Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. Participants read the Great Decisions Briefing Book, watch the videos and meet with members of their community to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today.
Great Decisions is produced by the Foreign Policy Association, which has been encouraging nonpartisan discussion on U.S. foreign policy for over 100 years. The program gives citizens the opportunity to learn about some of the most critical global issues facing America today. After the program, the FPA gathers participants’ feedback to create a national opinion ballot report, which is shared with members of Congress.
Anyone can start a group
Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book, watching the video series, and meeting in a Discussion Group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today.
Anyone can start a Great Decisions discussion group in their community. The FPA has produced program guides that explain in detail how to start a group in four popular venues.
Great Decisions in the Library
Great Decisions in the Retirement Community
Great Decisions discussion groups exist in communities all across America. You can use the FPA’s “Find a Group Near You” to enter your state and find a group near you.
The Great Decisions discussion program is supported by a number of materials and resources produced by the Foreign Policy Association annually. The following are available in January every year, with pre-order discounts offered as early as October for the upcoming year.
Core materials include:
Great Decisions Master Class Lecture Videos
Supplemental resources include:
Great Decisions Newsletter at the bottom of this page
Yes. Each year, Great Decisions discussion program participants are polled about their views on the eight topics discussed. The results are compiled in the National Opinion Ballot Report and distributed to the White House, members of Congress, the departments of State and Defense, the national media and participants in the Great Decisions Discussion Program. The Report is a valuable way of sharing the informed opinions of citizens with the people who shape U.S. foreign policy.
The first “Great Decisions” group was launched in Portland, Oregon in 1954 by FPA’s Vice President Roger Mastrude. Based on the so-called “Avon” model of face-to-face, active and informal conversation, participants would read a fact sheet on each of the eight topics before meetings, where they aired their respective views and opinions. FPA would tally up opinion ballots and report the results to the Department of State. The program gained media attention, was picked up by local schools, and soon gained national attention.
The opinion ballots should be filled out by participants after they have read and discussed the topics presented in Great Decisions.
The ballots are sent to FPA, where they are tabulated, analyzed and published in the National Opinion Ballot report.
The National Opinion Ballot Report is presented to the White House, members of Congress, the departments of State and Defense, the national media and participants in the Great Decisions Discussion Program. The Report is a valuable way of sharing the informed opinions of citizens with the people who shape U.S. foreign policy.
Opinion ballots must be submitted by July 1st (mail) or Sept 1st (online) in order to be tabulated for the National Opinion Ballot Report.
Attend a discussion in your community.
A group in your area using our online search
Your discussion materials online
A discussion in your community
Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book, watching the video series and meeting in a Discussion Group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today.
Each year, eight topics are chosen by a panel of experts.
The first “Great Decisions” group was launched in Portland, Oregon in 1954 by FPA’s Vice President Roger Mastrude. Based on the so-called “Avon” model of face-to-face, active and informal conversation, participants would read a fact sheet on each of the eight topics before meetings, where they aired their respective views and opinions. FPA would tally up opinion ballots and report the results to the Department of State. The program gained media attention, was picked up by local schools, and soon gained national attention.
The grassroots, face-to-face model adopted by Great Decisions more than 60 years ago continues today, with tens of thousands of participants taking part in discussions nationwide annually.
Anyone can start or join a group and register it online with the Foreign Policy Association.
