Tuesday, April 1, 2025
3:00–4:00 PM HST | 9:00–10:00 PM EDT
Hybrid Event: 258 Moore Hall and Online

Watch the Video:

On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, CIPA welcomed Dr. Elise Rainer (Professor, American Public University & University of Washington) for a timely talk about the implications of foreign aid for democracy and global security. Beyond the United States, she provided the landscape of who gives foreign aid, including governments, international institutions, and private organizations. With a focus on democracy, human rights, and governance assistance, Dr. Rainer explained some specific foreign aid goals and their long-term implications in the Indo-Pacific region. Dr. Rainer analyzed the effects of foreign aid related to humanitarian efforts, economic empowerment, and broader regional and global security. She ultimately demonstrated that more stable countries make better trade partners, and increased stability leads to improved global security.

This event was followed by a reception in the Tokioka Room (319 Moore Hall).

Elise Rainer is a professor of international relations and a former diplomat with the US State Department, US Mission to the United Nations, and USAID. Her work has shaped US human rights foreign policy and human rights and democracy programs in North Africa and the Gulf. After leaving her diplomatic career, Dr. Rainer founded an organization called Aurora Global Advisors, that provides evaluation and strategic plan recommendations to global human rights and democracy-implementing organizations. Dr. Rainer teaches undergraduate and doctoral students in a variety of international relations courses.

This event was sponsored and hosted by the Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.