On November 15, 2016, The American Conservative gathered leading scholars, journalists, and policy experts to discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy in the wake of the 2016 election. Former U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb delivered a keynote address at the conference, “Foreign Policy in America’s Interest: Realism, Nationalism, and the Next President”, held at George Washington University in downtown Washington, DC. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a Congressional critic of unauthorized military interventions, also made remarks, while other political analysts and foreign-policy experts discussed what type of mandate Donald Trump will have as he takes office and how the new administration should handle relations with Russia. A final discussion with prominent historians and scholars reflected on what 2016 means for the country’s longstanding commitment to intervention and globalism.

If you missed the livestream, you can view the entire program in the videos below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bloxAnx6F1k?rel=0]

8:15 am Welcome

Samuel Goldman, George Washington University

Daniel McCarthy, The American Conservative

8:25 am Opening Remarks

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJoPvcEIhQc?rel=0]

9:00 am The Next President and the National Interest

Robert W. Merry, author of books on American history and foreign policy

Jim Pinkerton, Fox News contributor

William Ruger, Charles Koch Institute

Moderator: Scott McConnell, The American Conservative

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obsZJZjsIPQ?rel=0]

10:15 am Russia, America, and Great Power Competition

Nikolas Gvosdev, U.S. Naval War College

Daniel Larison, The American Conservative

Paul Saunders, Center for the National Interest

Moderator: Kelley Vlahos, The American Conservative

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QxoT842czk]

11:30 am Keynote Address

Jim Webb, former U.S. senator and Secretary of the Navy

12:15 pm Break

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5hRfdny_34]

12:30 pm What the Election Means for War and Peace

Andrew Bacevich, author of America ’s War for the Greater Middle East

Christopher Layne, Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security, Texas A&M

1:30 pm Closing Remarks