Serfaty Awarded Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur
Simon Serfaty, eminent scholar and professor of U.S. foreign policy in Old Dominion University's international studies graduate program, has been named a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (a knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor) by French President M. Nicolas Sarkozy.
The French Legion of Honor was established by Napoleon to recognize the accomplishments of distinguished individuals. The announcement, which took the form of a presidential decree, was signed earlier this year.
"To honor Simon in this manner is indeed a fitting recognition of his many distinctive contributions to transatlantic and especially American-French relations," said Regina Karp, director of the international studies programs. "Most of all, I believe it pays tribute to Simon's unwavering faith in the enduring bonds that tie Europe and America together, our common heritage and the need to jointly face international challenges."
Serfaty, who also holds the first Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., is the author of many books and publications. His most recent book, "Architects of Delusion: Europe, America and the Iraq War" (University of Pennsylvania Press), was released in January.
Additionally, he frequently is invited to be a guest lecturer and has been a frequent expert witness for the U.S. Congress and an occasional witness for national legislatures in Europe. In March, Serfaty was invited to join former French prime minister Edouard Baladur for a discussion/debate on US-EU relations at the French National Assembly in Paris.
"He definitely deserves this great honor, given his constant and distinguished contributions to both policy and academic areas of transatlantic relationships," said Jie Chen, the chair of ODU's political science and geography department.
Serfaty will give the College of Arts and Letters' Senior Scholar Lecture at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Chandler Recital Hall of the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center. A reception will precede the lecture at 3:30 p.m.