Alumnus Aaron Connelly speaks to GSI
Source/Author: Richard Beaton, GSI Director
January 15, 2016
The Global Scholars Initiative (GSI) of Shorecrest's Upper School was honored to welcome back Aaron Connelly '03 for a "campus conversation" on Thursday, January 7th. Having completed degrees at George Washington University and Georgetown University, having studied at Oxford, and having been a Fulbright scholar, Aaron is now a Research Fellow in the East Asia Program of the Lowy Institute for International Policy based in Sydney, Australia. Prior to joining the Lowy Institute, Aaron worked at Albright Stonebridge Group, a commercial diplomacy consultancy headquartered in Washington and led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger.
Aaron primarily focused remarks on Myanmar, using in part as an example of the problems and attitudes that many nations have experienced as they transition from being colonies to becoming sovereign nations. Myanmar inherited boundaries from the imperial period that included a mix of ethnicities, languages, and religions. This, in turn, resulted in ongoing internal resistance to the central government and the emergence of semi-autonomous regions such as the Wa "state" in northeastern Myanmar. Because of its experience as a colony, Myanmar is "allergic" to any foreign country's intrusion into its affairs. Nations like the USA must use soft power and subtlety to try to nudge the government in the direction of greater democracy, greater concern for minority rights, and greater openness to Western investment.
Given the success of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democratic party in Myanmar's recent legislative elections, Aaron also noted the need for her and her party to find a way to work with the generals who have maintained a firm dictatorship for the past several decades. It will be a delicate, diplomatic dance to see how these two groups manage their relationship -- and the near-future of Myanmar.
Given the success of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democratic party in Myanmar's recent legislative elections, Aaron also noted the need for her and her party to find a way to work with the generals who have maintained a firm dictatorship for the past several decades. It will be a delicate, diplomatic dance to see how these two groups manage their relationship -- and the near-future of Myanmar.
Aaron fielded questions from the GSI students on a range of topics including Sino-American tensions in the South China Sea, Islamic extremism among the disaffected Rohinga minority in western Myanmar, and the role of gender in Aung San Suu Kui's position as a politician. Aaron's presentation was a wonderful opportunity to see how a Shorecrest student who was fascinated by politics and international relations as a teenager has turned that interest into a satisfying career with much room for continued professional growth in the future.
Sincere thanks to Mr. Connelly for making time in his schedule to share knowledge and insights with Shorecrest Upper School GSI students!
Sincere thanks to Mr. Connelly for making time in his schedule to share knowledge and insights with Shorecrest Upper School GSI students!
