The Warren and Anita Manshel Lecture in American Foreign Policy was established at the Center for International Affairs in 1993 by members of the Manshel family and by many of their friends. It stands as a memorial to the Manshels’ longstanding commitment to public affairs and their desire to advance greater understanding of the international relations of the United States. The lecture series honors Warren Manshel’s role as a founder of both The Public Interest and Foreign Policy, his service as ambassador to Denmark, and his deep involvement over many years in the work of the Center. It also serves to recognize Anita Manshel as Warren’s full partner and enthusiastic supporter in these endeavors, which he so often acknowledged.
Visit the WCFIA Vimeo Channel to view videos from the Warren and Anita Manshel Lecture in American Foreign Policy and more. All Manshel Lecture Series videos can be found in its Vimeo Album.
Past Lectures
The following Manshel lectureships have been delivered since 1993:
April 19, 2023
"The Future of Climate Action: A Conversation with Gina McCarthy"
Gina McCarthy
First-ever White House National Climate Advisor and former US EPA administrator
November 21, 2019
"Toward a Politics of Responsibility: The Case of Climate Change"
Kathryn Sikkink
Ryan Family Professor of Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
Transcripts: HTML | PDF (XXKB)
March 11, 2019
"Trumpism in American Foreign Policy"
Peter J. Katzenstein
Walter S. Carpenter, Jr. Professor of International Studies, Cornell University
December 12, 2016
"International Institutions In an Era of Populism, Nationalism, and Diffusion of Power"
Robert O. Keohane
Professor of International Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
Faculty Associate. Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, Harvard Kennedy School; Director, Center for International Affairs (1989-1993)
Transcripts: HTML | PDF (94KB)
"Symposium: Soft Power in a Tough World"
Speakers:
J. Bryan Hehir, Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Religion and Public Life, Harvard Kennedy School.
Yuen Foong Khong, Li Ka Shing Professor of Political Science, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.
David A. Welch, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Chair of Global Security, Balsillie School of International Affairs; Professor of Political Science, University of Waterloo; Senior Fellow, CIGI.
Chair: Beth A. Simmons, Andrea Mitchell University Professor of Law and Political Science, University of Pennsylvania; Director, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (2006–2013).
June 20, 2015
"The Future of the 'Special Relationship': The United States, Britain, and the European Union in a Changing Environment"
William Wallace
House of Lords
(Delivered at the Center's annual conference in Talloires, France.)
April 15, 2014
“Remembering Robert R. Bowie: A Celebration of His Life and His Contributions to US Foreign Policy and Harvard University”
Speakers:
Jorge I. Domínguez, Chairman, Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. Antonio Madero Professor for the Study of Mexico, Department of Government; Vice Provost for International Affairs, Harvard University.
J. Bryan Hehir, Senior Adviser; Faculty Associate. Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Religion and Public Life, Harvard Kennedy School; Secretary for Health and Social Services, Archdiocese of Boston.
Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Senior Adviser; Faculty Associate. Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, Harvard Kennedy School.
Chair: Karl Kaiser, Director, Program on Transatlantic Relations. Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School.
October 16, 2013
“The State of the Euro: Implications for Europe and the United States”
Jean-Claude Trichet
Former President, European Central Bank; Honorary Governor, Banque de France.
June 15, 2013
“US Foreign Policy after the Presidential Elections: #ComebackKid”
Roger Cohen
Journalist, International Herald Tribune, New York Times
(Delivered at the Center's annual conference in Talloires, France.)
Transcript: PDF (332KB)
June 16, 2012
“The Future of American Foreign Policy”
Anne-Marie Slaughter
Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University; Former Director, US Department of State Planning Staff
(Delivered at the Center's annual conference in Talloires, France.)
October 21, 2010
“America's Bush/Cheney Foreign Policy: Why Hasn't It Changed?”
Seymour Hersh
Investigative Journalist
Media Responses:
The Harvard Gazette
The Harvard Crimson
June 14, 2008
“A European Perspective on the U.S. Presidential Elections”
Baroness Shirley Williams
Privy Councillor; former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
(Delivered at the Center's annual conference in Talloires, France.)
November 15, 2007
“Goodness Triumphs Ultimately”
The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus, Cape Town; 1984 Nobel Peace Prize
Transcripts: HTML | PDF (79 KB)
Audio: Audio only (MP3)
November 3, 2005
“The Impact of Globalization on Decision Making at the Federal Reserve: Unraveling a Conundrum”
Richard Fisher
President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
May 14, 2003
“Mexico and America: Partners and Protagonists”
Jorge Castañeda
Former Secretary of Foreign Relations of Mexico
December 4, 1996
“The United States Role in Europe in the Post-Cold War World”
Richard C. Holbrooke
Former Assistant Secretary of State
October 21, 1994
“Foreign Policy for a New Era”
Anthony Lake
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
February 8, 1993
“The Future of American Foreign Policy: A Dialogue”
Irving Kristol
Founder, The Public Interest and The National Interest
and Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Senator (D-New York)
 | 2007 Manshel Lecture Transcript: Desmond Tutu | 79 KB |
| 2013 Manshel Lecture Transcript: Roger Cohen | 322 KB |
| 2016 Manshel Lecture Transcript: Robert Keohane | 91 KB |