Washington Seminar 2011 Behind the scenes and in the media

Tentative program

We are promising you a 360 degrees insight into the whole colour scale of political inputs. You will meet persons that we think will influence you and your thinking long after you have return back home. On the seminar you will meet the speechwriter that formed the words that marked a whole world, you will meet person that sat with their hands on the steering wheel while historic decisions were made. And you will meet individuals who all have a story to tell – about wars, loss, sorrows and rage. During this intense week in the capitol of the world you will get lectures from some of the most prominent intellectuals, tough campaign managers and hard boiled journalists. 

Obama’s America

President Barack Obama is halfway into his presidential period. Some of the world’s best strategic minds are being mobilized to secure the re-election of a president that is more popular abroad than among the domestic American opinion. How has the Obama administration managed so far? What is the temperature of the political climate in the US at the moment? What will the political consequences for Obama passing the health reform be? We are visiting the Brookings Institution and the US Congress to get heads on analyses.

Republican mobilization
It is time for an exciting congressional election this fall. This will be an important indication for what to be expected during the presidential election in 2012. Will the republican side be able to mobilize before the fall’s Congressional election and strengthen their standing in Congress and their position before the next presidential election? Will Sarah Palin make a comeback as the next Republican presidential candidate?

How to mobilize the masses?

How to understand the public opinion and the American constituent? John Halpin at the Centre for American Progress has been a trusted advisor for the Clinton family through many years. He is lecturing us on the political consequences of understanding electoral behaviour through analysis and opinion polls. CAP is a liberal think tank in Washington, D.C. where some of the most distinguished liberal thinkers work, like John Podesta, former chief of stab to President Clinton and Rui Teixeria who also has been a central advisor to the Clinton family and administration on foreign policy.

”Mr. Gorbatsjov, tear down this wall”
Clark S. Judge was Ronald Reagan’s famous speech writer – and is a good friend of the seminar. He is sharing his insight in how words form the world – and how one of the world’s most famous speeches was born.

“The axis of evil”
Another of the seminar’s good friends, David Frum, many years speechwriter to George W. Bush. He is the man behind the expression, “the axis of evil”. Listen to his story on how the term came into being. And his analysis of the American position in the world.  

Will Europe and the US become friends again?

What world role is the US taking under Obama’s lead? Will he be able to bridge and gain trust in the Arabic and Muslim parts of the world again? Are the American hawks gone or mobilizing again? We will get solid political analysis from experts at Johns Hopkins University and distinguished think tanks.  

How to understand the electoral behaviour?

Professor Stephen Farnsworth, from George Mason University, gives us an introduction to how to understand the American electoral behaviour and the American way of thinking.

The ordinary American – a true American experience

We spend the Sunday making a full-day excursion to the “average American”. We go to church, drink Sunday coffee with the reverent and meet local inhabitants of a traditional American community for lunch and conversations. Afterwards we visit the district best vineyard, and enjoy a pleasant dinner to get to know each other better.

Rule the world - Pentagon
The American department of defence – the world most powerful military institution. Visit Pentagon, headquarter of the American DOD and meet media strategist and PR-people that informs about the US media role in war.

Norway in the world
We meet the Norwegian Ambassador to Washington, D.C. – Ambassador Wegger Christian Strømmen – and UN- ambassador in New York – Ambassador Morten Wetland. They present to us their analysis of Norway’s role in the US and UN and presents to us their first hand analysis of American interest.

The media metropolis

We meet political reporters from New York Times and Newsweek sharing with us their insight into political controversies and scandal and share with us their insight into the political game and processes.

Wall Street
Gain a status report on how the American economy is doing. What is the condition of the American Industry- and labour-market? What have the effects of enormous financial rescue packages had on the American economy? Is the recession passed? In New York we are meeting some of the people who work in the hearth of the financial crises and will share with us their analysis of the situation.

This program outline is made with reservations of changes. The program is drafted in accordance with present happenings and developments within the areas of politics and society and we are trying to be heads on the political developments in the US. This is why the program is being developed during the spring and summer. But this current draft should give you a strong impression of the main elements of the various program posts and what our profile will be. It is based on the previous speakers we have engaged during the last years seminars.