Who: Rick Barton, former Assistant Secretary of State under the Obama Administration, is traveling to Edmonton, Alberta, to discuss themes from his latest novel “Peace Works: America’s Unifying Role in a Turbulent World!”

What: The book Peace Works: America’s Unifying Role in a Turbulent World will be discussed in an interactive interview format. The book uses stories, history and analysis to develop lessons and policy prescriptions for American involvement – or its avoidance – in foreign conflicts. Barton will draw on his experience to analyze how many American conflict interventions have failed and how they could have succeeded. Barton will discuss opportunities pursued and missed, areas for improvement, and policy recommendations.

Bio: Currently, Ambassador Rick Barton teaches at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, where he serves as a co-director of Princeton’s Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative and Ullman Fellowships.

Born in Buenos Aires, Rick accompanied his Foreign Service family on several assignments. After graduating from Harvard, he became a congressional staffer, ran unsuccessfully for a Maine congressional seat and was chairman of the Main Democratic Party.

He began his international career from 1990 as an election trainer and observer with the National Democratic Institute. He served as founding Director of USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives, promoting democratic change in conflict-prone countries; Deputy High Commissioner of the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR; co-director of a post conflict reconstruction project with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, where he led initiatives in over 40 crisis zones across the globe, from Haiti, Iraq, Nigeria, Burma, Pakistan to Turkey.

RVSPs are required. The event will serve light refreshments. Ticket cost is on a donation basis, at your discretion. All event proceeds will go back into planning other great events.