DONATE

BILL O’GRADY AND PATRICK FEARON-HERNANDEZ

< Distinguished speaker series

Event information

BILL O’GRADY AND PATRICK FEARON-HERNANDEZ

William “Bill” O’Grady is Executive Vice President and Chief Market Strategist for Confluence Investment Management, a St. Louis-based investment management firm with more than $9 billion of assets under management and supervision. As Chief Market Strategist, Bill performs market, economic and geopolitical research for the firm, and is a member of its various investment committees. Bill also writes numerous reports for the firm, including the Daily Comment, Weekly Geopolitical Report, Asset Allocation Weekly and Quarterly Energy Comment, in which he provides insights on various economic and geopolitical topics, and discusses their market effects.

 

Patrick Fearon-Hernandez is a Market Strategist for Confluence Investment Management. There, he analyzes financial market trends, global economic and geopolitical developments, including international security issues, and maps their implications to investment strategy. He is a member of his firm’s various investment committees and participates in the management of several portfolios. He also writes various reports that lay out the firm’s geopolitical, economic and market insights, which can be found on the firm’s website. Patrick’s global, top-down approach to investment strategy builds on his early career experience at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the Central Intelligence Agency.

 

​

U.S. Hegemony and the European Union

DATE: June 11, 2020 6:00 pm

WATCH EVENT ON YOUTUBE

Background

This talk will provide an overview of hegemony, including the key global public goods a hegemon provides to the world and the unique way the U.S. has provided those goods from after WWII to the present.  It will also offer an overview about how the U.S. has managed the world’s three major conflict zones (i.e., Europe, the Mid East and East Asia), why the American public has become jaded over the U.S. hegemonic role, and finally, what will likely occur as the U.S. backs away from essentially managing the world.  The talk will also cover the rising risk of a breakdown of the European Union due to both American withdrawal and various stresses now placed on the Union.

Share:

Questions about the program?

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Be the First to Hear about Upcoming Speakers

The Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs is purely a local organization in programming, governance and support.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Spotify
Quick Links
Get In Touch

© BCFA All Rights Reserved.

Close

Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.