Foreign Policy Association’s 2011 Great Decisions Series
World Affairs Council of St. Louis and The Ethical Society Jointly Sponsor:
Foreign Policy Association’s 2011 Great Decisions Series
Every year the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), the nation’s oldest organization devoted to citizen education in world affairs, authors the Great Decisions Series, a national discussion program focusing on eight major foreign policy issues. The issues are selected at the beginning of the year based on the most critical current global challenges to US foreign policy. The program aims to present all sides of each issue in order to inform and educate the public.
The key belief is that effective foreign policy demands a citizenry that is knowledgeable in relevant global matters. Each year, over 350,000 citizens participate in Great Decisions. Participants also have the opportunity to register their opinions through a balloting process that is summarized by the Foreign Policy Association and presented to the U. S. State Department and members of Congress.
The World Affairs Council of St. Louis and The Ethical Society are honored to have been selected to jointly sponsor this open to the public series of moderated discussions for the citizens of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The sessions will take place from 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM on eight successive Thursdays in March, April and May of 2011. The meeting room for all discussions is located on the lower level (on the same level as parking). There will be signs to direct you.
These sessions are free of charge and there is no need to register; just show up at the appointed time and place.
The specific schedule is as follows:
-
Thursday, March 17, 2011: U.S. National Security
- Thursday, March 24, 2011: Rebuilding Haiti
- Thursday, March 31, 2011: Horn of Africa
- Thursday, April 7, 2011: Responding to the Financial Crisis
- Thursday, April 14, 2011: Germany Ascendant
- Thursday, April 21, 2011: Sanctions and Nonproliferation
- Thursday, April 28, 2011: The Caucasus
- Thursday, May 5, 2011: Global Governance
All sessions will follow the same format:
12:00 Noon to 12:15 PM: Introduction of moderator and showing of Foreign Policy Association Video
12:15 PM to 12:45 PM: Remarks by the moderator
12:45 PM to 1:15 PM: Q&A followed by a brief summation
Light refreshments, consisting of coffee and cookies, will be available to all participants in the meeting room; there will be no charge for them.
Parking is free and convenient, located in the rear of the building on the north side. The parking lot is accessible from Clayton Road.
Every person participating will get more out of this activity if they buy an FPA 2011 Great Decisions briefing book, or gain access to one, and read the appropriate section before each session in which they participate. These books are about 100 pages in length (12 or so pages on each of the eight topics) and contain background narrative, photographs, maps, charts and cartoons describing and illustrating the various aspects of each topic.
Great Decision briefing books can be purchased by sending the enclosed form to the World Affairs Council. Please enclose a check or credit card payment in the amount of $20.00 for each book ordered. A limited quantity of briefing books will also be available in the meeting room immediately prior to each session; their price is $18.00 each because the council does not incur shipping or handling.
The sponsors are in the process of recruiting knowledgeable moderators to host each of the eight sessions. It is our goal to provide information on the eight moderators selected at or before the initial session on March 17, 2011.
Invite your family, friends, neighbors and business associates for an interesting lunch hour participating in a moderated discussion of some of the most critical issues facing the United States. Make the effort to come once and I am sure you will return time and time again.
The Ethical Society • 9001 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, MO 63124 • (314) 991-0995
If you require additional information or have any questions, please contact:
World Affairs Council of St. Louis
815 Olive Street, Suite 29
Saint Louis, MO 63101
Telephone: 314-727-9988 / FAX: 314-727-4771
Email: rfischer@wac-stl.org
Foreign Policy Association’s 2011 Great Decisions Series Topics
Note: All meetings will be held from 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM
U.S. National Security (3/17)
U.S. national security priorities were expanded after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to include waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan, tightening border security, pursuing cyberthreats, halting nuclear proliferation and attempting to snuff out homegrown terrorism. How has the U.S. national security agenda evolved since 9/11? In what ways will this agenda shape the American way of life in the future?
Rebuilding Haiti (3/24)
The January 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti struck a country already suffering from widespread poverty and underdevelopment. Did this natural disaster inadvertently provide an opportunity for reassessment and planning a new Haiti? Will the results of the 2010 presidential elections provide the leadership bring to restore the country?
Horn of Africa (3/31)
Since the early 1990s, the U.S. has monitored the Horn of Africa due to security concerns. Internal instability, weak governments in some countries, regional rivalries and a lack of development have resulted in an environment conducive to terrorism. Can the U.S. protect its national interests while mitigating the dangerous conditions in the region?
Responding to the Financial Crisis (4/7)
As an immediate response to the financial crisis of 2007–08, governments around the world stepped in to bail out troubled private banks deemed “too big to fail,” underscoring the interdependence between private and public finances. With the recent eurozone crisis, what have we learned so far and is it possible to ensure that future crises will not occur?
Germany Ascendant (4/14)
Germany has emerged from both the financial crisis and the eurozone crisis as the dominant economic and political power in Europe, in particular setting the tone for dealings with Russia, Eastern Europe and Iran. How important is it for U.S, interests to enhance relations with Germany, and how should the U.S. react when German and U.S. interests fail to align?
Sanctions and Nonproliferation (4/21)
Sanctions have been created to curb nations in violation of international law, especially agreements concerning nuclear nonproliferation. How successfully have sanctions been applied against past violators? Is there any chance sanctions can curtail North Korea and Iran from continuing to develop nuclear weapons?
The Caucasus (4/28)
The countries and regions of the Caucasus all have strong national identities but have long lived in the shadow of their larger neighbors: Russia, Iran and Turkey. How does this influence the Caucasus of today? How do the region's energy resources play into its relations with the outside world?
Global Governance (5/5)
International cooperation subjects political leaders to an ongoing test: balancing national needs with a commitment to building a durable international order. How has an increasingly interconnected and shrinking world affected the viability of existing agreements and institutions? What economic, social, political and security concerns are currently on the agendas of intergovernmental bodies, and what is the future U.S. role?
Great decisions 2011 book:
