“On the Summits” Speaker Series

Since 1922, The Chicago Council has provided a distinguished, nonpartisan forum in Chicago for world leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss issues of global importance with Council members and the Chicago public.

International Conferences

The Council is hosting a series of high-level, invitation-only policy discussions that will inform and help “set the scene” for the NATO and G8 summits.

Expert Commentaries

Well positioned to bring Midwestern perspectives to the table of international debate, The Chicago Council, its fellows, partners, and other Chicago-area thought leaders offer fresh insights on the priorities of NATO and the G8.

Richard Longworth Interviews

Richard Longworth, senior fellow at The Chicago Council and former chief European correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, interviews leaders and experts from around the world on key security and economic issues facing the summits.

Stay Connected

View All

News Feed

06.14.12

Anchoring the Alliance: NATO Still Matters

R. Nicholas Burns, Damon Wilson & Jeff Lightfoot, "New Atlanticist" Atlantic Council

Topics:  America in the World; Future of NATO

06.14.12

Beneath a War of Words, Money Paints a Different China-U.S. Picture

Jeffrey Ball, Wall Street Journal

Topics:  America in the World; Global Economy

06.13.12

US-China Ties ‘Much More Challenging” Than We Had With Soviets

Colin Clark, Aol Defense.

Topics:  America in the World; Rising Powers and the G20

World Leaders, Policymakers,


and Experts

downtown chicago

All Speakers
Scroll Up
Scroll Down

Speaker Series

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Gül

President of the Republic of Turkey

President Gul reflected on Turkey's evolving role within the NATO alliance and its increasingly visible and assertive role as a leader in the Middle East.

05.22.12

View Highlights

Baroness Catherine Ashton

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

In a wide-ranging address, Baroness Ashton explored the central themes of the NATO summit and the future of EU-U.S. cooperation in meeting rising global challenges.

05.20.12

View Highlights

His Excellency Radosław Sikorski

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

As NATO prepares to transfer primary combat roles to the Afghan National Security Forces, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski discussed NATO's future after Afghanistan.

05.20.12

View Highlights

Influencing the Discourse


on Global Issues

downtown chicago

All Conferences
Scroll Up
Scroll Down

International Conferences

Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security

Washington, DC

The Chicago Council's third annual Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security will take place alongside the 2012 G8 meeting. The invitation-only symposium, Advancing Food and Nutrition Security at the 2012 G8 Summit, will feature a keynote address by President Barack Obama. G8 and select African government leadership, corporate leaders, and development stakeholders will gather to discuss G8 efforts on food security and the benefits of private sector investment in African agriculture and food sectors.

05.18.12

Read On

Young Atlanticist Summit

Chicago, IL

The Washington, D.C.-based Atlantic Council, in partnership with The Chicago Council, hosted the Young Atlanticist Summit on the sidelines of the NATO summit in May. The Young Atlanticist Summit brought together 52 "next generation" leaders and strategic thinkers from 38 countries, as well as a select group of 20 Chicago young professionals. Delegates participated in a NATO simulation, directly engaged several heads of state and foreign ministers, and participated in panel discussions on key issues facing the transatlantic alliance.

05.19.12 - 05.21.12

Read On

Smart Defense and the Future of NATO

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Council hosted an invitation-only international conference to discuss the future of the transatlantic security alliance. The timing and location of the conference served as a force multiplier, attracting top academics, policy practitioners, and experts interested in "setting the scene" for the NATO summit in May. The Council partnered with a consortium of eight think tanks from NATO member countries and commissioned a set of papers to supplement conference discussions.

03.28.12 - 03.30.12

Read On

An International Platform


for Chicago’s


Thought Leaders

downtown chicago

All Commentaries
Scroll Up
Scroll Down

Expert Commentaries

Reflections on NATO’s Chicago Summit

By Richard C. Longworth

NATO Flickr Photostream

Looking back on a historic Chicago weekend, Senior Fellow Richard C. Longworth paints a not-so-pretty picture of the outcomes from NATO leaders' two days of summit meetings.

06.01.12

Read On

NATO’s Next Generation

By Elizabeth Ferruelo

Ana Miyares Photography

A Chicago delegate to the 2012 Young Atlanticist Summit reflects "on what has held the [NATO] alliance together for more than sixty years, why it still matters, and how we—the next generation of leaders—can ensure its viability."

05.31.12

Read On

Latin America and Summit Security on the Eve of the G20

By Daniel Lansberg-Rodriguez

climate-justice-now.org

As Mexico prepares to host the first Latin American G20 summit, Daniel Lansberg-Rodriguez discusses current regional attitudes toward the United States in the Age of Obama.

05.30.12

Read On

Up Close and Personal


with American and


International Experts

downtown chicago

All Interviews
Scroll Up
Scroll Down

Richard Longworth
Interviews

Ignazio Angeloni

Advisor to the European Central Bank Executive Board

European Central Bank Advisor Ignazio Angeloni discusses the euro crisis, the relative strength of European institutions, and economic strategies for the future.

Read On

Susan Schwab

Professor, University of Maryland School of Public Policy

Former U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab examines recent multilateral trade talks sponsored by the World Trade Organization, and shares her opinion on whether Russia should be granted WTO membership.

Read On

Yang Yao

Director, China Center for Economic Research, Peking University

Leading Chinese economist Yang Yao sat down with Senior Fellow Richard C. Longworth on the sidelines of The Chicago Council's international conference on the global economy to discuss China's current and future growth.

Read On