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Markos Kounalakis

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Markos Kounalakis
Second Gentleman of California
Current
Assumed role
January 7, 2019
Lieutenant GovernorEleni Kounalakis
Preceded byJennifer Siebel Newsom (as Second Lady)
Personal details
Born (1956-12-01) December 1, 1956 (age 67)[1]
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Spouse
​
(m. 2000)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
Columbia University (MSc)
Central European University (PhD)

Markos Kounalakis (Greek: Μάρκος Κουναλάκης; born December 1, 1956) is an American syndicated journalist and scholar who is the second gentleman of California as the husband of lieutenant governor Eleni Kounalakis.[a] He writes a syndicated weekly foreign affairs column for The Miami Herald and McClatchy-Tribune News and is a frequent foreign affairs analyst for CBS News and CNN International.[4]

Kounalakis is a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and a senior fellow at the Center for Media, Data, and Society at Central European University.[5]

Early life and education

Kounalakis was born on December 1, 1956, in San Francisco to Greek immigrants. His mother Vasiliki Rozakis, was born in Chania, Crete, Greece.[6] His father, Antonios Markos Kounalakis,[7] was an underground guerrilla fighter against the Nazis on the island of Crete during World War II; he fought with Constantine Mitsotakis, who later became Prime Minister of Greece. Antonios and Vasiliki arrived in the United States as beneficiaries of the displaced persons refugee program and sponsored by the World Council of Churches.[8][9][10][11]

Kounalakis received a public education in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned his bachelor's degree in political science at the University of California, Berkeley in 1978. He received his MSc in journalism from Columbia University in 1988. Kounalakis earned a PhD in international relations/political science from the Central European University in 2016.[12]

In 1988-1989, Kounalakis was a Robert Bosch Foundation fellow in Europe, attending the Bundesakademie für öffentliche Verwaltung in Bonn, Germany in 1988 and the École Nationale d'Administration in Paris, France in 1989. In 1995-1996, Kounalakis was an International Journalism Graduate Fellow at the University of Southern California and El Colegio de México in Mexico City. As an international journalism graduate fellow, he also spent time in Guatemala (1995) and Cuba (1996). In the early 1980s, he attended the International Graduate School at Stockholm University, Sweden, where he studied international relations and became a fluent Swedish speaker.[13]

Career

Academics

Between 2003 and 2009, Kounalakis was a regular Hoover Institution Media Fellow and has been a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University since September 2013.[5] Since 2010, he has been a Senior Fellow at the Center for Media, Data and Society at Central European University.[14] In 2017, he became a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oregon-UNESCO Crossings Institute for Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict Sensitive Reporting.[15]

Journalism

Kounalakis is president and publisher emeritus of the Washington Monthly.[16] In 2002, The New York Times called him a "White Knight" for saving Washington Monthly magazine.[17] Publisher Kounalakis and editor Paul Glastris have since rejuvenated the magazine, grown its readership.[18]

Along with Ray Suarez, he co-hosts the WorldAffairs podcast and syndicated radio program.[19] He co-anchored with Peter Laufer the nationally syndicated weekly political program, Washington Monthly on the Radio.[20] In 2019, he won a SPJ Sunshine State Award for his foreign affairs commentary and criticism.[21]

Service

Kounalakis was appointed by President Barack Obama[22] to serve on the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. He has served on the board of visitors at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism; board of advisors at Georgetown College and the Wilson Council at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

He served as vice chairman of the board of advisors at the Southeast Europe Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and was a trustee of the World Affairs Council of Northern California.[23] He also chaired Internews Network from 2002 to 2004 and was vice chairman of the California State World Trade Commission from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, he chaired a multinational reconstruction conference in Athens. Since 2020, he has been a trustee of The Asia Foundation.[24] In September 2024, he joined the International Advisory Council of GLOBSEC.[25][26]

Technology

In 1995, Kounalakis became the executive producer for Visible Interactive, a start-up technology company that used Newton handheld devices for immersive interpretive experiences in venues like the Smithsonian Institution museums.[27] He later became the executive communications strategist at Silicon Graphics.[28][29]

Views

Russia - A state sponsor of terror

Kounalakis was an early outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin's authoritarian turn. Following the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 and killing of 298 people in July 2014, he stated that "Russia is now clearly a state sponsor of terror."[30]

His many columns identified Putin’s ambitions and warned that the Russian president’s unchallenged killings at home[31] as well as extraterritorial aggression and murders would increase in frequency and scale.[32] In 2018, Kounalakis asserted that Putin used Russia’s oil and gas as a strategic weapon against the West and that “instead of punishing bad behavior, however, the world has both financially rewarded Putin and shown him new incentives to continue his aggression — both at home and in Ukraine.”[33]

Ukraine & nukes

Ukraine’s vulnerability to Russian aggression was called out in his multiple columns identifying Kyiv’s deterrence weakness as well as threats to global nuclear disarmament He argued that “the U.S., NATO and others must do what it takes to prove a nation like Ukraine can remain sovereign even though it gave up weapons of mass destruction.[34]

Energy Security

In 2019, after a strong electoral showing by Germany’s Green Party Kounalakis wrote that the party’s antipathy to nuclear energy and coal plants was a laudable environmental move but put the country – and Europe – in a vulnerably dependent position regarding energy security.[35]

China - Opium war & fentanyl

In 2017, Kounalakis identified early that fentanyl was a cheap and lethal street drug and cutting agent emanating from China, strategically targeting vulnerable American citizens. He characterized this as a People's Republic of China's chemical attack on the United States and wrote that this deployment and non-kinetic warfare tactic was "China's 21st century Opium War against America".[36]

Spin Wars - FARA & CCTV/CGTN/RT

Kounalakis's 2018 book, "Spin Wars & Spy Games: Global Media and Intelligence Gathering" (Hoover Institution Press) warned open systems and democratic societies that Russian and Chinese global media organizations use their foreign bureaus as both diplomatic outposts and spy nests. Russia Today (RT), China Global Television Network (CGTN), and Xinhua were organizations he suggested be registered under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). His book provided the data, insights, and policy prescriptions supporting this policy.[37]

$100 bill

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kounalakis wrote in The Wall Street Journal that the United States should "Immediately stop circulating and honoring $100 bills in Russia" in order to foment discontent amongst average Russians, who hold the currency as security. His recommendation was also intended to harm international drug cartels.[38][39]

California

Kounalakis argues that California, despite being the most populous and economically influential state in the U.S., is significantly underrepresented in shaping foreign policy in Congress.[40] He highlights the absence of Californians on key Senate committees such as Armed Services, Foreign Relations, and Intelligence, which are crucial for foreign policy decisions.[41][42]

Personal life

Kounalakis married Eleni Tsakopoulos in Istanbul in 2000. The couple has two sons.[43] His wife served as the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary until 2013 and won her election in 2018 and her re-election in for Lieutenant Governor of California, taking office in January 2019.[44] She is also running for the role of California governor in 2026.[45] Like his father, Kounalakis was a blue-collar construction worker who maintains his Class A heavy equipment truck drivers license.[46]

Published works

Books

Film

Notes

  1. ^ The role of second gentleman was renamed second partner to be gender inclusive.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ "Markos Kounalakis, Born 12/01/1956 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org.
  2. ^ "The political spouse: It's not a job just for women anymore". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Markos Kounalakis | CMDS". cmds.ceu.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  4. ^ "In US and around the world, freedom has expensive price tag | Miami Herald". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 2020-11-06.
  5. ^ a b "Markos Kounalakis". Hoover Institution. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  6. ^ "Markos Kounalakis, Born 12/01/1956 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  7. ^ "Kounalakis, Antonios M." The Washington OXI Day Foundation. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Life Story: Antonios Markos Kounalakis, March 20, 1923 – Jan. 22, 2018". Hellenic News of America. 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  9. ^ "Greek-American War Hero Antonis Kounalakis Passes Away". GreekReporter.com. 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  10. ^ Ganahl, Jane (2004-07-28). "Markos Kounalakis has covered lots of hot spots. His new beats: publishing, philanthropy, family". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  11. ^ Whiting, Sam (2012-07-19). "Markos Kounalakis, Mr. Ambassador". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  12. ^ "Doctoral Defense - Markos Kounalakis: The GNN Effect: Global News Networks as Intelligence Gathering and Diplomatic Institutions | Department of International Relations". ir.ceu.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  13. ^ "Markos Kounalakis, Mr. Ambassador". San Francisco Chronicle. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Markos Kounalakis | CMDS". cmds.ceu.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  15. ^ "People – University of Oregon-UNESCO Crossings Institute". unesco.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  16. ^ "NSNC Column Writing Contest 2018 – Judges' Comments". National Society of Newspaper Columnists. 2018-06-10. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  17. ^ Carr, David (2002-04-22). "MEDIA; New Life for Washington Watchdog". New York Times.
  18. ^ Green, Joshua (June 2003). "The Bookie of Virtue". Washington Monthly.
  19. ^ Council, The World Affairs. "World Affairs Podcast". World Affairs Council. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  20. ^ "WASHINGTONMONTHLY.NET". www.washingtonmonthly.net. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  21. ^ "2019 Winners". SPJ Florida Pro. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  22. ^ "Dr. Markos Kounalakis | Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs". eca.state.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  23. ^ "Advisory Board - Council for International Relations - Συμβούλιο Διεθνών Σχέσεων - CFIR-GR". cfir.gr. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  24. ^ "Markos Kounalakis". The Asia Foundation. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  25. ^ Van der Meer, Ben. "Michigan's Hillsdale College buys land in unincorporated Placer County". www.bizjournals.com.
  26. ^ "Markos Kounalakis Joins GLOBSEC International Advisory Council". Globsec.
  27. ^ BELLAFANTE, GINIA (2001-06-24). "Strange Sounds and Sights". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  28. ^ "Turning Spin into Substance, Corporate Image Article". Inc.com. 2000-04-01. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  29. ^ "Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D. | Stanford University - Academia.edu". stanford.academia.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  30. ^ "Markos Kounalakis: Russia is Now Clearly a State Sponsor of Terror | Central European University". www.ceu.edu.
  31. ^ "Kounalakis: Like other despots, Putin out to silence opposition". Boston Herald. 14 March 2015.
  32. ^ "Putin's power, arrogance lead to costly Russian miscalculation that unites West". Charlotte Observer.
  33. ^ "Markos Kounalakis: On energy, Russia has Europe over barrel". The Providence Journal.
  34. ^ "Lessons from the Information War over Ukraine". USC Center on Public Diplomacy. 2022-08-04. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  35. ^ "The Europeans have a different, darker Green New Deal". Miami Herald.
  36. ^ "Markos Koulanakis: China uses fentanyl in 'Opium War' against America". The Morning Call. 2017-11-03. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  37. ^ Markos Kounalakis: The Decline of Western News, retrieved 2023-02-25
  38. ^ Kounalakis, Markos. "Opinion | For Russia, It's All About the Benjamins". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  39. ^ "Why the $100 bill, not sanctions, is key to pressuring Putin". NewsNation. 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  40. ^ "California's Stifled Voice on Foreign Policy". Washington Monthly. 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  41. ^ "Markos Kounalakis on the Golden State's global impact". California Sun. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  42. ^ Ploumidaki, Catherina. "Markos Kounalakis Speaks on Hellenism, Democracy, and Today's World". The National Herald.
  43. ^ Dunteman, Dayna (April 2005). "Markos Kounalakis". Sacramento Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-08-29.
  44. ^ "Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis". U.S. Department of State. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-02-28. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  45. ^ Porter, Jaques. "Who is California gubernatorial candidate Eleni Kounalakis?". Fox40.
  46. ^ Kounalakis, Markos (2005-08-28). "Passivity Is Not Allowed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  47. ^ Garchik, Leah (2007-05-25). "[untitled column]". San Francisco Chronicle.
  48. ^ "Mark Twain War Protest Poem Interpreted Visually and Posted on YouTube". NEO Magazine. September 2007.
Honorary titles
Preceded byas Second Lady Second Gentleman of California
January 7, 2019 – present 		Incumbent
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