Statecraft comes to Stark County: Why it matters

In meeting its responsibilities to our community, ensuring we make contributions to informing and educating our fellow citizens, Walsh University will host four world leaders for an engaging conversation on world affairs and the national security interests of the United States — a free panel discussion on Sept. 5, as we kick off this year’s Presidential Thought Leadership Series.

Since its invention and inception in A.D. 1088, the Catholic university has been grounded in understanding our responsibilities to advance the public good.

In 1958, the President’s Commission on Higher Education called for “the first and most essential charge upon higher education is that … it shall be the carrier of democratic values, ideals and processes.”

Walsh University is meeting that challenge daily and invites your participation at the panel discussion in the Cecchini Center on our campus at 2020 E. Maple St. in North Canton.

For all of us, an essential aspect of citizenship is exercising our voting responsibilities as we elect our political leadership.

As a global power, this is an enormous responsibility as we pick and choose leaders who will guide our nation to ensure peace and prosperity for all Americans.

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Today, we find ourselves on a slippery slope as the war in Ukraine rages on … conflict in Taiwan seems inevitable … protecting critical shipping lanes in the Straits of Hormuz and Malacca are increasingly difficult … and our dependences on Chinese goods and financial services are more concerning than ever.

Our panelists are two former supreme allied commanders Europe (SACEUR) (that’s the job Eisenhower inaugurated in 1951) and a British ambassador in an engaging discussion moderated by the former national security adviser to a vice president.

As the United States rightfully pursues its interests, the four primary tools of DIME (diplomatic, informational, military and economic) statecraft at the disposal of the government will be showcased as these world leaders share their experiences and insights in the execution of foreign policy in real time.

The blending of the strategies leveraging these tools of statecraft is at the center of the art of protecting our nation.

What is the U.S. national security interest in Europe vis-à-vis Ukraine? Is Russia a threat to us economically or militarily? What is the long-term impact of this war on the United States? In Ohio? In Stark County? What other areas of concern may influence or jeopardize the American way of life?

These questions, and many more, will be considered by leaders directly involved in the development and execution of national security policy. Their insights on current affairs, as well as offering an informed analysis on our future, will help us to better understand the world situation first-hand and close-up.

Thomas Jefferson warned that our liberty would be “a short-lived possession, unless the mass of the people could be informed.”

Walsh University is doing something about that — please join us for an unforgettable evening.

Walsh University continues its 63-year commitment to our community as your Catholic university as we invite any voting-age citizen to attend this free public event for a serious evening of listening and learning. Please register now at www.walsh.edu/leadershipseries to reserve your free general admission ticket.

Tim Collins is president of Walsh University in North Canton.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Walsh University hosts international security discussion Tim Collins