Generated by Rank Math SEO, this is an llms.txt file designed to help LLMs better understand and index this website. # Foreign Policy Association: The Foreign Policy Association is an American non-profit foreign policy organization. According to the FPA, the organization aims to spread global awareness and understanding of US foreign policy and global issues by informing, inspiring, and engaging with the public in community and educational forums. ## Sitemaps [XML Sitemap](https://fpa.org/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages. ## Posts - [Great Decisions 2027 Topic Announcement](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-2027-topic-announcement/): Edited by G. John Ikenberry.Cover image download. - [Nuclear Proliferation Lesson Plan | Free High School Resource | Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/ukraine-war-lesson-plan-free-high-school-resource-great-decisions/): Download a free Nuclear Proliferation lesson plan for high school students from the Foreign Policy Association. Includes background reading, debate prompts, and classroom activities. - [Ukraine War Lesson Plan (2026) | Free High School Resource | Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/ukraine-war-lesson-plan-2026-free-high-school-resource-great-decisions/): Download a free Ukraine war lesson plan for high school students from the Foreign Policy Association. Includes background reading, debate prompts, and classroom activities. - [Great Decisions High School: Climate Migration](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-climate-migration-2026/): A free, classroom‑ready resource from the Foreign Policy Association - [Great Decisions High School: U.S.–China Relations: Competition or Cooperation?](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-u-s-china-relations-competition-or-cooperation/): The U.S. and China stand at the center of today’s most consequential global relationship—one that shapes trade, technology, security, and the future of international leadership.Great Decisions: U.S.–China Relations, a free classroom resource from the Foreign Policy Association, helps students explore the history, tensions, and interdependence between these two nations through a balanced, evidence-based lens. - [Great Decisions 2026 Topic Announcement](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-2026-topic-announcement/): America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign PolicyTrump’s return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This chapter explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy.By G. John Ikenberry Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World EconomyTrump’s aggressive trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this radical shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics?By Michael Mastanduno U.S.-China RelationsRelations with China remain tense, with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent China policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America's strategic options?By Oriana Mastro Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear ProliferationU.S. alliance skepticism may drive countries like Japan and South Korea to reconsider nuclear options. What are the implications of the Trump administration’s rethinking of the U.S. alliance system for regional and global security? Will this new uncertainty alter the way allies and rivals in various regions make decisions about security and nuclear weapons?By Gideon Rose Ukraine and the Future of European SecurityWith reduced U.S. support for NATO and Ukraine, Europe faces strategic uncertainty. The Trump administration has signaled an intention to reduce its security role in Europe. What are America’s stakes in NATO and Europe’s strategic dilemmas, and how might Europe respond?By Thomas Wright Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World OrderCan multilateralism survive amid shifting global power and rising nationalism? This chapter examines the future of global cooperation across trade, health, and finance.By Scott Bessent (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) U.S. Engagement of AfricaAfrica’s geopolitical role is growing. What lessons can the U.S. learn from China’s presence there, and how might it strengthen ties, especially with leading nations like Nigeria? What tools of statecraft might the U.S. bring to its engagement with Africa?By Jendayi E. Frazer The Future of Human Rights and International LawAs democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?By Jose Enrique Alvarez Download 2026 cover imageDownload - [Great Decisions High School: Immigration: Then, Now, and What’s Next](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-immigration-then-now-and-whats-next/): Immigration: Then, Now, and What’s Next - [Great Decisions High School: AI + Education](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-ai-education/): As artificial intelligence reshapes education and the world beyond, high school teachers have a powerful opportunity to help students think critically about the tools they’re already using. Great Decisions: AI + Education, a free resource from the Foreign Policy Association, is designed specifically for classroom use—and it’s ready to plug into your curriculum. - [Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/greatdecisions/) - [Ballots 2025](https://fpa.org/ballot/) - [Foreign Policy Association’s Financial Services Dinner 2025](https://fpa.org/foreign-policy-associations-financial-services-dinner-2025/): FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - [Great Decisions High School: India and the United States](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-india-and-the-united-states/): Engage Your Students with Great Decisions High School: India & the United States - [Great Decisions 2025 E-Books](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-2025-e-books/): Dive into the essential topics shaping our world with Great Decisions 2025 E-book editions!  Whether you're seeking to stay ahead in international trends or join engaging debates, Great Decisions 2025 is your passport to understanding. - [Great Decisions High School: Sustainable Food Systems](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-sustainable-food-systems/): The way we produce, consume, and waste food plays a significant role in climate change and environmental sustainability. This edition explores how food systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, the impact of food waste, and solutions to reduce our environmental footprint. With one-third of all food globally wasted, the issue highlights how composting, plant-based diets, and better food policies can make a difference. The discussion also includes policy debates on government regulations, school lunch programs, and consumer responsibility in reducing food waste. - [Great Decisions High School: The Rise of Populism](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-the-rise-of-populism/): Populism has become a powerful force in global politics, influencing elections and shifting political landscapes. This edition explores what populism is, where it originated, and how it shapes democracy today. While populist leaders claim to represent the "common people" against elites, their policies often oversimplify complex issues and can lead to authoritarian tendencies. From historical populist movements in the U.S. to modern-day leaders like Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Rodrigo Duterte, the issue examines how populism can both empower and endanger democratic institutions. - [The Easy Priority](https://fpa.org/the-easy-priority/) - [Great Decisions High School: The Teen Mental Health Crisis](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-the-teen-mental-health-crisis/): The number of teens experiencing clinical depression, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness has risen dramatically in the past decade. This edition explores the complex causes behind the teen mental health crisis, including the impact of social media, pandemic isolation, and cultural shifts in adolescence. Experts debate whether the rise in digital interactions and less in-person socialization has contributed to higher levels of loneliness and anxiety. The issue also examines potential solutions, policy changes, and mental health advocacy efforts aimed at supporting struggling youth. - [Moscow Terror Attack Highlights Need for Russian-Ukrainian Peace](https://fpa.org/moscow-terror-attack-highlights-need-for-russian-ukrainian-peace/): In recent weeks, after ISIS claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall Concert Attack, which killed 145 and injured hundreds more, Moscow has been doing everything in its power to find a way to blame Ukraine for the terror unleashed, rather than address the fact that the murderous terror organization known as ISIS decided to go after the Putin regime. In recent days, Russia’s top law enforcement agency the Investigative Committee alleged that they found photos on the suspects phones depicting “people in camouflage uniforms with the Ukrainian flag against the background of destroyed houses.”   To date, the Russians have not released their alleged evidence and it so far has not been independently verified, which should be a red flag to everyone regarding the accuracy of their claims. The fact that Russia is blaming Ukraine for the recent terror attack rather than understanding that they need to do more to address the ISIS threat within their country is another indignation for how badly the Russian people need to make peace with the Ukraine.   All of the hatred against Ukraine that has come out in this war has blinded the Russian leadership to the fact that there are other threats that they also need to address, such as the threat of radical Islam, and therefore, in light of these threats, it would behoove them to try and solve the Ukraine conflict so that they can better address these threats, instead of trying to falsify a Ukraine connection when there is plausibly none.   Recently, the Greek Parliament hosted a conference on ways to achieve peace in Ukraine titled “Ukraine: the search for a peaceful resolution of the military conflict.” This conference was in line with the Secretary General’s call for peace, as he noted, “Beyond condemnations, we the United Nations must actively work toward a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in line with the charter of this organization.” It would behoove the Russian leadership to accept the olive branch that was handed out in this conference.      Greek MP Athanasios Papathanassis proclaimed at this event that “Ukraine has been the bridge between Europe and Russia, and the desire for its control and influence has led to geopolitical confrontations with a global impact. I have always supported a diplomatic solution, a diplomatic solution is based on the liberal and Western way of thinking, which goes against the authoritarian. In this disastrous context, collective effort and diplomatic flexibility are necessary for promoting and establishing peace. The global community has to unite so that pressure can be applied to all parties involved to peacefully solve all differences and to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. The end of hostilities will contribute to the achievement of economic stability on a global scale.”   Athens’ deputy mayor Elli Papageli added: “Peace is something that happens through dialogue and diplomacy, not military conflict. The consequences of the war are huge.” She expressed fear of a nuclear war and spoke of its disastrous economic consequences for Europe.   Renowned political scientist Professor Frederic Encel expressed skepticism about the UN coming up with a solution and suggested instead that both sides of the conflict come together to reach a solution. Former CIA analyst and State Department Counter Terror expert Larry Johnson spoke out against NATO for arming Ukraine and called on the West “not to pour petrol on the fire,” stressing the need to have a peaceful dialogue with Russia.   Women’s rights activist and the president of the European Association for the Defense of Minorities highlighted « The UN secretary general called for peace in Ukraine because there is a big concern regarding children’s mental health and school dropping .Children have stopped attending school since 2 years which has a huge impact on their education and their future »   In light of this conference and in the wake of the horrific terror attack in Russia, Moscow now needs to reassess its priorities. It should not continue the war against the Ukraine at all costs and should it try to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict, which will enable it to better focus on the ISIS threat, which is a graver threat to the Russian people right now than whether or not Ukraine will become a member of NATO. By Russia being so focused on the Ukraine, the Russians failed to thwart a major terror attack and many innocent people lost their lives as a result.   ---   By Rachel Avraham - [The Missing Pillar](https://fpa.org/the-missing-pillar/): A modern economy is usually based on a few industries or economic pillars that keep the economy afloat, resilient and viable in the long term. The loss of these staple pillars to an economy often results in eventual economic and political decline, and in some cases can lead to fairly rapid economic collapse. No political model can sustain itself when a collapse takes place or a series of them takes place. The collapse always has a negative effect on the ability for a population to sustain itself, as it has a direct effect on food, shelter and health and welfare of a population. For this reason, most Governments choose not to engage in external conflicts that can measurably harm its own population, as most Governments in such situations will not survive, saving some significant external help. External help can also work against a country's best long term interests or be applied in a negative fashion as seen with some aid projects in Haiti currently. Without any form of stability, no aid or assistance will ever rebuild the economic pillars of an economy. - [International community highlights plight of West Azerbaijani community](https://fpa.org/international-community-highlights-plight-of-west-azerbaijani-community/): MP Ramil Hassan, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijani Community, recently addressed the United Nations, proclaiming that the ethnic cleansing of more than one million Azerbaijanis by Armenia, including 300,000 from its territory, make Armenia far from being a peaceful and inclusive country.   MP Hassan said these remarks at the UN Economic Commission for Europe, where he described displacement as being one of the main challenges obstructing the UN’s development goals. - [Tanks and the Invincibility Myth](https://fpa.org/tanks-and-the-invincibility-myth/): A Turret, likely from a T-72, is embedding into the ground after being ejected from the hull of the tank after a catastrophic explosion. - [On Tik Tok and the Value of Taking Things Slowly…](https://fpa.org/on-tik-tok-and-the-value-of-taking-things-slowly/): Young people have been paying attention to Tik Tok for a long time… lawmakers are rushing to catch up. - [Rape Culture Prevalent in Armenia](https://fpa.org/rape-culture-prevalent-in-armenia/): Many in the United States and Europe hold a favorable view of Armenia, even though the country possesses a rape culture that delegitimizes victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.  A 2016 report led by the United Nations for Population Fund Armenia (UNFPA) reported that 36 percent of the respondents in Armenia believe that women should tolerate violence for the sake of family unity. Within those 36 percent, 45 percent were men and 28 percent women. - [The Need for an European Army in Today’s World](https://fpa.org/the-need-for-an-european-army-in-todays-world/): As NATO approaches its 75th anniversary, the transatlantic community stands at an inflection point. The Pax Americana is over, democracy is in retreat, and the rules-based order hangs by a thread. Meanwhile, the U.S. is more riven with acrimony and disagreement than at any point since the Civil War. Further American security assistance to Ukraine remains uncertain as Russia continues to make incremental gains across the 600-mile front. On the other hand, Europe has no more aid to give. If one can draw a positive from the past two years, it’s the reinvigoration of NATO. However, many are rightfully wondering whether unity will be enough. Without American aid, Ukraine would have fallen, and Europe is more reliant on Washington for security than ever before. It’s time to reassess the transatlantic security architecture. NATO must remain the cornerstone, but the alliance needs a robust European pillar. America can no longer single-handedly confront every global crisis. Perhaps controversially, the circumstances mandate a pan-European army under the auspices of the EU. - [Which countries are the safest in the world?](https://fpa.org/which-countries-are-the-safest-in-the-world/): Every day, Israel is plagued by more terror attacks.  Today, a terrorist opened fire on an Israeli minibus in the Binyamin region.   Last night, an explosive device was thrown on a passenger bus in Gush Etzion.   And a Palestinian who was planning a suicide bombing attack was recently arrested near Jericho.   These are merely a few of the terror incidents that Israelis have dealt with recently.    - [USA and NATO Fail to Take Advantage of The Tremendous Ukrainian Military Efficiency in Dollars Spent](https://fpa.org/usa-and-nato-fail-to-take-advantage-of-the-tremendous-ukrainian-military-efficiency-in-dollars-spent/): Seldom discussed since the Russian aggression against Ukraine are the vast disparities between the economic wealth of the west versus the much smaller, communist/socialist dictatorship economies of Russia, Iran and North Korea (RINK) Here are two numbers to make my point perfectly clear: GDP of combined NATO countries is $47 trillion. Combined GDP of RINK is $3 trillion.  The USA alone is $28 trillion at year end 2023, compared to Russia’s $2.5 trillion, or more than 10 times larger. If wars are won purely based on economic strength, the Russian aggression should have been repelled and ended with Russia crawling back to their side of the Ukraine border within a few months had the NATO countries acted with resolve and the military might their economies can support. - [Reclaiming Responsibility: A Call for Congressional Accountability in U.S. Foreign Policy](https://fpa.org/reclaiming-responsibility-a-call-for-congressional-accountability-in-u-s-foreign-policy/): For years, I have argued that America’s legislative branch has failed to live up to its obligations in guiding U.S. foreign policy. Trends dating back before the turn of the millennium reveal that the Legislative branch has spent an increasingly small amount of time discussing and researching important foreign policy questions. Beyond that, when important foreign policy topics are discussed, individual legislators are increasingly likely to grandstand or fundraise instead of work towards policy solutions for major issues.  - [World Forgot Plight of West Azerbaijanis](https://fpa.org/world-forgot-plight-of-west-azerbaijanis/): Across the world, media outlets and non-governmental organizations are speaking about the plight of Armenian settler colonialists in Karabakh, who left their homes voluntarily.   For example, the International Crisis Group recently published a report, proclaiming: “Armenia is having problems integrating over 100,000 refugees who fled Nagorno-Karabakh when Azerbaijan took control of the enclave in September 2023. Yerevan has tried to be generous, but it lacks funds and a long-term plan, leaving the displaced people exposed and facing an uncertain future.”  - [In Waiting for the Great Displacement](https://fpa.org/in-waiting-for-the-great-displacement/): The first recorded loss on an American made M1 Abrams tank in Ukraine was documented around the same time as the 2024 NATO Summit. - [NATO at a Crossroads? Trump’s Remarks and the Future of the Alliance](https://fpa.org/nato-at-a-crossroads-trumps-remarks-and-the-future-of-the-alliance/): Former President Trump is no stranger to controversy, but his recent remarks represent perhaps his most alarming challenge to transatlantic unity. During a campaign rally on February 10, the likely Republican presidential nominee declared that he would not defend a NATO ally that fails to meet the 2% GDP defense spending requirement. Beyond undermining deterrence and establishing conditions for an attack on NATO, this statement tramples on the alliance’s foundational ethos of indivisible security and “one for all, all for one.” With prospects of a second Trump presidency on the horizon, the specter of diminished American involvement hovers over NATO once again. This time, however, the alliance confronts a belligerent Russia to the east amidst a rapidly deteriorating global security environment. - [IMEC: America’s Uncertain Response to China’s Silk Road](https://fpa.org/imec-americas-uncertain-response-to-chinas-silk-road/): In a global landscape rife with instability, conflict, and fragmentation, economic initiatives have hardly captured recent headlines. It comes with little surprise that French calls for a meeting of IMEC member states flew under the radar, much like the project’s announcement did when President Joe Biden unveiled its blueprints at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi. IMEC, short for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, is an ambitious integration proposal that aims to facilitate the movement of goods and people between India and Europe through the Middle East. While there is collective enthusiasm amongst its member states, the plan is also a clear American counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, Washington is late to the game, and concerns remain regarding IMEC’s practicality and effectiveness in achieving its objectives. - [Great Decisions High School: The Future of Korea](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-the-future-of-korea/): The Korean Peninsula remains one of the most divided and geopolitically tense regions in the world. This edition explores the contrast between North and South Korea, the history of their division, and the cultural and political forces shaping Korea’s future. South Korea has become a global economic and cultural powerhouse, known for K-pop, technology, and democratic governance, while North Korea remains a repressive dictatorship under the Kim dynasty, focused on military power and nuclear threats. The issue also examines the possibility of Korean reunification, its challenges, and the global impact of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. - [After the Eleventh Hour](https://fpa.org/after-the-eleventh-hour/): A Japanese F-15J with a cultural livery shows Japan's close ties to the United States and their common defence posture. - [Departing the Red Sea](https://fpa.org/departing-the-red-sea/): A Soviet Era Rubezh system launching a Cold War era ground based Anti-Ship missile, similar in appearance to those seen being used by Houthis in the Red Sea. - [The State of the World into 2024…](https://fpa.org/the-state-of-the-world-into-2024/): Vintage set icons of ballot box for presidential election in USA . Elections 2024. Vote. - [Great Decisions High School: Generative AI](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-generative-ai/): Generative AI is transforming how we create, learn, and work, producing text, images, music, and even videos with just a few prompts. This edition explores the rise of generative AI, how it learns from big data, and the ethical concerns surrounding AI bias, misinformation, and job displacement. While AI offers exciting opportunities in education, creativity, and research, it also raises debates on regulation, security risks, and its impact on human decision-making. With governments and tech leaders scrambling to implement safeguards, the world faces a crucial moment in shaping AI’s future. - [The Modernisation of Old Artillery](https://fpa.org/the-modernisation-of-old-artillery/): A picture of severely damaged Russian Il-22 command aircraft at Anapa Airport. - Giorgi Revishvili on X.com - Jan 15 2024. - [Elections to be held in Azerbaijan following successful military operation](https://fpa.org/elections-to-be-held-in-azerbaijan-following-successful-military-operation/): It was recently announced in Azerbaijan that elections will be held in the country early, following the Azerbaijani military’s victorious campaign against the successionist regime in Khenkendi, which permitted Azerbaijan to reclaim all of the Karabakh region that was illegally occupied by Armenia in violation of four UN Security Council resolutions over the course of thirty years.    Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev wishes to capitalize on his great success on the battlefield in order to reinforce his government at home.   Presently, the support for the Aliyev government is at an all-time high among local Azerbaijanis, who are hoping that the recent Azerbaijani victory over the secessionist regime will lead to one million Azerbaijani displaced people being able to return to their homes. - [Accessory to Casus Belli](https://fpa.org/accessory-to-casus-belli/): The end of 2023 became a demonstration of how bad policy had lead to the most evident atrocities ever documented in recorded history. What prevents many of these modern conflicts from spiralling out of control was a relatively new form of AI, in advanced missile systems that are capable of intercepting air and ballistic missile threats in many forms. In order to counter this AI, regressive technical systems such as drones were massed in order to overwhelm such systems and protract conflicts further, as without a serious threat, conflicts would not escalate past a certain point. Even with these numerous threats, many missile systems have functioned successfully, with an established strategy being used as a method to incur greater economic and supply costs on the defenders while prolonging the conflict even further. Missile defence worked in reducing conflict, as it reduced the losses to the defending party and lowered the demand for a forceful response to the initial attacks. Without such effective missile defence, a country would have few options but to react with force to the initial act under their rights to respond to Casus Belli. - [Germany has Deployed Forces in Europe, and yes, it is a Positive Development](https://fpa.org/germany-has-deployed-forces-in-europe-and-yes-it-is-a-positive-development/): For the first time since World War II, Germany has established a permanent military presence outside its territorial borders. While the deployment of 4,800 soldiers to Lithuania appears modest, this historic shift in German strategic thinking could hold significant long-term implications for transatlantic security. Throughout the post-war period, the U.S. has guaranteed Germany’s and much of Europe’s security via extended deterrence. However, as Washington recalibrates its focus to counter an increasingly assertive China, it will need to divert resources and personnel from Europe and the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific. Despite anachronistic concerns about a resurgence of Prussian militarism, an actively engaged and capable Germany willing to contribute to deterrence and defense in Europe will facilitate America’s stagnant “Pivot to Asia.” So yes, America and the broader Western world should embrace a Germany ready to take transatlantic security seriously. - [In Omnia Paratus](https://fpa.org/in-omnia-paratus/): Memorial to the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle of the Second World War. - [Great Decisions High School: The United States and China](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-the-united-states-and-china/): The U.S.-China relationship is one of the most important and complex geopolitical rivalries in the modern world. This edition explores the economic interdependence, political tensions, and national security concerns shaping relations between the two global superpowers. While China and the U.S. remain each other's top trading partners, their economic ties have been strained by tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and human rights disputes. As both countries seek to assert dominance in trade, technology, and military power, the future of their relationship remains uncertain, with major consequences for the global economy and international stability. - [Harfoush’s concert at the European Commission brings peace amidst dark Christmas](https://fpa.org/harfoushs-concert-at-the-european-commission-brings-peace-amidst-dark-christmas/): “Tis the season to be merry,” but not in the Land of Israel, which is plagued by war and bloodshed. However, Harfoush’s concert at the European Commission brings peace amidst a dark Christmas in the Middle East.      - [The Plight of Displaced Nations](https://fpa.org/the-plight-of-displaced-nations/): The global displacement crisis has reached alarming proportions, with millions of people forced to leave their homes due to armed conflicts, persecution and systematic policies.   According to the concept paper written for an international conference sponsored by the West Azerbaijan community, “It is imperative to prioritize the voluntary, safe and dignified return of expelled people to their homes as a long-term solution.” - [The People’s Liberation Path](https://fpa.org/the-peoples-liberation-path/): China's People Liberal Army En Marche... - [Azerbaijan appropriates its imperial heritage](https://fpa.org/azerbaijan-appropriates-its-imperial-heritage/): If one asks the average American, who are the Qizilbash people, the average American won’t know what you are speaking about.   They will say the “Qizil what?”   And then, if you ask them about the connection of the Qizilbash people to Azerbaijan, the average American will ask you how to spell Azerbaijan and ponder where it is on the map.    However, the average American should learn a little bit about who the Qizilbash people are if they seek to understand the history of modern-day Azerbaijan,  Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, the regions of strategic value to the United States of America.    - [The Foreign Policy Failures behind the Arab-Islamic Summit in KSA](https://fpa.org/the-foreign-policy-failures-behind-the-arab-islamic-summit-in-ksa/): The emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia, which brought togethers leaders from the Arab world, including Bashir Al-Assad, Turkey, and even the president of Iran, has come to a close with the rejection of Israel’s claims to self-defense against Hamas, and a joint call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza. None of the usual saber rattling from these circles is likely to bring Israel to withdrawal from Gaza before its military objectives are met; even the US, which has repeatedly pressured Israel on instituting humanitarian pauses and pushed it in the direction of a ceasefire, allegedly as a condition for hostage release, will not be much affected by these comments. However, without a doubt, this gathering, unequivocally equating Hamas with the Palestinian cause, is a strategic communication to Jerusalem and Washington. As any overt messages with covert meanings, it is worth deciphering. There are several takeaways that jump to mind if one follows the trajectory of the unfolding events in the Middle East for the past several years. - [The Grand Dereliction](https://fpa.org/the-grand-dereliction/): Discussions surrounding the entrance into a Third World War by some media commentaries take the position that wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East will lead to an inevitable conflict between China and Taiwan without many other options to quell the oncoming conflict. While the War in Ukraine was entering a period of set defensive positions and trench warfare, September of 2023 actually saw an upcoming peace treaty forming in the Middle East between two of its major powers, China attempting to play the role as peace broker between conflicting parties, and India making roads into regions beyond its own to balance the power dynamic abroad. Conflict is never inevitable, but contributing to self inflicted wounds will always have a negative impact on one's own society. - [Normalisation and Proportionality](https://fpa.org/normalisation-and-proportionality/): The Sinjar Mountain range was the site of a massacre of the small Yazidi community in 2014. - [Great Decisions High School: The High Seas Treaty](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-the-high-seas-treaty/): The High Seas Treaty, established by the United Nations in March 2023, is a landmark agreement designed to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. Covering 95% of ocean habitat by volume, the treaty aims to regulate overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining, which threaten marine ecosystems. With climate change accelerating ocean acidification and habitat destruction, the treaty seeks to create marine protected areas (MPAs) and implement global conservation policies. However, challenges remain regarding enforcement, international cooperation, and the economic interests of industries dependent on ocean resources. - [Soviet Chess or Checkers?](https://fpa.org/soviet-chess-or-checkers/): The fall of the Soviet Union lead to severe economic and security challenges for Russia and its former Soviet States. The recent fall of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan and evacuation of the historical Armenians in the region was a direct result of Russia no longer challenging for the safety of their religious allies. Russia always took to protecting their Armenian allies, who were under the protection of Russia for generations, and maintained a status quo in the region since 1991. This failure to shield them from religious and ethnic conflict near Russia's borders in 2023 may be a policy that those living in Russia would have a difficult time supporting. - [Putin’s Eurasianist Vision](https://fpa.org/putins-eurasianist-vision/): Undoubtedly, Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine was a miscalculation. Nevertheless, many international observers were shocked when Russian tanks started to roll across the border despite mounting evidence that Putin would go through with it. Ostracizing his country from the Western liberal economies was incomprehensible to most. At the same time, it is all too easy to denounce his exploits as the work of a revisionist madman. Yes, Ukraine was once a part of the Soviet Union, and Putin certainly disdains NATO expansion, but there is an ideology underlying his seemingly erratic behavior. This year, the Russian Federation officially adopted Eurasianism as its foreign policy concept. A peculiar fusion of Russian imperialism and socialism, this socio-political dogma looks set to guide Russia’s role in the world for the remainder of Putin’s tenure. But what exactly is Eurasianism, and what geographical region even constitutes Eurasia? - [How to Constructively Lose the War](https://fpa.org/how-to-constructively-lose-the-war/): It is Common Knowledge that Soviet Soldiers Liberated Many Concentration Camps during the Second World War - [The Great Shell Race](https://fpa.org/the-great-shell-race/): The Paris Gun was used by Germany to shell Paris from a great distance during the First World War. It was the largest cannon in the world at the time. - [Great Decisions High School: NATO](https://fpa.org/great-decisions-high-school-nato/): NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was founded in 1949 to provide collective defense against Soviet aggression. Over the years, it has expanded from 12 to 31 member nations, adapting to new global threats such as terrorism, cyberattacks, and regional conflicts. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has revitalized NATO's role, prompting debates on its relevance, expansion, and the responsibilities of its members. This edition examines NATO’s history, purpose, military commitments, and the challenges it faces in an era of shifting global power dynamics. - [Should the U.S. Fear the Rise of BRICS?](https://fpa.org/should-the-u-s-fear-the-rise-of-brics/): The 15th annual BRICS summit kicked off on August 22nd in Johannesburg, South Africa, in its most widely observed meeting to date. As the acronym suggests, leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa convened for a three-day conference with expansion at the top of the agenda. Because Vladimir Putin has an arrest warrant with the International Criminal Court, his attendance came virtually, sparing South Africa the diplomatic headache. Presented as an alternative to the U.S.-led liberal international order and a representative of the Global South, the BRICS group is determined to challenge the “Washington Consensus-driven Bretton Woods Institutions.” This year’s gathering culminated with an invitation to six countries: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Even before this expansion, the rise of BRICS has prompted doomsday calls in Western media outlets regarding the future of the U.S. Dollar and the structure of international finance. However, if the bloc is to become a counterweight to the Bretton Woods system, it will need to harmonize its members competing interests and geopolitical ambitions. - [Kundera’s Era](https://fpa.org/kunderas-era/): Soviet Oppression during the Prague Spring 1968 influenced much of Milan Kundera's perspective on Czechoslovak society at the time under Communism. - [Back to School on Foreign Policy](https://fpa.org/back-to-school-on-foreign-policy/): Late August means back to school. Parents know it, kids know it, you know it and so do I. In a modern and rapidly evolving world we know that there is much to learn.The skills we develop during the first few years of school -reading and basic arithmetic- are important parts of everyday life. In the years that follow, school helps us develop skills like critical thinking and problem solving which allow us to take on higher level challenges.  - [Building BRICS+](https://fpa.org/building-brics/): There has been quite a lot of media attention given to the BRICS nations over the last few weeks as a displacement tool for Western political and economic power worldwide. While the BRICS only get media attention every few years, this year has elicited a greater response as the expansion of the BRICS was top of mind for the current members. - [Spain’s Path to a New Prime Minister](https://fpa.org/spains-path-to-a-new-prime-minister/): Millions of citizens cast their ballots over the weekend in Spain, marking an end to five years of left-wing rule in Europe’s sixth-largest economy. Alberto Núñez Feijóo led the center-right People’s Party (PP) to victory in tightly contested snap elections, defeating Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). The elections were highly scrutinized on the continent and beyond, with many anticipating a decisive conservative triumph in line with Europe’s recent right-wing tilt. However, the PP failed to achieve an absolute majority, and Sanchez’s political career isn’t over yet, with arduous coalition negotiations on the horizon. As uncertainty and deadlock consume the country, Spain’s political drama is set to continue. - [The Art of Self Infliction](https://fpa.org/the-art-of-self-infliction/): As losses of Advanced Equipment Mounts, the images will be used to shift morale on the battlefield in Ukraine - A Leopard 2A4 image shows a damaged tank, it is unsure if this image shows losses due to Russian Army actions. - [Countries that repress gays should not partake in Olympic Games](https://fpa.org/countries-that-repress-gays-should-not-partake-in-olympic-games/): According to an article published in the Russian media titled “Visa with a trick,” this year, the International Olympic Committee is banning Russians from partaking in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris unless they are ideologically opposed to the war in the Ukraine, act under a neutral flag, and have nothing to do with the Russian security agencies. This comes after countries like the Czech Republic banned Russian athletes from partaking in sporting events in their borders and Russian tennis player Vera Zvonareva was barred recently from Poland.   - [The Future Vendor](https://fpa.org/the-future-vendor/): China used the HQ-7 "Crotale" outside of a stadium as protection during the 2008 Olympics. - [The Defensive](https://fpa.org/the-defensive/): A model designer's theoretical possible future Air Defence weapon for Ukraine, using a Ukrainian made BTR-4E married to a variant of the Skyshield modern air defence cannon. - image from the Panzerfux.de catalogue. - [The Status of French Colonialism Today](https://fpa.org/the-status-of-french-colonialism-today/): Azerbaijani journalist Elnur Enveroglu recently stated, “France’s colonial policy is the biggest disgrace of the 21st century.   The fact is that the French state, which acts as the leading party for the democratization policy in Europe, is carrying out racism, violation of human rights, discrimination of language, and religion, both in New Caledonia and within the country, along with the colonial policy.  For this reason, there is great strife and turmoil within France today.”   - [The Ramifactions of Continued Azerbaijani Aggression](https://fpa.org/the-ramifactions-of-continued-azerbaijani-aggression/): Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan had been notoriously high for several years and culminated with an Azerbaijani offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020. The war lasted about a month and ended with several thousand deaths. Azerbaijan demonstrated its military superiority by capturing most of the land it lost in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. The war was ended by a Russian-brokered ceasefire which allowed for the free transfer of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijanis to Nakhchivan. The war was marked by several war crimes on both sides. Following the war, there have been numerous more border skirmishes, with the most potent one being in September of 2022, leaving hundreds total dead. - [Azerbaijan: A Potential Bastion for Christians in Karabakh](https://fpa.org/azerbaijan-a-potential-bastion-for-christians-in-karabakh/): In recent days, US Ambassador to Armenia Christina Quinn has said that the United States believes that the Armenian people will be able to live safely in Karabakh: “We believe it is possible and we hope all parties will work together to make it a reality.   The US believes that this is the right approach.  We call on all sides to make joint efforts to ensure the rights and security are established.”  Unfortunately, the American Ambassador to Armenia has faced a backlash within some extremist circles in Armenia for making this statement, yet that does not take away the truth of what she stated. - [U.S.-India Relations: A Strategic Alignment](https://fpa.org/u-s-india-relations-a-strategic-alignment/): Last week, President Biden rolled out the red carpet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extending the leader of the world’s largest democracy the full honors of an official state visit. After Mr. Modi addressed a joint session of Congress for the second time in his career, he joined his American counterpart for an opulent state dinner Thursday evening (June 22nd) ­-- only the third such dinner of President Biden’s term. This historic visit was anticipated to yield tangible results and invigorate commercial and military ties between the U.S. and India. As the world’s most populous nation and future global powerhouse, India is a vital counterweight to growing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. Indeed, a robust strategic partnership with India is invaluable for American interests, but it’s difficult to ignore the elephant in the room. For all the talk of shared political values, India is a backsliding democracy that has often opposed American international initiatives. It’s crucial to analyze and appreciate the strengthening U.S.-India partnership for what it is, a transactional relationship built on mutual interests. - [Balancing Acts: Navigating US-China Relations and the Future of Global Diplomacy](https://fpa.org/balancing-acts-navigating-us-china-relations-and-the-future-of-global-diplomacy/): There are only so many options for the future of the relationship between China and the United States. I’ve been able to identify three: - [The Offensive](https://fpa.org/the-offensive/): Leopard 2A6 and Leopard 2A4 suffer their first losses in Ukraine - [Is Armenian public opinion an impediment for peace?](https://fpa.org/is-armenian-public-opinion-an-impediment-for-peace/): According to a recent Gallop Poll, about 82 percent of the Armenian population reject Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijani territory.    Some 86 percent of Armenians cannot imagine Karabakh Armenians having a future within the State of Azerbaijan.   The survey questioned a representative sample of 1,100 Armenians. - [Eat Your Vegetables](https://fpa.org/eat-your-vegetables/): Report after report after report warns of the pending “rematch from hell” that “few Americans want to see” pitting an 80 year old incumbent against a man currently being charged with multiple felonies- in truth, the octogenarian is hardly innocent, and the criminal defendant is hardly an image of youth.  - [The Hypersonic Challenge](https://fpa.org/the-hypersonic-challenge/): Russian MiG-31 armed with the Kinzhal missile. Kinzhal Hypersonic missiles were once thought to be almost impossible to intercept. - [France & Strategic Autonomy: Redefining Europe’s Role in the 21st Century](https://fpa.org/france-strategic-autonomy-redefining-europes-role-in-the-21st-century/): France’s pursuit of European ‘strategic autonomy’ has ignited debates surrounding the nature of transatlantic relations against the backdrop of shifting global power dynamics. Under President Emmanuel Macron, France has emerged as the vanguard in the effort to redefine Europe’s international role. Macron’s message was unmistakable during his controversial state visit to China in April 2023: Europe must actively reduce its reliance on the U.S. and avoid becoming “America’s followers.” According to Macron, strategic autonomy will secure the EU’s future position as the third superpower in an increasingly multipolar world. However, the concept remains subject to interpretation, and European leaders diverge on the path forward. Furthermore, France’s complex relationship with self-reliance adds a historical dimension to the dialogue, and Macron’s Eurocentric ambitions are the latest manifestation. In light of these factors, examining European strategic autonomy becomes essential in a time when transatlantic unity is more imperative than ever. - [Azerbaijan’s National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the Jews](https://fpa.org/azerbaijans-national-leader-heydar-aliyev-and-the-jews/): After Azerbaijan recently opened up its embassy in Tel Aviv, Saadat Sukurova Israelov, the head of the Kanal 24 news outlet, the vice President of Aziz, Azerbaijan’s main cultural organization in Israel, and the chairwoman of the Dona Gracia Center for Diplomacy, is in the process of making a documentary titled “the Great Leader and the Jews,” which speaks about the life of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev and his relationship with the Jewish people. - [The Policy Honeymoon](https://fpa.org/the-policy-honeymoon/): A Turret from a T-72 tank buries itself in concrete after suffering a catastrophic explosion and separating from its hull. - [Azerbaijan’s Ally Ilham Aliyev: An Ally of the West](https://fpa.org/azerbaijans-ally-ilham-aliyev-an-ally-of-the-west/): At this year’s Victory Parade commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazism during the Second World War, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin compared Russia’s struggle against the Ukraine today to the Soviet war against Nazi Germany: “Today, civilization again is at a breaking point. Again, a true war has been unleashed against our motherland.” - [The Fate of Crimea](https://fpa.org/the-fate-of-crimea/): It might be the case that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine depends greatly on the fate of Crimea towards the end of the conflict. Russia occupied the Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014 when the larger conflict began between the two nations. While little was done at the time by Western allies to stop Russia from annexing Crimea in 2014, the historical roots of Crimea has long been established in that part of the world for both sides of the conflict. - [Air Defence Missiles and Escalation](https://fpa.org/air-defence-missiles-and-escalation/): Ukraine may need to use older missile defence systems with the dwindling stock of more advanced surface to air missiles. - [Azerbaijani flag burnt at European weightlifting championship](https://fpa.org/azerbaijani-flag-burnt-at-european-weightlifting-championship/): Recently, it was reported that during the presentation of the teams participating in the European Weightlifting Competition, a man ran onto the stage and set fire to the Azerbaijani flag, as the crowd booed the appearance of the Azerbaijani athletes on stage.  Later on, it was reported that the man who did this was a member of the organizing committee of the championship, Aram Nikolyan. - [The Indian Century](https://fpa.org/the-indian-century/): A possible new trade route between Russia and India to take shape starting in 2023. - [The Geopolitics of Speaker McCarthy’s Meeting with the Taiwanese President](https://fpa.org/the-geopolitics-of-speaker-mccarthys-meeting-with-the-taiwanese-president/): On April 5th, U.S. Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, welcomed Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Ms. Tsai’s visit with Mr. McCarthy, who is second in line to the presidency, is the highest-ever profile meeting between Taiwanese and U.S. lawmakers on American soil. Accompanied by a bipartisan congressional delegation, Mr. McCarthy reaffirmed American support for Taiwanese sovereignty while demonstrating Congress would not be deterred by Beijing’s threats. In the weeks leading up to the event, Chinese officials repeatedly warned the Speaker, even emailing the attending U.S. lawmakers the morning of April 5th, labeling it a “blatant provocation.” Immediately after the meeting, several spokespersons for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) vocalized their disapproval, calling it a violation of China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and “the basic norms of international relations.” Ms. Tsai’s recent rendezvous echoes Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year, which elicited a ferocious Chinese response in the form of 11-day military exercises, missile launches, and a simulated island blockade. However, China’s reaction exhibited more restraint this time, with military displays lasting only three days and no blockade. Why is this? - [The Importance of Establishing an Azerbaijani Genocide Square](https://fpa.org/the-importance-of-establishing-an-azerbaijani-genocide-square/): Recently, Azerbaijani people around the world commemorated the Genocide Day of Azerbaijanis. Although most Israelis and Americans are not aware of it, as the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia around World War I in March 1918, armed gangs of Armenian Dashnaks committed an act of genocide against Azerbaijanis, both Jewish and Muslim, killing thousands of Azerbaijani civilians merely for the crime of being Azerbaijani. - [Has the Great Displacement Begun?](https://fpa.org/has-the-great-displacement-begun/): The most striking change in development of nation states in the last year has come from the shift Germany has made back towards an energy strategy that pulls itself away from Russia, seeking to balance traditional energy needs with future environmentally friendly projects. While Germany and much of Europe is still heavily dependant on Russian oil and gas, along with energy supplies from Russian allies in the War in Ukraine, the continued conflict along with the expected increase in violence may finally push Western Europe into full displacement mode. - [The Consequences of Arab Gulf States Normalizing with Iran Should Surprise No One](https://fpa.org/the-consequences-of-arab-gulf-states-normalizing-with-iran-should-surprise-no-one/): The announcement of the China-brokered Iran-KSA normalization plan triggered pearl-clutching around the globe. Some headlines even implied that Israel’s PM Netanyahu was surprised by the news, even though the negotiations have been ongoing since early in the Biden administration’s tenure. Indeed, there are signs that the Beijing-backed phase of the talks that began in Iraq had the administration’s approval. Some US officials admitted a “cross-over” in interests between the US (or at least the White House) and China in reconciling Tehran and Riyadh. The reason behind Washington’s tacit approval is Tehran’s rapprochement with its implacable opponent advances a new nuclear deal. - [Addressing Challenges in the Face of the Growing Partnership between Moscow and Beijing](https://fpa.org/addressing-challenges-in-the-face-of-the-growing-partnership-between-moscow-and-beijing/): President Joe Biden, center, poses with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and Olena Zelenska, left, spouse of President Zelenskyy, at Mariinsky Palace during an unannounced visit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool) - [Azerbaijan and the Non-Aligned Movement](https://fpa.org/azerbaijan-and-the-non-aligned-movement/): Latvian President Egils Levits recently proclaimed, “Azerbaijan plays a paramount role in the Non-Aligned Movement including 120 member states,” stressing that Azerbaijan has inspired many countries during its chairman of the block of states during a period when the pandemic struck our world.   During its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan has been a strong advocate against vaccine nationalism, has argued for the expansion of the UN Security Council, claiming that there are many emerging powers who should also have a voice and also has been an outspoken critic of various countries colonial past. - [The Plight of a Western Azerbaijani Refugee](https://fpa.org/the-plight-of-a-western-azerbaijani-refugee/): Although many people may not be aware of it today, the majority of Yerevan used to be Azerbaijani Turkish.  In 1897, there were 77,491 Azerbaijani Turks and only 58,148 Armenians in Yerevan Province.  However, after a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign, Yerevan is now majority Armenian and there are not any Azerbaijani Turks left in the region.        - [The Costs of Saving Face](https://fpa.org/the-costs-of-saving-face/): The Most Advanced Tank on either side of the Conflict to date, a Russian T-90M sits burnt out after it was destroyed fighting in Ukraine. - [Brexit Development: The Windsor Framework](https://fpa.org/brexit-development-the-windsor-framework/): Standing next to the president of the European Commission in London, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the inauguration of the Windsor Framework on February 27th. The agreement appears to settle the dispute with the European Union over Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., while finally giving Brexiteers something to cheer about. When negotiating Brexit’s terms in 2020, London and Brussels disagreed over Northern Ireland’s economic status in relation to its EU neighbor, the Republic of Ireland. As a result, the faulty Northern Ireland Protocol was instituted, meaning that Northern Ireland remains in the EU customs union and avoids a hard border with Dublin. However, the protocol mandated checks on goods flowing to Northern Ireland from the U.K. While other disagreements remain, this provision specifically formed the primary tension hindering London’s reconciliation with Brussels after Brexit. Though Sunak must still convince his colleagues in Belfast (Northern Ireland’s capital), as well as his own party’s Brexit hardliners, the initial reactions are encouraging. If both sides formalize the agreement, the framework opens the door for further cooperation with the EU while giving Sunak the time to focus on the many other pressing issues he faces. However, the Northern Ireland Protocol is a complex issue, and it’s reasonable to wonder what exactly the Windsor Framework changes. - [Russia Benefits from the<br>South Caucasus<br>Tensions](https://fpa.org/russia-benefits-from-thesouth-caucasustensions/): The biggest winner in the ongoing tensions between Yerevan and Baku is Moscow.Since liberating its formerly occupied territories in the Karabakh region in a 44-day warin 2020, Baku has attempted to demarcate its borders, open communications, includinghumanitarian corridors in strategic areas, and to finalize the terms of the peaceagreement with its neighbor. The trilateral peace agreement that secured Baku’s victoryhas come under increased scrutiny over time, as the peace talks between Armenia andAzerbaijan have dragged on. In public, Azerbaijani officials and analysts tend to blamethese difficulties on the pressures placed on PM Nikol Pashinyan by revanchists insideand outside Armenia, especially foreign lobbyists, who don’t want him to come to termswith the battlefield reality. However, the interventionism by foreign state actors,especially Russia, is more noteworthy. - [Protecting the Skies](https://fpa.org/protecting-the-skies/): Old Cold War era Anti-Aircraft system, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, may provide a solution to drone attacks over Ukraine - [The Truth Regarding What is Happening along the Lachin Corridor](https://fpa.org/the-truth-regarding-what-is-happening-along-the-lachin-corridor/): Armenian activists in recent days have been creating quite a storm over the fact that Azerbaijani environmental activists are protesting along the Lachin corridor.    According to a recent ANCA Press Release, “Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) was joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair David Valadao (R-CA), House Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee Ranking member Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) in calling on the Biden Administration to send emergency aid to Artsakh in response to the devastating humanitarian crisis in Artsakh caused by Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor.”   However, one must ponder, are their claims correct?   Is there a humanitarian crisis along the Lachin Corridor? Is there really a blockade? - [Wave of Militarization in Wake of Ukraine](https://fpa.org/wave-of-militarization-in-wake-of-ukraine/): With the war in Ukraine entering its eleventh month on January 24th, it’s clear the conflict is ushering in a new era of international politics. Countries are reassessing their security challenges in a world shaped by great power competition. U.S. security assurances are no longer remedying its ally’s security concerns, with some countries reevaluating their alliances with the U.S. or their military structure as a whole. To spectators watching the ongoing Russian invasion, it’s apparent the relative stability enjoyed by Asia and Europe since WWII ended is at a close. Whether it’s renewed Russian aggression in Europe or threats posed by an increasingly bold China in the Pacific, countries feel less secure than they did before the war. Several nations, most notably Japan, have already begun upending their normative defense postures, leading to a greater emphasis on defense spending and reduced reliance on U.S. military support. - [Liberation in the Shadows](https://fpa.org/liberation-in-the-shadows/): In the forests of Ukraine where fighting has been occurring for most of 2022 and likely for years to come, a tradition of resistance took shape during the Second World War. Many of those fighting against the Nazi Occupation of the region during the Second World War were Women, Partisans and Patriots to their communities. While many were refugees from local towns, they still participated in the functions of Partisan fighting by serving as teachers, nurses and some in combat roles as well. Despite their contribution, there is little discussion of the women who fight in hot conflicts even today, and even less support from their Allies from abroad it seems in the 2020s. - [Azerbaijan sues Armenia over the extensive destruction of natural areas in Karabakh](https://fpa.org/azerbaijan-sues-armenia-over-the-extensive-destruction-of-natural-areas-in-karabakh/): It was recently reported in the Turkish media that Azerbaijan seeks to sue Armenia for violating the Bern Convention and causing “extensive destruction” to the environment during their 30-year occupation of Karabakh in violation of four UN Security Council Resolutions: “Armenia’s widespread deforestation, unsustainable logging and pollution through significant construction and mining in areas that were protected nature reserves prior to the occupation has put over 500 wildlife species at risk in Azerbaijan.” - [Recent Developments in the Sino-Indian Border Dispute](https://fpa.org/recent-developments-in-the-sino-indian-border-dispute/): Tensions between China and India are flaring once again over the long-contested border separating the world’s two largest militaries, the latest development of an ongoing dispute dating back over a century. A video circulating on social media captures Indian and Chinese troops engaged in melee combat, attacking one another with clubs and sticks, supposedly in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Though Indian and Chinese authorities confirmed a skirmish took place on December 9th, the video’s absence of snow indicates the altercation likely occurred sometime earlier this year. Experts now believe this confrontation to be one of several previously unreported border clashes to materialize over the last two years. China’s rising power and international assertiveness are increasing the frequency of these incidents, establishing a dangerous “new normal” along the 2,167-mile Himalayan border. - [Watch the Mountains](https://fpa.org/watch-the-mountains/): Gepard Destroying Shahed Drone over Ukraine - [Why Iran Supports Armenia](https://fpa.org/why-iran-supports-armenia/): The South Caucasus has historically been the focus of great empires. Since it is located on the border between Europe and Asia, the possession of these territories was the access of the empires to all parts of the Eurasian continent. For this reason, throughout history, the region has been continuously attacked by major powers. Unfortunately, in modern times, huge states like Russia and Iran do not take their eyes off these lands. - [Eroded Proportionality](https://fpa.org/eroded-proportionality/): The concept of Proportionality in Law and in the application of policy is a crucial measure that separates a fair and just system of rules and laws from one that functions to the benefit of a few powerful individuals. The determination of what is considered proportional can range from a directed policy in the application of criminal justice, to an established etiquette that while being a law of customary practice, is essential for the operation of a healthy Parliamentary Democracy. ## Pages - [Terms & Conditions](https://fpa.org/terms-conditions/): Return Policy: All sales are final. 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Lorem ipsum dolore amet, net the worth of the book of lorem Ipsum Great Decisions. - [Bookstore](https://fpa.org/bookstore/): Great Decisions Materials - [Homepage](https://fpa.org/) ## Products - [Book and streaming membership](https://fpa.org/register/book-and-streaming-membership/) - [Digital book access](https://fpa.org/register/book-membership/) - [Student member](https://fpa.org/register/student/) - [Associate member](https://fpa.org/register/associate-member/) - [Patron member](https://fpa.org/register/patrons/) - [Sponsoring member](https://fpa.org/register/sponsoring-members/) ## Groups - [Great decisions memberships](https://fpa.org/plans/great-decisions-memberships/) - [Event memberships](https://fpa.org/plans/event-memberships/) ## Speakers - [Amanda Klasing](https://fpa.org/speaker/amanda-klasing/): Amanda Klasing is National Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at Amnesty International USA, where she leads a team of advocacy directors and fellows engaging with the United States government on global human rights issues and to advance a human rights policy agenda. Prior to joining Amnesty International USA, she launched and led the US Democracy Initiative in 2022 and co-directed the Women’s Rights Division from 2018 to 2021 at Human Rights Watch, where she previously was a fellow, researcher and senior researcher beginning in 2010. She has also served as a fellow at RFK Human Rights and is a founding member of the Human Rights Methodology Lab. - [William Dalrymple](https://fpa.org/speaker/william-dalrymple/): William Dalrymple is one of Britain’s great historians and the bestselling author of the Wolfson Prize-winning White Mughals, The Last Mughal, which won the Duff Cooper Prize, and the Hemingway and Kapuściński award-winning Return of a King. His most recent book, The Anarchy, was long-listed for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2019, and shortlisted for the Duke of Wellington Medal for Military History, the Tata Book of the Year (Non-fiction) and the Historical Writers Association Book Award 2020. It was a Finalist for the Cundill Prize for History and won the 2020 Arthur Ross Bronze Medal from the US Council on Foreign Relations. - [Jonathan Alter](https://fpa.org/speaker/jonathan-alter/): Jonathan Alter is an award-winning author, political analyst, documentary filmmaker, columnist and television producer. Alter’s most recent books are American Reckoning: Inside Trump’s Trial — and My Own (2024) and His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life (2020), both of which received uniformly favorable reviews. His earlier books include three New York Times bestsellers: The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies (2013), The Promise: President Obama, Year One (2010) and The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope (2006), also one of the Times’ “Notable Books” of the year. His next book is a political biography of Julius Caesar. A former senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, Alter is a longtime political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. He co-produced and co-directed the HBO documentary Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, which won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary. In 2013-2014, he was an executive producer of Alpha House, a comedy on Amazon. Over the years, Alter has written extensively for The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Washington Monthly, The New Yorker, The New Republic, Vanity Fair, Daily Beast and other publications. In 2021, he launched a weekly Substack newsletter called Old Goats, Ruminating with Friends, which includes columns and his conversations with accomplished people of wisdom and experience. - [NBC News Political Analyst](https://fpa.org/speaker/nbc-news-political-analyst/): Jonathan Alter is an award-winning author, political analyst, documentary filmmaker, columnist and television producer. Alter’s most recent books are American Reckoning: Inside Trump’s Trial — and My Own (2024) and His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life (2020), both of which received uniformly favorable reviews. His earlier books include three New York Times bestsellers: The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies (2013), The Promise: President Obama, Year One (2010) and The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope (2006), also one of the Times’ “Notable Books” of the year. His next book is a political biography of Julius Caesar. A former senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, Alter is a longtime political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. He co-produced and co-directed the HBO documentary Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, which won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary. In 2013-2014, he was an executive producer of Alpha House, a comedy on Amazon. Over the years, Alter has written extensively for The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Washington Monthly, The New Yorker, The New Republic, Vanity Fair, Daily Beast and other publications. In 2021, he launched a weekly Substack newsletter called Old Goats, Ruminating with Friends, which includes columns and his conversations with accomplished people of wisdom and experience. - [Dr. Caroline Freund](https://fpa.org/speaker/dr-caroline-freund/): Dean of the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, Caroline Freund is an expert in international trade and economic development. - [Prof. José Enrique Alvarez](https://fpa.org/speaker/prof-jose-enrique-alvarez/): José Alvarez is the Herbert and Rose Rubin Professor of International Law at New York University School of Law. Before coming to NYU, he was the Hamilton Fish Professor of International Law and Diplomacy and the executive director of the Center on Global Legal Problems at Columbia Law School, a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, an associate professor at the George Washington University’s National Law Center, and an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law Center. At NYU he teaches courses on international law, foreign investment, and international organizations. He served as president of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) from 2006-2008 and was the immediate prior co-editor-in-chief, along with his NYU colleague, Benedict Kingsbury, of the American Journal of International Law. - [José Enrique Alvarez](https://fpa.org/speaker/jose-enrique-alvarez/): Professor Alvarez’s seven books and over 170 shorter works have made substantial contributions to a wide range of topics in international law, including the law-making aspects of UN system organizations, the challenges facing international criminal tribunals, the elusive boundaries between “public” and “private,” the legitimacy deficits and reform prospects for the international investment regime, and the failings of global health law. His most recent books include Women's Property Rights Under CEDAW (co-authored, Oxford University Press, 2024), The Impact of International Organizations on International Law (2017), International Investment Law (2017), and The Boundaries of Investment Arbitration (2018). His lectures in the UN’s Audiovisual Library address “The United States’ Contribution to the International Investment Regime,” “The Evolving International Investment Regime,” “The Human Right of Property,” and “International Organizations as Law-Makers.” Alvarez, a former president of the American Society of International Law and a former co-editor-in-chief of the American Journal of International Law, has been a special adviser to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, an attorney-adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser of the US Department of State, a judicial clerk to a US circuit court judge, and a lawyer in private practice. Prior to coming to NYU, he was the Hamilton Fish Professor of International Law at Columbia Law School. He has lectured extensively throughout Europe, Latin America, and in many parts of Asia. At present, he is the faculty director of NYU’s US-Asia Law Institute, as well as a member of the Institut de Droit International, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He was awarded the American Society of International Law's highest honor, the Manley O. Hudson Medal, in 2024. - [The Hon. Maurizio Massari](https://fpa.org/speaker/the-hon-maurizio-massari/): Ambassador, career diplomat with over fourty years of experience, Maurizio Massari is the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York. - [Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company](https://fpa.org/speaker/bob-sternfels-global-managing-partner-mckinsey-company/): Bob is McKinsey’s global managing partner and chairs the firm’s board of directors. His focus is on ensuring McKinsey lives up to its dual mission of helping our clients realize lasting and substantial improvements in their performance while also attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people. - [Pradeep K. Khosla, Chancellor, University of California, San Diego](https://fpa.org/speaker/pradeep-k-khosla-chancellor-university-of-california-san-diego/): Pradeep K. Khosla became UC San Diego’s eighth chancellor on August 1, 2012. As UC San Diego’s chief executive officer, he leads a campus with more than 45,000 students within 11 academic, professional and graduate schools and eight undergraduate residential colleges. UC San Diego is also home to the prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the UC San Diego Health System. With annual revenues of $9.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, UC San Diego is an academic and research powerhouse, with faculty, researchers and staff attracting more than $1.73 billion in sponsored research funding in 2024. UC San Diego is recognized as one of the top 20 research universities in the world and is the largest civilian employer based in San Diego County. - [Brett A. Hickey, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Star Mountain Capital](https://fpa.org/speaker/brett-a-hickey-founder-chief-executive-officer-star-mountain-capital-2/): Brett Hickey has been structuring, analyzing and managing private equity, mezzanine and U.S. Government sponsored investment funds for over a decade. Prior to launching Star Mountain Capital, Mr. Hickey was the Co-Founder and President of a multi-manager platform including 4 U.S. state sponsored small business investment funds. Mr. Hickey has extensive experience performing due diligence on, selecting and building small business fund managers and has helped structure over a dozen larger funds representing a few billion dollars in assets. - [Brett A. Hickey, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Star Mountain Capital](https://fpa.org/speaker/brett-a-hickey-founder-chief-executive-officer-star-mountain-capital/): Brett Hickey has been structuring, analyzing and managing private equity, mezzanine and U.S. Government sponsored investment funds for over a decade. Prior to launching Star Mountain Capital, Mr. Hickey was the Co-Founder and President of a multi-manager platform including 4 U.S. state sponsored small business investment funds. Mr. Hickey has extensive experience performing due diligence on, selecting and building small business fund managers and has helped structure over a dozen larger funds representing a few billion dollars in assets. - [James Daunt, Chief Executive Officer, Barnes & Noble](https://fpa.org/speaker/james-daunt-chief-executive-officer-barnes-noble/): James Daunt is Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest retail bookseller, of stationery and gift retailer Paper Source and of Waterstones, the largest retail bookseller in the United Kingdom. Mr. Daunt currently oversees more than 600 Barnes & Noble bookstores and 125 Paper Source in the United States and over 300 bookshops across the United Kingdom, Ireland, The Netherlands and Belgium, which include Waterstones, Blackwell’s, Foyles and Hatchards - [Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University](https://fpa.org/speaker/dr-jeffrey-sachs-director-of-the-center-for-sustainable-development-at-columbia-university/): Sachs is widely recognized for bold and effective strategies to address complex challenges including the escape from extreme poverty, the global battle against human-induced climate change, international debt and financial crises, national economic reforms, and the control of pandemic and epidemic diseases. Sachs serves as the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he holds the rank of University Professor, the university’s highest academic rank. Sachs was Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University from 2002 to 2016. He is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Co-Chair of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, academician of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican, Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development, Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor at Sunway University, and SDG Advocate for UN Secretary General António Guterres. From 2001-18, Sachs served as Special Advisor to UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan (2001-7), Ban Ki-moon (2008-16), and António Guterres (2017-18). Sachs has authored and edited numerous books, including three New York Times bestsellers: The End of Poverty (2005), Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet (2008), and The Price of Civilization (2011). Other books include To Move the World: JFK’s Quest for Peace (2013), The Age of Sustainable Development (2015), Building the New American Economy: Smart, Fair & Sustainable (2017), A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism (2018), The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (2020), and most recently, Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022). Sachs is the 2022 recipient of the Tang Prize in Sustainable Development and was the co-recipient of the 2015 Blue Planet Prize, the leading global prize for environmental leadership. He was twice named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential world leaders. Sachs has received 42 honorary doctorates, and his recent awards include the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the Republic of France, and the Order of the Cross from the President of Estonia. Prior to joining Columbia, Sachs spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard University, most recently as the Galen L. Stone Professor of International Trade. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Sachs received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees at Harvard. - [Julian E. Zelizer, Malcolm Forbes Professor of History, Princeton](https://fpa.org/speaker/julian-e-zelizer-malcolm-forbes-professor-of-history-princeton/): New York Times best-selling author Julian E. Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University, a columnist for Foreign Policy, and publishes a Substack newsletter called The Long View. He is also a regular guest on NPR’s "Here and Now" and a popular analyst on multiple television and radio networks. He is the award-winning author and editor of 27 books, including The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society, the winner of the D.B. Hardeman Prize for the Best Book on Congress and Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974, co-authored with Kevin Kruse and Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, The Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party. The New York Times named the book as an Editor's Choice and one of the 100 Notable Books in 2020. His most recent books are Abraham Joshua Heschel: A Life of Radical Amazement and The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: A First Historical Assessment (Editor), Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Lies and Legends About Our Past (co-edited with Kevin Kruse), and Our Nation at Risk: Election Security as a National Security Issue (co-edited with Karen Greenberg). He is currently working on a new book about the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the 1964 Democratic Convention entitled ‘Is this America?’: Reckoning with Racism at the 1964 Atlantic City Democratic Convention and an edited volume, The Presidency of Joseph Biden Jr: A First Historical Assessment. Zelizer has published over 1500 op-eds and received fellowships from the Brookings Institution, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, the New York Historical Society, Penn Washington, and New America. His most recent book, published in January 2005, is In Defense of Partisanship (Columbia Global Reports). - [Stephen Schlesinger, Fellow, Century Foundation](https://fpa.org/speaker/stephen-schlesinger-fellow-century-foundation/): Stephen Schlesinger is the former director of the World Policy Institute at the New School (1997–2006) and former publisher of the quarterly magazine, The World Policy Journal. In the early 1970s, he edited and published the New Democrat magazine, and after that spent four years as a staff writer at Time magazine. For twelve years, he served as New York State Governor Mario Cuomo’s speechwriter and foreign policy adviser. In the mid-1990s, he worked at the United Nations at Habitat, the agency dealing with cities. He has also taught at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. - [Adam Howard, Director, Office of the Historian Foreign Service Institute](https://fpa.org/speaker/adam-howard-director-office-of-the-historian-foreign-service-institute/): Adam Howard is The Historian for the U.S. Department of State and the Director of the Department’s Office of the Historian. He is responsible for the publication of the congressionally-mandated Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series, the official documentary history of U.S. foreign relations, and the preparation of historical studies on U.S. foreign affairs and institutional history for use by policymakers. - [Cameron Dawson, Chief Investment Officer, NewEdge Wealth](https://fpa.org/speaker/cameron-dawson-chief-investment-officer-newedge-wealth/): Cameron Dawson is the Chief Investment Officer at NewEdge Wealth, an investment advisory firm specializing in ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients. In her role, she leads the development of the firm’s investment themes, strategies, and market outlooks, collaborating closely with advisors and clients. Prior to joining NewEdge Wealth in 2022, Ms. Cameron served as Chief Market Strategist at Fieldpoint Private Securities and as a Senior Equity Analyst at Bank of America. She is widely recognized for her insightful financial commentary, frequently appearing on Bloomberg, CNBC, and Fox Business. - [Robert Sockin, Senior Global Economist, Citi](https://fpa.org/speaker/robert-sockin-senior-global-economist-citi-2/): obert Sockin is a Senior Global Economist at Citi, where he contributes to macroeconomic research and policy analysis. He rejoined Citi in June 2022, having previously served as an economist at the firm from 2011 to 2014. Between his tenures at Citi, Mr. Sockin held positions as a Senior Economist at SPX Capital, Director of Economics at UBS, and Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He began his career at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, focusing on global trade research. Mr. Sockin’s analyses are frequently cited in major media outlets, including The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. - [Robert Sockin, Senior Global Economist, Citi](https://fpa.org/speaker/robert-sockin-senior-global-economist-citi/): Robert Sockin is a Senior Global Economist at Citi, where he contributes to macroeconomic research and policy analysis. He rejoined Citi in June 2022, having previously served as an economist at the firm from 2011 to 2014. Between his tenures at Citi, Mr. Sockin held positions as a Senior Economist at SPX Capital, Director of Economics at UBS, and Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He began his career at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, focusing on global trade research. Mr. Sockin’s analyses are frequently cited in major media outlets, including The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. - [Charles Wait, Chairman, Adirondack Trust Company](https://fpa.org/speaker/charles-wait-chairman-adirondack-trust-company/): Charles V. Wait, is the Chairman of The Adirondack Trust Company, a community-focused financial institution based in Saratoga Springs, New York. He assumed this role in February 2020, becoming the fourth generation of the Wait family to lead the bank. Mr. Wait began his career at Adirondack Trust in 2009 as Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, after earning his J.D. from NYU School of Law and working at the law firm Jones Day. He was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2013 and joined the bank’s Board of Directors the same year. Under his leadership, Adirondack Trust has reinforced its commitment to community banking, supporting local businesses and residents through various financial services. - [Ambassador (ret) John B. Emerson](https://fpa.org/speaker/ambassador-ret-john-b-emerson/): U.S. Ambassador to Germany - [Michael E. O’Hanlon](https://fpa.org/speaker/michael-e-ohanlon/): Michael O’Hanlon is a senior fellow and director of research in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy and budgets, the use of military force, and American national security policy. He directs the Strobe Talbott Center on Security, Strategy and Technology, and is the inaugural holder of the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy. He co-directs the Africa Security Initiative as well. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia and Georgetown universities, and a member of the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board; he was also a member of the external advisory board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-12. In 2023, O’Hanlon published a book entitled “Military History for the Modern Strategist: America’s Major Wars since 1861.” The paperback version of the book with a preface covering the American Revolution as well as the declared wars of the 19th century came out in 2024. - [Lori Esposito Murray](https://fpa.org/speaker/lori-esposito-murray/): Dr. Lori Esposito Murray is senior fellow for national security and managing director of CEO programs at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Prior to joining CFR, Murray served as the president of the Committee for Economic Development, the nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), whose storied history includes developing the Marshall Plan for Europe. - [Jose Rosemberg](https://fpa.org/speaker/jose-rosemberg/): Senior Liaison Officer and head of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Liaison Office at the UN Headquarters in New York. - [Costil Gabriel](https://fpa.org/speaker/costil-gabriel/): Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam turpis turpis, gravida vel efficitur in, porta a augue. Nullam quam mauris, molestie ac libero vel, hendrerit dignissim nulla. Donec porttitor tempus dapibus. - [Robert Fox](https://fpa.org/speaker/robert-fox/): industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s Ipsum is simply dummy text of the event. ## Meeting Groups - [Saturday Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/saturday-great-decisions/): We meet primarily online and  are accepting new members.   Please send an email to SaturdayGreatDecisions@gmail.com for information. - [Cedar Ridge Global Affairs Forum](https://fpa.org/groups/cedar-ridge-global-affairs-forum/): Cedar Ridge Global Affairs Forum is a community discussion group for people interested in understanding international affairs, global economic trends, diplomacy, security, and cultural connections. The group welcomes participants with different backgrounds and levels of experience, creating a relaxed setting where members can exchange ideas, ask questions, and explore current international issues through informed discussion. - [Harbor View Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/harbor-view-great-decisions-group/): Harbor View Great Decisions Group is a community discussion group focused on international affairs, U.S. foreign policy, global security, trade, and emerging geopolitical issues. Meetings are designed to encourage informed, respectful, and nonpartisan discussion among participants with different perspectives. New participants are welcome, and each meeting includes a short introduction to the topic followed by an open discussion. - [Regents Point](https://fpa.org/groups/regents-point/): This group is for only Regents Point residents and their guests. - [Brittany Pointe Estates](https://fpa.org/groups/brittany-pointe-estates/) - [Zoom Meeting Group – ND66Moai](https://fpa.org/groups/nd66moai/) - [Digital Media & Global Education Study Group](https://fpa.org/groups/digital-media-global-education-study-group/): A community group focusing on how modern digital media and online platforms impact global education and cognitive development. We regularly discuss the role of accessible web tools and educational mechanics, analyzing how user-friendly platforms like 6x design logic-based puzzles and lightweight entertainment that engage learners worldwide. - [Mamaroneck Public Library](https://fpa.org/groups/mamaroneck-public-library/): Great Decisions Discussion Group (FPA): Watch a 35-minute Foreign Policy Association topic video, then join a moderated, respectful discussion. All are welcome; no registration required. Meets at Mamaroneck Public Library on scheduled Saturdays at 11 a.m. Check the library events page for dates, times, and topics. - [City News Cafe, Chicago](https://fpa.org/groups/city-news-cafe-chicago/): This is a new group, meeting for the first time. The dates listed above may change by a week or two, depending on peoples schedules. One of the main things we want to focus on is to bring together Democrats and Republicans in an attempt to have a reasonable discussion about Foreign Policy without resorting to negative rhetoric.  - [Arbor Ridge Assisted living](https://fpa.org/groups/arbor-ridge-assisted-living/) - [Westminster Gardens Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/westminster-gardens-great-decisions/): Westminster Gardens is a senior community in Duarte, California. About 35 seniors meet in February through March every year to discuss the Great Decisions from the Foreign Policy Association. We provide our own speakers from the academic communities near us. - [DC International Discourse Group](https://fpa.org/groups/dc-international-affairs-group/): Are you interested in meeting new people from different cultures? Have lively conversations on the state of the world's affairs? Brainstorm ways to support our communities? Look no further! - [Anthony Wayne Theater Great Decisions Program](https://fpa.org/groups/anthony-wayne-theater-great-decisions-program/) - [Acton Memorial Library Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/acton-memorial-library-great-decisions-group/) - [Acton Congregational Church Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/acton-congregational-church-great-decisions-group/) - [Stow Randall Library Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/stow-randall-library-great-decisions-group/) - [Healdsburg Wine Country](https://fpa.org/groups/healdsburg-wine-country/) - [Great Decisions Chicago Northside](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-chicago-northside/) - [CLSV Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/clsv-great-decisions/) - [Great Decisions at Lake Chapala Society](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-at-lake-chapala-society/) - [Tom Carrere Great Decisions Program](https://fpa.org/groups/tom-carrere-great-decisions-program/): A Foreign Policy Association (fpa.org) project sponsored locally by - [Great Decisions of Kingsport, Tennessee](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-of-kingsport-tennessee/) - [World Affairs Council of Albuquerque Great Decisions Program](https://fpa.org/groups/world-affairs-council-of-albuquerque-great-decisions-program/) - [CFS Econ Club](https://fpa.org/groups/cfs-econ-club/): Xiyue Zhang, a student in the Class of 2028 at Carolina Friends School (CFS), founded the Econ Club in 2024. The club hosts the Great Decisions program at CFS, providing a premier venue for interested students to discuss global affairs, philosophy, politics, and economics. - [Lucas County Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/lucas-county-great-decisions/) - [Fond du Lac Public Library – Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/fond-du-lac-public-library-great-decisions/): Please join us at 5:30 pm to watch each week's video. At 6 pm, a discussion will begin about the week's topic. To join the discussion remotely, please register at calendar.fdlpl.org so that you can receive a Zoom link.  If you plan to attend in person, registration is also appreciated. - [Great Decisions Norfolk](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-norfolk/) - [2026 Great Decision at JC Library](https://fpa.org/groups/2026-great-decision-at-jc-library/) - [DG Evening Group](https://fpa.org/groups/dg-evening-group/): This group is the successor to Nancy's group that ended as an active group with the pandemic in 2020. It carries on with the evening meeting cycle first established in 1988, with this group holding discussions annually every year since then. It is not connected to any of the other Great Decisions offshoots that convene in the Downers Grove Public Library, all of which began operating long after this group had started. - [Great Decisions at Well-Spring](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-at-well-spring/): Open to residents and team members at Well-Spring CCRC - [Great Decisions at St. Mark Presbyterian Church](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-at-st-mark-presbyterian-church/): We will have both in-person speakers and speakers via Zoom.  We encourage our guests to read each chapter in advance of the meetings. - [Our Savior’s Lutheran Church](https://fpa.org/groups/our-saviors-lutheran-church-2/) - [UOP MUN Program](https://fpa.org/groups/uop-mun-program/): UOP students enrolled in the Model United Nations program. - [Mendham Township Library](https://fpa.org/groups/mendham-township-library/) - [SECWAC/Essex Library](https://fpa.org/groups/secwac-essex-library/) - [Great Decisions at OLLI UVA](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-at-olli-uva/): Great Decisions in US Foreign Policy is offered as a community outreach program of the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning (OLLI) at the University of Virginia.  Students must register through the OLLI website for the course. - [Mountain View Retirement Village](https://fpa.org/groups/mountain-view-retirement-village/): Hello, - [The Terraces of Phoenix](https://fpa.org/groups/the-terraces-of-phoenix/): In the heart of North Phoenix, The Terraces of Phoenix is one of the area’s most welcoming, established and reputable Life Plan Communities. The Terraces offers an upscale independent living lifestyle amid gorgeous garden homes and apartments and first-rate amenities - [Learning In Retirement Assoc @ UMass Lowell](https://fpa.org/groups/learning-in-retirement-assoc-umass-lowell-2/) - [Learning in Retirement Assoc. @ UMass Lowell](https://fpa.org/groups/learning-in-retirement-assoc-umass-lowell/) - [White Sands Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/white-sands-great-decisions/) - [Fairport Public Library](https://fpa.org/groups/fairport-public-library/): This discussion group focuses on U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. Topics and discussion materials are produced every year by the Foreign Policy Association. Stay tuned for this year's topics! - [OLLI Reno Great Decisions, 2026](https://fpa.org/groups/olli-great-decisions-2026/): Each class session will be held in the small classroom at OLLI Reno, on Thursdays, 2:00 pm. - [Mirabella@ASU Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/mirabellaasu-great-decisions/) - [AAUW Roseville-South Placer](https://fpa.org/groups/aauw-roseville-south-placer/) - [Argyle high school](https://fpa.org/groups/argyle-high-school/): FPA (argyle high school chapter) - [Naples Council On World Affairs Great Decisions Program](https://fpa.org/groups/naples-council-on-world-affairs-great-decisions-program/): Great Decisions   - [Southwest Brunswick Branch Library](https://fpa.org/groups/southwest-brunswick-branch-library/): Expand your world view with Great Decisions—a weekly discussion series on global affairs, hosted in partnership with UNC and the Foreign Policy Association. Program starts in Mid January - End of February. Lectures post Wednesday evenings from UNC and local group discussion will be held the following Thursday morning. Lecture links will be emailed to registered participants. Participants are responsible for acquiring their own guidebooks. Check our calendar to register and for more details at https://brunsco.libcal.com/calendar/18533/ - [Sedona Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/sedona-great-decisions-group/): We are a member-led group, exchanging knowledge, insights, and concerns through in-depth discussions, presentations and videos.  On occasion, we invite outside speakers such as such as Ambassador Dennis Jett and Kim Aris, the younger son of Aung San Suu Kyi. Meeting schedule for 2026:  January 26, March 2 (for February), March 23, April 20, May 11, June 22, July 10, August 24, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 14 (annual business meeting/social event). In addition, we have informal"meet-ups" at the Library to follow up on our formal discussions and address a wider range of subjects.  This also allows members and interested members of the community the opportunity for longer conversations in a relaxed, informal setting. Meet-ups are normally held on the Monday morning one week after the formal meetings. Visitors are welcome to meetings and meet-ups on a space available basis.  To reserve a seat, visitors are requested to contact Group Leader Charles Blum via e-mail. - [Bishop Spencer Place Retiremetn Community](https://fpa.org/groups/bishop-spencer-place-retiremetn-community/): Monthly meeting of residents to discuss each chapter.  Led by resident.  Supported by staff. - [Women’s University Club of Seattle](https://fpa.org/groups/womens-university-club-of-seattle-2/) - [Women’s University Club of Seattle](https://fpa.org/groups/womens-university-club-of-seattle/) - [Collision Institute Great Discussions](https://fpa.org/groups/collision-institute-great-discussions/): Collision Institute is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to advancing innovative, evidence-based solutions for governance, foreign policy, national security, and sustainable development challenges. "We aim to host engaging discussions on the ever-evolving landscape of foreign policy." - [Our Saviors Lutheran Church](https://fpa.org/groups/our-saviors-lutheran-church/) - [McLean House Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/mclean-house-great-decisions-group/): This group is limited to residents of the McLean House and invited guests. - [OLLI Reno Great Decisions, 2025](https://fpa.org/groups/olli-reno-great-decisions/): Our 2nd session of OLLI Reno Great Decisions, 2025, will be held in Sept. and Oct., 2025.  This class will be an exact replica of our first session in Feb. and Mar., 2025. - [Great Decisions – Chanhassen Library](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-chanhassen-library/) - [Orem Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/orem-great-decisions-group/): Looking to start this up again for local members - [OMAHA CROSSROADS GREAT DECISIONS](https://fpa.org/groups/omaha-crossroads-great-decisions/): - - [Great Decisions at the Norman Public Library – March 2019](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-at-the-norman-public-library-march-2019/): - - [Great Decisions – Bay View Association](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-bay-view-association/): This Discussion Group requires registration through the Bay View Education programs.  to register for this program, go to: http://www.bayviewassociation.org/education - [GREAT DECISIONS IN OAK PARK](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-in-oak-park/): - - [CCBC – Hunt Valley Center](https://fpa.org/groups/ccbc-hunt-valley-center-2/): Cost for Seniors is $70.00 which includes Great Decision textbook  Topics include: Middle East Realignment, Promoting Democracy, Mexico, Cyber Security, State of the Oceans, Indonesia, Energy Geopolitics  Instructor, George Brookhart - [CCBC – Hunt Valley Center](https://fpa.org/groups/ccbc-hunt-valley-center/): - - [George Reynolds Branch Library](https://fpa.org/groups/lkg-readscomcast-net/): - - [Cheyenne Kiwanis Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/cheyenne-kiwanis-great-decisions-group/): - - [Great Decisions foreign policy discussion group](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-foreign-policy-discussion-group/): - - [Alive in the Valley Foreign Policy Study](https://fpa.org/groups/alive-in-the-valley-foreign-policy-study/): - - [Trilogy La Quinta Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/trilogy-la-quinta-great-decisions/): - - [World Affairs NW DC Group](https://fpa.org/groups/world-affairs-nw-dc-group/): - - [San Francisco Bay Area Foreign Policy Discussion Group](https://fpa.org/groups/san-francisco-bay-area-foreign-policy-discussion-group/): Open to all ages 18-99+ - [Kilmarnock Virginia Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/kilmarnock-virginia-great-decisions/): - - [Circle Drive Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/circle-drive-great-decisions-group/): - - [World Affairs Council Young Professionals](https://fpa.org/groups/world-affairs-council-young-professionals/): - - [Bush School of Government and Public Service – Texas A&M](https://fpa.org/groups/bush-school-of-government-and-public-service-texas-am/): Attendance is free and open to the general public. Please contact Jessica Koloini at jkoloini@neo.tamu.edu with questions or join the Great Decisions - Bush School of Government and Public Service page on Facebook for additional information.  - [Lake Villa District Library](https://fpa.org/groups/lake-villa-district-library/): - - [UNAR Great Decisions Discussion Group](https://fpa.org/groups/unar-great-decisions-discussion-group/):   Free parking available in the back of the building. - [Arthur’s Group -2019](https://fpa.org/groups/arthurs-group-2019/): - - [Frederick Community College](https://fpa.org/groups/frederick-community-college/): - - [Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship](https://fpa.org/groups/manatee-unitarian-universalist-fellowship/): - - [Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield](https://fpa.org/groups/lifelong-learning-institute-in-chesterfield/): - - [SFSU IR 310 US Foreign Policy](https://fpa.org/groups/sfsu-ir-310-us-foreign-policy/): - - [Great Decisions at the Goshen Public Library, Goshen CT](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-at-the-goshen-public-library-goshen-ct/): - - [Kettle Run High School Geopolitics](https://fpa.org/groups/kettle-run-high-school-geopolitics/): - - [Great Decisions at the 92nd Street Y](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-at-the-92nd-street-y/): - - [Marion Discussion Group](https://fpa.org/groups/marion-discussion-group/): - - [Clifton Community Women’s Club Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/clifton-community-womens-club-great-decisions/): - - [College of Southern Idaho Great Decisions Course](https://fpa.org/groups/college-of-southern-idaho-great-decisions-course/): - - [North Denver](https://fpa.org/groups/north-denver/): New Group! I am unable to attend any of the current meetings because they are too far away or meet while I am at work.  Is there any interest in meeting: Week Nights or Weekends North Denver (Thornton, Westminster, Northglenn, etc) or downtown Denver - [Evanston Great Decisions Group](https://fpa.org/groups/evanston-great-decisions-group/): - - [LWV-FPA Great Decisions Discussion Group Butte County, CA](https://fpa.org/groups/lwv-fpa-great-decisions-discussion-group-butte-county-ca/): Organizer will work to creat partnership with League of Women Voters and American Assoc. of University Women and other interested organizations throughout Butte County. - [Bowling Green Great Decisions](https://fpa.org/groups/bowling-green-great-decisions-2/): Group of 15 to 20 neighbors living in Bowling Green subdivision of Nether Providence near Media Pennsylvania. - [Tucson Great Decisions Association](https://fpa.org/groups/tucson-great-decisions-association/): - - [The Adult School of the Chathams, Madison & Florham Park](https://fpa.org/groups/the-adult-school-of-the-chathams-madison-florham-park/): The group is facilitated by Chatham Middle School Social Studies teacher David Fowler. - [Napa Valley Great Decisions Seminar](https://fpa.org/groups/napa-valley-great-decisions-seminar/): - - [Jefferson CTC Downtown Campus Group 2 (2012)](https://fpa.org/groups/jefferson-ctc-downtown-campus-group-2-2012/): Open to the community. Programs involve a brief introduction of the subject, a 30 minute video, commentaries on topics from the video by participants, general discussion of the issues, and discussion of the great decision questions. Total time= 75 minutes Purchase of Great Decisions Briefing Book optional ($20 from FPA) - [AAUW Bridgeport](https://fpa.org/groups/aauw-bridgeport/): - - [Shannondale Retirement Center](https://fpa.org/groups/shannondale-retirement-center/): - - [White Sands of La Jolla Great Decisions Study Group](https://fpa.org/groups/white-sands-of-la-jolla-great-decisions-study-group/): members only (residents of retirement community) - [Great Decisions Abu Dhabi](https://fpa.org/groups/great-decisions-abu-dhabi/): Beginning in late January 2012 ## Event Archives - [PATRON EVENT: Mallory Stewart – America’s Strategic Risks: Deterrence and Emerging Threats](https://fpa.org/event-archives/patron-event-mallory-stewart-americas-strategic-risks-deterrence-and-emerging-threats/): America’s Strategic Risks: Deterrence and Emerging Threats - [Reed Phillips III Distinguished Lecture on Foreign Policy and the Media: “The Critical Role of the News Media in Our Democracy”](https://fpa.org/event-archives/reed-phillips-iii-distinguished-lecture-on-foreign-policy-and-the-media-the-critical-role-of-the-news-media-in-our-democracy/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our annual Reed Phillips III Distinguished Lecture on Foreign Policy and the Media. The topic of this year's lecture is The Critical Role of the News Media in Our Democracy. We will be joined by Jeffrey M. Johnson, president of Hearst Newspapers, and Brooke Masters, US managing editor of The Financial Times. - [Lauryn Williams – The State of U.S. Cybersecurity Strategy & Policy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/lauryn-williams-the-state-of-u-s-cybersecurity-strategy-policy/): About the Speaker - [FPA’s Symposium on U.S. China Cooperation](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-symposium-on-u-s-china-cooperation/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our annual Symposium on U.S.-China Cooperation. We will be hosting this symposium from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 24th, as part of our Teacher Training Institute. We will be joined by Dr. Paul Clifford, Senior Fellow at The Lau Institute at King’s College & Rebecca A. Fannin, Author of The New Tech Titans of China: Innovation Under Pressure in the World’s Most Ambitious Economy. - [FPA’s Inaugural Nina Henderson Distinguished Lecture on Critical Global Issues](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-inaugural-nina-henderson-distinguished-lecture-on-critical-global-issues/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our inaugural Nina Henderson Distinguished Lecture on Critical Global Issues. - [FPA’s Hasib Sabbagh Distinguished Lecture On Diplomacy with H.E. Tareq AlBanai](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-hassib-sabbagh-distinguished-lecture-on-diplomacy-with-h-e-tareq-albanai/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our annual Hasib Sabbagh Distinguished Lecture on Diplomacy. We will be joined by His Excellency Ambassador Tareq M. A. M. AlBanai, Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations, to speak about the current situation in the Middle East. The lecture will take place at the University Club of New York, located at 1 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019. The lecture will take place on Wednesday, June 17th, and will begin at 6:00 PM. The lecture will be followed by a reception. - [Proportional to the Mischief: International Law and U.S. Grand Strategy with Nicholas Rostow](https://fpa.org/event-archives/proportional-to-the-mischief-international-law-and-u-s-grand-strategy-with-nicholas-rostow/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for a book launch on Thursday, June 11th, 2026 at the SUNY Global Center. We will be joined by Dr. Nicholas Rostow, Director, Center for Strategic Research, National Defense University, and Senior Research Scholar at Yale Law School, to talk about his new book Proportional to the Mischief: International Law and U.S. Grand Strategy. Copies of Proportional to the Mischief will be available for purchase after the lecture. The lecture will take place at 6:00 pm with a reception and book sale to follow. - [FPA’s John B. Hurford Memorial Lecture 2026- Vasant Dhar](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-john-b-hurford-memorial-lecture-2026-vasant-dhar/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for the annual John B. Hurford Memorial Lecture on Thursday, May 21st, 2026 at the SUNY Global Center, located at 116 E 55th Street. This year's lecture will be delivered by Dr. Vasant Dhar. Dr. Dhar is a Professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he specializes in artificial intelligence, data science, and decision-making systems. He is also the founder of the Center for Business Analytics at NYU Stern and a leading voice on the economic and societal implications of AI and algorithms. His new book Thinking with Machines: The Brave New World of AI, Vasant Dhar traces the evolution of artificial intelligence—from its early foundations to today’s machine-learning systems—while examining its promises, risks, and the governance challenges needed to ensure it benefits society broadly. Copies of Thinking With Machines will be available for purchase and signing after the lecture. - [OTR Benefit Party – Ian Smith AM, business leader and refugee advocate](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-benefit-party-ian-smith-am-business-leader-and-refugee-advocate/): OTR is delighted to host our annual benefit and to welcome Ian Smith AM, British Australian businessman and refugee advocate, as our speaker. We hope you can join us on the evening of May 20th at the Cosmopolitan Club. - [FPA’s Inaugural Paul Family Distinguished Lecture on U.S.-Africa Relations](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-inaugural-paul-family-distinguished-lecture-on-u-s-africa-relations/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for the inaugural Paul Family Distinguished Lecture on U.S.-Africa Relations. The inaugural lecture will be delivered by The Hon. Michelle D. Gavin, Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and former United States Ambassador to Botswana. Ambassador Gavin will update members on the current status of U.S.-Africa relations and speak to the importance of maintaining strong ties between the two. - [Dewardric McNeal – The State of Major Power Competition in the Trump 2.0 Era](https://fpa.org/event-archives/dewardric-mcneal-the-state-of-major-power-competition-in-the-trump-2-0-era/): The State of Major Power Competition in the Trump 2.0 Era: The Tools and Rules of Competition About the Speaker Dewardric L. McNeal is Managing Director and Senior Policy Analyst at Longview Global, LLC, an international boutique firm that provides strategic guidance, policy analysis, and government relations services. Mr. McNeal is a former Obama Administration appointee who worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy on East Asia and China. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, he served as the Assistant Director for International Programs at the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Brookings Institution’s first foreign joint research center in Beijing at the Tsinghua University’s School of Public Policy. His early career included positions as Special Assistant to the Director of Information at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles and as an analyst in the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Mr. McNeal serves on the board of the American Mandarin Society. He received his BA in International Affairs from Morehouse College. He studied at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies and studied Mandarin at Nanjing University.   About the Topic Nations, non-governmental organizations, and corporations are all trying to adjust to a rapidly evolving global order — each vying for influence, security, and economic advantage. Mr. McNeal will explore the complex and challenging geopolitical dynamics of the Trump 2.0 era, examining how President Trump’s approach to foreign policy, tariffs, and global leadership is reshaping major power competition. He will discuss how emerging technologies, especially advanced manufacturing, robotics, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence, are impacting supply chains, influencing traditional relationships, shifting strategic tools, and redefining global norms. With a deep network across Washington, Beijing, and the capitals of Asia, Europe, and Africa, Mr. McNeal brings a unique perspective on how today’s fragmented landscape is driving new political, economic, and security alignments. - [FPA’s Dame Giosetta Capriati Distinguished Lecture on Women’s Empowerment](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-dame-giosetta-capriati-distinguished-lecture-on-womens-empowerment/): This event is sold out for in-person tickets.  - [FPA State Dinner 2026](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-state-dinner-2026/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our State Dinner 2026 on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 at the Harvard Club of New York City. There will be a reception starting at 6:00 pm, with Dinner starting at 7:00 pm in Harvard Hall. Tickets can be purchased with the link below or by emailing mbarbari@fpa.org. - [Ambassador Susan Elliott – Geopolitical Tensions: US-China Relations and the Taiwan Strait](https://fpa.org/event-archives/ambassador-susan-elliott-geopolitical-tensions-us-china-relations-and-the-taiwan-strait/): During her 27-year diplomatic career, Ambassador Elliott has held a variety of leadership positions at the U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Elliott served as the Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of the United States European Command and was the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan from 2012 to 2015. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Elliott worked also worked in Russia, Greece, Peru and Northern Ireland as well as a variety of Washington-based assignments. - [Robin Quinville – The New National Security Strategy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/robin-quinville-the-new-national-security-strategy/): About the SpeakerRobin Quinville is the former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program (2022-2025). She spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat. She served primarily in Europe, including postings to two multilateral organizations (the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus, Bosnia, Greece, the United Kingdom and Germany. She also spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq. In Washington, she directed the Office of Western European Affairs at the Department of State. Her final diplomatic assignment was a chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. Robin spent a semester as the Sol M. Linowitz Visiting Professor of International Affairs at Hamilton College. She holds an M.Phil. from Columbia University. A native of California, Robin now lives in Arlington, Virginia and is affiliated with the American-German Institute. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Redlands and her MA in European History from Columbia University. - [A Vision for Canada-United States Relations](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-united-states-and-canada-taking-stock-and-looking-ahead/): This event is sold out for in-person tickets. There are still available spots for the Zoom attendance for the lecture. - [Keeping It Steady at the Center of the Indo-Pacific: THE PHILIPPINES’ ASEAN CHAIRSHIP IN 2026](https://fpa.org/event-archives/keeping-it-steady-at-the-center-of-the-indo-pacific-the-philippines-asean-chairship-in-2026/): This event will take place on Friday, March 6th, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST at Baruch College's Library and Technology Building, located at 151 East 25th Street. To RSVP, please use your full name when registering and bring a photo ID with you for Baruch Security. The lecture will begin promptly at 1:00 pm. - [Financial Services Dinner 2026](https://fpa.org/event-archives/185095/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for the 2026 Financial Services Dinner on Thursday, March 5th 2026 at the Metropolitan Club of New York. The Dinner will be held on the third floor President's Ballroom at the Club starting at 6:00 PM. We will be recognizing: - [Inaugural Donna Dillon Manning Distinguished Lecture on Hemispheric Issues: Venezuela: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead](https://fpa.org/event-archives/venezuela-taking-stock-and-looking-ahead/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our first event of 2026! We are hosting the inaugural Donna Dillon Manning Distinguished Lecture on Hemispheric Issues: "Venezuela: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead". We will be joined by Dr. Maria Victoria Murillo, Professor of Political Science and International and Public Affairs, Columbia University; The Hon. Diego Arria, former Permanent Representative of Venezuela in the United Nations; and Frank Holder, Chief Executive Officer of Holder Partners. The lecture will be moderated by Ezequiel Camerini, FPA Director and Partner at Fox Horan & Camerini.  Our panelists will discuss the current situation in Venezuela and what the future may look like for the country. - [Katharina Kort – Venezuelan Oil and the US Energy Strategy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/katharina-kort-venezuelan-oil-and-the-us-energy-strategy/): Venezuelan Oil and the US Energy Strategy Why Trump and Big Oil are not Always on the Same Page About the Speaker Katharina Kort is an award-winning journalist and correspondent at DER SPIEGEL, where she covers U.S. business and economic affairs. Born in Germany and professionally shaped in Italy, Germany, and the United States, she brings extensive international experience and a broad transatlantic network to her reporting. Prior to joining DER SPIEGEL, Ms. Kort served as U.S. Bureau Chief of Handelsblatt, Germany’s leading business newspaper, overseeing its entire U.S. coverage. Earlier in her career, she worked as Italy correspondent and served as President of the Foreign Press Association in Milan, where she led a prestigious organization of more than 100 international correspondents across politics, business, and culture. Ms. Kort is a recipient of the Georg von Holtzbrinck Prize for Business Journalism. Her professional focus includes business journalism, international communication, social media, and podcasting. About the Topic TBH - [Matthew Murray – Systemic Corruption in Russia and War in Ukraine](https://fpa.org/event-archives/matthew-murray-systemic-corruption-in-russia-and-war-in-ukraine/): About the Speaker - [Peace Through Power Book Launch with Lukas Haynes and Admiral Samuel Locklear III](https://fpa.org/event-archives/peace-through-power-book-launch-with-lukas-haynes-and-admiral-samuel-locklear-iii/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our final event of 2025! We will be joined by Lukas Haynes, author of Peace Through Power: FDR's Military Leaders and the Pragmatism of the UN Charter, to discuss his new book, published by the Foreign Policy Association. He will be joined by Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, former Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. - [OTR Event: Mark Gabriel – It’s physics, not politics](https://fpa.org/event-archives/mark-gabriel-its-physics-not-politics/): Mark Gabriel award-winning author of Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future. - [Strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance Through Future-Oriented Security and Business Cooperation](https://fpa.org/event-archives/strengthening-the-rok-u-s-alliance-through-future-oriented-security-and-business-cooperation/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York for a high-level policy forum titled Strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance Through Future-Oriented Security and Business Cooperation. The event will take place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at PricewaterhouseCoopers, 300 Madison Avenue, New York. The panel discussion will begin promptly at 6:00 pm and will be followed by a reception at 7:00 pm. The forum will highlight the evolving political, economic, and business cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the United States while addressing key regional security challenges and opportunities. Panelists will examine strategic alignment on North Korea, the alliance’s relationship with neighboring countries such as China, Japan, and Russia, and the partnership’s role in advancing peace, prosperity, and innovation in the Indo-Pacific. The discussion will also explore the economic dimensions of the alliance, including trade relations, tariff harmonization, and the resilience of global supply chains under shifting global conditions. Panel Moderator: Mr. Noel Lateef, President and CEO, Foreign Policy Association Panelists: Scott Snyder – President and CEO, Korea Economic Institute of America Gerard Baker – Editor-at-Large, The Wall Street Journal Join us for an engaging evening of policy dialogue and exchange as experts, business leaders, and policymakers discuss how to strengthen the ROK–U.S. alliance through shared security goals, economic cooperation, and enduring democratic values. Please contact rsvp@fpa.org with any questions. - [FPA/SUNY Global Engagement Speaker Series 2025](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-suny-global-engagement-speaker-series-2025/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association and the SUNY Global Engagement Program for the Annual FPA/SUNY Global Engagement Speaker Series. This year, we will be joined by Amanda Klasing, National Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at Amnesty International USA. The event will be held on Thursday, November 6th, 2025 from 5:45 pm to 8:00 pm at the SUNY Global Center, located at 116 East 55th Street. The lecture will begin promptly at 6:00 pm. - [OTR Event: Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter – America Adrift: The End of the East Coast Foreign Policy Elite](https://fpa.org/event-archives/dr-anne-marie-slaughter-america-adrift-the-end-of-the-east-coast-foreign-policy-elite/): The single most important force determining U.S. foreign policy in the 21st century is demographic change. For the first 250 years of its history, the United States was roughly 80% European American. From the mid-21st century onward, it will be roughly 50% European American, 25-30% Hispanic American, and 20% African and Asian American. That shift creates new opportunities for a new Atlantic hemisphere, but will also permanently destabilize traditional northern transatlantic relations. - [War and Peace in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead](https://fpa.org/event-archives/war-and-peace-in-the-middle-east-taking-stock-and-looking-ahead/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for a virtual panel on "War and Peace in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead". We will be joined by Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow American Statecraft Program Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development University of Maryland. The panel will be moderated by FPA Director Douglas Paul. - [Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Lecture on National Security and Fiscal Policy with Dr. Caroline Freund](https://fpa.org/event-archives/peter-g-peterson-distinguished-lecture-on-national-security-and-fiscal-policy-with-dr-caroline-freund/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our annual Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Lecture on National Security and Fiscal Policy on Thursday, October 16th, 2025 at the Harvard Club of New York City. We will be joined by Dr. Caroline Freund, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Registration will open at 6:15 pm, with the lecture beginning at 6:30 pm. The lecture will be followed by a reception. - [OTR Event: Richard Hurowitz – In the Garden of the Righteous](https://fpa.org/event-archives/richard-hurowitz-in-the-garden-of-the-righteous/): Wednesday, October 15, 2025 1:00- 2:00pm Global Classroom at the SUNY Global Center 115 East 55th Street New York City Also available on Zoom About the Topic Garden of the Righteous is Mr. Hurowitz’s latest book about ten stories of rescue, including the stories of circus ringmaster Adolf Althoff and his wife Maria, the Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the Italian cycling champion Gino Bartali, the Polish social worker Irena Sendler, and the Japanese spy Chinue Sugihara. During WWII, they risked their lives and livelihoods to save Jewish people from persecution. In today’s increasingly violent world where personal and national insecurity are at an all-time high, empathy and humanity are more important than ever. We will hear about extraordinary acts of courage and imagine our own actions in the face of intense conflicts. About the Speaker Richard Hurowitz is a writer, investor and the publisher of the Octavian Report. His latest book, In the Garden of the Righteous (Harper, 2023), chronicles extraordinary acts of courage. In another book (Public Affairs, 2018): Fight for Liberty: Defending Democracy in the Age of Trump, Mr. Hurowitz brings together essays from respected writers and thinkers, including Anne Applebaum, Garry Kasparov, Max Boot, Bret Stephens, Richard North Patterson, Ted Koppel, Natan Sharansky who make the “urgent” case for liberal democracy. Mr. Hurowitz has served on the boards of several international companies, worked in hedge fund investment and was the founder and chief investment officer of Octavian Advisors, an international special situations and distressed investment fund. Mr. Hurowitz’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, The Times (London), the Los Angeles Times, TIME, History Today, and the Jerusalem Post. He received his BA in History from Yale University and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and the editor-in-chief of the Columbia/VLA Journal of Law & the Arts. EVENT SPONSORS Seward & Kissel A leading New York-based international law firm assisting the financial industry and business clients with transactions, raising capital and related disputes. Event Prices Patron Member: No Fee Young Patron Member: No Fee Regular Member: No Fee Non-Resident Member: No Fee Guest of a Member: $35 Non-member: $35 Date and Time Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Location Global Classroom at the SUNY Global Center 115 East 55th Street, New York & Zoom, NY  10022 USA - [The Inaugural Reed Phillips III Distinguished Lecture on Foreign Policy and the Media with Jonathan Alter](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-inaugural-reed-phillips-iii-distinguished-lecture-on-foreign-policy-and-the-media-with-jonathan-alter/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for the inaugural Reed Phillips III Distinguished Lecture on Foreign Policy and the Media on Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 at the SUNY Global Center located at 116 E 55th Street. We will be joined by Jonathan Alter, NBC News Political Analyst and author of His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (2020) and American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial—and My Own (2024). Mr. Alter will engage in conversation with Reed Phillips, Managing Partner at Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips. - [FPA World Leadership Forum Luncheon 2025](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-world-leadership-forum-luncheon-2025/): This is a most cordial invitation to join the Foreign Policy Association for our upcoming World Leadership Forum Luncheon. We will be joined by The Hon. Radosław Sikorski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland.  Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025 Time: 12:00 pm-2:30 pm EST Venue: Dwight Room, The University Club of New York, 1 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019 - [FPA’s Elbrun Kimmelman Distinguished Lecture on U.S.-India Relations](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-elbrun-kimmelman-distinguished-lecture-on-u-s-india-relations/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association on Wednesday, September 24th for the annual Elbrun Kimmelman Distinguished Lecture on U.S.-India Relations. We are delighted to be joined by William Dalrymple. Mr. Dalrymple is a historian and author of The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World and The Company Quartet, a series of four publications that covers the rise and fall of the British East India Company. Books in the Quartet include The Anarchy, White Mughals, Return of the King, and The Last Mughal. Mr. Dalrymple has also worked on best sellers, including In Xanadu, City of Djinns, Nine Lives, and From the Holy Mountain. - [Is Deglobalization Inevitable?- Virtual Only](https://fpa.org/event-archives/is-deglobalization-inevitable-virtual-only/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm for a virtual fireside chat and debate, "Is Deglobalization Inevitable?" - [FPA State Dinner 2025](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-state-dinner-2025/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our State Dinner on Monday, September 21st, 2025 at the Harvard Club of New York City. We are delighted to be recognizing H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco, who will speak about the important mission of Ocean Conservation and promoting Sustainable Development. We will also be recognizing Kirsty Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Edelman U.S.; Dr. Richard Lifton, President of Rockefeller University; and Liz Ann Sonders, Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab & Co. - [The W. Michael Reisman Distinguished Lecture on International Law and Diplomacy 2025](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-w-michael-reisman-distinguished-lecture-on-international-law-and-diplomacy-2025/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our annual W. Michael Reisman Distinguished Lecture on International Law and Diplomacy on Thursday, September 11th, 2025 at the Harvard Club of New York City in Harvard Hall. We will be joined by Prof. José Enrique Alvarez, Herbert and Rose Rubin Professor of International Law at NYU Law School. Registration for the event will open at 5:30 pm. The lecture will begin at 6:00 pm and will be followed by a reception.  - [Dinner in Honor of Consul General Fabrizio Di Michele](https://fpa.org/event-archives/dinner-in-honor-of-consul-general-fabrizio-di-michele/): Honoree: H.E Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General of Italy to New York - [FPA & The Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations: The UN at 80](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-the-permanent-mission-of-italy-to-the-united-nations-the-un-at-80/): NOTE: In-person tickets are currently sold out.  - [FPA Launch Event: Cultural Diplomacy Center](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-launch-event-cultural-diplomacy-center/) - [FPA Annual Dinner 2025](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-annual-dinner-2025/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for its 2025 Annual Dinner on Thursday, June 5th, at The Harvard Club of New York City.The evening will begin with a reception at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner at 7:00 PM. - [FPA’s Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Lecture with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-dag-hammarskjold-memorial-lecture-with-dr-jeffrey-sachs/): Join the Foreign Policy Association for a special evening with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, renowned economist and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, as he delivers the Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Lecture. In this timely address, Professor Sachs will draw on decades of experience advising governments and international institutions to focus on the global economic transformation. - [OTR Event- Clean Energy Developments and Policies in India](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-event-clean-energy-developments-and-policies-in-india/): Energy demand in India is growing rapidly with major implications for the global energy market. With a population of over 1.4 billion people, and a fast-growing economy, India has seen its energy demand increase rapidly as the country continues to urbanize and the manufacturing sector develops. This growing demand is met through various energy sources, with coal set to remain the largest source of energy supply, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). With the enormous needs and demands on energy, India is on track to become one of the most important players in the global energy market. Will India’s decision about how to source its energy impact its relations with the U.S., Russia, OPEC, and the general balance of power in the world? Might India also become an example of how developing countries can also implement sustainable energy sources as part of their permanent mix of energy supply? - [Dinner For Hilge Hurford](https://fpa.org/event-archives/dinner-for-hilge-hurford/): Honoree: Hilge Hurford; Head of the Hurford Foundation - [The 80th Anniversary of the Conclusion of WWII and the Dawn of a New Order](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-80th-anniversary-of-the-conclusion-of-wwii-and-the-dawn-of-a-new-order/): Join the Foreign Policy Association for a special panel discussion commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the emergence of a new global order. This timely event features expert insights from Adam Howard (Historian, U.S. Department of State), Stephen C. Schlesinger (Fellow, The Century Foundation), and Julian E. Zelizer (Malcolm Forbes Professor of History, Princeton University). Together, they will explore the war’s transformative legacy, the birth of the postwar international system, and its relevance to today’s shifting geopolitical landscape. - [FPA Cultural Diplomacy Dinner 2025](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-cultural-diplomacy-dinner-2025/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for the 2025 Cultural Diplomacy Dinner honoring Peg Breen, President of the New York Landmarks Conservancy; Ghislain d’Humières, Director of the Norton Museum of Art; Peter Miller, President of the American Academy in Rome; The Hon. Dr. Victor Trevino, Mayor of Laredo, Texas; and Damian Woetzel, President of The Juilliard School. - [OTR Benefit Party – John B. Emerson, Ambassador to Germany (2013–2017)](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-benefit-party-john-b-emerson-ambassador-to-germany-2013-2017/): OTR is delighted to host our second annual benefit and to welcome former Ambassador to Germany, John Emerson, as our speaker. We hope you can join us on the evening of May 6th at the Cosmopolitan Club. - [OTR/FPA Elizabeth French Hitchcock Lecture: Tariffs, Trade and The Economy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-fpa-elizabeth-french-hitchcock-lecture-2025/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association and the Off-The-Record Lecture Series for the annual Elizabeth French Hitchcock Lecture. The topic of this year’s Lecture is “Tariffs, Trade and The Economy” - [FPA Statesman Dinner with the Bank of France, April 22nd](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-statesman-dinner-with-the-bank-of-france-april-22nd/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for the second dinner in our Statesman Dinner Series on April 22nd, 2025 at the Harvard Club of New York City. We will be joined by François Villeroy de Galhau, Governor of the Banque de France. - [Foreign Policy Association Statesman Dinner April 21st](https://fpa.org/event-archives/foreign-policy-association-statesman-dinner-april-21st/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for the first Dinner in our 2025 Statesman Dinner Series on Monday, April 21st at the Harvard Club of New York City.  We will be honoring Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Chang Yong Rhee, Governor of the Bank of Korea. - [FPA’s Statesman Dinner](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-statesman-dinner/): Honoree: Rhee Chang-Yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea - [OTR Event – The Art of Diplomacy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-event-the-art-of-diplomacy/): Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat held a number of key government positions, including Chief White House Domestic Policy Adviser to President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981); U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton Administration (1993-2001). Ambassador Eizenstat is currently Senior Counsel in Covington &amp; Burling LLP’s international practice. His work focuses on resolving international trade problems and business disputes with the U.S. and foreign governments.  He is the author of several books, most recently: “The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World “(2024). - [FPA Inaugural Dame Giosetta Capriati Distinguished Lecture](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-inaugural-dame-giosetta-capriati-distinguished-lecture/): Speaker: Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund - [FPA’s Financial Services Dinner](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-financial-services-dinner/): Honorees: Philip Anschutz, Chairman & CEO, The Anschutz Corporation; Merit Janow; Chairman of the Board, Mastercard; Nina Henderson, Director of Foreign Policy Association; Faith Karahan, Governor of the Central Bank of Turkey; the Hon. Chrystia Freehand, Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Finance of Canada - [OTR Event- In-person & Virtual: Strengthening the UN Security Council](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-event-strengthening-the-un-security-council-lessons-from-recent-conflicts-in-gaza-and-ukraine/): Dr. Courtney B. Smith is the Dean of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, where he has been a faculty member since 1999. He achieved tenure in 2005 and served as Acting Dean from 2019 to 2022 before his appointment as Dean. Dr. Smith has authored several works on its political processes and its relationship with the United States, including his book Politics and Process at the United Nations: The Global Dance (2006). His research has been published in journals such as Global Governance and the International Journal of Peace Studies, and in 2020, he authored the article "Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud: Working Methods of the U.N. Security Council." He is a board member of the Academic Council on the United Nations System and the American Conference of Academic Deans. Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations from The Ohio State University. - [FPA Board Dinner](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-board-dinner/) - [In Defense Of Partisanship with Dr. Julian Zelizer](https://fpa.org/event-archives/in-defense-of-partisanship-with-dr-julian-zelizer/): Speaker: Dr Julian Zelizer, Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class if 1941 professor of History and Public Affairs, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs - [OTR Event – U.S.-China Rivalry and the Changing World Order with Susan Thornton](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-event-u-s-china-rivalry-and-the-changing-world-order-with-susan-thornton/): Susan Thornton is a retired senior U.S. diplomat with almost 30 years of experience with the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia. She is currently a senior fellow and research scholar at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale University Law School; director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy; and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Until July 2018, Thornton was acting assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State and led East Asia policymaking amid crises with North Korea, escalating trade tensions with China, and a fast-changing international environment. - [OTR Event – The War in Ukraine: When (and How) Will It End?](https://fpa.org/event-archives/otr-event-the-war-in-ukraine-when-and-how-will-it-end/): Dr. Michael O’Hanlon is a Senior fellow and director of research in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy, the use of military force, and American national security policy.. He also serves as a member of the Defense Policy Board at the U.S. Department of Defense. O’Hanlon was a member of the external advisory board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-12. O’Hanlon’s latest book, “Military History for the Modern Strategist: America’s Major Wars Since 1861” was published in January 2023. - [A Conversation with Consul General Kim and Professor Fields](https://fpa.org/event-archives/a-conversation-with-consul-general-kim-and-professor-fields/): Speakers: Ambassador Euy Whan Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Kora in New York; Prof. David P.fields, Associate director of the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison - [Cultural Diplomacy Dinner](https://fpa.org/event-archives/cultural-diplomacy-dinner/): Honorees: Daisy Soros, Director of the Foreign Policy Association; Judith Biggs, Director of the Foreign Policy Association; and Edward P. Swyer, President of the Swyer Companies - [Corporate Event: Power Failure with William D. Cohan](https://fpa.org/event-archives/corporate-event-power-failure-with-william-d-cohan/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our Corporate Event on Power Failure on Thursday, November 7th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at The Harvard Club of New York. We will be joined by Mr. William D. Cohan, New York Times Bestselling Author of "Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon." - [Driving Global Growth with David Malpass](https://fpa.org/event-archives/driving-global-growth-with-david-malpass/): Speakers: Lori Esposito Murray, Jose Rosemberg - [Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Lecture on National Security and Fiscal Policy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/peter-g-peterson-distinguished-lecture-on-national-security-and-fiscal-policy/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Lecture on National Security and Fiscal Policy on Wednesday, October 30th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at The Harvard Club of New York. We will be joined by Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, Senior Fellow for National Security and Managing Director of CEO Programs at the Council on Foreign Relations. - [SUNY Global Engagement Speaker Series](https://fpa.org/event-archives/suny-global-engagement-speaker-series/): Speaker: Mr Jose Rosemberg; senior Liaison Officer of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Organization (CTBTO) in New York - [FPA World Leadership Forum Dinner](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-world-leadership-forum-dinner/): Honorees: Dr. Johnnetta Cole; former President of Spelman College; Mr Charles V. Wait; Chairman of the Board Adirondack Trust Company; H.E Elina Valtonen; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland - [FPA World Leadership Forum 2024](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-world-leadership-forum-2024/): Please join the Foreign Policy Association for our annual World Leadership Forum! The FPA's 2024 World Leadership Forum will be hosted in New York City on Tuesday, September 24th at The Century Association from 9:00 am through noon. Breakfast and refreshments will be available starting at 9:00 am. - [FPA Statesman Dinner in honor of Amb. Kimihiro Ishikane](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-statesman-dinner-in-honor-of-amb-kimihiro-ishikane/): The University Club of New York - [Exploring New Dimensions of Cooperation in the U.S.-ROK Alliance](https://fpa.org/event-archives/exploring-new-dimensions-of-cooperation-in-the-u-s-rok-alliance/): PricewaterhouseCoopers - [Journey to Safe Harbor with Mrs. Elizabeth Jacks Scott](https://fpa.org/event-archives/journey-to-safe-harbor-with-mrs-elizabeth-jacks-scott/): The University Club of New York - [Restoring Faith in our Institutions with Mr. Bill Russo](https://fpa.org/event-archives/restoring-faith-in-our-institutions-with-mr-bill-russo/): The University Club of New York - [FPA’s 2024 Presidential Election: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpas-2024-presidential-election-taking-stock-and-looking-ahead/): 3789 - [FPA Book Talk- Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine with Gen. David H. Petraeus](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-book-talk-conflict-the-evolution-of-warfare-from-1945-to-ukraine-with-gen-david-h-petraeus/): 3784 - [Financial Markets and Economic Outlook 2024 Panel](https://fpa.org/event-archives/financial-markets-and-economic-outlook-2024-panel/): 3783 - [FPA/AMNH- Global Health and Pandemics Panel](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-amnh-global-health-and-pandemics-panel/): 3782 - [FPA/Polaris-Live.com: Israel, Gaza, and the World- A Middle East Update](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-polaris-live-com-israel-gaza-and-the-world-a-middle-east-update/): 3750 - [A Tale of Two Pandemics: Lessons From the 1889 & 2019 Pandemics and Insights for Pandemic Preparedness](https://fpa.org/event-archives/a-tale-of-two-pandemics-lessons-from-the-1889-2019-pandemics-and-insights-for-pandemic-preparedness/): 3745 - [FPA 2023 World Leadership Forum](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-2023-world-leadership-forum/): 3741 - [2023 FPA/SUNY Global Engagement Speaker Series](https://fpa.org/event-archives/2023-fpa-suny-global-engagement-speaker-series/): 3731 - [The Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Lecture on National Security and Fiscal Policy 2023 with Dr. Mary Lovely](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-peter-g-peterson-distinguished-lecture-on-national-security-and-fiscal-policy-2023-with-dr-mary-lovely/): 3730 - [World Leadership Forum Luncheon](https://fpa.org/event-archives/world-leadership-forum-luncheon/): 3729 - [FPA 2023 Corporate Dinner](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-2023-corporate-dinner/): 3727 - [New York Democracy Forum Dinner 2023](https://fpa.org/event-archives/new-york-democracy-forum-dinner-2023/): St. Regis Hotel - [The Power of Money: A Conversation between Paul Sheard and Douglas Peterson](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-power-of-money-a-conversation-between-paul-sheard-and-douglas-peterson/): 3726 - [Andrew Carnegie Distinguished Lecture on Conflict Prevention in Honor of David Hamburg- with Mr. Kenneth Roth](https://fpa.org/event-archives/andrew-carnegie-distinguished-lecture-on-conflict-prevention-in-honor-of-david-hamburg-with-mr-kenneth-roth/): Harvard Club of New York City - [Test](https://fpa.org/event-archives/test/): Test - [Global Economic Outlook 2023-POSTPONED](https://fpa.org/event-archives/global-economic-outlook-2023-postponed/): 3725 - [FPA Virtual Event: The Dame Jillian Sackler Distinguished Lecture on U.S.-China Relations](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-virtual-event-the-dame-jillian-sackler-distinguished-lecture-on-u-s-china-relations/): 3723 - [FPA/UNFPA Event: 8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-unfpa-event-8-billion-lives-infinite-possibilities/): 3724 - [FPA Book Talk: Cobalt Red with Siddharth Kara](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-book-talk-cobalt-red-with-siddharth-kara/): 3722 - [Feminist Future and Policy Making-POSTPONED](https://fpa.org/event-archives/feminist-future-and-policy-making-postponed/): PricewaterhouseCoopers - [Statesman Dinner with The Hon. Antonio Tajani](https://fpa.org/event-archives/statesman-dinner-with-the-hon-antonio-tajani/): The Harvard Club of New York City - [FPA/OTR Elizabeth French Hitchcock Lecture with Karen C. Seto](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-otr-elizabeth-french-hitchcock-lecture-with-karen-c-seto/): 3721 - [FPA Financial Services Dinner 2023](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-financial-services-dinner-2023/): 3716 - [FPA/OTR Book Talk: Mahnaz Afkhami and The Other Side of Silence](https://fpa.org/event-archives/fpa-otr-book-talk-mahnaz-afkhami-and-the-other-side-of-silence/): 3718 - [The Russian Invasion of Ukraine: One Year Later](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-one-year-later/): 3719 - [John B. Hurford Memorial Lecture 2023 with Damon Wilson](https://fpa.org/event-archives/john-b-hurford-memorial-lecture-2023-with-damon-wilson/): 3706 - [“THE ABSOLUTELY INDISPENSABLE MAN”- BOOK LAUNCH WITH KAL RAUSTIALA](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-absolutely-indispensable-man-book-launch-with-kal-raustiala/): 3673 - [The Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Lecture on National Security and Fiscal Policy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-peter-g-peterson-distinguished-lecture-on-national-security-and-fiscal-policy/): 3666 - [W. Michael Reisman Distinguished Lecture on International Law and Diplomacy](https://fpa.org/event-archives/w-michael-reisman-distinguished-lecture-on-international-law-and-diplomacy/): 3655 - [2022 World Leadership Forum](https://fpa.org/event-archives/2022-world-leadership-forum/): 3649 - [The Elbrun Kimmelman Distinguished Lecture on U.S.-India Relations](https://fpa.org/event-archives/the-elbrun-kimmelman-distinguished-lecture-on-u-s-india-relations/): The Harvard Club of New York ## Topics - [Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order](https://fpa.org/topics/multilateral-institutions-in-a-changing-world-order/) - [1. America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy](https://fpa.org/topics/america-and-the-world-trump-2-0-foreign-policy/) - [2. The End of an Era: Trump’s Tariffs in Historical Perspective](https://fpa.org/topics/2-the-end-of-an-era-trumps-tariffs-in-historical-perspective/): This chapter analyzes the shift in U.S. trade policy culminating in President Trump’s 2025 “Liberation Day” announcement— sweeping reciprocal tariffs on more than 180 countries. - [3. U.S.–China Relations](https://fpa.org/topics/3-u-s-china-relations/) - [4. The Third Nuclear Age](https://fpa.org/topics/4-the-third-nuclear-age/) - [5. Ukraine and the Future of European Security](https://fpa.org/topics/ukraine-and-the-future-of-european-security/) - [6. Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order](https://fpa.org/topics/multilateral-institutions-in-a-changing-world-order-2/) - [7. U.S. Engagement with Africa](https://fpa.org/topics/7-u-s-engagement-with-africa/) - [8. The Future of Human Rights and International Law](https://fpa.org/topics/8-the-future-of-human-rights-and-international-law/): José E. Alvarez argues that while the international human rights regime—built after World War II as a universal legal and moral framework—is facing its most serious crisis due to populist backlash, geopolitical fragmentation, and doubts about effectiveness and universality, it remains resilient and could either erode, stagnate, or evolve into a reformed system that better integrates economic, social, and cultural rights in a divided world. - [1. America at a Global Crossroads](https://fpa.org/topics/1-america-at-a-global-crossroads/): The U.S., polarized and divided, faces a world of challenges, dangers, and uncertainties. Conflict and disorder have become the defining features of world politics.  - [2. The Evolution of U.S. Leadership in the Global Economy: Dilemmas and Choices](https://fpa.org/topics/2-us-leadewrship-economics/): Over the past two presidential terms, the U.S. has strongly pivoted away from neoliberalism as a foreign economic policy approach.  - [3. Competition, Cold War, or Conflict? Navigating U.S.-China Relations in Tense Times](https://fpa.org/topics/navigating-u-s-china-relations-in-tense-times/): There is one thing that people can agree on across the aisle in Washington, DC: The United States is in a strategic competition with a rising China that poses a range of economic, political, and military security challenges.  - [4. India: Between China, the West, and the Global South](https://fpa.org/topics/india-between-china-the-west-and-the-global-south/): As the Republic of India marks its 75th anniversary in January 2025, the world’s most populous nation and largest democracy continues to defy simple categorization.  - [5. International Climate Cooperation in an Era of Geopolitical Turmoil](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-3-3/): Over the past 30 years, climate change has become one of the central global challenges of the modern era, one that has hugely important consequences for the livability of the planet. - [6. The Future of NATO and European Security](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-2-3/): Europe is frightened and frightening for the first time really since the 1980s, when nuclear sabers were rattling as the Soviet Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) both deployed contending intermediate range missiles along the dividing line of the military alliances. With Russia’s continued barbarity in Ukraine there is no escaping that Vladimir Putin intends not to be “European” - [7. AI and American National Security](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-4/): Artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is often claimed as an emerging technology that will disrupt all facets of society. - [8. American Policy in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-3/): Analysts of American policy in 2025 have the unusual advantage of being able to assess the new president’s likely policies against the backdrop of what he did in his first term, four years earlier. The prognosis is not positive. - [1. Mideast Realignment](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-3-2-2/): The United States and the Middle East are at a crossroads. Despite a reduced presence in the Middle East, the U.S. still has significant national interests there and the area is a key arena for global power politics. Can the U.S. continue to defend its interests in the Middle East and globally with a lower level of military and political involvement, or should it recommit to a leading role in the region? - [2. Climate Technology & Competition](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-2-2-2/): Will the United States and China, with other powerful countries following suit, approach current and future climate initiatives with an increased commitment to trade protectionism and nationalism, by various measures including trade restrictions? Or could a growing spirit of international accord develop to confront the “common enemy” of climate change? - [3. Science Across Borders](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-3-2/): Scientific advances benefit from collaboration between researchers, but what happens when material, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is controversial and important to a nation’s national security? Is there a middle ground between sharing information and denying access? How can we regulate cooperation? - [4. U.S.-China Trade Rivalry](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-2-2/): China’s economic rise and its current policies of increasing the role of the state in the economy have led some U.S. policymakers to seek to deny China access to U.S. technology and investment. This is seen as a necessary corrective to decades of predatory Chinese economic policies. Is this a wise strategy, and how effective can it be? - [5. NATO’s Future](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-3/): Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia? - [6. Understanding Indonesia](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2-2/): Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? What are current issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can the country play in Asia? - [7. High Seas Treaty](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness-2/): Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate? - [8. Pandemic Preparedness](https://fpa.org/topics/pandemic-preparedness/): Looking back at the covid-19 pandemic, there are many lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international policies. Although this pandemic seems to have waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics? Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus emerge on how to manage global health challenges? ## Topic Resources - [The State of Nations](https://fpa.org/topicresources/the-state-of-nations-2/): An independent assessment of national conditions across 196 countries, drawing on verified data from the United Nations, IMF, and leading international indices. - [The State of Nations](https://fpa.org/topicresources/the-state-of-nations/): An independent assessment of national conditions across 196 countries, drawing on verified data from the United Nations, IMF, and leading international indices. - [Group video: U.S. Army War College](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-army-war-college-5/): Explores how the Russia–Ukraine war is reshaping modern warfare and redefining European security. The lecture connects battlefield developments to broader strategic questions about NATO, deterrence, and the future of conflict. - [Group video: First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-first-united-methodist-church-of-palo-alto/): Full-length Great Decisions group lecture on multilateralism and the changing world order. - [Group video: U.S. Army War College](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-army-war-college-4/): Why watch: Policy-level analysis from subject-matter experts; closest to an “official” academic framing. How to use: Use as a primary background or for advanced groups. - [Group video: WorldOregon](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-worldoregon-2/): Format: Lecture + Q&A. Why watch: Clear, structured overview of how global institutions are adapting to shifting power dynamics. How to use: Assign as pre-session viewing or use clips to introduce key themes. - [Group video: anitowoc Public Library](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-anitowoc-public-library/): Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order: Library Great Decisions format. Long-form (~1h45m) → includes: lecture component, audience Q&A / discussion dynamics - [Group video: World Boston](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-world-boston-2/): Great Decisions: Rana Mitter on U.S. — China Relations - [Group video: World Boston](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-world-boston/): New strategies for U.S. engagement with Africa - [Group video: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-the-world-affairs-council-of-harrisburg/): Great Decisions: U.S. Engagement of Africa - [Group video: WorldOregon](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-worldoregon/): Great Decisions 2026: U.S. Engagement of Africa - [Group video: Manitowoc Public Library](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-manitowoc-public-library/): Great Decisions 2026 | U.S. Engagement of Africa - [London School of Economics: The Populist Challenge to Human Rights](https://fpa.org/topicresources/london-school-of-economics-the-populist-challenge-to-human-rights/): Lecture: Professor Philip Alston - [Ted-Ed: What are the universal human rights?](https://fpa.org/topicresources/ted-ed-what-are-the-universal-human-rights/): 5-minute explainer. Benedetta Berti - [Group video: U.S. Army War College](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-army-war-college-3/): Great Decisions 2026 - China's adjustment to trade - Zenel Garcia - [Group Video: Great Decisions 2026 – Modern Global Political and Economic Order](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-great-decisions-2026-modern-global-political-and-economic-order/): U.S. Army War College - [Group video: U.S. engagement with Africa – Army Col. Ron Miller](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-engagement-with-africa-army-col-ron-miller/): U.S. Army War College - [Group Video: U.S. Army War College](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-army-war-college-2/): Ukraine and European security - Dr. John Nagl and Col. Chase Metcalf - [Group video: U.S. Army War College](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-army-war-college/): Great Decisions 2026 - Future of the World Economy - Dr. Mark Duckenfield - [Group video: Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc.](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-wood-county-committee-on-aging-inc/): How to use: Good reference for groups in libraries, senior centers, or community venues. - [Group Video: U.S.-China Relations – Manitowoc Public Library](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-china-relations-manitowoc-public-library/): Shale Horowitz, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. - [Group Video: U.S.-China Relations (WorldOregon)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-u-s-china-relations-worldoregon/): Sam Kaplan, Director, Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management - [Group Video: Tariffs & the Future of the Global Economy (WorldOregon)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-tariffs-the-future-of-the-global-economy-world-oregon/): Anna Miromanova, Assistant Professor, Economics, Lewis & Clark College - [Group Video: Tariffs and the Global Economy – World Oregon](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-tariffs-and-the-global-economy-world-oregon/): Michael Mastanduno was a Professor and, from 2010-2017, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Dartmouth College. He recently authored a chapter on tariffs and the future of the world economy for the 2026 Great Decisions Briefing Book - [Group Video: Tariffs & the Future of the World Economy (Fond du Lac Public Library)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-tariffs-the-future-of-the-world-economy-fond-du-lac-public-library/): Pablo Toral is a professor of Environmental Studies and International Relations at Beloit College, where he currently chairs the programs in Environmental Studies and International Relations, as well as the Department of Political Science. - [Group Video: Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy – Minitowoc Public Library](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-tariffs-and-the-future-of-the-world-economy-minitowoc-public-library/): Pablo Toral, PhD, Beloit College. - [Group Video: Tariffs and the Future of The World Economy (Wood County Committee on Aging)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-tariffs-and-the-future-of-the-world-economy-wood-county-committee-on-aging/): What is the rationale behind this radical shift? - [Group Video: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy (Fond du Lac Public Library)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/trump-2-0-foreign-policy-fond-du-lac-public-library/): Jason Brozek, Associate Professor of Government and Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs at Lawrence University in Appleton. - [Group Video: America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy (Wood County Community on Aging)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/group-video-america-and-the-world-trump-2-0-foreign-policy-wood-county-community-on-aging/): Amilcar Challu, Associate Professor, Department of History - [Great Decisions – World Oregon](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-world-oregon-4/): reat Decisions 2026: Ruptured Alliances & the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation (WorldOregon). Speaker: Alexander Montgomery, Professor, Political Science, Reed College - [Great Decisions – GBH Forum Network and WorldBoston: A World Affairs Council](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-gbh-forum-network-and-worldboston-a-world-affairs-council/): WorldBoston welcomed Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School for a presentation and audience Q&A. - [Great Decisions – World Oregon](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-world-oregon-3/): Ukraine and the Future of European Security (WorldOregon). Speaker: Joshua Eastin, Professor, Political Science, Portland State University - [Great Decisions – Manitowoc Public Library](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-manitowoc-public-library/): This week's topic—"Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy," presented by Pablo Toral, PhD, Beloit College. - [Great Decisions – World Oregon](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-world-oregon-2/): Great Decisions 2026: The Future of Human Rights & International Law (WorldOregon) - [Great Decisions – World Oregon](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-world-oregon/): Anna Miromanova, Assistant Professor, Economics, Lewis & Clark College - [Great Decisions – U.S. Army War College](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-u-s-army-war-college/): Dr. Garcia discusses the US and China trade war as it enters the second phase, Beijing has sought to mitigate much of the impact through the diversification of its supply chains and export markets as well as leveraging its dominance in chokepoints in key industries. - [Universal Declaration of Human Rights -UN](https://fpa.org/topicresources/universal-declaration-of-human-rights-un/): 75 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common human rights standard for all everyone, everywhere. This video provides the history, content, and ongoing significance of the document. - [Cobalt Red with Siddharth Kara (Foreign Policy Association)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/cobalt-red-with-siddharth-kara-foreign-policy-association/): A concrete lens on the expanding “human rights + business/supply chains” domain—useful for participants to see how the field has broadened beyond classic civil/political rights. - [The Burning Issue: The DNA of Human Rights](https://fpa.org/topicresources/the-burning-issue-the-dna-of-human-rights/): A strong “big ideas” foundation (where rights come from; why the concept is contested) without partisan framing. - [LSE Events | Professor Philip Alston | The Populist Challenge to Human Rights](https://fpa.org/topicresources/lse-events-professor-philip-alston-the-populist-challenge-to-human-rights/): Directly addresses the populist/backlash dynamics that Alvarez discusses (reformist/analytical frame). - [Human rights: the case for the defence | LSE Event](https://fpa.org/topicresources/human-rights-the-case-for-the-defence-lse-event/): A principled defense of human rights as a governing idea—useful to balance “the system is failing” critiques. - [The UN Human Rights Council at a glance](https://fpa.org/topicresources/the-un-human-rights-council-at-a-glance/): A simple mechanism explainer (what the HRC is) that helps participants understand institutions, not just ideals. - [The UN Human Rights Council: Five Things to Know](https://fpa.org/topicresources/the-un-human-rights-council-five-things-to-know/): Quick orientation to what the Council does and common critiques (politics vs oversight). - [Columns](https://fpa.org/topicresources/columns/) - [Scales](https://fpa.org/topicresources/scales/) - [Humanity](https://fpa.org/topicresources/humanity/) - [Courts](https://fpa.org/topicresources/courts/) - [Crossroads](https://fpa.org/topicresources/crossroads/) - [Freedom](https://fpa.org/topicresources/freedom/) - [OHCHR – Instruments & mechanisms (the UN “map” of the system)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/ohchr-instruments-mechanisms-the-un-map-of-the-system/): Best single starting point to understand the UN human rights machinery (treaty bodies vs charter bodies; HRC, UPR, Special Procedures). - [UN Treaty Body Database (treaty-body outputs in one place)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/un-treaty-body-database-treaty-body-outputs-in-one-place/): If someone asks “what do the experts actually say states must do,” this is where concluding observations, general comments, and state reports live. - [UN Treaty Collection (primary texts + status/ratifications)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/un-treaty-collection-primary-texts-status-ratifications/): Grounds discussion in the core legal instruments and who has ratified what—critical for “universality,” “compliance,” and “selectivity” debates. - [Universal Periodic Review (UPR) hub + country documentation](https://fpa.org/topicresources/universal-periodic-review-upr-hub-country-documentation/): Among the most universal UN peer-review mechanism, useful for understanding how politics and human rights oversight intersect in practice, by country. - [OHCHR Special Procedures – country visits database](https://fpa.org/topicresources/ohchr-special-procedures-country-visits-database/): Direct window into thematic experts (e.g., torture, freedom of expression) and what they find on country visits—highly readable compared to treaty-law text. - [UN National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/un-national-recommendations-tracking-database-nrtd/): Shows recommendations from multiple UN mechanisms in one place—useful for “does any of this translate into implementation?” questions. - [UN Audiovisual Library of International Law – Human Rights lectures & research links](https://fpa.org/topicresources/un-audiovisual-library-of-international-law-human-rights-lectures-research-links/): Excellent for non-experts who prefer short lectures; strong for “how did we get this system?” and “how do treaty bodies work?” without paywalls - [Human Rights Watch – Publications / World Report ecosystem](https://fpa.org/topicresources/human-rights-watch-publications-world-report-ecosystem/): A major investigative NGO perspective; useful for participants who want empirical narratives and case examples of rights backsliding. - [Amnesty International – Annual Report archive (State of the World’s Human Rights)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/amnesty-international-annual-report-archive-state-of-the-worlds-human-rights/): A second major NGO perspective that often frames trends somewhat differently than HRW; good for triangulation and debate. - [Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – case reports database](https://fpa.org/topicresources/inter-american-commission-on-human-rights-case-reports-database/): Shows admissibility/merits/friendly settlements; useful for understanding the broader Inter-American system beyond the Court’s judgments. - [African human-rights case-law collections](https://fpa.org/topicresources/african-human-rights-case-law-collections/): Helpful for balancing Euro-Atlantic lenses and seeing how norms develop in different institutional contexts (coverage and UX vary across tools). - [HURIDOCS – Human Rights Research Databases directory (meta-library)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/huridocs-human-rights-research-databases-directory-meta-library/): A curated directory of reliable databases (including UN documentation tools like RightDocs); ideal for participants who want to dive deeper. - [ASIL Electronic Resource Guide (ERG) – International Human Rights Law](https://fpa.org/topicresources/asil-electronic-resource-guide-erg-international-human-rights-law/): ERG_HUMRTS.pdf - [Universal Declaration of Human Rights](https://fpa.org/topicresources/universal-declaration-of-human-rights-2/): udhr_booklet_en_web.pdf - [“What Are Human Rights?” – OHCHR](https://fpa.org/topicresources/what-are-human-rights-ohchr/): HandbookParliamentarians.pdf - [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/international-covenant-on-civil-and-political-rights-iccpr/): ccpr.pdf - [International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/international-covenant-on-economic-social-and-cultural-rights-icescr/): cescr.pdf - [Human Rights Watch – World Report](https://fpa.org/topicresources/human-rights-watch-world-report/): World-Report-2025.pdf - [UN Sustainable Development Goals – Overview](https://fpa.org/topicresources/un-sustainable-development-goals-overview/): The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2024.pdf - [Samuel Moyn – The Last Utopia (Review) – Core critique of U.S.-centrism and historical narrative.](https://fpa.org/topicresources/samuel-moyn-the-last-utopia-review-core-critique-of-u-s-centrism-and-historical-narrative/): 06_15YaleHumRts_DevLJ155_2012_.pdf - [WSJ — Wagner/Russia competition dynamics in Africa](https://fpa.org/topicresources/wsj-wagner-russia-competition-dynamics-in-africa/): A current-affairs explainer angle that can help groups discuss “what changed recently” and why external security relationships are shifting. - [Human Rights Explained In A Two Minute Animation – EU](https://fpa.org/topicresources/human-rights-explained-in-a-two-minute-animation-eu/): Human Rights Explained - [Great Decisions: The Promise of Africa (Foreign Policy Association)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-the-promise-of-africa-foreign-policy-association/): A full documentary-style episode that highlights Africa’s fast-growing economies, youthful demographics, and development potential. It presents structural trends without exaggerating either crisis or triumph. This gives participants a measured understanding of African economic transformation, which is essential before debating how the U.S. (and other powers) should engage. It avoids simplistic narratives and focuses on real structural change and challenges. - [Great Decisions: Competing Interests: The U.S. and China in Africa (Foreign Policy Association)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/great-decisions-competing-interests-the-u-s-and-china-in-africa-foreign-policy-association/): As cash-strapped nations across Africa turned to China to build much-needed infrastructure, they stepped into the middle of a geopolitical rivalry. Great Decisions investigates Chinese–American competition in Africa in this full episode. - [BBC Africa Eye (Playlist of Investigative Documentaries)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/bbc-africa-eye-playlist-of-investigative-documentaries/): A highly respected series of investigative documentaries on governance, corruption, resource conflicts, and societal issues across Africa. - [The United States and Africa: Changing Priorities (Baltimore Council)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/the-united-states-and-africa-changing-priorities-baltimore-council/): Directly engages with U.S. engagement themes (policy coherence, goals, constraints), making it highly relevant for Topic 7 - [The Battle for Africa — Part 1: China’s Influence (Al Jazeera)](https://fpa.org/topicresources/the-battle-for-africa-part-1-chinas-influence-al-jazeera/): Although focused on China, this film is important for Topic 7 because it helps participants see how great-power competition plays out and why U.S. engagement strategies often reference China. - [TRT – Roundtable: China-Africa relations – who benefits?](https://fpa.org/topicresources/trt-roundtable-china-africa-relations-who-benefits/): This panel discussion video offers a documentary feel by blending voices from journalists and analysts considering China-Africa dynamics. It’s useful because it doesn’t tell one definitive story but explores competing interpretations of investment, infrastructure, and influence. - [Trade](https://fpa.org/topicresources/trade/) - [Global Africa](https://fpa.org/topicresources/global-africa/) - [Africa](https://fpa.org/topicresources/africa/) - [African Union](https://fpa.org/topicresources/african-union/): Provides Africa-led framing (Agenda 2063, peace & security architecture). Helps avoid a purely U.S./China lens. - [Afrobarometer](https://fpa.org/topicresources/afrobarometer/): Useful source for what African citizens actually think. Strong infographics and short summaries. Ideal for non-expert participants and evidence-based discussion. - [Mo Ibrahim Foundation](https://fpa.org/topicresources/mo-ibrahim-foundation/): Clear governance indicators with visual summaries. Tracks long-term trends, not just crises. Excellent charts for discussion leaders. - [World Bank – Africa](https://fpa.org/topicresources/world-bank-africa/): Flagship reports + explainer blogs. Excellent charts on growth, debt, poverty, infrastructure. Africa’s Pulse summaries and country dashboards. - [International Monetary Fund](https://fpa.org/topicresources/international-monetary-fund/): Macro-economic clarity (debt, inflation, fiscal space). Short “Regional Economic Outlook” explainers. Good for participants who want “the numbers” without jargon. - [UN Conference on Trade and Development](https://fpa.org/topicresources/un-conference-on-trade-and-development/): Strong on trade structure, industrialization, and value chains. Accessible summaries alongside deeper reports. Useful counterbalance to purely security-focused narratives. - [Africa Center for Strategic Studies](https://fpa.org/topicresources/africa-center-for-strategic-studies/): Balanced treatment of security, governance, and civilian oversight. Strong use of maps and regional trend graphics. - [Millennium Challenge Corporation](https://fpa.org/topicresources/millennium-challenge-corporation/): Concrete example of governance-linked development. Clean dashboards and country scorecards. - [U.S. Department of State – Bureau of African Affairs](https://fpa.org/topicresources/u-s-department-of-state-bureau-of-african-affairs/): Authoritative statements of official U.S. policy. Strategy documents and regional frameworks. - [Africa Pulse – Executive Summary](https://fpa.org/topicresources/africa-pulse-executive-summary/): WB_Pulse_Spring2024_vol29_ExecSumm.pdf - [IMF – Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa](https://fpa.org/topicresources/imf-regional-economic-outlook-sub-saharan-africa/): text-1.pdf - [U.S. Department of State – “10-Year Plan to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability (Coastal West Africa)” – Concrete example of how the U.S. is trying to operationalize prevention/stability](https://fpa.org/topicresources/u-s-department-of-state-10-year-plan-to-prevent-conflict-and-promote-stability-coastal-west-africa-concrete-example-of-how-the-u-s-is-trying-to-operationalize-prevent/): The-U.S.-Strategy-to-Prevent-Conflict-and-Promote-Stability-10-Year-Plan-for-Coastal-West-Africa-Accessible-03.22.2024.pdf - [CRS Nigeria: Overview and U.S. Policy – highly practical “case” to understand security cooperation, governance, oil/energy, elections, insurgencies, and why U.S. engagement so often collides with on-the-ground political economy.](https://fpa.org/topicresources/crs-nigeria-overview-and-u-s-policy-highly-practical-case-to-understand-security-cooperation-governance-oil-energy-elections-insurgencies-and-why-u-s-engagement-so-often-co/): R47052.4.pdf - [African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – The clearest “why trade integration is hard” primer and what AfCFTA is trying to unlock in practice](https://fpa.org/topicresources/african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-the-clearest-why-trade-integration-is-hard-primer-and-what-afcfta-is-trying-to-unlock-in-practice/): 36437-ax-AfCFTA_RULES_OF_ORIGIN_MANUAL.pdf - [UNCTAD – Economic Development in Africa – Helpful for the “development model” layer](https://fpa.org/topicresources/unctad-economic-development-in-africa-helpful-for-the-development-model-layer/): aldcafrica2024_en.pdf - [Ibrahim Index of African Governance – A quick governance benchmark reference you can use in discussion](https://fpa.org/topicresources/ibrahim-index-of-african-governance-a-quick-governance-benchmark-reference-you-can-use-in-discussion/): 2024-index-report.pdf - [What are the universal human rights? – TED-ed](https://fpa.org/topicresources/what-are-the-universal-human-rights-ted-ed/): The basic idea of human rights is that each one of us, no matter who we are or where we are born, is entitled to the same basic rights and freedoms. That may sound straightforward enough, but it gets incredibly complicated as soon as anyone tries to put the idea into practice. What exactly are the basic human rights? Who gets to pick them? Who enforces them—and how? Benedetta Berti explores the subtleties of human rights. - [Reform vs. mission creep](https://fpa.org/topicresources/reform-vs-mission-creep/) - [Global coordination, modern institutions](https://fpa.org/topicresources/global-coordination-modern-institutions/) - [Interdependence and stability](https://fpa.org/topicresources/interdependence-and-stability/) ## Products - [Navigating an Age of Uncertainty ](https://fpa.org/product/navigating-an-age-of-uncertainty/): The world is undergoing a period of profound change, and it has never been more important to understand the forces driving it. 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Written by carefully selected experts, each article offers policy options for U.S. officials and questions and tools for discussion. ## Venues - [CUNY Graduate Center](https://fpa.org/venues/cuny-graduate-center/): 365 Fifth AvenueNew York, NY 10016(Between 34th and 35th streets - [Newman Library – Baruch College](https://fpa.org/venues/newman-library-baruch-college/): 151 E 25th St, New York, NY 10010 - [PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditorium](https://fpa.org/venues/pricewaterhousecoopers-auditorium/): 300 Madison Avenue - [Virtual- ZOOM](https://fpa.org/venues/virtual-zoom/): This lecture is taking place virtually and can be accessed by registering for the event and receiving the Zoom link. - [University Club of New York](https://fpa.org/venues/university-club-of-new-york/) - [The Metropolitan Club of New York](https://fpa.org/venues/the-metropolitan-club-of-new-york/) - [Cosmopolitan Club](https://fpa.org/venues/cosmopolitan-club/): The Library at the Cosmopolitan Club - [Zoom Meeting Room – Clean Energy Developments and Policies in India](https://fpa.org/venues/zoom-meeting-room-clean-energy-developments-and-policies-in-india/) - [Washington DC](https://fpa.org/venues/washington-dc/) - [The New York City Bar Association](https://fpa.org/venues/the-new-york-city-bar-association/) - [The Lotos Club](https://fpa.org/venues/the-lotos-club/) - [The Harvard Club](https://fpa.org/venues/the-harvard-club/): The Harvard Club of New York City, commonly called The Harvard Club, is a private social club located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. 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