The History and Public Policy Program in collaboration with the National History Center presents a discussion with Foreign Affairs Editor Gideon Rose entitled Why We Botch the Ends of Wars.

A persistent theme in American history in wartime is a failure to plan carefully for the aftermath of wars. Obsessed with the military aspects of their struggles, neither military nor civilian leaders pay close attention to political issues until the shooting is about to stop, making the achievement of a durable settlement dramatically harder.  Like Iraq, Libya is less the exception than the rule.

Gideon Rose has a background in history, journalism, and government.  Trained as a classicist at Yale, he received a Ph.D. in government at Harvard and has taught the history of American foreign policy at Princeton and Columbia.  He was appointed Editor of Foreign Affairs in October 2010.  He is the author of How Wars End: Why We Always Fight the Last Battle (2010).

Reservations requested because of limited seating: HAPP@wilsoncenter.org or 202-691-4166.