Each discussion is open to the public and registration is not required. The full schedule of topics is provided below:
Climate Change and the Global Order
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Jamie Mitchem, Ph.D. and Melissa Hopkinson, Ph.D.
Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. What is the rest of the world doing to combat climate change? What impact will the effects of climate change have on global geopolitics?
India and Pakistan
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Bibek Chand, Ph.D.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode a wave of Hindu nationalism to a historic reelection in 2019. His first order of business was to revoke the special status granted to the Kashmir region, inflaming the rivalry between India and Pakistan. How will the Kashmir situation affect the region, both economically and politically?
Red Sea Security
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Victoria Hightower, Ph.D.
The Red Sea has remained vital for global trade since the time of ancient Egypt. Once home to the spice trade, the Red Sea now sees millions of barrels of oil a day transported across its waters. With major nations like China, France, Italy, and the U.S. building large ports and bases in the region, what does the future of the region look like? How important is Red Sea security for global security? Can the region be a place of global cooperation?
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Carly Redding, Ph.D., HS-BCP
Almost every nation has enacted laws criminalizing human trafficking, and international organizations, governments, and NGOs sponsor a large variety of projects to curb trafficking and slavery. Billions of dollars have been allocated to these efforts. What is the international community doing to combat slavery and trafficking? What are the experiences like for those being trafficked?
U.S. Relations with the Northern Triangle
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Cristian Harris, Ph.D.
The Northern Triangle of Central America, made up of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, is responsible for the flow of migrants from Latin America to the U.S.
China's Road into Latin America
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by George Danns, Ph.D.
As the Trump administration continues to withdraw from the world stage, China is looking to fill the void. How does Latin America fit into China’s “One Belt, One Road” plan? How will the relationship with China affect the region? Should the U.S. be concerned about China’s growing “sphere of influence”?
The Philippines and the U.S.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Christopher Jespersen, Ph.D.
The Philippines has had a special relationship with the United States since the islands were ceded by Spain to the United States after the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century. However, since the election of Rodrigo Duterte, the country has pivoted more toward China, and away from the U.S. Duterte has also launched a largescale war on drugs that many criticize for its brutality. What does the future hold for U.S, relations with the Philippines?
Artificial Intelligence and Data
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Ash Mady, Ph.D. and Bethany Niese
Policymakers in many countries are developing plans and funding research in artificial intelligence (AI). Global growth is slowing, and not surprisingly, many policymakers hope that AI will provide a magic solution. The EU, Brazil, and other Western countries have adopted regulations that grant users greater control over their data and require that firms using AI be transparent about how they use it. Will the U.S. follow suit?
This series is part of Great Decisions 2020, a national program developed by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) to help local communities better understand global politics, government, and foreign issues that affect the United States and its citizens.
For more information on Great Decisions 2020 events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.
