David Speedie is the founder and former director of the Council's program on U.S. Global Engagement. He is a founding member of The American Committee for East-West Accord.
In 2007–2008, Speedie was also a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Speedie worked at Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1992 to 2007. He joined the Corporation as a program officer in the cooperative security program and was appointed program chair in March 1993, a position he held for almost 12 years. In 2004, he was appointed to serve as special advisor to the president and director of the Corporation's project on Islam.
He was recruited from the W. Alton Jones Foundation where he was codirector of the secure society program and directed, over a five year period, programs in the arts, urban affairs, and the environment. In the 1980s, Speedie was a consultant to nonprofits in management, marketing, and fund-raising as well as director of cultural affairs for Mayor Bill Green in Philadelphia. He also served as the bicentennial liaison officer at the British Embassy in Washington.
For three years, Speedie was a professor of English and drama at the University of St Andrews in his native Scotland. Speedie holds an Honours M.A. [First Class] in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Studies and an M.Litt. from the University of St Andrews. He was a visiting research fellow as a Kennedy scholar at Harvard University from 1971–1973. He has been a book editor and writer for the National Endowment for the Arts' Community Vision, a freelance journalist on politics for The Scotsman, and most recently, a reviewer for the International Journal of Middle East Studies. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Featured Work
SEP 27, 2013 • Podcast
U.S. Policy on Iran and the Middle East: Where Do We Go From Here?
Are we on the brink of a new era in Iran-U.S. relations? Maybe. Iran expert Gary Sick discusses President Rouhani's UN speech, which took ...
SEP 16, 2013 • Article
A Lifeline for Peace in Syria--and for Obama
Why are we so reluctant to say the following? The overriding priority is to end the killing; defanging the Syrian chemical weapons complex will be ...
AUG 29, 2013 • Article
Syria: "To Jaw-Jaw Is Always Better than to War-War"
The mantra of those who are pro-intervention in Syria is that while there are no good options, in the face of tens of thousands of ...
AUG 16, 2013 • Article
No, the Sky Is Not Falling
Controversy surrounding the Magnitsky Act and the Edward Snowden affair has led some observers to believe a "new Cold War" is underway between the U....
JUN 10, 2013 • Podcast
The World Through Arab Eyes: Arab Public Opinion and the Reshaping of the Middle East
While domestic injustices and the information revolution were key factors, Dr. Telhami argues it's impossible to understand the Arab uprisings without also referring to foreign ...
MAY 8, 2013 • Article
After Boston: An Intelligence Blame Game with no Winner
Immediately after the Boston Marathon bombings there was a sadly predictable flurry of mutual recriminations between the intelligence services of the U.S. and Russia. ...
APR 10, 2013 • Podcast
Investing in an Independent Scotland
In an eloquent speech, First Minister Salmond, leader of the government in Scotland, makes the case for an independent Scotland. In addition to compelling economic ...
FEB 14, 2013 • Podcast
Report from the Middle East
Chuck Freilich's knowledgeable talk gives us an overview of the primary forces at work today in the Middle East--and some potential outcomes. He also provides ...
JAN 30, 2013 • Podcast
Going to Tehran: Prospects for U.S.-Iranian Engagement
Americans' view of Iran as an illegitimate system in imminent danger of overthrow is wrongheaded, wishful thinking, say the Leveretts. The U.S. needs to ...
JAN 3, 2013 • Podcast
Prospects for U.S.-Iran Relations
Iran and the U.S. have a long list of common interests, including Afghanistan, stability in Iraq, and fighting drug trafficking. A good way to ...