A United Nations Strengthened by and Strengthening Democracy

Dr. Mark P. Lagon is Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (since January 2004). In this capacity, he has broad responsibility for multilateral policy development, negotiations and administration, particularly within the United Nations system. He has lead responsibility for UN-related human rights and humanitarian policy, UN administration and reform, as well as the IO Bureau's public diplomacy and outreach programs.

Dr. Lagon previously served as a Member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff, where he focused on UN and international organizations, democracy and human rights, and public diplomacy (2002-2004). From 1999 to 2002, he was a senior staff member of the Republican (Helms) staff at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with particular responsibility for the State Department authorization bill, international organizations, economic sanctions, broadcasting and public diplomacy and human rights. His foreign affairs positions also include: International Affairs Fellow at the Project for the New American Century, specializing in China (1998-1999); Deputy Staff Director of the House Republican Policy Committee (1997-1998); and Committee Senior Analyst (1995-1998).

Before working in the Congress, Dr. Lagon was the principal aide to the Director of Foreign Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick. He has been an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics and Georgetown University. Dr. Lagon is the author of the book The Reagan Doctrine: Sources of American Conduct in the Cold War's Last Chapter (Praeger 1994). He has a Ph.D. from Georgetown University and an A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard University.

Video of this event is available at right, while an MP3 audio recording can be downloaded below.

Participants

• Mark P. Lagon
  Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs
  Department of State
• Steven Clemons
  Senior Fellow and Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation
  Publisher, www.TheWashingtonNote.com