Diplomacy will be explored during this, week seven of the 2013 season at the Chautauqua Institution. Other highlights of the week include the last theater performance of the year and an appearance by a big band. WBFO's Mark Scott has our Chautauqua Preview.
Diplomacy uses words and reason to resolve conflict between nation before it escalates into violence. But there is danger associated with diplomacy. This weekend, the US closed more than 20 of its embassies and consulates in the Muslim world because of an al Qaida threat. And as Chautauqua President Tom Becker notes, the first anniversary of the Benghazi attack is drawing near.
"Here we are with all these debates over Benghazi and whether diplomats are in harm's way," Becker said.
"We're looking at that across the board with people who are inside and outside that process. They're intimate with the experience of being a diplomat or critiquing the work thereof."
While Republicans have been highly critical of the Obama administration's initial response to the Benghazi attack, Chautauqua's Education Director Sherra Babcock says diplomacy usually transcends politics.
"The State Department is a unique entity. It does serve a particular administration and serves the politics of that administration. But our State Department officials have to have a view of all sides of an issue," Babcock said.
Tuesday, Brookings Institution senior fellow Robert Kagan, author of "The World America Made," offers remarks on the state of U.S. diplomacy and how the rest of the world relates to this country. He's an example of the non-partisan nature of diplomacy. Kagan is a conservative. He advised the Romney campaign last year but also served on a special foreign policy panel advising former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In an interview on C-SPAN, Kagan said the nation's foreign policy is remarkably consistent regardless of which party holds the presidency.
"There's a lot of continuity in American foreign policy. There is a lot of overlap between the two parties. It does matter who is president. But American foreign policy has been remarkably consistent over the decades, regardless of a Democratic or Republican (president)," Kagan said.
The afternoon program at Chautauqua's Hall of Philosophy will focus on diplomacy, culture and religion. But there will be just a single speaker all week. Chautauqua's Religion Director Joan Brown-Campbell says he is Aaron David Miller, from the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
"He frankly said he really needs the week to explore the different meanings of diplomacy," Brown-Campbell said. "His analysis of the Middle East is particularly important."
From diplomacy to Shakespeare, Chautauqua Theater presents its final production of the season, "The Comedy of Errors." Theater Director Vivienne Benesch says the setting is an American carnival sideshow from more than 100 years ago.
"'Comedy of Errors' is one of Shakespeare's first plays," Benesch said. "You can see the young playwright. Everything about the play pushes the envelope."
"The Comedy of Errors" previews Friday night at 8:00 at the Bratton Theater and then opens Saturday at 6:00pm.
Jazz comes alive at Chautauqua this week with an appearance by Jeremy Davis and the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra. Chautauqua's Vice President of Programming Marty Merkley says the big band will pay tribute to the music of jazz great Johnny Mercer, Wednesday night at 8:15 at the Amphitheater.
"This is music of our time for the people who lived through that time or the people who love this music and look back at it," Merkley said. "It's going to be terrific."
Former Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director Maximiano Valdes returns to conduct the Chautauqua Symphony Thursday night. Merkley talks about that in our bonus audio at the listen icon below.
Plus, the Beach Boys entertain Friday night at 8:15 at the Amphitheater. For the full schedule, check the Chautauqua Institution website.