century: An Indian View", 9 Apr 08

Lee Kuan Yew Distinguished Visitors Programme - Public Lecture by Prof Richard Zeckhauser, Frank P. Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University on "Investing in the Unknown and the Unknowable", 24 Mar 08

Distinguished Public Lecture by Ambassador Shyam Saran, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India on "India and China: Rivals or Partners?", 17 Jan 08

RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Mr Richard C. Smith, RSIS Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Former Secretary of the Department of Defence, Australia on "Australia and Asia: Managing Change, Managing Risk", 26 Nov 07

RSIS-SIF Distinguished Public Lecture by HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisalon "Evolution of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.", 29 Oct 07

RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Trade, Indonesia on "Establishing SEZ in the Riau Islands", 22 June 07

RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for External Affairs, India on "India’s Foreign Policy Priorities", 20 June 07

RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Prof David Shambaugh, Professor of Political Science & International Affairs, The Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, on "The Bush Administration's Asia Policy: A Preliminary Report Card", 30 May 07

Distinguished Public Lecture by the Bahraini Crown Prince Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, 27 Mar 07
RSIS Lecture by Mr Dan Vittorio Segre, President of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies, University of Lugano, Switzerland on "From Colony to State - A Personal View of 60 Years of Israeli Sovereignty", 16 Mar 07
HE Jos� Ramos-Horta, Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, on "East-Timor, Three Years Later...Progress in Nation Building", 4 Oct 05

The Honourable Mr. Robert Joseph, Under-Secretary, Arms Control and International Security, U.S.A on " Southeast Asia's Role in Non-Proliferation", 15 Aug 05
HE Dr. José Ramos Horta, Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Democratic Republic of Timor-Lesté on “East Timor, Three Years Later…Progress in Nation Building”, 4 Oct 04
The Honourable Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security, USA on "Fighting Terrorism: Security and Cooperation in the 21st Century", 9 Mar 04
His Excellency Morshed Khan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh on "The Look East Policy of Bangladesh", 12 Nov 03
His Excellency Yashwant Sinha, Minister of External Affairs, India on “Indian Perspective of Global and Regional Developments”, 26 Aug 03.
HE José Ramos-Horta, Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on "The External Challenges Facing Timor Leste", 15 Jun 03.
Hon. Tyronne Fernando, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka, on "Towards An New Asian Identity", 26 Jul 02.
HE Surakiart Sathirathai, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thailand, on "Towards an Asia Cooperation Dialogue", 17 Jul 01.
HE Jaswant Singh, Minister of External Affairs, India, on "India and ASEAN: Security Paradigm for AD 2000", 2 Jun 00.
HE Amre Moussa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt, on "The Middle East in a Changing World: An Egyptian Perspective", 30 Jun 00.
HE Alexander Downer, MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia, on "Australia and the Region: The East Asian Crisis-Challenges and Opportunity", 23 Feb 99.
Admiral Dennis C. Blair, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, on "Collective Responsibilities for Security in the Asia-Pacific Region", 22 May 99.

Developments in Indonesia Public Lecture Series

Seminar by Dr. Noorhadi Hasan, on "Salafi Expansion, Political Mobilization and Islamic Radicalism in Post-New Order Indonesia, 24 Jan 06
Seminar by Mr. Luthfi Assyaukanie, Ph.D candidate on Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne Australia, on "Liberal Islam and its Challenge in Indonesia", 12 Feb 06
Seminar by Dr. Abdul Munir Mulkhan, Universitas Islam Nasional, Sunan Kalijaga, Yogjakarta on "The Ethical Dimensions of Shari'a Law in Indonesia", 26 Apr 06
Asia-Europe Foundation and IDSS Joint lecture, on "The Aceh Monitoring Mission Experience", 6 Jun 06
Seminar by Dr. Nadirsyah Hosen, Visiting Research Fellow, IDSS, on "Whither The Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI)?", 12 Jul 2006
Seminar by Professor Robert W Hefner, Professor of Anthropology, Boston University, Associate Director, Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs (CURA), Boston University, and Director, Program on Islam and Democracy, (CURA) on "The Conservative Turn in Indonesian Islam: Politics and Education", 24 Jul 06
Seminar by Dr. Rizal Sukma, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, on 'Aceh: One Year after the Helsinki Peace Accord and Prospects for Sustaining a Durable Peace", 30 Aug 06
Seminar by Bapak HR Hidayat Nur Wahid, Speaker, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR-RI), on "IDSS Indonesia Update", 28 Jan 05
Seminar by Bapak HR Agung Laksono, Speaker, House of People's Representative (DPR-IU), on "IDSS Indonesia Update", 23 Mar 05
Closed-door Roundtable with Dr. Zulkieflimansyah, Vice Chairman, Partai Keadilan Sejatera (PKS), Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman Commission IV DPR-MPR RI, 20 Jul 05
Seminar by Dr. Sukardi Rinakit, Executive Director, Centre of Political Studies, Soegeng Sarjadi Syndicate, Jakarta, and Dr. Nankyung Choi, Visiting Research Fellow, IDSS, on "Direct Regional Elections in Indonesia: Continuity or Change", 8 Sep 05
Closed-door Roundtable with Professor Dr. Din Syamsuddin, Chairman Muhammadiyah and Vice-chairman Majelis Ulama Indonesia (Indonesian Ulama Council, MUI), on "Islam in Indonesia: Current Trends and Implications", 29 Sep 05
IDSS Public Lecture by Bapak Abdurrahman Wahid on Indonesia Presidential Election 2004, 3 June 04.
IDSS Public Lecture by Bapak Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Indonesia Presidential Election 2004, 26 May 04.
IDSS Public Lecture by Bapak Ir Akbar Tandjung on Indonesia Presidential Election 2004, 24 May 04
Professor Dr Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Chairman, Partai Bulan Bintang (PBB) and Dr Hafid Abbas, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Republic of Indonesia, on "Recent Political Developments in Indonesia", 2 Mar 01.
Professor Dr Widjojo Nitisastro, Economic Advisor to President, Republic of Indonesia, on "The Future of Regional Co-operation: Prospects of ASEAN and Indonesia's Role", 18 Oct 01.
HE Dr Alwi Shihab, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Indonesia, on "Indonesia's Internal Development and Regional Stability", 11 Aug 00.
HE Akbar Tandjung, Speaker, House of Representatives, Indonesia, on "The Indonesian Parliament in the Era of Reformation", 18 Sep 00.
Dr Marzuki Darusman, Attorney-General, Republic of Indonesia, on "Legal Reforms and Political Developments in Indonesia", 15 Dec 00.
Dr Amien Rais, General Chairman, The National Mandate Party, Indonesia, on "Indonesia today: Prospects for the future", on 26 Jan 99.
Ms Megawati Soekarnoputri, General Chairman, Partai Demokrasi Indonesia-Perjuangan (PDI-P), on "Developments in Indonesia", 15 Mar 99.
Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, General Chairman, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), on "Developments in Indonesia", 24 Mar 99.
Dr Marzuki Darusman, S.H., Deputy Chairperson, GOLKAR, on "The Promise and Dangers of Democracy in Indonesia", 24 Apr 99.

Joint Public Lectures

Dr Tan See Seng, Assistant Professor, IDSS, Dr Derek da Cunha, Senior Fellow, ISEAS and Dr K.S. Nathan, Senior Fellow, ISEAS, on "Regional Political and Security Implications of the Terror Attacks in the United States", 9 Oct 01. Jointly organised with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Dr Surin Pitsuwan MP, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, on "Strategic Challenges Facing Islam in Southeast Asia", 5 Nov 01.Jointly organised with the Centre for Contemporary Islamic Studies.
Professor Adam Roberts, Montague Burton Professor of International Relations and Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford University, on "Humanitarian Intervention in the 21st Century", 14 Feb 00. Jointly organised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Professor Francis Fukuyama, Omer L. and Nancy First Professor of Public Policy, and Director International Commerce and Policy Programme, Institute of Public Policy, George Mason University, on "The Social and Political Implications of the Transition to an Information Society", 20 Jul 00. Jointly organised with the Institute of Policy Studies.
HE Dr Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, on "Future Relations Between the European Union and Asia", 26 July 00. Jointly organised with the Asia-Europe Foundation.
Dr David Dickens, Director, Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, on "Diplomatic Role of the Military", 29 Oct 99. Jointly organised with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.