The 2010 Great Decisions Discussions will begin at noon on Feb. 10 and continue each Wednesday through April 7 at the Tyler Public Library. Each of the eight discussions will take you beyond the headlines by providing a look at eight of the most significant and far-reaching challenges facing the world, and U.S. policy, today.
A program of the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), Great Decisions was launched in 1954 to broaden understanding of, and participation in, global affairs. It is widely considered one of the longest-running and largest non-partisan grassroots education program on foreign policy in the United States.
Each year, the FPA publishes a Great Decisions briefing book which provides essential information on current U.S. policy, examination of alternative policy options and relevant discussion questions. The local Great Decision Steering Committee identifies experts to lead the discussions on these topics in Tyler. Participation is open to the public and is not limited to those with an expert knowledge of foreign affairs. Great Decisions Discussion Groups are composed of any interested individuals who want to expand their knowledge of international relations, as well as engage in active discussion of crucial global issues.
The schedule of topics and speakers follows:
• Feb. 10 - The U.S. and the Persian Gulf - Dr. Mohamed Elibiary, Freedom and Justice Foundation, Dallas: 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?
• Feb. 17 - Europe's "Far East": The Uncertain Frontier - Dr. Marcus Stadelmann, Political Science Chair, UT Tyler: 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?
• Feb. 24 - Enhancing Security Through Peace Building - Blake Bailey, Attorney Activist: 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?
• March 3 - Transnational Crime - Special Agent Jeff Millslagle, FBI: 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?
• March 10 – No discussion due to Spring Break.
• March 17 - Kenya and R2P (Responsibility to Protect) - Benson Kioko, activist and volunteer to Mercy Ships: 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?
• March 24 - China Looks at the World; The World Looks at China - John C. Cole, U.S. Army Retired, Army War College: 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 31 - The Global Financial Crisis and Its Effects - Dr. Guillermo Covarrubius, Economics Professor, UT Tyler: 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?
• April 7 - The Special Envoy in American Foreign Policy - Dr. Dan Murphree, History Professor, UT Tyler: 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?
In every Great Decisions briefing book are copies of opinion ballots for each topic. The opinion ballots are filled out by participants after they have read and discussed the topics presented in Great Decisions. Results from groups across the county are analyzed by a Foreign Policy Association polling expert, who writes the National Opinion Ballot Report for the Association to send to the President and the Congress at the end of the discussion season. Opinion ballots may also be completed online at www.greatdecisions.org.
The American Association of University Women - Tyler Branch, the League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County, and the Tyler Public Library are the local sponsors. Tom Tucker is chair of the Great Decisions Steering Committee.
Briefing books are available now at the Tyler Public Library for $18.
For more information contact the Tyler Public Library at (903) 593-7323 or email programs@tylertexas.com
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