News #1

Foundation President Nicholas Dungan to Speak on Notions of Nationality

This year, the French-American Foundation celebrates two anniversaries: the 400th anniversary of a permanent French presence on the American continent and the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of the French-American Foundation in May 1976. The boldness of French explorers—Cartier, Champlain, La Salle, and others—shaped the course of the early American experience and France has left a lasting, though often neglected, imprint on the North American continent.  In addition, because of their unique histories, France and the United States have each developed distinct notions of nationality; Nicholas Dungan will address how each country has evolved these notions of nationality and needs to adapt them to meet new challenges in the 21st century.Nicholas Dungan was elected President of the French-American Foundation in August 2005. He is a member and was formerly an Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House, London, with expertise in trans-Atlantic relations and non-state actors. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S.-based Chatham House Foundation and an Honorary Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association. He has written and spoken on international affairs and business topics, including trans-Atlantic relations, non-state actors and the governance of non-governmental organizations.The French-American Foundation is the principal non-governmental organization linking France and the United States at leadership levels and across the full range of the French-American relationship. It seeks to advance the dialogue between French and American leaders in politics and international relations, business and finance, social policy and cultural policy. Its programs include conferences, professional exchanges and in-depth policy studies.The French-American Foundation is deeply grateful for the opportunity to present the President’s Anniversary Lecture at the New-York Historical Society.