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Forward Engagement is the name of the concept that I have been developing for the past two years to describe the process of thinking systematically about the longer-range future, and about ways in which public policy might engage the future sooner, rather than later. Forward Engagement conveys a three-part thought: (1) we are facing an acceleration of major historical events, some of them carrying the potential for major societal and international consequences; (2) society in general and government in particular, need to address such possibilities as far in advance as possible, in terms of policies and resources; and (3) there needs to be a system to help government visualize more consistently what may be approaching from the longer-range future, and to deliberate in a more timely way about possible responses. Forward Engagement seeks to comprehend major future developments in the broad categories of defense, economics, science and technology, and governance – and to strive to understand how these developments interact and influence each other. In the real world, things are far more inter-connected than our specializations, and we filter out these connections at peril to our real appreciation of what is shaping our lives. As Shapiro Visiting Professor (Jan. '01 - Jan. '03), I developed a capstone course based on Forward Engagement. In that setting, I have seen Forward Engagement stimulate the imaginations and test the analytic abilities of my students. Their enthusiastic response to the idea has encouraged me to believe that Forward Engagement is, in fact, a valuable new tool for the education of students who have an interest in public policy. As a research professor I have two inter-related objectives. First, to develop Forward Engagement as a substantive discipline, measuring my success in terms of an ability to put forward ideas that are of interest not only in the academic community, but to people engaged in making or thinking about making policy. Second, to demonstrate the value of Forward Engagement as a means of instruction, to better prepare young people for leadership. . About Leon Fuerth Professor Leon Fuerth’s career in government spanned thirty years, including positions in the State Department, House and Senate staff, and the White House. His most recent government service was as Vice President Gore’s National Security Adviser for the eight years of the Clinton administration, where he served on the Principals’ Committee of the National Security Council, alongside the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the President’s own National Security Adviser. During his twelve years as a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department, Professor Fuerth served in the U.S. Consulate General in Zagreb, Yugoslavia; the office of the Counselor of the Department; the Bureau of Intelligence and Research; and in both the Bureau of Political Military Affairs and the Bureau of European Affairs in several capacities. He became a resource for strategic intelligence (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons); arms control; Soviet and Warsaw Pact affairs; and NATO. On the Hill, Professor Fuerth worked for the late Congressman Les Aspin as staff director of the sub-committee on covert action, in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; for Al Gore during the last two years of his term as a member of the House; and for Gore during both his terms as a Senator. In the course of this twelve-year period, Professor Fuerth was the Select Committee’s expert on arms control verification, in addition to operating as its primary staff resource for monitoring covert action; he was deeply involved in the development of arms control positions by Congressman Gore; and in the Senate, he served as Gore’s staff link to both the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Science and Technology (Space sub-committee). He was responsible to Senator Gore for all aspects of national security, including international trade. In the White House, Professor Fuerth served as Vice President Gore’s National Security Adviser for both of his terms in office. During this time, he operated – by Presidential order – as a full member of the Principals and Deputies Committees in both the National Security Council and the National Economic Council, where he participated in the formation of national policy as an advisor to both the Vice President and the President. He was the senior administration official responsible for the operation of bi-national commissions with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Egypt, and South Africa, as well as the U.S.-China Environmental Forum, which he personally negotiated. For three years, he coordinated sanctions against Serbia on behalf of the U.S. government, at the request of the Principals Committee. Throughout the Clinton-Gore administration, Professor Fuerth also led efforts to develop the International Space Station with the Russians and other partners; to raise awareness and take action to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa; to denuclearize former Soviet states by providing alternative energy sources for the replacement of certain nuclear reactors and by providing alternative employment opportunities for nuclear scientists in Russia; to win China’s cooperation in protecting the environment and reducing pollution; and to spur foreign investment in Egypt, offering a positive example for other Arab nations involved in the Middle East peace process. After retiring from government service at the conclusion of the Clinton Administration, Professor Fuerth served as the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of International Affairs from January 2001 to January 2003. He now serves as a research professor at the George Washington University, leading a project entitled “Forward Engagement,” for the study of long-range policy analysis. This project is funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and by the George Washington University. Professor Fuerth holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in history from New York University, as well as a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. |
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