WHEATON-GLEN ELLYN BRANCH
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International
Relations/Great Decisions For several years, the International Relations Interest Group
has been discussing topics from the Foreign Policy Association’s Great
Decisions series. From September through May (excluding
December), the group meets monthly at member’s homes. Meetings are
usually scheduled for the 4th Monday at 7:00 PM. 2009-2010 Program: The topics for Fall 2009 are the
final three topics from the 2009 Foreign Policy Association Great
Decisions series. The topics for January through May 2010 are the first
five topics from the 2010 Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions
series. If you don’t have the 2010 study book, please email Winifred
Creamer before the meeting for a copy of the article. Each
reading is about 4 to 6 magazine-sized pages. For some topics, updates
are available for download at www.fpa.org. Click on “Great Decisions”. The 2010 study book is available from the
Foreign Policy Association website, www.fpa.org,
for about $18.00 plus shipping. Or you can call 800/477-5836.
Scheduled dates and topics are listed
below. Locations are announced monthly by email. To sign up for
the Great Decisions email distribution, email Winifred
Creamer or call her at 630/462-9289. |
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Meeting
Dates* |
Discussion
Topic |
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Mon., September
28, 2009 |
Topic 6 Global Food Crisis |
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Tues., October
26, 2009 |
Topic 7 Cuba on the Verge |
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Mon., November
23, 2009 |
Topic 8 Human Rights in a New
Era: Wars for Peace? |
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No meeting in December. |
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Mon., January
25,2010 |
Topic 1 Special
Envoys 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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Mon., February
22, 2010 |
Topic 2 Kenya and R2P (Responsibility to Protect) 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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Mon., March 22,
2010 |
Topic 3 Global Crime 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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Mon., April 26,
2010 |
Topic 4 U.S.-China Security Relations 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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Mon., May 24,
2010 |
Topic 5 Global Financial Crisis 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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Summer break June, July August. Meetings resume in September. |
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* Dates may be subject to change. Each month, Winifred Creamer will send an email with final date, topic and hostess. |
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