Announcing the First “Strategy Forum”
How to Prevent Another Forever War in the Middle East: Washington, DC — Friday, May 22
Over the past months, this community has grown far beyond a newsletter.
What began as analysis of escalation, coercion, and great-power politics is increasingly becoming a real conversation among people across the political spectrum trying to understand where the world is heading — and how to prevent strategic disasters before they happen.
That is why, on May 22, we are launching something new:
The Strategy Forum – Free seating
The First Strategy Forum
How to Prevent Another Forever War in the Middle East
Presented by Escalation Trap and The Left Hook (a terrific substack that has interviewed me live multiple times during the war)
Friday, May 22
6:00pm–8:30pm
Busboys and Poets
450 K Street NW
Washington, DC
Confirmed speakers include Robert Pape, Wajahat Ali, Joe Kent, Trita Parsi, Emily Jashinsky, and Narges Barjoghli -- with additional guests to be announced.
The goal is to foster a strategic discussion across political lines about how the United States can imagine bold, new policies and frameworks that break the failed, establishment consensus and avoid another generation-long escalation spiral in the Middle East.
This will be the first in what we hope becomes a continuing Washington forum series held every two months, bringing together journalists, policymakers, military analysts, scholars, and independent voices from across the political spectrum.
For the first forum, seating is limited to 80 people as of now.
Approximately 30-40 seats are being reserved for members of the Prof Pape and Escalation Trap communities.
Because seating capacity is limited, priority for in-person attendance will be given first to Founding Members, then paid subscribers, and then free subscribers if space remains available – yes, we will look for larger venues for future events in the series.
The evening forum itself will be free to attend, although attendees are responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements if traveling from outside the Washington area.
Afternoon Strategic Briefing
Limited to Approximately 30 Participants
Priority for Founding Members
Before the public evening forum, I will also host a smaller private strategic briefing and discussion session focused on the deeper escalation dynamics shaping the current international system.
Friday, May 22
2:30pm–4:30pm
Park Hyatt Washington
Georgetown, Washington, DC
No additional charge for session, soft drinks etc provided
Afternoon attendees get a seat at evening event too
This session will focus on the deeper strategic frameworks behind both of my Substacks, including:
• the escalation dynamics of the Iran war,
• warning indicators for wider regional conflict,
• the growing interaction between Middle East escalation and US-China competition,
• and the broader transformation now occurring in global power politics.
This will be much closer to the kind of private strategic briefing I normally give using slides, maps, escalation models, and historical comparisons.
There will also be substantial time for extended Q&A and discussion.
Because attendance is limited to approximately 30 participants, priority access for the afternoon session will be reserved primarily for Founding Members, with a limited number of additional invitations extended to paid subscribers if space allows.
The goal is to create a smaller working-session environment focused on deep strategic analysis, direct discussion, and community building among highly engaged members.
Registration Information
Those interested in attending either the afternoon strategic briefing or the evening forum are asked to complete the registration form below.
Because demand may exceed available seating, attendance confirmations will be sent on a rolling basis, with most final confirmations expected by Sunday or Monday before the event.
Submitting the registration form does not guarantee admission. I will keep a wait list for this event, important also for judging venue size for future in person events.
The evening forum will also be livestreamed on the Prof Pape and Escalation Trap Substacks for all subscribers unable to attend in person.
I am looking forward to building this forum together — not simply as another event series, but as a serious community focused on understanding escalation, great-power competition, and how to prevent the next generation of strategic disasters before they happen.
— Robert Pape
It seems to have been fixed now so i re-registered. Thanks.
Dr. Pape, your registration form has an error. The blank requesting the e-mail address used for their subscription is coded as a number, so it does not accept user entry of their e-mail address. It accepted my registration when I made this field a number.