Conference Schedule

8:15 – 9:00

Conference Registration

9:00 – 9:15

Opening remarks:  Randal Johnson, Interim Vice Provost, International Institute and Kal Raustiala, UCLA Burkle Center.

9:15 – 10:30

Panel I: Bringing States Back In 
Many states have faced external sanction and censure, but only a few have successfully rehabilitated themselves in the eyes of the international community. How has this occurred, and what lessons are there for Iran? Can Iran and its enemies make peace and achieve friendship, and if so, how? This panel will set the stage for the day by considering previous efforts at restoring and restarting relationships in the international system.

Panelists:

• Charles Kupchan, Georgetown University & Council on Foreign Relations
• Bruce Jentleson, Duke University
• Etel Solingen, UC Irvine

Moderator: Kal Raustiala, UCLA

10:30 – 10:45

Break

10:45 – 12:00  

Panel II: Prospects for Change Inside Iran
Much of the fear and concern about contemporary Iran relate to the current regime, and in particular the actions and rhetoric of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. How likely is internal change in Iran, and what sort of change is most likely? Does the current wave of protest and change in the region—both peaceful and violent—portend similar change within Iran?

Panelists:

• Abbas Milani, Stanford University
• Ali Alfoneh, American Enterprise Institute
• Karim Sadjadpour, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Moderator: Asli Bali, UCLA

12:00 – 1:15  

Lunch

1:15 – 2:30    

Panel III: Iran and the International Community
Iran currently faces a wide array of sanctions from the UN Security Council and generally has an uneasy, if not antagonistic, relationship with key powers around the globe. What has caused Iran to become such a pariah state? How can it—and how likely is it to—satisfy the demands of the Security Council and the individual great powers?

Panelists: 

• Jon Alterman, Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Dalia Dassa Kaye, RAND Corporation
• Mahsa Rouhi, Harvard University

Moderator: Deborah Avant, UC Irvine

2:30 – 2:45 

Break

2:45 - 4:15     

Panel IV: The US and Iran
The Iran-US relationship is central to any major change in Iran’s status within the world order. What should policy of the Obama administration—and any future American administration—be toward Iran? How can the US-Iranian relationship improve? 

Panelists:

• Reuel Gerecht, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
• Paul Pillar, Georgetown University
• Gen. Wesley K. Clark, UCLA Burkle Center
• Trita Parsi, National Iranian American Council

Moderator: Mike Shuster, NPR

4:15 – 4:20

Closing Remarks and Conference Concludes