Entering the 63rd year of the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference (NAFAC), the Naval Academy once again welcomes delegates from more than 30 different countries and more than 50 military and civilian institutions worldwide. In doing so, midshipmen, cadets, civilians, and delegates from abroad can hold stimulating and thought-provoking discussion regarding geopolitics, international affairs, and ultimately the formulation of new policies. NAFAC has hosted a plethora of international leaders, military flag/general officers, and foreign relations specialists to include President George H.W. Bush, Secretary of States Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice, General John Allen, U.S. Marine Corps, and this year’s Forrestal Lecture speaker: President Iván Duque of Colombia.
This year’s conference theme is “Democracies Divided: The Proliferation of Polarization” and takes place from 11–13 April. The contemporary world order is plagued by polarization both domestic and international. From hate speech and disinformation campaigns on social media to a growing loss of confidence in the European Union, the catalysts of polarization are global. Combined with the rise of revisionist powers and an increasing trend toward authoritarianism, the liberal world order has continually faced pressures to reaffirm its commitment to international cooperation and remain steadfast in the face of attacks on states’ sovereignties.
As polarization continues to erode trust between states and within our own communities, its consequences present unique challenges in the 21st century. In the face of a continental European war, growing tensions in the Arctic and Pacific, and the rise of nationalist movements worldwide, maintaining the status quo requires cooperation and the ability of international organizations to reaffirm their commitments of safeguarding democratic ideals worldwide. This year’s conference aims to consider polarization domestically, regionally, and across international organizations to find sustainable and democratic methods of combating polarization and sustaining our current partnerships abroad.
Tuesday, 11 April 2023
The conference opened with remarks by the Conference Director, Midshipman First Class Jordan Hummel, followed by an opening statement from the Superintendent of the Naval Academy, Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, welcoming our delegates to Annapolis and speaking to the importance of this year’s theme regarding current and future global affairs. Directly following these remarks was the Lieutenant Commander J. J. Connell Opening Keynote Address given by Admiral Dennis C. Blair, U.S. Navy (Ret.), a former Rhodes Scholar; Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; and Director of National Intelligence. Admiral Blair framed his address by describing the growing rivalries not only between democratic and authoritarian regimes, but also between various democracies. Admiral Blair spoke about how the world order has changed since the end of the Cold War, focusing particularly on the rise of two primary coalitions with different views of what world governments and norms should look like. Arguably the most important takeaway from Admiral Blair’s address was the notion that despite polarization between them, democracies must stay strong in their values to combat the attempted shift towards an authoritarian-dominated international system.
Following Admiral Blair’s address, the delegates broke out into roundtable discussions—the heart of the conference. This year’s roundtable topics span a wide range of pressing international concerns, including populism, free speech in the cyber domain, and the rise of digital media as a method of political socialization. Some roundtables analyzed the effects of middle powers and their resistance to aligning with either coalition, demonstrating the potential for large-scale restructuring of international norms in the near future. Furthermore, the other roundtables discussed various definitions of polarization and the different avenues through which populations and countries can become divided.
After the delegates enjoyed a meal in King Hall, the Naval Academy’s main dining hall, the conference moved into a panel that delved further into the roots of contemporary polarization.
Panelists included Professor Nolan McCarty, the Susan Dod Brown Professor of Politics and Public Affairs and Vice Dean for Strategic Initiatives at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, the Honorable Michelle Giuda, former Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, and Professor Jeffrey Kosseff, an associate professor of cybersecurity law in the United States Naval Academy’s Cyber Science Department.
This panel focused on the roots of the polarization that plagues current democracies. Ms. Giuda discussed the level to which true polarization exists not within governments and populations, but within media and between democracies and authoritarian regimes. Dr. McCarty offered insights on the relationship between economic inequality and domestic political polarization. Finally, Dr. Kosseff addressed the pros and cons of global interconnectedness via the cyber domain regarding polarization and global unity.
The concluding event of Day 1 was the Forrestal Lecture given by the former President of Colombia, Iván Duque. President Duque led Colombia through COVID-19 and the Venezuelan Refugee Crisis and worked to bring together people polarized by drugs, disease, immigration, and illiberal actors like China and Russia. His perspective provided insight into how he managed these issues which are increasingly salient in American society as well. President Duque’s address poignantly paired a discussion of leadership and his own experiences combating the effects of polarization to communicate the necessity of safeguarding democratic principles, even in the face of unpopularity. In summary, President Duque presented several insights into the real-world consequences of political polarization while teaching Midshipmen and delegates in attendance valuable lessons in leadership as they develop into future leaders of the military and global political order.
