INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TERRORISM STUDIES AT

POTOMAC INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES

"Can the State System and Separatism Co-Exist?"

October 31, 2017

The political, social, economic, and strategic implications of the contemporary evolving trend of separatism in the name of self-determination is an emerging security concern nationally, regionally, and globally. The question is whether ethnic, racial, religious, and national movements seeking to establish distinct independent entities within their own homelands by various means will be forces for stability or chaos? A major task therefore is to identify warning signals as well as to propose remedies for peaceful conflict resolutions within and among nations. A panel of experts dealt with historical lessons, examined case studies (e.g. Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa), and offered recommendations for the Trump Administration and the international community.

The panel was moderated by Professor Yonah Alexander, Director, Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies and Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Speakers included Professor David Kanin (Adjunct Professor of European Studies, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; former senior analyst, Central Intelligence Agency); Dr. Fernando Jimenez (Former legal advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank and Governor of the Basque Country in Spain); Dr. Hussein Ibish (Senior Resident Scholar, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington); and Professor Marvin G. Weinbaum (Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies, Middle East Institute).

Watch the video on Ustream here.