DDMI Annual Lecturer 2013 - Thomas O. Melia, US Department of State

The 2013 DDMI Annual Lecture was given by Thomas O. Melia. Melia is Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), in the United States Department of State. The title of his lecture was: ‘Is it realistic to think we can advance democracy and human rights?’ 

Melia is responsible for DRL’s work in Europe, including Russia, and the countries of Middle East and North Africa, and this was a major statement about United States foreign policy in these countries and regions. The lecture took place on Tuesday 19 March in the Main Hall of the International Politics Building, Aberystwyth University. This was a public lecture, open to all students and staff across the University, as well as the local community.

Biographical extract: Thomas O. Melia is Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).  He is responsible for DRL’s work in Europe, including Russia, and the countries of Middle East and North Africa. In addition to serving as Head of U.S. Delegation to several meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Melia is the U.S. co-chair of the U.S./Ukraine working group Political Dialogue & Rule of Law, and Working Group and U.S.co-chair of the US – Georgia Democracy Working Group.

Mr. Melia came to DRL in 2010 from Freedom House where he was Deputy Executive Director for five years. Earlier, Mr. Melia held senior posts at the National Democratic Institute including, from 1998 to 2001, Vice President for Programs.  From 1986 to 1988, he was Associate Director of the Free Trade Union Institute at the AFL-CIO. Prior to that, he worked on Capitol Hill as senior legislative assistant for foreign policy to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY).

In addition, Mr. Melia has taught democracy and human rights courses at Georgetown University and the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) for more than 10 years. From 2002 to 2005 he was Director of Research at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.  He has published a number of widely read articles on democracy and human rights issues; and is co-editor of ‘Today’s America: How Free?’ (2008).