In this lecture, learn about the difference between Hard Power and Soft Power as they apply to global politics and national security. How can they complicate, how can they complement each other?
Thomas E. Gouttierre was the longtime Dean of International Studies & Programs (IS&P) at the University of Nebraska Omaha and Director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies, serving from 1974 until his retirement in 2015. He concurrently served as Dean of IS&P at the University of Nebraska Medical Center from 1987-2010.
Gouttierre is widely regarded as one of the leading experts on Afghanistan and U.S.-Afghan relations in the Western Hemisphere. Prior to joining the UNO administration in 1974, Gouttierre lived and worked for nearly 10 years in Afghanistan, serving as a Peace Corps volunteer, a Fulbright fellow, Executive Director of the Fulbright Foundation, and head coach of the Afghan National Basketball Team. He was seconded by the U.S. State Department to serve as Senior Political Affairs Officer on the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA) in 1996 and 1997.
Gouttierre speaks, reads and writes Dari, Farsi and Tajikistani Persian. His publications include numerous articles about Afghan society, culture and politics. He co-authored the two-volume language textbook Dari for Foreigners and a bibliography of Persian works in English. He also writes original Dari poetry and serves as an internationally recognized authority on Central Asia’s cultures and conflicts. In addition to Persian, he has studied Arabic, Latin, French, German and Spanish.
Gouttierre has decades of experience with the languages and cultures of other Central Asian countries, and he has long been involved in an ongoing dialogue about U.S.-Russia relations. In his role as Dean of International Studies & Programs, he traveled widely and worked with students and faculty from all over the world. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sustained Dialogue Institute, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
