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Great Decisions Series to Begin February 10
The 2010 Great Decisions Foreign Policy Series kicks off February 10 with a discussion of the Persian Gulf. All sessions are at the Tyler Public Library, 201 South College Avenue, 12 noon - 1 pm, with Q&A 1:00-1:30 pm
The Great Decisions series, a project of the Foreign Policy Association, is sponsored locally by the League of Women Voters, AAUW Tyler, and the Tyler Public Library.
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Even if you cannot make every discussion, you can catch the taped versions of all eight discussions on the City of Tyler’s channel 3. Or you can check out the
In each Great Decisions briefing book, there are copies of opinion ballots for each topic.
The opinion ballots should be filled out by participants after they have read and discussed the topics presented in Great Decisions. Tabulated results of opinion ballots are analyzed by a polling expert, who writes the National Opinion Ballot Report sent to the President and the Congress. Opinion ballots also can be filled out online at fpa.org To submit your opinion ballot online, click here. Please note: Once the electronic balloting is started, it must be completed in its entirety in order to be counted.
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February 10
The Persian Gulf
Dr. Mohamed Elibiary, Freedom & Justice Foundation,
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Now more than ever, the Persian Gulf region offers many difficult challenges to U.S. policymakers. How will Obama's direct appeal to Arabs and Muslims impact U.S. foreign policy in the region? What will the fallout of withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq be? Can the U.S. and its allies prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?
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February 17
Russia and Its Neighbors
Dr. Marcus Stadelmenn, Chair, Dept. of Political Science, UT
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Russia's policy of maintaining a sphere of in former Soviet satellites has been challenged in recent years by movements against pro-Russia regimes. Russia has pushed back by cutting Ukraine's natural gas supply and intervening in Georgia's campaign in South Ossetia. Will Russia regain its traditional leadership role in the region?
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February 24
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
Blake Bailey, Attorney and Activist for Domestic and International Justice
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U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that military force alone cannot ensure peace in all conflicts. How can the U.S. successfully integrate the tools of peace building into its statecraft? At what point do poverty, disease and climate change threaten national security? What role can non-governmental actors play in supporting government led efforts?
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March 3
Global Crime
Jeff Millslagle, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
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From the booming sex trade in Eastern Europe, to online fraud syndicates in Africa and the drug cartels of Asia and Central America, crime is becoming increasingly organized and globalized. How can countries better protect citizens seeking the benefits of a globalized world from being exploited? What international actors can effectively fight global organized crime?
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March 17
Kenya & R2P (Responsibility to Protect)
Benson Kioto, Mercy Ships
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Post-election rioting in Kenya in December 2007 brought pressure on Nairobi, from international and regional diplomats, to end tensions and avert bloodshed on a massive scale. What lessons can be learned from the intervention in Kenya? What does it mean for the UN's emerging responsibility to protect doctrine?
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March 24
U.S.-China Security Relations
John C. Cole, US Army Retd., Faculty of Army War College
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China
China's influence is growing, along with its military expenditures. How will this growth affect China's relations with its neighbors and with the U.S.? Will China's expanding military and economic power affect traditional U.S. roles and U.S. alliances in East Asia? How will countries like Japan, South Korea and India respond?
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March 31 The Global Financial Crisis
Dr. Guillermo Covarrubius, Professor of Economics, UT Tyler
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The global financial crisis that began in late 2007 revealed major deficiencies in the regulation of markets and institutions, all of which came perilously close to collapse. Emergency measures to prevent a full collapse of the global financial system have led to mixed results. How will governments and the world community respond to this challenge?
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April 7
Special Envoys
Dr. Daniel Murphree, Professor of History, UT Tyler
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Special envoys can help bring attention and diplomatic muscle to resolve conflicts and global challenges but they also bring with them their own "special" problems. Will the Obama administration's reliance on special envoys increase the ability of the U.S. to deal with major international issues or complicate our diplomatic options?
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