Great Decisions 2010
Great Decisions is a nation-wide program of the Foreign Policy Association to broaden public involvement with the most important foreign policy topics facing the U.S. The FPA's annual Great Decisions Briefing Booklets provide excellent background and analysis of these topics and serve as the focal point for the many small discussion groups that form around Oregon and the country. In addition to distributing the Briefing Booklets and serving as an information hub for the various discussion groups, the Council also recruits local and national experts to speak on each topic in an 8-week series beginning in mid-January.
The World Affairs Council of Oregon's Great Decisions lecture series will be held this year in conjunction with the International Colloquium at Portland State University. Programs will take place on Fridays, 12 noon – 12:50 p.m., in Room 001 in PSU’s Academic Student Recreation Center (ASRC) on the corner of SW 5th Avenue and Montgomery Street. Presentations on the topics begin January 15th and continue for the next seven Fridays through March 5, 2010. (There will be an introductory session January 8th and a concluding session March 12th for the PSU students in the Colloquium Class). The presentations are free and open to the public.
Discussion Groups
If you wish to join one of the 20 discussion groups around Oregon, or 20 others within the Portland Metropolitan area, or start your own, call Theresa at 503-274-7488
2010 Topics and Speakers
January 15, 2010 – Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
Professor Harry Anastasiou with the Conflict Resolution Graduate Program at Portland State University
Article synopsis: 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?
January 22, 2010 – The Persian Gulf
Professor Peter Bechtold, Director of the Middle East Studies Center at Portland State University
Article synopsis: 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?
January 29, 2010 – Global Financial Crisis
Mr. Ralph Shaw, Venture Capitalist and Founder of the Shaw Management Company
Article synopsis: 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?
February 5, 2010 – Global Crime
Mr. Arthur Balizan, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Portland Division
Article synopsis: 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?
February 12, 2010 – Special Envoys
Ambassador Harriet Isom, former United States Ambassador to Benin and Cameroon
Article synopsis: 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?
February 19, 2010 – Russia and its Neighbors
Dr. Mikhail G. Myagkov, Professor in the Department of Political Science, the Institute of Cognitive and Decisions Sciences, and the Center for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Oregon
Article synopsis: Russia’s policy of maintaining a “sphere of influence” 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?
February 26, 2010 – U.S.-China Security Relations
Dr. Ronald Tammen, Professor of International Relations and the Director of the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University
Article synopsis: 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?
March 5, 2010 – Kenya & R2P
Mr. Mark L. Schneider, Senior Vice President of International Crisis Group
Article synopsis: 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?
Lecture Videos
2009 Topics
Videos will be available soon
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Energy and the Global Economy
The U.S. and Rising Powers
The Arctic Age
Universal Human Rights?
Cuba after Castro
Egypt and the 21st Century
Global Food Supply
2008 Topics Iraq End - Game See Video
Talking to our Enemies See Video
European Union at 50 See Video
Russia See Video
U.S. Defense & Security Policy See Video
Latin America: Shift to the Left? See Video
Private Philanthropy See Video
U.S. - China Trade Policy See Video
2007 Topics
The Middle East See Video
South Africa See Video
Mexico See Video
International Migration See Video
Global Warming and Climate Change See Video
Children - Human Rights and Trafficking See Video
War Crimes and the International Criminal Court See Video
Central Asia 2006 Topics
UN Reform See video
Turkey See video
Energy Resources See video
Brazil See video
Human Rights in the age of terrorism See video
The US and Iran See video
China and India See video
Pandemics and Security See video
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