The Importance of Human Rights Considerations in Foreign Policy

Podcast with Dan Mahanty and Dr. Elise Carlson-Rainer

Dan Mahanty and AMU faculty member Dr. Elise Carlson-Rainer discuss the importance of human rights considerations in modern foreign policy. In this podcast, these two former diplomats deliberate over the current state of affairs of human rights in U.S. foreign policy. They address how human rights compel or constrain American diplomacy, economic and security policies overseas today. Mahanty and Carlson-Rainer end with an overview of the potential for reshaping policy, as well as the role of academics in the field of global security and international relations.

About the Speakers

Dan Mahanty is the Director of U.S. Programs for the Center for Civilians in Conflict. He is also a Non-Resident Senior Associate for the International Security Program for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a certified Project Management Professional, and an Adjunct Associate Professor for Georgetown University. He holds a B.A. in economics from George Mason University and an M.A. in security studies and U.S. national security policy from Georgetown University.

Elise Carlson-Rainer, Ph.D. is doctoral faculty in the School of Security and Global Studies at American Public University. She has a long and distinguished career within the diplomatic corps of the United States, with postings across Europe and the Middle East. She was a Fulbright Fellow to Sweden in 2004-2005. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington in the field of human rights and foreign policy. Dr. Carlson-Rainer teaches university courses in democracy and human rights, U.S. foreign policy, nationalism, global security and international relations.