Welcome
News & Announcements
Recent Program Images
View photos taken by Columbia University staff photographer Eileen Barroso of this year's World Leaders Forum programs.
WLF 2006–7 Images
View photos taken by Columbia University staff photographer Eileen Barroso of previous World Leaders Forum programs.
Press Releases
Columbia University to Host Distinguished Artists, Faculty in Discussion about the Forthcoming World Premiere of The First Emperor at the Metropolitan Opera—November 28
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Bolivian President, Croatian Prime Minister and ASEAN Secretary General Additional Speakers at World Leaders Forum in September—September 15
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Columbia University World Leaders Forum Opens with Three Provocative Sessions—September 12
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Distinguished Panel to Join Stiglitz in Assessing Global Economic Challenges: Columbia University World Leaders Forum Marks Publication of Making Globalization Work—September 1
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Regional Resources
Columbia has the most comprehensive area-studies programs in the United States. There are ten regional institutes and centers:
The Center for Brazilian Studies
Directors: John Coatsworth and Thomas J. Trebat
The East Central European Center
Directors: John S. Micgiel and Kevin Hallinan
The Harriman Institute
Directors: Catherine Nepomnyashchy
The Institute for the Study of Europe
Director: Volker Berghahn
Institute of Latin American Studies
Director: Thomas J. Trebat
The Middle East Institute
Director: Rashid Khalidi
Southern Asian Institute
Director: Vidya Dehejia
Weatherhead East Asian Institute
Director: Myron Cohen
Center for Israel and Jewish Studies
Director: Yosef H. Yerushalmi
Institute of African Studies
Director: Mamadou Diouf
Regional Library Resources
International Chairs
- Arcapita Visiting Professor in Modern Arab Studies
- Arnold A. Saltzman Professor of War and Peace Studies
- Arnold A. Saltzman Assistant Professor in the Practice of International Politics
- Harold Brown Professor of United States Foreign and Security Policy
- Edward Said Professorship of Modern Arab Studies and Literature
Rashid I. Khalidi - Leila Hadley Luce Professorship of Modern Tibetan Studies
Gray Tuttle, Leila Hadley Luce Assistant Professor of Modern Tibetan Studies - Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi Chair of Israel and Jewish Studies
- Boris Bakhmeteff Professor of Russian and East European Studies
Mark L. Von Hagen - Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Soviet Foreign Policy
Robert H. Legvold - Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professorship for Practice of International Diplomacy
Stephen R. Sestanovich - N.T. Want Professorship of Chinese Business and Economy
- Dean Lung Professorship of Chinese Studies
Madeleine H. Zelin - Edith Porada Professorship of Ancient Near Eastern Art History and Archeology
Zainab Bahrani, Edith Porada Associate Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Art History and Archeology - San Paolo Professorship of International Journalism
Alexander Stille
World Leaders Forum Highlights
Columbia University and Barnard College Host the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative—November 30–December 6
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Heads of State from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America Open Third Annual World Leaders Forum at Columbia University—September 12–19
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World Leaders Forum Photo Gallery
By Eileen Barroso
Columbia University staff photographer Eileen Barroso chronicles the first two weeks of the 2005–6 World Leaders Forum attended by eight heads of state and the Dalai Lama.
Radio Coverage
WKCR News aired excerpts of speeches made by the leaders of Indonesia, Rwanda, Pakistan, Iraq, and Sierra Leone at the 2005–6 World Leaders Forum. The addresses are archived on the Columbia University station's Web site.
Professor Andrea Bartoli on Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Speech
Columbia's Professor Bartoli said that the relationship between Columbia and Iraq's President Talabani developed in the nineties, long before Talabani became head of Iraq.
Professor Bartoli described the challenges of integrating different countries and cultures under one federation.
Professor Vidya J. Dehejia on "Pakistan: Meeting the Challenge of Peace and Development"
Columbia's Professor Dehejia said that Pakistan's President Musharraf made clear distinctions between extremism and terrorism.
Professor Dehejia noted the importance of the president's speech the same day at the American Jewish Congress, a symbol of Pakistan's warmer relations toward Israel.
Professor Dehejia pointed out how the Pakistani president is moving toward democracy.
Professor John Micgiel on "Poland in a Changing World"
Columbia's Professor John Micgiel said that Polish president Aleksander Kwaśniewski discussed the importance to his country of a stable Ukraine, which currently is in crisis.
Professor Micgiel said that Poland's President Kwaśniewski announced the opening of a museum to remember the Holocaust and help Polish people come to terms with their role in it.
Professor Josh Ruxin on "The Millennium Development Goals from Rwanda's Perspective"
Columbia's Professor Josh Ruxin said Rwanda is hopeful that foreign aid will be increased for Africa, but the country will succeed regardless.
President Kagame noted that Rwanda is landlocked and, aside from coffee, doesn't enjoy any of the wealth-supplying resources, such as oil or diamonds, that some other African countries enjoy. So, Professor Ruxin said, Rwandans are looking to tourism.
Gordon Bardos on "Taking Power Peacefully: Reflections on the Post-Communist Revolutions of 2000–2004"
Gordon Bardos, assistant director of Columbia's Harriman Institute, which hosted the visit of Georgia's president at the World Leaders Forum, said the brand of democracy a leader chooses for his country depends on his view of himself.
Bardos said that the international community needs to understand that there is no "one-size-fits-all" model for democracy.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs on "Working Together to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals"
Columbia's Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs commented on the deep ties between the United States and Indonesia, including the shared tragedy of natural disasters.
Professor Hadi Soesastro on "Working Together to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals"
Professor Hadi Soesastro is a visiting professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs this semester. He attended the lecture by Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, at the World Leaders Forum. He offered the following analysis of the president's speech, starting with the president's strong endorsement of the Millennium Development Goals to address global poverty.
Indonesia is recovering from the tsunami disaster of December 2004. Columbia University visiting professor Hadi Soesastro offered insights to New Orleans.
President Yudhoyono suggested that the world could achieve better global cooperation by focusing together on helping the poor.
Professor Soesastro discussed the Yudhoyono administration's challenge in rolling back a longtime benefit, subsidized gasoline prices, which is hurting Indonesia's economy.
Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz's Comments on the Opening Session
Columbia's Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz moderated the opening session of Columbia's World Leaders Forum on Monday, September 12, 2005, featuring Tarja Halonen, president of the Republic of Finland.
Stiglitz said that the United States should look to Finland as a model when aid to reduce global poverty is discussed in the halls of the United Nations.
Stiglitz analyzed the disagreement in the UN on global-poverty goals.
Stiglitz described how the United States could learn from Finland's President Tarja Halonen on her country's pledge to reduce global poverty.