After living in Europe for the past few years, Robert Kagan, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and writer for The Washington Post, has educated himself about the war with Iraq. According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Kagan has “worked for the Department of State as a deputy for policy in the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs and was a member of the policy planning staff as principal speechwriter to the secretary of state.”

Rebecca Harris, research director in the Globalization Research Center, said Kagan has conducted much research and writing on how Americans and Europeans have changed their approaches toward diplomacy.

Kagan has said he believes that the United States appears to overlook diplomacy for the chance to reveal its superior armed forces, whereas European countries attempt diplomacy first.

Tonight, Kagan will speak at USF to address the different solutions countries take when solving conflict.

Kagan’s most recent book, Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order, is about the United States’ and Europe’s relations. In the book, Kagan outlines how Europe has traveled past the idea of using guns and bloodshed and, consequently, moved more toward diplomacy.

Harris said Kagan’s perspectives have influenced many people with his writing on how the United States is more force-orientated. Harris added that Kagan’s specialty is in U.S. leadership and foreign policy.

“I think it’s important for students to see him because he has lived in Europe for the past few years, and he can give a perspective as to what the U.S. looks like from abroad,” Harris said.

Kagan will also be speaking to the faculty, which is by invitation only; although, if any other faculty members would like to attend, they can contact the Globalization Research Center at 974-6906.

The event is free to students and the public and will be held in the Special Events Center tonight at 7.