Global I.Q. Podcast: Recent Episodes
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth talks with some of the world's foremost thinkers, writers, and diplomats in this interview series. New episodes released weekly.
Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University.
From Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen to Barbados’s Mia Amor Mottley to Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, a new generation of women leaders has stepped into some of the most consequential roles in global politics – and faced some of the most complex challenges of our time. Linda Robinson, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and award-winning foreign policy journalist, will draw on the vivid stories behind her new book, Women in Power, and explore what these leaders’ experiences reveal about power, resilience, and the state of the world today.ABOUT THE SPEAKERLinda Robinson is senior fellow for women and foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations where she writes about women’s political and economic leadership, the relationship between gender equality and democracy, technology-facilitated violence, and current international affairs. Her book, Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism, spotlights the current cohort of women political leaders and tells the powerful stories of the women on the frontlines of the battle between democracy and authoritarianism.ABOUT THE MODERATORLee Cullum is host of CEO, KERA’s original monthly series of interviews with North Texas business leaders that airs on KERA television and radio. She is also a commentator for Morning Edition on KERA-FM and contributes columns to The Dallas Morning News. A veteran journalist, Lee was previously a commentator for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and All Things Considered on NPR. In addition, she was editor of the editorial page of the Dallas Times Herald and host of Conversations, a series on KERA with major newsmakers. Lee also worked as a reporter, on-air moderator, and executive producer of Newsroom on KERA...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: www.dfwworld.org/donate
Part 3 of 4 in the 2026 International Perspectives Series. Sports have become a growing part of international diplomacy. Governments now use athletics to shape how the world sees them, build influence, and advance their political goals – raising key questions about where sports end and foreign policy begins.With the FIFA World Cup approaching and Dallas set to be part of the global spotlight, the timing couldn’t be better to dig into these questions.Join us as we ask whether sports diplomacy actually works as a foreign policy tool – and what its growing role means for fans, cities, and global audiences. We’ll hear from a leading policy expert alongside a legendary Texas sports voice for a conversation that goes well beyond the game.ABOUT THE SPEAKERKristian Coates Ulrichsen is the Fellow for the Middle East at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. His research spans the political economy and international relations of the Gulf States and their changing position within the regional and global order. Coates Ulrichsen holds a PhD in History from the University of Cambridge and is the author of seven books about the Gulf States, including Insecure Gulf: The End of Certainty and the Transition to the Post-Oil Era, The United Arab Emirates: Power, Politics, and Policymaking, Qatar and the Gulf Crisis, Centers of Power in Arab Gulf States, and, most recently, Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer. Prior to joining the Baker Institute in 2013, Coates Ulrichsen co-directed the Kuwait Research Program at the London School of Economics for five years from 2008 and served as an Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs between 2012 and 2022.ABOUT THE MODERATORMac Engel has worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for more than 20 years. He has covered the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Cowboys as a beat writer, as well as every major college in Texas. He has also covered multiple Rose Bowls, Cotton Bowls, Summer Olympics, and countless other major sports stories and events. In 2023, he was named one of the top sports columnists in the country by the nation’s most prestigious sports journalism organization, the Associated Press Sports Editors...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
This is part 2 of the 2025 CEO Series.Gary Wojtaszek has spent his career turning bold ideas into billion-dollar businesses. He led CyrusOne’s rise into a $12 billion global data center company. He then founded RecNation, now the largest institutional RV and boat storage platform in the U.S. Time and again, he has built and scaled companies that redefine their industries.In this conversation, Gary will share what he’s learned along the way. He’ll talk about how to spot opportunity amid disruption, lead with agility, and sustain culture through rapid growth. It’s a candid look at what it takes to innovate, invest, and inspire in a business landscape that never stops changing.ABOUT THE SPEAKERGary Wojtaszek is a seasoned executive with a proven track record of founding, scaling, and transforming companies across real estate, data centers, and technology. His career spans both public and private company leadership, from entrepreneurial startups and fast-growth platforms to global publicly traded enterprises. He has extensive private equity advisory and board governance experience, guiding organizations through IPOs, LBOs, restructurings, and high-growth phases.ABOUT THE MODERATORBrendan McGuire is executive vice president and regional president for PNC Bank, North Texas. He is responsible for overseeing PNC’s lines of business, as well as all sponsorship, philanthropic, and branding efforts important to PNC’s national main street banking model in the region...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: www.dfwworld.org/donate
which covers the human cost of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Join us for a journalist’s firsthand account of life in a conflict zone.
Featuring Author and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation Edward F. O’Keefe; moderated by Presidential Historian Talmage Boston.
It’s a universal truth that U.S. presidents need businessmen and businessmen need U.S. presidents. But competing interests have long made their relationship fraught, as explored by Tevi Troy in his latest book The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry. Join us for a discussion of presidents’ battles with famed leaders in business from John D. Rockefeller to Mark Zuckerberg.
Part 2 of 4 in the 2025 International Perspectives Series.From celebrating Halloween in Spain, Stanley Starbucks cups being released in Japan, and McDonald’s creating the “McBaguette” in France, the United States’s soft power and global influence is evident. But globalization and rapid social media connectivity has brought Korean skincare, the viral French butter bell, and Argentinian football to the masses. The opportunity for nations to become “soft power influencers” has equalized with globalization. A recent Gallup poll about influence had the U.S. leading 81 countries to 131 surveyed, while China only had 52. But is U.S. influence lagging? In a world where the Chinese app TikTok dominates social platforms, how will this impact global perception of the U.S.? Gaps in Africa and Latin America have allowed China and Russia to fill the void and gain influence in those regions. While military and economic power dominate the political spheres, soft power’s attractiveness plays the long game.ABOUT THE SPEAKERKori Schake is a senior fellow and the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Previously, Dr. Schake was the deputy director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. She has had a distinguished career in government, working at the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the National Security Council at the White House. She has also taught at Stanford, West Point, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, National Defense University, and the University of Maryland.Dr. Schake is the author of five books and has been widely published in policy journals and the popular press, including in CNN, Foreign Affairs, Politico, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. She is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and War on the Rocks.Dr. Schake has a PhD and MA in government and politics from the University of Maryland, as well as an MPM from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Her BA in international relations is from Stanford University...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Debates over voucher programs, public school funding, and the government’s role in education have dominated headlines across Texas and the nation. At the same time, the recent NAEP test shows that less than half our kids are proficient in reading and math. Studies indicate that when the education system fails, far more is at risk than an individual student’s growth. Education shortcomings pose a risk to national security and global competitiveness. So, what can we do to ensure the next generation gets off to the best possible start? Join the Council for a panel event focused on the intersection of education, freedom, and national security.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSPete Geren The Honorable Preston “Pete” Geren is president and CEO of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, which provides grants to educational, health, human service, and cultural nonprofit organizations in Texas. Geren served in the Department of Defense from 2001-2009, holding positions that included Acting Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of the Army. He served four terms as a member of Congress, representing the 12th District of Texas from 1989-1997. A lawyer and former business executive, Geren has held leadership positions in numerous civic, educational, business, and philanthropic organizations in Texas. He has more than 30 years of combined service on corporate boards, including Union Pacific Resources, Anadarko Petroleum, Cullen Frost, and Texas Capital Bank. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Texas and a Distinguished Alumnus for Public Service of the University of Texas Law School. A Fort Worth native, he is married with three daughters and one granddaughter.Sandy Kress made a personal decision over 30 years ago to transfer his energy and spirit to the task of reforming public education. He became senior adviser on education in the White House when George W. Bush became President of the United States. He spearheaded the development of policy within the administration and helped lead negotiations with the Congress over legislation that became the No Child Left Behind Act. Upon his return to Texas, Sandy Kress was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to chair the Commission for a College Ready Texas and serve on his Competitiveness Council. Kress has served as a fellow at both the Bush Institute in Dallas and the Hunt Institute in North Carolina, where he worked on major national education reform initiatives...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
As both a European leader and a key U.S. ally, Germany stands at the epicenter of issues like the war in Ukraine and European energy and economic uncertainty. Axel Dittmann, the Germany Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, will join the Council to explore how transatlantic relations are evolving, what’s at stake for the future of NATO and the EU, and how Germany and the U.S. can work together to address a rapidly shifting geopolitical and energy landscape.ABOUT THE SPEAKERAxel Dittmann is Germany’s Deputy Chief of Mission. He represents the German Ambassador and heads the German Embassy in his absence. He deals with all political issues of fundamental nature and manages the internal proceedings of the German Embassy...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Open to the public; complimentary for Global Forum Members.Join David Firestein, President and CEO of the Bush China Foundation, for an essential discussion on the world’s most consequential relationship. We’ll explore what’s really driving U.S.-China tensions: strategic rivalry, Taiwan, the global tech race, and the domestic forces shaping policy in both nations.The discussion will offer clear insights on how this superpower competition impacts everything from global markets to national security – and what it means for Texas and beyond. Whether you’re tracking geopolitical risks, navigating business decisions, or simply want to understand the forces reshaping our world, this conversation will give you the strategic perspective you need.ABOUT THE SPEAKERDavid Firestein is the inaugural president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and a founding and current member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Bush China Foundation, Mr. Firestein was the founding executive director of The University of Texas at Austin’s China Public Policy Center and a clinical professor at UT’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.ABOUT THE MODERATORJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, and is now interim CEO of WACDFW...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
From AI-powered drones to battlefield-ready microsatellites, the future of warfare is being redefined – not just by governments, but by tech entrepreneurs and venture capital. Join us for a conversation with Christopher Kirchhoff, co-founder of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and former senior advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He’s the author of the new book Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War.Drawing on his experience at the intersection of the U.S. military and Silicon Valley, Kirchhoff will share how he helped build a new model for rapid innovation inside the Pentagon – one that bypassed bureaucracy and directly connected cutting-edge startups with defense needs. From supplying Ukraine with real-time battlefield technology to navigating the U.S.-China tech arms race, he’ll offer a rare inside look at how 21st-century conflicts are being shaped behind the scenes.Touching on national security, innovation policy, and the geopolitics of emerging tech, Kirchhoff will unveil his insights on the evolving nature of modern warfare – and how America must adapt to stay ahead.ABOUT THE SPEAKERChristopher Kirchhoff has dedicated his career to strengthening America’s military technological advantage through senior defense and national security roles. He co-founded the Defense Innovation Unit, the bridge between the Pentagon and the technology business ecosystem. His service includes director of strategic planning for the National Security Council and senior civilian advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he helped shape military strategy and defense policy during the Obama administration. Kirchhoff continues to advise the Defense Innovation Unit on modernizing military technology adoption. He earned his AB from Harvard College and holds a PhD in social and political sciences from Cambridge University.ABOUT THE MODERATORJay T. Young has over forty years of experience in government and industry that has included senior roles in the management consulting, technology services, and diversified industrial manufacturing industries. In his commercial career, he was head of strategic planning at two NYSE-listed companies. He has also worked with the DoD and the intelligence community in military intelligence assessment, technology strategy/security, regional security (Indo-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East) and economic statecraft/geo-economic issues...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Part 1 of 4 in the 2025 International Perspectives Series.In 2023, 110 million people around the world were forcibly displaced by conflicts, violence, and human rights abuses – a number that has tripled in this century. What role should the U.S. play in addressing this forced migration? The authors of a recent report suggest our role is one of “consistent response and effective leadership” but “border dysfunction and a global displacement crisis has sapped U.S. resources, resolve, and leadership within the international refugee regime.” They warn that U.S. attention to this global issue is dependent its foreign policy interests, or when a spotlight on humanitarian crises draws the attention of the American people. The Council kicks off part one of the International Perspectives Series with a panel featuring Arnold Professor of International Political Economy and Director of the John G. Tower Center of Political Studies at Southern Methodist University James F. Hollifield; Director of Refugee and Forced Displacement Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars John Thon Majok; and Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University Dr. Susan Martin...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
James (Jim) W. Keyes is a global business leader, best selling author, philanthropist, artist, musician, commercial pilot, and modern renaissance man. He is the former CEO of two internationally recognized Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries from retail, consumer products, technology, healthcare, cyber security, new space, energy, and advanced nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies.Keyes’ philanthropic initiatives have an equally broad focus, including serving on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, acting as the former Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the board of directors for institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical School, Cooper Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU Cox School of Business, Columbia Business School, and his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross.He has had a lifelong commitment to education, serving as a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the Education Is Freedom Foundation. He is the author of Education is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands which provides the “what,” “why,” and “how” of learning. It outlines the importance of education for all mankind, the power of education to change our world, and the wisdom to unlock our personal freedom while reserving our democracy.Keyes is a personification of the American Dream, as he comes from humble beginnings. He was inducted in 2005 as a Member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 2024, he received the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award presented by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize demonstrated community leadership.Named in honor of the Council’s founder, the H. Neil Mallon Award is presented annually to individuals who have excelled at promoting the international focus of North Texas. Funds raised from this event support the Council’s public and education programming, international exchanges, and diplomatic services.
Please note: The audio is shaky in the beginning, but it steadies around five minutes in.The first member of the 101st Airborne to receive the Medal of Honor. A soldier who escaped the poverty and racism of Alabama only to face a new indignity. A teenager who falls in love with an American soldier. These and other long-overlooked stories are compiled by Robert M. Edsel in his latest book, Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II. Drawing on never-before-seen letters and diaries, Edsel brings to life his subjects in a way that will render them unforgettable. Join us for a discussion of humanity, grief, and the price of freedom then and now.
Debt apologists argue that the U.S. has the leading reserve currency and the strongest geopolitical power. However, what happens when government spending exceeds GDP? Or when a great power fades? Historically, countries that spend too much flounder and fail, such as the Roman Empire, Imperial Spain, or China in the 1800s. But there are countries who have turned the tide and found prosperity, such as Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Tackling the issue of the U.S. national debt is complicated and will only be solved through bipartisanship – once other issues such as war, immigration, and tariffs are able to be deprioritized. As the U.S. debt hits 36 trillion, how can the government course-correct spending?
The global nuclear landscape is shifting. The United States now faces a more complex set of challenges than at any point since the Cold War. Long-standing assumptions about deterrence and strategic stability are being tested – with serious implications for global security.We’ll examine the nuclear challenges posed by four key actors. Russia has used nuclear signaling during the war in Ukraine. China is rapidly expanding its nuclear forces to close the gap with the United States. North Korea continues to advance its arsenal and long-range missiles. And Iran’s nuclear potential remains a live concern in the wake of ongoing conflict in the region.We’ll also look at how U.S. policymakers are assessing risk and escalation in a more crowded nuclear environment – and what it all means for stability in the years ahead.ABOUT THE SPEAKERRobert Litwak is a Research Professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. Litwak was previously Senior Vice President and Director of International Security Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Litwak is a consultant to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He served on the National Security Council staff as director for nonproliferation. He was an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and has held visiting fellowships at Harvard University’s Center for International Affairs, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Oxford University. Litwak is author of Rogue States and U.S Foreign Policy, Outlier States, Managing Nuclear Risks, Nuclear Crises with North Korea and Iran, and, most recently, Tripolar Instability: Nuclear Competition Among the United States, Russia, and China. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
For more than a decade, Robert Costa has been one of the country’s most respected and deeply sourced political reporters, covering the shifting dynamics inside the White House, on Capitol Hill, and across the national security community. As chief Washington correspondent for CBS News – and previously at The Washington Post, NBC News, and Washington Week – Costa has had a front-row seat to the forces reshaping American politics.In this conversation, Costa will explore the trends, emerging power centers, and political undercurrents defining Washington today. Drawing on the deep reporting behind Peril – his bestselling collaboration with Bob Woodward – and his current work at CBS News, he’ll examine how national security challenges, institutional pressures, and evolving leadership dynamics in Washington are influencing U.S. policy and shaping America’s role in the world.Known for his nonpartisan, deeply sourced approach, Costa brings clarity, context, and rare behind-the-scenes insight to a political landscape still in motion. His analysis offers audiences a grounded, panoramic view of where Washington may be headed – and why it matters.ABOUT THE SPEAKERRobert Costa is a national correspondent for “CBS News Sunday Morning” and chief Washington analyst for CBS News.Costa’s work at “Sunday Morning” includes coverage of national politics, in-depth interviews with newsmakers, and features on culture, literature and the arts. As chief Washington analyst for CBS News, Costa offers reporting and analysis to the “CBS Evening News,” “Face the Nation,” “CBS Mornings” and CBS News 24/7 programs.Costa was named a national correspondent for “Sunday Morning” in February 2025 following three years of contributions to the broadcast, including an exclusive sit-down in the White House residence with President Joe Biden in August 2024. It was Biden’s first interview after he announced his decision to not seek reelection. Costa and colleagues at “Sunday Morning” won an Emmy Award in 2023 for Outstanding Recorded News Program.ABOUT THE MODERATORThe Honorable Mike Rawlings was the longest serving Mayor of Dallas (2011-2019) in over 50 years. Rawlings is a founding partner of CIC Partners, its current vice-chairman, and has been with the firm since its inception in 2004. He is a graduate of Boston College. Mike Rawlings is a recipient of the H. Neil Mallon Award, presented by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth in 2019, where the Mike Rawlings Endowed Lecture series was first announced...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
HONOREE – Julia WilsonJulia Wilson, an educator with 25 years in the profession, currently serves as the IB Coordinator at Trinity High School, where she has worked for seven years. Prior to this role, she was an IB and AP teacher and the Social Studies Department Chair at Trinity.Julia is the sponsor of the Trinity Junior World Affairs Council, the most active JWAC in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Her JWAC hosts a weeklong Trinity Culture Week with activities for students daily.Her dedication to education has been recognized in multiple ways: in 2013, she was awarded the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year; in 2019 she was selected as a national delegate for the Street Law Supreme Court Teacher Institute; in 2023 she was awarded the HEBISD Educational Foundation Double Grant; and in 2025 she was awarded a spot on the Council’s UAE teacher study tour. Her principal describes her as “one of the heartbeats of our campus” and “one of the most selfless humans I have ever met.”Julia holds an M.Ed in Educational Technology and Leadership with numerous teaching certifications, serves as part of the Council’s teacher advisory and as an AP reader for US Government and Politics, and is the proud mother of two sons and an avid fan of K-dramas.KEYNOTE – Robert JordanRobert Jordan is Diplomat in Residence in the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and International Affairs at Southern Methodist University. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2001-2003. During the critical period following the attacks of 9/11 he led American efforts to maintain relations with Saudi Arabia, enlist Saudi cooperation in combating terrorism, and advance U.S. values and interests. He was a partner in the international law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. for many years and headed the firm’s Middle East practice based in Dubai until his retirement in 2014. He is Vice Chair of the Tower Center Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Governors of the Middle East Institute and the Southwestern Medical Foundation. He is also a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a past president of the Dallas Bar Association. He has been a frequent commentator with international media including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, Bloomberg, and the New York Times. He is a contributing columnist for the Dallas Morning News. His memoir, Desert Diplomat: Inside Saudi Arabia Following 9/11, was published by Potomac Books.About the International Educator of the Year AwardIn working directly with high schools, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth has encountered numerous educators devoted to enriching their students’ knowledge of world affairs and expanding international learning opportunities for their students. These teachers and administrators demonstrate leadership by going above and beyond their normal responsibilities.Just as these teachers feel it is important to help their students develop a better understanding of the world, we at the Council feel it is equally important to recognize the efforts of these dedicated individuals...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Join us for a conversation with Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) who will share his perspective on today’s timeliest international topics ranging from strategic competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party to ongoing geopolitical events in the Middle East and beyond. Congressman Moulton will also discuss his work in promoting the next generation of bipartisan congressional leadership and the importance of public service in American life.Congressman Moulton is in his sixth term representing Massachusetts’ 6th District. Moulton served four tours as a Marine in Iraq, including working for General David Petraeus as a liaison to senior Iraqi leadership. He earned joint graduate degrees on the G.I. Bill and worked in high-speed rail before elected office. He serves on the House Armed Services; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party.ABOUT THE SPEAKERCongressman Seth Moulton is a veteran, a husband, and a father proudly serving Massachusetts’ Sixth District. Seth sits on the House Armed Services; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party. Back home, Seth works tirelessly to deliver for the people of the North Shore...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Digital Policy, tracking U.S. AI policy developments and advocating for responsible AI practices...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Join us for an evening that looks beyond breaking news and political narratives to the people whose lives illuminate global change. Pulitzer Prize–winning author and longtime New Yorker staff writer Lawrence Wright has spent his career uncovering the human stories at the center of world events – from communities transformed by terrorism and authoritarianism to individuals navigating the cultural and political shifts across the Middle East. His reporting has helped define how we understand not just what is happening, but who is affected and why it matters.Wright will explore the themes that animate his work: the tension between power and truth, the fragility of democratic institutions, and the deeply personal experiences that reveal the stakes of global affairs. Drawing on decades of on-the-ground reporting and his acclaimed body of work, he will offer an intimate look at the forces shaping today’s world and the lives caught within them.ABOUT THE SPEAKERLawrence Wright is a staff writer for The New Yorker, a playwright, a screenwriter, and the author of ten books of nonfiction, including The Looming Tower, Going Clear, and God Save Texas, and one previous novel, God’s Favorite. His books have received many honors, including a Pulitzer Prize for The Looming Tower. He and his wife are longtime residents of Austin, Texas.ABOUT THE MODERATORJess Koloini is the President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
When an American is taken hostage abroad, the crisis doesn’t end at the border – it ripples through families, institutions, and governments for months or years. Join us to explore how these cases unfold and how the U.S. government works to bring Americans home.Ambassador Roger D. Carstens, former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, will draw on firsthand experience from some of the most high-profile hostage cases of recent years. He’ll shed light on how the U.S. government approaches hostage cases, what families experience behind the scenes, and what communities can learn from these crises.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSAmbassador Roger D. Carstens served as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 2020 to 2025. During his tenure, he orchestrated and led negotiations with the Taliban, Syria’s Assad Regime, Venezuela’s Maduro government, the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Belarus, and Foreign Terrorist Organizations such as Afghanistan’s Haqqani Network, Yemen’s Houthis, and Mali’s JNIM, returning over 65 American hostages and wrongful detainees during the Trump and Biden Administrations. He also prioritized supporting the families of those detained, partnering with them and keeping them informed of the work being done to bring their loved ones home.José A. Freig is Vice President of International and Inflight Dining Operations for American Airlines. He oversees American’s Airport Operations in more than 120 international destinations as well as Business Partner Operations and the delivery and performance of Inflight Dining on more than 6,200 daily departures from more than 125 catering locations – together focused on providing an exceptional customer experience...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Part 1 of 4 in the 2026 International Perspectives Series. Once overshadowed by U.S. strategic focus on Europe and Asia, Latin America is now center stage in debates over American influence, economic opportunity, and supply-chain resilience. Join us to examine how recent developments have brought renewed attention to Latin America’s political, economic, and security significance.We’ll explore key issues shaping today’s policy landscape, including U.S. actions toward Venezuela, the strategic importance of critical minerals across the region, and how longstanding ideas about hemispheric security continue to influence U.S. decision-making.This conversation will offer perspective on where U.S.–Latin America relations stand now, what challenges and opportunities lie ahead, and why the Western Hemisphere continues to matter for U.S. priorities and global stability.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSDr. Benjamin N. Gedan is a Senior Fellow and the Director of the Stimson Center Latin America program. He is an Adjunct Lecturer and Foreign Policy Fellow at the Latin America Studies Initiative at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the former Director of Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Previously, he served as the South America Director on the National Security Council staff at the White House, managed Honduras and Argentina at the U.S. Department of State and had responsibility for Central America and the Caribbean as an international economist at the U.S. Treasury Department.Kevin O’Reilly assumed his duties as Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Managua on June 26, 2023. He previously served as the U.S. National Coordinator for the 2023 Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver, Colorado, and for the 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California. From 2018 to 2022 he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South America and Western Hemisphere Economic Policy.A career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service, he has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Panama City, Panama, and as the embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires from June 2015 to February 2016; Director of the Office of Mexican Affairs in Washington, DC; and Senior Director for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in Baghdad, Iraq. Mr. O’Reilly also served as the Director for Latin American Affairs in the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of International Affairs and later as the White House’s National Security Council Director for North American Affairs. He was a Pearson Fellow in the Office of Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois and served in the Pentagon in the Joint Staff’s Western European and NATO Affairs Division.ABOUT THE MODERATORMarc Stanley most recently served as the United States Ambassador to Argentina from 2021 to 2025. He is an American trial lawyer, political activist, Jewish community leader, and philanthropist...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Join us for breakfast and a timely and wide-ranging conversation with Glen Linder, Assistant Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Canada, as we explore the evolving relationship between the United States and its closest neighbor. Against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting global landscape, this discussion will address current issues shaping Canada’s role on the world stage, including trade dynamics, cross-border relations, and the broader economic and strategic ties that bind our two countries. From regional cooperation to global challenges, this program offers an opportunity to gain insight into the priorities, perspectives, and partnerships that continue to define the U.S.–Canada relationship.ABOUT THE SPEAKERA lawyer by training, Glen Linder began his public service career as a Foreign Service officer. Over his career, he has worked at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Department of Justice, Public Safety Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada. Early in his career, he completed a posting to the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala. Glen returned to Global Affairs Canada in 2023, where he served as Director General for North America and as Director General of the Sanctions Bureau. He was Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas from July 2023 to September 2024, and again since August 2025.ABOUT THE MODERATORAs the Vice President of Lockheed Martin International Government Affairs, Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel leads the corporation’s diplomatic and senior executive customer engagements for the company’s growing international business portfolio. Nancy has over 30 years of experience as an industry leader in the international trade, global defense, and aerospace sectors, with expertise in political advocacy, exports, and trade policy...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in global infrastructure, questions of data ownership, privacy, and control are emerging as defining issues of the 21st century. In this second program of our AI Series, we turn our focus to the new information order taking shape in a hyperconnected world.How will governments balance national security with individual rights? What responsibilities do technology companies bear as the stewards of unprecedented amounts of personal data? And how can democracies safeguard transparency and trust in an era where information can be both weapon and commodity?Join us for a conversation on how innovation, regulation, and ethical governance are reshaping the global contest over information – and the future of digital freedom.
Join us for an insightful conversation with Beth Sanner, former Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration and longtime CIA analyst, as she reflects on the national security landscape one year into the second Trump administration.Drawing on her decades of experience briefing presidents and shaping intelligence assessments, Sanner will offer a candid, nonpartisan look at how U.S. foreign policy, intelligence priorities, and global alliances have evolved over the past year – and what challenges lie ahead.ABOUT THE SPEAKERBeth Sanner is the former Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Presidential Daily Briefer, and CNN National Security Contributor. Currently, she is a trusted commentator, lecturer, and strategist for businessesABOUT THE MODERATORJess Koloini is the President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: www.dfwworld.org/donate
As Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv became a major target at the outset of the Russian invasion in 2022. As of April 2024, reports suggest that almost a quarter of the city has been damaged or destroyed. For the duration of the war, Mayor Ihor Terekhov has led his city through heavy fighting, shelling and missile strikes, and repeated attempts at advancement by Russian troops. For its people’s bravery in repelling Russian forces, the city was designated a Hero City of Ukraine by the Ukrainian government in 2022. The Council welcomes Mayor Terekhov to share his city’s story of resistance.Members with questions should reach out to Jenny Villatoro at jvillatoro@dfwworld.org.ABOUT THE SPEAKERIhor Terekhov has served as the mayor of Kharkiv in Ukraine since November 2021. In 2007, he was appointed the Deputy Head Governor of Kharkiv Oblast by Arsen Avakov. He became deputy mayor of Kharkiv in 2010 and first deputy mayor in 2015. He was granted the title of Honored Economist of Ukraine. Terekhov graduated from the Kharkiv Engineering and Construction Institute in 1990 and worked as a research intern for the institute. He then worked in the private sector from 1994 to 1997 before joining the economic department of the Kharkiv City Council as a civil servant in 1999. He graduated in 2006 from the National Academy for Public Administration.ABOUT THE MODERATORKrys Boyd is host and managing editor of Think from KERA in Dallas – a position she’s held since 2006. To date, the national program can be heard on more than 200 stations across the country. A graduate of Texas Christian University’s Bob Schieffer College of Communication, Krys began her career as a journalist along the U.S./Mexico border and returned to North Texas in 1999 to serve as News Director for Broadcast.com, and later Senior Producer of Broadcast News at Yahoo. Krys joined KERA in 2001, hosting the nightly radio talk show Conversations. Later, she wrote and produced documentary and educational television programs, including the critically-acclaimed, nationally broadcast JFK: Breaking the News in 2003, and served as producer and co-host of the Emmy Award-winning public affairs program On The Record. She also hosted a weekly television version of Think from 2007-2011. Think has been honored with numerous local, state, and national awards. Krys and her husband Matt live in Dallas and have four children...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
HONOREE – Emily RamirezEmily Ramirez is a distinguished educator with 13 years of experience cultivating global awareness and academic excellence as a teacher and a Junior World Affairs Council sponsor. She currently teaches AP World History and Mexican American Studies at Lake Highlands High School in the Richardson Independent School District, where she is recognized for her innovative and culturally relevant teaching methods.As the sponsor of Junior World Affairs Council (JWAC) clubs at Lake Highlands High School and previously at Uplift Williams Preparatory, Ramirez has expanded her impact beyond the classroom by fostering global citizenship and leadership among her students. She co-sponsored the creation of the “Global Awareness Speaker Series,” which has brought experts to her campus from fields such as global health, international business, diplomacy, and human rights. Ramirez has also organized a variety of community service initiatives, including drives for refugee families and hands-on events like building water filters for disaster relief. Additionally, she has mentored hundreds of teenagers through her weekly after-school discussions of current events.Ramirez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Center for Nonprofit Management. She has received numerous accolades, including being selected for the WACDFW Travel Fellowship to Morocco in 2019 and being honored as the Lake Highlands High School Teacher of the Year in 2022. Seven of her students have been selected as 20 Under 20 recipients and Lake Highlands has been named among the Top 10 JWACs for the past five consecutive years.KEYNOTE – David RohdeDavid Rohde is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the author of Where Tyranny Begins: The Justice Department, the FBI and the War on Democracy and four other books. He is the national security and law editor at NBC News and a former executive editor of The New Yorker website, where he wrote about the Justice Department, democracy, and disinformation. He is also a former New York Times, Reuters, and Christian Science Monitor reporter.About The International Educator of the Year AwardIn working directly with high schools, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth has encountered numerous educators devoted to enriching their students’ knowledge of world affairs and expanding international learning opportunities for their students. These teachers and administrators demonstrate leadership by going above and beyond their normal responsibilities.Just as these teachers feel it is important to help their students develop a better understanding of the world, we at the Council feel it is equally important to recognize the efforts of these dedicated individuals...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Co. She also serves as the Central Region Head and Managing Director of The Private Bank at J.P. Morgan.Elaine joined Chemical Bank of New York in 1979, working in London, San Francisco, and New York until she relocated to Dallas in 1984. After the 1986 merger of Chemical Bank and Texas Commerce Bank, Elaine was promoted to Chairman of Texas Commerce Bank in Fort Worth in 1992 and joined the Private Bank to manage client advisory groups across the state in 1997. In 1999, she was elected Chairman and CEO of Dallas.Elaine is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Performing Arts Fort Worth, serves as a Board Member for the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and is the Secretary of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Citizens Council and serves on the University of Texas McCombs School of Business Advisory Council.A native of Sherman, Texas, Elaine graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in history and economics and received her MBA from The University of Texas. She and her husband, Neils, have two daughters, Bradley and Lorene, her son-in-law, Coley Means, and two grandsons, George and Hunter...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Join us for a conversation with Ken Hersh – renowned investor, business leader, philanthropist, and president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Ken will share his insights into the art and practice of leadership, drawing on decades of experience at the helm of both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. He will explore how effective leadership transcends industries, how mission alignment drives both financial success and social impact, and how he has cultivated a legacy of truly welcoming and resilient workplace cultures. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leader who has made his name in the business world without compromising himself or his people.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSince 2016, Ken Hersh has served as president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which houses the George W. Bush Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute. In 1988, he co-founded NGP Energy Capital Management, one of the nation’s largest natural resources private equity firms which pioneered private capital investing in the sector. Until 2016, he served as CEO, investing over $12 billion, earning a 27-year 30% annualized rate of return, making it one of the nation’s leading private investors. In 2023, the Oil and Gas Investor magazine inducted Ken into its Hart Energy Hall of Fame as one of the top 50 “pioneering men and women who have shaped energy over the last half century.”Additionally, Ken manages his family office that invests across multiple industries. He sits on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. He sits on the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institution and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Hersh is an active philanthropist through the efforts of The Hersh Foundation both in his community and around the country.In 2023, he released his book, The Fastest Tortoise: Winning in Industries I Knew Nothing About, which chronicles lessons evolving from his business and personal experiences. He received his undergraduate degree in politics from Princeton and his MBA from Stanford University. In 2023, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth honored Hersh with the H. Neil Mallon Award.ABOUT THE MODERATORChristine Perez is editor of D CEO, the business title of D Magazine Partners in Dallas—consistently recognized as the nation’s best regional business magazine. She leads the brand’s editorial operations, overseeing its digital news site, nonprofit, real estate, and healthcare platforms, the signature Dallas 500 publication, and City of Champions, a special edition that focuses on the business of sports. A national award–winning journalist, Christine has been a trusted voice in North Texas business media since 2000...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
The Federal Reserve bank cut to interest rates in October, but officials cautioned about lowering the rates too quickly in recent meetings. Uncertainty with China, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the unrest in the Middle East all impact not only foreign policy but also the domestic economy. The Trump Administration has committed to immediately implement policies impacting tariffs and trade, business and regulations, the national debt, and taxes. What will that impact be and how quickly can we expect to feel it? What are the short and long-term implications to the U.S. economy and consumers? Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs Robert Kaplan will speak to these questions, discuss the current state of the economy, and offer his 2025 economic forecast on January 29.ABOUT THE SPEAKERRobert Kaplan is vice chairman of Goldman Sachs and a member of the management committee. Kaplan initially joined the firm in 1983 and became a partner in 1990. In 2002, he became vice chairman of the firm with global responsibility for the investment banking and investment management divisions. He also served as co-chair of the partnership committee and chair of the Goldman Sachs Pine Street Leadership Program. In 1998, Kaplan became global co-head of Investment Banking and a member of the management committee. His previous roles included serving as head of Asia Pacific investment banking, co-chief operating officer of global investment banking and head of the Americas Corporate Finance department. He retired from the firm in 2006 to join Harvard Business School, becoming a senior director at that time.Previously, Kaplan served as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 2015 to 2021. Before joining the Fed, he was the Martin Marshall Professor of Management Practice and senior associate dean at Harvard Business School.Kaplan is chairman of Project ALS and co-chairman of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. He is a board member of Harvard Medical School and St. Mark’s School of Texas and is also a member of the George W. Bush Institute’s advisory council. He is also an advisory board member of the Baker Institute. He serves on the Bipartisan Policy Center President’s Council and on the board of directors at The Holdsworth Center.Robert Kaplan is the author of three books on leadership: What You Really Need to Lead, What You’re Really Meant To Do, and What to Ask the Person in the Mirror...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
2025 Sumners Civics Lecture featuring former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan; moderated by the Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy, the George W. Bush Institute Igor Khrestin.On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. James Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, recalls being awakened in the middle of the night to a prearranged code when Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine. He had been warning others that this was a possibility. Why had no one taken the whispers seriously? Could this war have been stopped? The geopolitical atmosphere has since shifted; democracies around the world have clamored, reliant on Ukraine successfully keeping Russia at bay. On March 20, join the Council to hear Ambassador Sullivan’s insider perspective.Ambassador John J. Sullivan, former U.S. deputy secretary of state and former U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation, is a partner in Mayer Brown’s DC and New York offices. His career spans four decades in public service under five U.S. presidents and in private law practice at Mayer Brown. Before rejoining the firm in January 2023, he was the U.S. ambassador to Russia from December 2019 to October 2022.Prior to his post in Moscow, Ambassador Sullivan served for almost three years as the deputy secretary of state following a bipartisan Senate confirmation in 2017. He was responsible for both the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and the management of the State Department’s global operations.Ambassador Sullivan has been a member of the Supreme Court and Appellate practice and was a co-founder of the National Security practice. From 2010 to 2016, he served by appointment of the Obama Administration as chair of the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialogue. He previously held senior positions in the Departments of Justice, Defense, and Commerce in two prior administrations; until January 2009, he was the deputy secretary of commerce under President George W. Bush, following his service from 2005 to 2007 as the general counsel of the department. In President Bush’s first term, he was appointed deputy general counsel of the Defense Department by Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. In the George H.W. Bush Administration, Ambassador Sullivan was counselor to Assistant Attorney General J. Michael Luttig in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel.Ambassador Sullivan received his bachelor’s degree from Brown University and his law degree from the Columbia University School of Law, where he was Book Reviews Editor of the Columbia Law Review. Additionally, he is a Distinguished Scholar at the school of Foreign Service of Georgetown University and a Distinguished Fellow at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University. He serves as a Contributor to CBS News, is quoted frequently in international media as a leading authority on foreign affairs, and has written a book on his experiences as ambassador, Midnight in Moscow, published in August 2024...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Featuring former U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman and Inaugural Director of AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding Marc Sievers; moderated by Diplomat in Residence in the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and International Affairs at Southern Methodist University Robert Jordan.Part 4 of 4 in the 2025 International Perspectives Series.How can the past help us predict the future? Can diplomacy make progress despite rising tensions? How will alliances shape the future of the Middle East and the world at large? Join us for Middle East Alliances: What’s in the Crystal Ball with retired Ambassador Marc J. Sievers to explore the complexity of Middle Eastern alliances and learn the path forward to full collaboration.ABOUT THE SPEAKERAmbassador Marc J. Sievers (ret.), inaugural Director of AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding, was a U.S. diplomat for more than 30 years, serving across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Turkey, including postings in Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman from 2016 to 2019, he joined AJC in 2021 after a stint as Non-resident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council. As Director of AJC Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Sievers is building on over 25 years of AJC engagement with governments and civil society in keyArab states. Heading the first office of a global Jewish organization in an Arab or Muslim-majority country, Ambassador Sievers is focused on deepening ties with the leadership and people of the Arabian Gulf, promoting the consolidation of the historic Abraham Accords, and serving as a bridge between the American Jewish community and the region. Ambassador Sievers received a BA from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in International Relations and Middle East Studies from Columbia University. His professional awards include the State Department’s Meritorious and Superior Honor awards, the Intelligence Community’s Agency Shield and Exceptional Collector awards, and the American Foreign Service Association’s Sinclaire Award for his study of Arabic language and culture.ABOUT THE MODERATORRobert Jordan is Diplomat in Residence in the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and International Affairs at Southern Methodist University. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2001-2003. During the critical period following the attacks of 9/11 he led American efforts to maintain relations with Saudi Arabia, enlist Saudi cooperation in combating terrorism, and advance U.S. values and interests. He was a partner in the international law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. for many years and headed the firm’s Middle East practice based in Dubai until his retirement in 2014. He is Vice Chair of the Tower Center Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Governors of the Middle East Institute and the Southwestern Medical Foundation. He is also a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a past president of the Dallas Bar Association. He has been a frequent commentator with international media including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, Bloomberg, and the New York Times. He is a contributing columnist for the Dallas Morning News. His memoir, Desert Diplomat: Inside Saudi Arabia Following 9/11, was published by Potomac Books...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
A VIRTUAL event, featuring Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute Paul Salem and moderated by interim CEO of the Council Jim Falk.The first missile strikes of Israel’s operation “Rising Lion” accounted for the most widespread single-day assault Iran has experienced since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. They targeted Iran’s nuclear program and military encampment sites and killed some of Iran’s most important military leaders and scientists instrumental in their nuclear operations. In response, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones into the densely populated regions of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. What does this mean for the region and the possibility of a nuclear treaty? What role will the U.S. play in forging negotiations? What is the possibility of nuclear response?Join us for a RealTime Report on Thursday, June 19, featuring senior fellow at the Middle East Institute Paul Salem (joining from Beirut) and moderated by interim CEO of the Council Jim Falk.ABOUT THE SPEAKERPaul Salem is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI). He previously served as MEI’s president and CEO and as vice president for international engagement. His research focuses on political change, democracy and governance, social and economic policy, as well as regional and international relations in the Middle East. Prior to joining MEI, Dr. Salem was the founding director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, Lebanon (2006–2013). From 1999 to 2006, he served as director of the Fares Foundation, and earlier founded and led the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (1989–1999), Lebanon’s premier public policy think tank. Dr. Salem is the author and editor of several books and reports and writes regularly on his Substack blog, Thinking Middle East.ABOUT THE MODERATORJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, currently serving as interim CEO of WACDFW. Additionally, Jim hosts the podcast World Now with Jim Falk. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Liz Brailsford, Marc J. Sievers, and Robert Jordan sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "Middle East Alliances: What’s in the Crystal Ball?"
Liz Brailsford and Ihor Terekhov sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "Kharkiv’s Story: Leadership, War, and the Fight for Democracy."
Liz Brailsford and Cullum Clark sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "The U.S. National Debt: How Does It Affect Foreign Policy?"
Liz Brailsford and Jeffrey Toobin sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy."
Liz Brailsford and David Rohde sit down for a conversation ahead of our International Educator of the Year Awards Luncheon.
Liz Brailsford and Liz Truss sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "A Conversation with Liz Truss: Why Global Leadership Matters."
Liz Brailsford and John J. Sullivan sit down for a conversation ahead of our event "On the Frontlines: Service to Country, Moscow, and the West’s Global Challenge."
More than half of the world’s countries are democratic and 2024 has become the election year, with 49% of the world’s population going to the voting booth. With a record number of elections being held this year, how do the results abroad affect our upcoming November election? Join the Council in welcoming back Mark McKinnon in conversation with former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings for the 2024 Mike Rawlings Endowed Lecture Series.ABOUT THE SPEAKERMark McKinnon is a multifaceted figure known for his roles as a political advisor, advocate for reform, media columnist, and television producer. He is the creator and co-host of Showtime’s acclaimed documentary series The Circus and has worked with President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Bono. Committed to bipartisanship, McKinnon co-founded No Labels and is a board member of Take Back Our Republic, which advocates for electoral reforms. McKinnon is a columnist and served as a governor of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. He attended the University of Texas, where he was editor of The Daily Texan.ABOUT THE MODERATORThe Honorable Mike Rawlings was the longest serving Mayor of Dallas (2011-2019) in over 50 years. Rawlings is a founding partner of CIC Partners, its current vice-chairman, and has been with the firm since its inception in 2004. He is a graduate of Boston College. Mike Rawlings is a recipient of the H. Neil Mallon Award, presented by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth in 2019, where the Mike Rawlings Endowed Lecture series was first announced.The Mike Rawlings Annual Lecture Series was created to honor Mr. Rawlings for his service to our city – especially for raising the international prominence of the City of Dallas while mayor. During his terms as mayor, he fostered meaningful relationships with other leaders who proved the wide-reaching impact of local leadership. Since its inception, the series has hosted Rahm Emmanual (former mayor of Chicago), Keisha Lance Bottoms (former mayor of Atlanta), and, in partnership with the Dallas Morning News, Joe Straus (former Speaker of the TX House of Representatives).Thank you to our Mike Rawlings Endowed Lecture sponsors:FOUNDING DONORSBillingsley Company, The Beck Group, Crow Holdings, HALL Group, Tim Headington & Headington Companies, KDC Real Estate Development, and Laura & Jack MatthewsSUPPORTERSDoug Chestnut, Jill & Michael Dardick, Frank Mihalopoulos,Herb Weitzman, and Abigail & Todd Williams..Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Featuring Panelists: Brookings Institution Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe Fiona Hill; George W. Bush Institute Executive Director and George W. Bush Presidential Center Vice President David Kramer; Brookings Institution Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy and Fritz Stern Chair at Germany and Trans-Atlantic Relations Constanze Stelzenmüller; Moderated by The Dallas Morning News Vice President and Editorial Page Editor Rudy Bush.
On June 11, Susan Glasser joins us for a discussion about the evolution and future of democracy with Jeremi Suri of the University of Texas. Glasser and Suri will explore the 2024 election with all its implications.Each summer, the leadership of the 90 World Affairs Councils network gather in a different city for networking and professional development. This year the Council was honored to win the bid to host the Council Leadership Meeting, in partnership with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). The kickoff for the Council Leadership Meeting is our Susan Glasser program. This is a special opportunity for our members to meet Council leaders from across the nation and the WACA national office and its board – don’t miss it!Join us in giving a hearty Texas “howdy!” to the WAC national network and to featured speaker Susan Glasser at Election Echoes: Tracing the Evolution & Future of Democracy.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSusan B. Glasser is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a weekly column on life in Washington. Glasser has served as the top editor of several Washington publications, including Politico, where she founded the award-winning magazine, and Foreign Policy, which won three National Magazine Awards, among other honors, during her tenure as editor in chief. Before that, she worked for a decade at the Washington Post, where she was the editor of the publication’s Outlook and national news sections. She also oversaw coverage of the impeachment of Bill Clinton, served as a reporter covering the intersection of money and politics, spent four years as the Post’s Moscow co-bureau chief, and covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She edited Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, early in her career. Her books include Kremlin Rising, The Man Who Ran Washington, and, most recently, The Divider, a best-seller depicting the White House during the Trump Presidency, co-authored with husband Peter Baker.ABOUT THE MODERATORJeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor in the University’s department of history and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Suri is the author and editor of eleven books on politics and foreign policy, most recently: Civil War By Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy. His writings appear in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN.com, Atlantic, Newsweek, Time, Wired, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and other media. His writing and teaching have received numerous prizes, including the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Texas and the Pro Bene Meritis Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts. Suri also hosts a weekly podcast, “This is Democracy.”..Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
The 2024 election has ramifications that extend beyond our border. As the country approaches a Trump vs. Biden rematch, the two candidates have opposite views on foreign policy, particularly on NATO, tariffs, and China. The 2024 election will be consequential for many reasons; however, the current state of European and Eastern volatility makes foreign policy the most crucial issue. Join the Council for the International Perspective Series with George W. Bush Institute Executive Director David Kramer.Part of the International Perspectives Series.ABOUT THE SPEAKERDavid J. Kramer serves as the Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute. Prior to joining the Bush Institute, he taught at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, where he also was Senior Fellow in the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy and Director for European and Eurasian Affairs.Before moving to Miami, Kramer worked in Washington, DC for 24 years, including as Senior Director for Human Rights and Democracy with The McCain Institute for International Leadership; President of Freedom House; and Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Kramer also served eight years in the U.S. Department of State during the George W. Bush administration, including as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (responsible for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus affairs as well as regional non-proliferation issues); Professional Staff Member in the Secretary’s Office of Policy Planning; and Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary for Global Affairs. He also was Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy in Washington. He is author of the book, Back to Containment: Dealing with Putin’s Regime.Kramer chairs the board of the Free Russia Foundation and serves on the board of the International Republican Institute. A native of Massachusetts, Kramer received his M.A. in Soviet studies from Harvard University and his B.A. in Soviet Studies and Political Science from Tufts University.ABOUT THE MODERATORJason J. Galui is the Director for Veterans and Military Families at the George W. Bush Institute, CEO of 4 Liberty Consulting LLC, and a Professor at SMU’s Cox School of Business. He served in combat, taught at West Point, and advised in the Pentagon and two White Houses. Notably, he was Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Security Council and Senior Advisor for National Security at the Council of Economic Advisers. He holds an M.S. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Economics from West Point. Galui is actively involved in various boards and committees. He and his wife Samantha, both combat veterans, have two teenage children. To read Galui’s full bio, click here...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Kosovo is in a fight for state recognition, and next month the Council of Europe will vote to include or exclude Kosovo. Despite the fact that 12 of its 46 member states do not consider Kosovo to be an independent state, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly has already weighed in, voting 31 to 29 for Kosovo’s inclusion. This membership would be a step forward in their struggle to be recognized as a legitimate nation. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani recently represented Kosovo in a case at the International Court of Justice, defending the legality of Kosovo’s independence as she has her entire political career. One week prior to the May 16 vote by the European Council, the Council welcomes her to the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Dallas...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Is the U.S. upholding the ideals of democracy? In 2022, 161 million Americans were registered to vote and that number is expected to rise in the upcoming presidential election. However, faith in our voting system has dropped in the past few years. Fighting between Republicans and Democrats has made voters distrustful of “the system.” Voter trust is pivotal for a democracy. Now, more than ever, civil discourse in our democratic republic is vital. Join the Council for a discussion on American democracy in our Sumners Civics Lecture Series with former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. Moderated by Council President & CEO Liz Brailsford.ABOUT THE SPEAKERKarl Rove served as Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000–2007 and Deputy Chief of Staff from 2004–2007. At the White House, he oversaw the Offices of Strategic Initiatives, Political Affairs, Public Liaison, and Intergovernmental Affairs and was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, coordinating the White House policy-making process. Before Rove became known as “The Architect” of President Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, he was president of Karl Rove + Company, an Austin-based public affairs firm that worked for over 75 Republican candidates for senator, governor and congressman, as well non-partisan causes and non-profit groups. Today, Mr. Rove writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal and is a Fox News contributor. He is the author of two books – a critically acclaimed volume on the 1896 presidential election entitled The Triumph of William McKinley and the 2010 New York Times Bestseller Courage and Consequence. He is now working on a book on presidential decision-making. He is the founder of the American Crossroads/Senate Leadership Fund super-PAC.ABOUT THE MODERATORLiz Brailsford joined the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth from the World Affairs Councils of America, the network’s national office in Washington, DC, where she served as chief operating officer. Liz currently serves as an international task force member of the Dallas Regional Chamber; an ex-officio board member with the North Texas Commission; a Texas State advisory committee member of the U.S. Global Leadership Commission; and is a Tando Institute Fellow. She holds an M.P.A. in global policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School and a B.A. in media arts from the University of South Carolina...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
The Berlin Wall came down in 1989 followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. For many in the West, this represented the end of the Cold War and symbolized capitalism’s triumph over communism. However, in China and Russia it was merely a setback in their fight against Western influence. Putin and Xi Jinping have since begun trying to rectify their nation’s 20th century mistakes by testing the boundaries of the West. Putin is pushing back against NATO’s westward expansion with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Xi Jinping has his sights set on reclaiming the island nation of Taiwan, adding a final chapter to the Chinese Communist Revolution that begun in 1927. Russia and China have grown stronger by forging relationships with India, Brazil, and South Africa. Many are beginning to realize the Cold War never ended – it only took a brief pause. Where does this leave the U.S.? Are we willing to defend democracy from these threats? Are we as inclined to fight communism as we were last century? Join the Council with Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Sanger for a discussion on his new book, New Cold Wars.ABOUT THE SPEAKERDavid E. Sanger is the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times and the bestselling author of The Inheritance, Confront and Conceal, and The Perfect Weapon. He has been a member of three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize, including in 2017 for international reporting about Russia’s effort to manipulate the presidential election. A contributor to CNN, he also teaches national security policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.ABOUT THE MODERATORRandall L. Stephenson is the former chairman and chief executive officer of AT&T Inc. During his 13-year tenure as chairman and chief executive officer, AT&T became one of the world’s largest companies in the technology, media and telecom space with 2019 revenues of more than $180 billion. During his tenure, AT&T led the world in the deployment of high-speed wireless networks, launching the world’s first iPhone. Randall led AT&T’s launch of HBO Max under the HBO umbrella reaching over 60 million global customers at the end of his tenure. Randall also led AT&T’s $550 million signature philanthropic initiative, AT&T Aspire, which drives innovation in education to promote student success in school and the workplace.Randall began his career with Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1982 in Oklahoma. He served in a number of executive roles including chief financial officer and chief operations officer. Randall is a member of the Walmart Board of Directors. Randall previously served as the chairman of the Business Roundtable, made up of the CEOs of America’s leading companies representing over $10 trillion in annual revenues. Randall also served as the Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Throughout U.S. history there are presidents whose qualities separated them from the rest and propelled them to the highest office Washington’s honesty, Lincoln’s leadership, Kennedy’s charisma, Roosevelt’s fortitude, the list could go on. But which of these qualities can be transferred to the next generation? What leadership lessons apply today? In Talmage Boston’s new book, How the Best did it: Leadership Lesson’s From our top Presidents, he explores the best qualities of former U.S. presidents and what we can learn from them. Historian and Council friend Jon Meacham calls it “A discerning examination of what all of us can learn from some of our most effective leaders who have held—and wielded—ultimate power at the highest level.”ABOUT THE SPEAKERTalmage Boston is a partner at the Shackelford Law Firm in Dallas. He is also a former board member of the World Affairs Council and a member of the Mallon Circle, an honorary body comprised of members who have served the Council with distinction. He is a historian, author, speaker, and interviewer. Boston has spoken at the National Archives, six presidential libraries, 12 World Affairs Councils, and many universities. He has had the pleasure of having previously interviewed Henry Kissinger.ABOUT THE MODERATORLiz Brailsford joined the Council in February 2021 from the World Affairs Councils of America, the network’s national office in Washington, DC, where she served as chief operating officer. Liz currently serves as an international task force member of the Dallas Regional Chamber; an ex-officio board member with the North Texas Commission; and an advisory committee member of the U.S. Global Leadership Commission of the Southwest region. She holds an M.P.A. in global policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School and a B.A. in media arts from the University of South Carolina...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
KEYNOTE – Salvatore A. GiuntaSpecialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself at the risk of his life in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. After seeing that his squad leader had fallen, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giunta’s body armor and his secondary weapon. Amidst the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta continued to engage the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover to hide his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. Specialist Giunta’s unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy. On September 10, 2010, the White House announced that Staff Sgt. Giunta would receive the Medal of Honor, the first awarded to a living recipient since the Vietnam War...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Cyberspace is like the Wild West – a vast and lawless land. Both cyber warfare and cyberweapons have been used in the Russo-Ukrainian war. Rapid technology advancement and global dynamics challenge governments to protect military and critical infrastructures. Can the 2024 U.S. election occur without interference? Cyber expert Christopher Whyte joins us this January as we kick off our annual International Perspectives Series with The Shifting Geopolitics of Cyber Conflict: American Strategy in a Time of Change.ABOUT THE SPEAKERDr. Christopher Whyte is an assistant professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at Virginia Commonwealth University. His research focuses on the decision-making dynamics of cyber operations, digital age influence campaigns, and the impact of artificial intelligence on cyber conflict. Whyte is author/co-author of nearly three dozen peer-reviewed articles on these subjects, numerous other articles/reports and four books on cyber conflict, including Information in War, published with Georgetown University Press in 2022.ABOUT THE MODERATORValmiki Mukherjee is a distinguished Global CISO, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist CEO, boasting a remarkable two-decade career that has significantly impacted the global cybersecurity landscape. Renowned for his visionary leadership, Mukherjee extends his influence beyond organizational and industry confines, orchestrating transformative programs globally. As the founder of the Cyber Future Foundation (CFF) in 2015, he has created a vital platform connecting leaders and experts worldwide. Mukherjee’s philanthropic initiatives, such as supporting cybersecurity education and workforce development programs, demonstrate his commitment to creating a safer world. Currently serving as the Board Appointed Global CISO of Accolite, he previously held executive roles, including Managing Director at EY. Mukherjee holds a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from the University of North Texas and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) by ISC2...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Since Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have been in power, Russia and China have been each other’s biggest cheerleaders. Director of China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Bonny Lin notes that “the bond has been decades in the making, but Russia’s war in Ukraine has tightened their embrace.” Leading the BRIC alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), they see the global south as the key to push back against U.S. hegemony in the west. Join the Council in part II of the International Perspectives Series Ordering Disorder: Governing the World to Come with Charles Kupchan to discuss the future of geopolitics and world order.ABOUT THE SPEAKERCharles A. Kupchan is professor of international affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government department at Georgetown University, and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. From 2014 to 2017, Kupchan served as special assistant to the President and senior director for European Affairs on the National Security Council in the Obama White House. He was also director for European Affairs on the National Security Council during the first Clinton administration. His most recent books are Anchoring the World: International Order in the Twenty-First Century (2021), Isolationism: A History of America’s Efforts to Shield Itself from the World (2020), No One’s World: The West, the Rising Rest, and the Coming Global Turn (2012), and How Enemies Become Friends: The Sources of Stable Peace (2010)...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
In 2023, 39.1% of all U.S. businesses were owned by female entrepreneurs. The number of women elected in congressional leadership has increased by 15% in the past 20 years. Today, women make up 28% of the 118th U.S. congress. That said, of the 193 member states of the United Nations, only 13 of those leaders are women. There is still much work to be done.Join the Council and Texas Woman’s University in observation of International Women’s Day on March 12. The Council will host a panel discussion featuring Dallas’ very own Nina Vaca, chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Group, and Hattie Hill, President & CEO of Hattie Hill Enterprises, to discuss women who lead in such a way that encourages other women leaders. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Rama Yelkur, dean of Texas Woman’s University’s College of Business.ABOUT THE PANELISTSHattie Hill has spent more than three decades developing successful global diversity and inclusion and gender equity strategies for corporations, nonprofits and foundations across 70 countries, including IBM, Southwest Airlines and McDonald’s. Partnering with Fortune 500 CEO’s, she’s driven significant cultural change by prioritizing the importance that businesses and people place on diversity. Her belief that talent and culture is the new corporate currency and her desire to see people of all backgrounds and gender enjoy amazing success is what motivates her passionate pursuit of equity. Her prophetic sensitivities and experience over the past 30 years have profoundly impacted the way that many of today’s organizations approach diversity and inclusion and gender equity. Above all, Hattie is adept at discovering the root of the problem and providing a practical, strategic resolution.Nina Vaca embodies the American Dream as a pioneering Latina entrepreneur, philanthropist, and global leader. She founded Pinnacle Group in 1996 and has since served as its Chairman and CEO. Under her leadership, Pinnacle has experienced rapid growth, evolving from a one-woman IT staffing firm into a leading provider of workforce solutions across various industries such as telecommunications, financial services, transportation, and technology. Pinnacle expanded nationwide in 2007, entered the Canadian market in 2009, and is now expanding internationally to Europe, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, and beyond. The company has been recognized in the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest-growing companies 13 times and was named the fastest-growing women-owned/led company by the Women Presidents’ Organization in 2015 and 2018.ABOUT THE MODERATOR:Dr. Rama Yelkur, dean of the College of Business at Texas Woman’s University, leads with a wealth of academic and consulting experience. She has held leadership roles at St. John Fisher University and Saginaw Valley State University, fostering global competence among business students and establishing partnerships worldwide. With extensive expertise in marketing, she has published in top journals and conducted international corporate training. Dr. Yelkur also boasts three decades of consulting in sports marketing and advertising, notably with Kimberly Clark and the NFL. Actively engaged in various boards and professional organizations, she is committed to leadership development and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Mississippi State University, an MBA from PSG College of Technology, and a BSc. in Mathematics from Ethiraj College for Women, India.Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
“America’s secret weapon is a blue note in a minor key,” proclaimed the New York Times. In the late 1950’s, President Eisenhower looked to fight the Cold War using the cool weapon of jazz. The State Department hoped that showcasing popular American music around the globe would not only introduce audiences to American culture, but also win them over as ideological allies in the cold war. Jazz, structured around improvisation within a set of commonly agreed-upon boundaries, was a perfect metaphor for America in the eyes of the State Department. Renowned artists such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck toured the globe promoting United States’ culture. Brubeck’s father would famously announce before the crowds, “No dictatorship can tolerate jazz, it is the first sign of a return to freedom.” Join us to explore how the U.S. State Department contracted jazz performers to fight the Cold War in the form of Jazz Diplomacy.ABOUT THE PANELISTSDr. W. Marvin Dulaney is an adjunct professor at UNT Dallas and President of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History who has dedicated his forty-two-year career to teaching American and African American history. As an emeritus associate professor of history, former interim director of the Center for African American Studies, and past chair of the department of history at the University of Texas, Arlington, he has left a significant impact on academia. Dulaney is a graduate of Central State University and Ohio State University and has actively engaged with communities in Charleston and Dallas-Fort Worth as part of his commitment to bring history to the people. His extensive service on boards, including the Texas State Historical Association, and his numerous publications showcase his dedication to preserving and advancing African American history and civil rights. Dr. Dulaney is currently working on a history of African Americans in Dallas.Rick Ruth is a dedicated builder committed to creating institutions that uphold individual dignity and reject violence and extremism. As a senior State Department official on 9/11, he played a crucial role in guiding the department’s response and proposed the U.S. government’s inaugural high school exchange program for the Arab and Muslim world, known today as the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program. This program has engaged more than 15,000 young individuals from 40+ countries. Ruth’s innovative approach involves countering disinformation through positively focused cross-border networks and establishing the State Department’s first global alumni network. He introduced cultural heritage as a non-political component of American leadership and rescued the Summer Work Travel program. A skilled global diplomat, particularly focused on Russia and the Middle East, Ruth is a recipient of the Department of State’s Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy and the 2016 Alumnus of the Year at the University of Arizona’s College of Humanities.ABOUT THE MODERATOREmily Abrams Ansari is Assistant Dean of Research and Associate Professor of Music History at Western University in Canada. Her scholarly research, which has won a number of awards, examines music’s political usages and engagements across the Americas. Her 2017 book, The Sound of a Superpower: Musical Americanism and the Cold War, explored the effects of the Cold War on musical nationalism in the United States and classical composers’ involvement with federally-funded cultural diplomacy initiatives. Her current projects interrogate Cold War-era music in El Salvador and Canada.
War is catastrophic for nations and can bring businesses to a complete halt. When Russia attacked Ukraine, U.S. companies such as McDonald’s and Starbucks closed their stores. Millions of dollars of Ukraine’s infrastructure has been destroyed. War’s cost can be simplified into three parts: the opportunity cost of resources, the destruction of physical and human capital, and the reduction of GDP. However, war can also stimulate the economy – World War II pulled the U.S. out of the Great Depression. So what is the global economic toll of war? Join the Council’s virtual discussion on war economics with world-renowned economics professor, bestselling author, and innovative educator Jeffery Sachs.ABOUT THE SPEAKERJeffery 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 served as 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 2001-2018, Sachs served as special advisor to UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan, Ban Ki-moon, and António Guterres. Sachs has authored and edited numerous books, including three New York Times bestsellers. He 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, and was twice named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential world leaders. Sachs has received 42 honorary doctorates, and his recent awards include 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.ABOUT THE MODERATORLarry Pascal, Chair of the Americas Practice Group at Haynes Boone, boasts 25+ years of expertise in cross-border transactions across diverse sectors. Specializing in real estate, energy, agribusiness, and technology, he is actively involved in the Mexican M&A sector, recently advising clients like Toyota and Ecopetrol. Larry’s international reach extends to Asia Pacific, with notable clients including American Airlines and Shell Oil Company. Recognized in Chambers Latin America and Chambers Global for corporate M&A, Larry is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Beyond law, he is an avid racket sports player, having represented the United States in international padel competitions...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Part of the Dialogues for Democracy SeriesForty countries will hold major elections in 2024, including Taiwan, Russia, Mexico, and the U.S. As technology “improves” and cyber-attacks become more difficult to predict, elections have become more susceptible to meddling. At the same time, social media has transformed our news consumption – and it’s harder than ever to decipher what is real and trustworthy. Join us on Thursday, February 15 to hear American political advisor, reform advocate, media columnist, and television producer Mark McKinnon discuss the “Pulse on Politics.”ABOUT THE SPEAKERMark McKinnon is a multifaceted figure known for his roles as a political advisor, reform advocate, media columnist, and television producer. He is the creator and co-host of Showtime’s acclaimed documentary series The Circus and has worked with President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Bono. Committed to bipartisanship, McKinnon co-founded No Labels and is a board member of Take Back Our Republic, which advocates for electoral reforms. McKinnon is a columnist and served as a governor of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. He attended the University of Texas, where he was editor of The Daily Texan.ABOUT THE MODERATORLiz Brailsford joined the Council in February 2021 from the World Affairs Councils of America, the network’s national office in Washington, DC, where she served as chief operating officer. Liz currently serves as an international task force member of the Dallas Regional Chamber; an ex-officio board member with the North Texas Commission; and an advisory committee member of the U.S. Global Leadership Commission of the Southwest region. She holds an M.P.A. in global policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School and a B.A. in media arts from the University of South Carolina...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Even though globalization has become a negative concept for some, the reality is that there is no going back. While the politics of globalization are debated, Professor Małgorzata Zachara-Szymańska says, “All social organizations have ‘gone global’ within the last several decades; they are more interconnected and more dependent on global processes, so the question of effective leadership strategies matching these new realities is highly necessary…” Join us to learn about global power games, leadership crises, and how our world is shifting in the 21stcentury.ABOUT THE SPEAKERMałgorzata Zachara-Szymańska is an associate professor at the Faculty of International and Political Relations, Jagiellonian University in Poland and a lecturer in leadership, global change, and international relations. She has accumulated several years academic experience lecturing and conducting research at different European universities. Her articles on global public goods, global leadership and diplomacy have been published in Leadership, Society and Economy, International Relations/Stosunki Międzynarodowe, Sustainability and other journals. Her most recent publication Global Political Leadership: In Search of Synergy (Routledge: 2023) is available in open access.ABOUT THE MODERATORRobert Kissack has been at Instituto Barcelona de Estudios Internacionales (IBEI) since 2008. His research profile is at the intersection of the foreign policy of the European Union and international organization. More specifically, it has centered on the EU as an actor in the multilateral system and his book Pursuing Effective Multilateralism (Palgrave 2010) was one of the first in this field. He specializes in examining the capacity of the EU to operate in many different multilateral organizations, including the ILO, FAO, UN General Assembly and Security Council, the WTO and the IMF. He is currently leading IBEI’s participation in the Horizon 2020 ENGAGE project, as well as the Jean Monnet Networks NORTIA and RENPET. He also work closely with colleagues at IBEI, including Esther Barbé, Oriol Costa and Elisabeth Johansson-Nogués in many projects on European foreign policy...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
ABOUT THE SPEAKERGeneral David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.) served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-2012 and as commander of U.S. Central Command from 2008-2010. His highly decorated 37-year military career included combat commanderships of the Surge in Iraq and the U.S./Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. He established the KKR Global Institute in 2013 and is a partner with the global investment firm KKR. Petraeus graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University.ABOUT THE MODERATORMeredith M. Walker is Principal and Global Economist at MMW Research, a leading business consultancy, is a renowned speaker, author, and media commentator specializing in strategic insights on the economy, geopolitics, and technology. A member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the National Association for Business Economics, she focuses her research on cross-sector solutions to global challenges in security and sustainability. Walker serves as the President of America’s Future Series and Megellas Award Trustee, leading forums on cybersecurity, space, and defense innovation. With a diverse background including roles as the EarthX Chief Economist and XPRIZE Foundation Global Economist, she has a strong commitment to building international understanding and fostering a better world. She holds a BA from The University of Texas at Austin and an MS in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, showcasing a dedication to academic excellence and international collaboration.About the Mel Kusin National Security LectureMel Kusin (1926-2018) was a World War II veteran and University of Illinois alumnus. Mel Kusin’s association with the Council goes back two decades when he established the International Perspectives Series, a joint program with the American Jewish Committee of Dallas. The series has brought some of the nation’s foremost scholars and thinkers on U.S. foreign policy to Dallas. To honor Mel and his legacy, the Mel Kusin National Security Lecture was established in the fall of 2018 and has since featured Ambassador Michael McFaul, Michael O’Hanlon, and Charles Kupchan...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:Sam Brownback currently serves as co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Summit, is a senior fellow at Global Christian Relief, and is chairman of the National Committee for Religious Freedom. While serving as ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom under the Trump Administration from 2018 until 2021, Brownback focused on highlighting cases of religious discrimination in various countries such as China and Iran and worked with organizations and coalitions promoting international competence. He began his career in Kansas in 1986 and became the youngest Secretary of Agriculture in that state’s history. Brownback won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995 and was elected to the U.S. Senate a year later, where he continued to work on international relations concerning religion while involved in the Senate Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Brownback was elected governor of Kansas in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014.Rabbi David Saperstein was the Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, having been appointed in December 2014 until 2017 by President Obama. Acting as a key advisor to President Obama and Secretary Kerry, he played a pivotal role in shaping policies on international religious freedom. His dedication to promoting the importance of religious freedom worldwide is evidenced by his role as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Ambassador Saperstein served for 40 years as director of the Religious Action Center segment of American Jewry. He also worked as a rabbi and an attorney for 35 years, teaching seminars in First Amendment church-state law and Jewish law at Georgetown University Law Center. Saperstein has also served on many boards including the NAACP and Common Cause and he was named the most influential rabbi by Newsweek in 2009. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University, a master of Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and a juris doctor from American University.Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett serves as president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice which she upholds in honor of her father, the late Congressmen Tom Lantos. Lantos Swett is the former chair and vice-chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and now teaches human rights and American foreign policy at Tufts University. She was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit from the Republic of Hungary for continuing her father’s efforts on behalf of the ethnic minorities in Hungary. She earned a political science degree from Yale University, a juris doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Southern Denmark.ABOUT THE MODERATOR:Dr. Bob Roberts is the founder of GlocalNet, co-founder of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, and president of the Institute of Global Engagement. Roberts has garnered admiration and acknowledgment from the United Nations, the United States Department of State, and the World Economic Forum. In addition to his extensive background in peacemaking concerning religious freedom, Roberts was awarded the prestigious Uniter Award in 2022 for his efforts to build bridges among diverse faith communities across the U.S. He has led Northwood Church for over 30 years, where he currently presides as the founding global pastor. Roberts has published six books and is the host of the Bold Love Podcast. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and holds a doctorate of ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.
In this year’s Gail Koppman History Lecture Series, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Summit just a few weeks ago revealed the ever-growing presence of nonwestern nations arraying themselves against NATO and the West. The BRICS nations share one common concern: U.S. sanctions on global trade and investment. New alliances and old enemies make understanding U.S. foreign policy a requirement rather than an elective. The world is smaller and faster in this communications age. Not only do relations with China, the Middle East, climate change, terrorism, and global health matter, but understanding how the world views our exporting of our own ethics and values through foreign policy is an important reason to engage in your future and our country’s future. Join postdoctoral fellows Augusta Dell’Omo, Ashlyn Hand, and Jonathan Ng in the 2023 Gail Koppman History Lecture to gain a deeper insight into the forces that are shaping our world and the current state of U.S. foreign policy. Moderated by Jeff Engel.About the Lecture:Gail Koppman was a passionate educator, voracious reader and lifelong learner. Born in Philadelphia, Gail graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. She began teaching in the Terrell and Richardson school districts and later taught economics at Richland Junior College. After raising her children, Gail taught social studies for more than 20 years at Good Shepherd Episcopal School.In addition to teaching her students study skills and instilling a work ethic that would benefit them throughout their lives, Gail hoped to spark a lifelong curiosity about history, current events and the world. Her dedication to education was recognized over the years in the countless letters and emails that she received and treasured from former students and their parents. Gail valued the educational contributions of the Council to the DFW community. Not only did she enjoy attending programs, she also appreciated bringing her students to various events and introducing them to different views and ideas. In honor and remembrance of Gail and her lifelong dedication to education, her husband, Ed, and daughter, Katherine, have established the endowed Gail Koppman History Lecture...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
ABOUT THE AMBASSADORHis Excellency, Jean-Arthur Regibeau, Belgian Ambassador to the United States The Ambassador represents His Majesty The King of the Belgians and Belgium’s federal government in the United States of America and in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He is responsible for the direction and work of the Embassy and its Consulates, including bilateral political and economic relations, visa and consular services.ABOUT THE MODERATORTara M. Lause serves as the Director for Global Pursuits Northern Europe at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. In this role, she acts as the senior company advisor for the Northern European Command (EUCOM) region, overseeing key customer relationships for Aeronautics products, including the F-35, F-16, and C-130. Lause, with over 20 years of experience at Lockheed Martin, has previously worked as a Capture Manager for the UK, Denmark, and Ireland, identifying new business opportunities. She began her career with Lockheed Martin in 2002 as a software engineer on the F-35 program and has led significant initiatives, including the F-35 Engineering organizational redesign in 2014. Lause holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Louisiana State University and a Master of Science in Project Management from George Washington University...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
..Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Kevin Cassidy is currently the director and representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations for the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the U.S. Prior to his appointment, Cassidy served as the senior communications and economic and social affairs officer for 11 years in the ILO office for the United Nations with additional responsibility for partnerships in North America. Cassidy worked with member states to organize heads of state/government and ministerial level events highlighting decent work as well as introducing policy language on key development issues into the resolutions and outcomes documents of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee and the Commissions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Before his assignments in New York, Cassidy was Chief Technical Adviser for the ILO’s Global Campaign on Promoting Fundamental Rights at Work. Prior to joining the ILO, he worked for the Aga Khan Foundation in London as the operations, communications, and partnership director. Throughout his career Cassidy has working in several UN offices including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) on the issue of landmines, the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Ban Ki-moon), the UN Department of Public Information and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), New York.David Evans is the Managing Partner of Sentiero Ventures, an early-stage venture fund that invests in artificial intelligence enabled software businesses. He is a serial entrepreneur & technologist who started coding at 14, launched his first company at 19, and has exited multiple times as a founder and investor, including a national digital signage network that was sold to CBS and an Inc 500 eCommerce company that was sold to a strategic buyer. He’s also an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Dallas and sits on the Mentor Committee of the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator.David C Williams is the assistance vice president of hyper-automation at AT&T. He began his career with AT&T in the Network Technology Organization and has been featured on D CEO, NBC, Fox, ABC, EBONY, Black Enterprise and more. He has held a number of roles and assignments from Training, Data Center management, Enterprise support, Customer Experience, and Chief of Staff. In his current role Williams is responsible for hyper-automation to transform customer/employee experiences and cost structure for his organization. He is recipient of 2023 D CEO Corporate Innovator, 2022 & 2023 Tech Team of the Year Stevie Award, 2022 NSBE Outstanding Technical Contribution Award, 2021 Legacy Award recipient at Black Engineer of the Year STEM Global Conference, 2x Dream in Black winner, 2x AT&T Champion of Diversity Award winner, a proud mentor of multiple Employee Groups, & Diversity Ambassador.Margot Carter is President of Living Mountain Capital and Co-Founder of https://www.cien.ai/, an artificial intelligence company for improving sales productivity. She previously served on the Board of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and was past president of AJC North Texas and currently serves on the Board of Governors of AJC. Most recently, Carter was named a Most Influential Director by Women Inc, 2020 Outstanding Director by the DBJ and 2020 Top 50 Future Innovator and Disruptor by D Magazine. She was also placed on D CEO’s 2021 and 2022 D500 “Most Powerful Business Leaders in North Texas” list. Carter holds a B.A. from Binghamton University, a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, and a certificate in AI from MIT’s Sloan School.
Each year, The Economist publishes “The World Ahead” series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring. On December 8, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2024.“The World Ahead” is one of the most prestigious launches in The Economist’s annual publishing calendar. This future-gazing publication prepares audiences for the year to come with mind-stretching insights and expert-level analysis. Written by The Economist correspondents and editors alongside globally recognized public figures, it is regarded as essential reading by individuals, professionals, and policymakers alike. It circulates in more than 90 countries, in 24 languages, to a world audience in excess of 2.8 million people.ABOUT THE SPEAKERTom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian Internet” (1998) and “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and Wired.ABOUT THE MODERATORJim Falk, president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Additionally, Jim co-hosts The McCuistion Program, a public affairs program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Boston College Professor of History Heather Cox Richardson supplies her 1.2 million Substack subscribers with her interpretation of history and current events in her daily newsletter called Letters from an American. In her new book Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, Richardson argues that “America is at a crossroads. A country that once stood as the global symbol of democracy has been teetering on the brink of authoritarianism.” Still, Richardson remains optimistic about the country’s future. Kirkus Reviews said the book “show(s) her readers how history and the present are in constant conversation.”ABOUT THE AUTHORHeather Cox Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College. She has written about the Civil War, reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and the American west in award-winning books whose subjects stretch from the European settlement of the North American continent to the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and The Guardian, among other outlets. She is the cohost of the Vox Media podcast, Now &Then. ABOUT THE MODERATORJeffrey A. Engel is founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University and professor in the Clements Department of History. He graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University. Engel also studied at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. in American history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught American history, international relations, and grand strategy at the University of Wisconsin, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Haverford College. At Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government & Public Service he was a professor and director of programming for the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs. Engel has authored or edited twelve books on American foreign policy...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Soft power – the ability to shape the preferences and behaviors of others through attraction and persuasion, rather than coercion, holds a significant place in today’s global landscape. Through a seemingly innocuous sport, the U.S. and China were able to thaw icy relations in the 1970s - “ping-pong diplomacy” - showcasing how cultural exchanges can bridge political divides. Korea has captured international attention through the global phenomenon of K-pop groups BTS and BlackPink, to Netflix’s most streamed show Squid Game, to the adaptation of Korean skincare. These show that soft power fosters understanding and appreciation and facilitates dialogue that can shape global perception in our interconnected world.About the Speakers:Jenna Gibson is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago, specializing in International Relations. Her research interests include diplomatic rhetoric, public and cultural diplomacy, soft power, South Korean politics and social issues, and U.S.-Korea relations. Gibson was a regular contributor to the Korea column for The Diplomat for three years and has also written about Korean social issues for other outlets including Foreign Policy, NPR, and the Carnegie Endowment. She was director of communications at the Korea Economic Institute of America. Previously, she lived in Korea as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. She holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from Georgetown University in 2015, and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2011.Suk-Young Kim is a professor of theater and performance studies and the associate dean of faculty and students at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. Her focus is on unearthing the historical roots of today’s popular culture. She is the author of many books, including Utopia: Theater, Film, and Everyday Performance in North Korea, DMZ Crossing: Performing Emotional Citizenship Along the Korean Border, K-pop Live: Fans, Idols, and Multimedia Performance, and Way Ahead of Squid Game. She also co-authored Long Road Home: Testimony of a North Korean Camp Survivor and edited Cambridge Companion to K-Pop. Kim currently serves as a member of the Hong Kong Research Council and co-edits the Columbia University Press’ new book series Critical Voices from East Asia. Her commentary on Korean politics has been featured on major media outlets, such as: Billboard, CNN, NPR, NYP, WSJ, LA Times, and NBC.About the Moderator:Karl Ho, Ph.D. is Professor of Instruction and Director of Graduate Studies of Political Science in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas. His research and teaching areas cover elections, public policy and political economy with a regional focus on East Asia and data science methods including survey data collection and analytics, big data collection and production, text mining and machine learning models. He is the co-Principal Investigator of the Hong Kong Election Study project, collecting election survey data since 2015. He is the author or co-author of various Asian focused articles in journals. His recent works were published in the books The Taiwan Voter (University of Michigan Press) and Taiwan's Political Re-Alignment and Diplomatic Challenges (Lynne Riener). He is co-editor of the 2021 book Taiwan: Environmental, Political and Social Issues (Nova Science). Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
“To deeply know and understand others is a way of life,” observes New York Times bestselling author David Brooks in his upcoming book, How to Know a Person. Drawing on insights from psychology, neuroscience, theater, philosophy, history, and education, Brooks presents a comprehensive approach to fostering meaningful human connections that prioritize empathy and understanding. USA Today said, “Original and eye-opening… Brooks is a normative version of Malcolm Gladwell, culling from a wide array of scientists and thinkers to weave an idea bigger than the sum of its parts.” The Council welcomes Brooks to Fort Worth for a discussion moderated by Talmage Boston.David Brooks is one of the nation’s leading writers and commentators. He is an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, a writer for The Atlantic, and appears regularly on PBS Newshour. He is the bestselling author of The Second Mountain, The Road to Character, The Social Animal, Bobos in Paradise, and On Paradise Drive. ABOUT THE MODERATORTalmage Boston is a partner at the Shackelford Law Firm in Dallas. He is a historian, author, speaker, and interviewer. Boston has spoken at the National Archives, six presidential libraries, 12 World Affairs Councils, and many universities. He is a former Council board member and is part of the Mallon Circle, an honorary body of members who have served the Council with distinction...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Congressman Colin Allred is currently serving his third term as the U.S. Representative for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District. Allred was born and raised in North Dallas where he was class president of Hillcrest High School and earned a full-ride football scholarship to Baylor University. He deferred his acceptance to law school to play in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans, where he was a linebacker for five seasons before sustaining a career-ending injury. This opened the door for him to become a civil rights attorney. He served in the General Counsel’s office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development before returning to Dallas. His congressional priorities include lowering health care costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and creating an economy that works for all Americans.
About the Moderator:
Christopher Connelly is a reporter covering issues related to financial instability and poverty for KERA’s One Crisis Away series. In 2015, he joined KERA to report on Fort Worth and Tarrant County. From Fort Worth, he also focused on politics and criminal justice stories. Before coming to Texas, Connelly covered the Maryland legislature for the NPR member station in Baltimore. He also worked at NPR as a Joan B. Kroc Fellow – one of three post-graduates who spend a year working as a reporter, show producer and digital producer at network HQ in Washington, DC. Connelly is a graduate of Antioch College in Ohio and he earned a master’s in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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In 2018 word broke out that Alphabet Inc’s Google, reacting to employee outrage, would not renew its contract with the Pentagon for Project Maven. Project Maven involved AI analysis of aerial drone imagery and Google employees claimed this association with warfare violated their “do no harm” principle. Autonomous weapons expert Paul Scharre reports on the struggle to control AI in his new book Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, and says that Big Data and the U.S. government must find ways to work together if the U.S. is to retain its superpower status in the fierce competition to develop and implement these game-changing technologies.About the author/speaker:Paul Scharre is the Vice President & Director of studies at CNAS. Scharre previously worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He led the Department of Defense working group that drafted the DoD Directive 3000.09, which established the department’s policies on autonomy in weapon systems. While at the DoD he led efforts to establish policies on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance programs and directed energy technologies. Prior to joining the OSD, he served as a special operations reconnaissance team leader in the Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion and completed multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is an award-winning author of Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and his first book, Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War won the 2019 Colby Award. Scharre has published a vast number of articles from The New York Times to Politico, and has appeared on multiple television networks from CNN to Fox News. He holds a PhD in war studies from King’s College London and an MA in political economy and public policy and a BS in physics from the University of Washington in St. Louis...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Every year the U.S. Department of State International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award recognizes women from across the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage while advocating for everything from world peace to human rights. They bring great empowerment to women and girls, but often with personal risks and sacrifices. While the names of the awardees are kept confidential until just before the awards ceremony in Washington, DC with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Dr. Jill Biden, the Council and its International Visitor Programs will host three of the IWOC Awardees the week of March 11-15 in DFW.Join us to be a part of a powerful and uplifting conversation about the strength and resilience of these women sharing their stories and what it means to be a woman of courage.About the speakers:Meaza Mohammed is a veteran Ethiopian journalist and is the founder of Roha TV, an independent YouTube-based news and information channel. Mohammed has been a strong voice advocating for investigation of and accountability for human rights violations during the conflict, also producing a documentary about the topic. Her activism has not been without risk, having been arrested on many occasions. Despite this, she remains committed to advocating for victims of gender-based violence and the crimes committed against them.Yuliia “Taira” Paievska provided medical treatment to Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity protestors in 2013, and also as head of Taira’s Angels, a volunteer unit of paramedics from 2014-2018. She is best known for secretly filming and smuggling out videos documenting war crimes committed by Russia’s forces in Mariupol. Despite her non-combatant status, she was most recently detained in March as she attempted to evacuate women and children from Mariupol. While imprisoned for three months, Paievska lived in a cell with 22 other women and endured torture and beatings. In spite of it all, she refuses to be silenced and continues to advocate for Ukrainian democracy and independence. Bianka Zalewska is a Polish humanitarian and journalist who has been documenting Russian aggression in Ukraine since 2014. She hosts one of the most watched morning shows in Poland. She has survived and persevered through life-threatening injuries when her press car came under fire from Russian forces in 2014, and is a visible advocate for Ukrainian refugees, remaining unintimidated by Russian misinformation and ever-present threats. About the moderator:Christopher Walsh is Director, Freedom and Democracy at the George W. Bush Institute. In this role, Walsh manages communications, evaluation, and public policy research projects that advance freedom and democracy in the world. He also develops and implements efforts to make the Bush Institute a welcoming place for today’s generation of dissidents and democracy advocates, overseeing visits for training, inspiration, and insight. Prior to joining the Bush Institute Walsh worked with the International Republican Institute in Washington, DC As IRI’s program officer for Central and Eastern Europe, he coordinated political party building and civic advocacy programs in the Balkans and Turkey. A native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Walsh is a graduate of American University with a B.A. in International Studies...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
President & CEO of the Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haass joins the Council to discuss his latest publication The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens. Haass argues that good citizenship is not only a right, but also a duty, and that individuals must actively participate in the democratic process in order to maintain a healthy and functioning democracy. Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on the role of the individual in shaping the future of our society and the world. About the speaker:Richard Haass is the President & CEO of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a veteran diplomat and prominent voice on American Foreign Policy, serving the Council on Foreign Relations for 20 years. Dr. Haas has extensive government experience, serving as special assistant to President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993 and senior director of Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. Prior to this, he served in the Department of State from 1981-1985 and Department of Defense in 1979-1980. As well as being a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate. In the early 2000s, Dr. Haas was director of policy planning for the Department of State, and principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell. He also served as U.S. coordinator for policy toward Afghanistan and the U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland peace process. In 2013, he served as the chair of the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland - for his efforts to promote peace he received the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award. Diana Newton is the Director of the Tower Scholars Program and senior fellow at the John Goodwin Tower Center for political studies. She has previously taught at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. Before moving to Texas, Newton was an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in NYC and Hitachi International Affairs Fellow at the Japan Center for International Exchange in Tokyo. She also has experience as the executive assistant to the Deputy National Security Advisor at the National Security Council, and as the special assistant to the Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs at the State Department. She currently serves on the boards of Deerfield Academy and the International Center for Transitional Justice, as well as on the Hitachi IAF Selection Committee and the National Program Committee at the Council on Foreign Relations. Newton also has a background in law, having graduated from Yale University and Boston University School of Law...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson argues in her best-seller Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents that race in America can be compared to the caste systems of India and Nazi Germany. The New York Times called the book “an instant American classic.” Her 2010 best-seller, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, was based on more than a thousand interviews documenting the northern and western migration of African Americans in 20th century America. President Barack Obama awarded her the National Humanities Medal in 2016 for “championing the stories of an unsung history.” Join us online on March 1 to discuss social stratification with this distinguished American writer.About the Author:Isabel Wilkerson is the first Black woman in to win the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, honored in 1994 for her feature writing at the New York Times. Howard University graduate Wilkerson has become a leading figure in narrative nonfiction, and has devoted fifteen years to journalism at the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post. Her debut book, The Warmth of Other Suns, won multiple awards from the National Book Critics Circle Award to the Lynton History Prize from Harvard and Columbia...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
The Honorable Mike Pompeo is the 70th Secretary of State (2018-2021). Previously, he served as the Director of the CIA from 2017-2018. Pompeo graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1986, and after leaving active duty received a law degree from Harvard Law school. He began his legal career in 1998, and later turned to entrepreneurship in aerospace and oil, funding Thayer Aerospace, where he served as CEO for over 10 years. Pompeo began his political career in 2011 when he was elected to the House of Representatives for Kansas’ 4th congressional district, where he served for four terms before joining the Trump administration.Mike Pompeo Book Cover Having been the only person to have served both as Secretary of State and Director of the CIA, Pompeo details his interactions with world leaders and analysis of geopolitics in his new book Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love.The Honorable Mike Pompeo will talk about his experience working for the Trump administration with Council President & CEO Liz Brailsford.About the Moderator:Liz Brailsford joined the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth in February 2021 from the World Affairs Councils of America, the network's national office in Washington, DC, where she served as chief operating officer. Her career has crossed all sectors – nonprofit, private, and public – and taken her around the globe, forging her interest in international relations. Liz currently serves as an international task force member of the Dallas Regional Chamber; an ex-officio board member with the North Texas Commission; a board member of Asia Society Texas; and an advisory committee member of the U.S. Global Leadership Commission of the Southwest region. She holds an M.P.A. in global policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School and a B.A. in media arts from the University of South Carolina...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
In 2019, Marie Yovanovitch was serving as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. A seasoned diplomat, Yovanovitch watched the 1993 constitutional crisis and street fighting in Russia. For years, she witnessed Putin’s election meddling, cyberattacks, and vast misinformation in Ukraine. Yet, upon president Volodymyr Zelenskyy being democratically elected, then-President Trump suddenly recalled her from her post. It was in the following month that President Trump made the infamous phone call to president Zelenskyy about investigating his then political rival, now President Biden. The resulting investigation and impeachment hearings would mark the end of Ambassador Yovanovitch’s career in government and Ukraine’s relationship with Russia has been notably unstable since that time. As we near the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, join us on Thursday, February 16 with former Ambassador Yovanovitch to recount her career in public service in Russia and Ukraine and her experience testifying before Congress.About the Speaker:Marie Yovanovitch is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Additionally, she is a nonresident fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy of Georgetown University. Yovanovitch served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2016-2019), the Republic of Armenia (2008-2011), and the Kyrgyz Republic (2005-2008). From 2003-2004, Ambassador Yovanovitch was the senior advisor to the under secretary of state for political affairs. Prior to that, she served as the deputy chief of mission of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Within the Department of State, she worked on the Russia desk, the Office of European Security Affairs, and the Operations Center. She has experience working at various U.S. embassies overseas such as Moscow, London, Ottawa, and Mogadishu.Ambassador Yovanovitch is a decorated member of the Senior Foreign Service and has been recognized as an advocate for human rights and integrity.She has served at various levels in academia, including the dean of the School of Language Studies at the Foreign Service Institute and the deputy commandant and international advisor at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy of the National Defense University. She served as deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and the Nordic, Baltic, and European Countries.About the moderator:David McCloskey is a Dallas-based author and a former consultant at McKinsey & Company. McCloskey previously worked as an analyst for the CIA (2008-2014), where he served in field stations across the Middle East throughout the Arab Spring. During his time with the agency, McCloskey was regularly responsible for writing presidential briefs and classified testimonies for Congress, among other duties. He holds an M.A. in international relations and international economics from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Each year, The Economist publishes “The World Ahead” series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring. On December 14, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2023."The World Ahead" is one of the most prestigious launches in The Economist’s annual publishing calendar. This future-gazing publication prepares audiences for the year to come with mind-stretching insights and expert-level analysis. Written by The Economist correspondents and editors alongside globally recognized public figures, it is regarded as essential reading by individuals, professionals, and policymakers alike. It circulates in more than 90 countries, in 24 languages, to a world audience in excess of 2.8 million people.About the Speaker:Tom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian Internet” (1998) and “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and Wired.About the Moderator:Jim Falk, president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Additionally, Jim co-hosts The McCuistion Program, a public affairs program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
The world changed on that day in August 1945 when the American B-29 bomber released the 7,900 pound “Little Boy” nuclear bomb over the city of Hiroshima, Japan, and 77 years later nuclear weapons remain a primary global issue. Today, a nuclear weapon can fit into a suitcase. Join us for a special Mel Kusin National Security Lecture on nuclear threats with former National Security Council member Robert Litwak. Litwak will discuss the nuclear capabilities and ambitions of Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as historical nonproliferation precedents. Ultimately, Litwak will ask us to reevaluate the concept of deterrence and mutually assured destruction.About the SpeakerRobert Litwak is the senior vice president and director of international security studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC, as well as a consultant to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Litwak served as the director for nonproliferation on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration. He also worked as an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Affairs, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Oxford University. Litwak’s books include Rogue States and U.S Foreign Policy, Outlier States, and Managing Nuclear Risks and Nuclear Crises with North Korea and IranAbout the Moderator:Amanda Schnetzer is a social impact leader and entrepreneur who has dedicated her professional life to empowering people and organizations to reach their full potential. She is currently the co-founder and CEO of FirstThen, a digital health startup working to close the gap in access to quality care for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Previously she worked in the global arena with an emphasis on foreign policy, human rights, and strengthening democracy at home and in the world. Amanda was part of the startup leadership team at the George W. Bush Institute, working with the former President and First Lady to realize their vision for a results-driven, action-oriented policy and programming organization. Earlier in her career, Amanda served with Freedom House and the American Enterprise Institute, two globally recognized public policy research organizations. She holds degrees from Georgetown University and Southern Methodist University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.About the Mel Kusin National Security LectureMel Kusin (1926-2018) was a World War II veteran and University of Illinois alumnus. Mel Kusin’s association with the Council goes back two decades when he established the International Perspectives Series, a joint program with the American Jewish Committee of Dallas. The series has brought some of the nation’s foremost scholars and thinkers on U.S. foreign policy to Dallas. To honor Mel and his legacy, the Mel Kusin National Security Lecture was established in the fall of 2018 and has since featured Ambassador Michael McFaul, Michael O’Hanlon, and Charles Kupchan...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
From the presence of drones to the power of social media, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is changing the face of warfare as we know it. How will the U.S. military adapt to the evolving future of warfare? Join us for a discussion with former Under Secretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy on America’s strategy for success in the uncertain times ahead, including insights from Lt Gen John "Jack" Shanahan, USAF (Ret.) and Rear Admiral Norman Hayes, USN (Ret.) on the role of new technology like artificial intelligence. Our panelists will evaluate the possibility of a new world order in geopolitics and military strategy. ..Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Today, American democracy faces a polarized population. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham has found a timely message to American leaders in the example of Abraham Lincoln: the survival of democracy demands a firm conscience. A frail, imperfect man, Lincoln overcame his limitations and was willing to risk his career to uphold his deep faith in liberty and equality. Meacham joins the Council December 6 to discuss his new biography, And There Was Light.About the Author:Jon Meacham is an American historian and Pulitzer-prize winning author who holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair in the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, where he is also a visiting professor and co-chairs the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & Democracy. Meacham has chronicled the lives of a range of U.S. political figures including John Lewis, George H.W. Bush, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Andrew Jackson in his multiple New York Times bestsellers. Meacham is celebrated for democratizing larger-than-life characters, showing their intimately human motivations. Meacham is a contributing writer to the New York Times, a contributing editor at TIME, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been awarded the Anti-Defamation League’s Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Prize, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Founders Award, and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute’s Spirit of Democracy Award. A true Tennessean, he lives in Sewanee and in Nashville.About the Moderator:Talmage Boston is a partner at the Shackelford Law Firm in Dallas. He is also a former board member of the World Affairs Council and a member of the Mallon Circle, an honorary body comprised of members who have served the Council with distinction. He is a historian, author, speaker, and interviewer. Boston has spoken at the National Archives, six presidential libraries, 12 World Affairs Councils, and many universities...Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
The political polarization of America in 2022 is not a new phenomenon, but what is often missing is the political will to find a middle ground. Even while in fierce opposition to the policies of President Ronald Reagan, who was swept into office in a landslide, Democrat House Speaker Tip O’Neill said, “In the best interest of America, the hand of cooperation ought to go out.” Last year, the Pew Research Center found that 86% of Trump supporters and 89% of Biden supporters wanted their elected official to address the needs of all Americans “even if it means disappointing some of his supporters.”Join us for the Mike Rawlings Endowed Lecture as Democrat Mayor Mike Rawlings, Republican and former Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus, and Rudy Bush of the Dallas Morning News discuss how to slow the polarization of our electorate and find a middle ground where opposition does not become obstruction.About our Speakers:The Honorable Mike Rawlings was the longest serving Mayor of Dallas (2011-2019) in over 50 years. This annual lecture was created to honor him for his service to our city, and especially for his success in raising the city’s international prominence. Rawlings is a founding partner of CIC Partners, its current vice-chairman, and has been with the firm since its inception in 2004. He is a graduate of Boston College.The Honorable Joe Straus served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 2009 until 2019, the longest-serving Republican Speaker in Texas history. A native of San Antonio and a fifth-generation Texan, Speaker Straus began attending Republican meetings as a child with his mother, Joci Straus, who played a key role in building the Texas Republican Party in the second half of the 20th century. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Speaker Straus served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He represented northeaster Bexar County in the Texas House for 14 years.About the Moderator:Rudolph Bush became editorial page editor and vice president at the Dallas Morning News in 2022 after serving as deputy editorial page editor. He previously served as deputy editorial page editor, Dallas City Hall and investigative reporter, and city desk news editor. Bush covered crime and the federal courts at the Chicago Tribune and later became a national correspondent in the newspaper’s Washington Bureau. He has an M.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Dallas, where he served as the director of journalism from 2014-2022.
Our challenge is to remain good citizens in a politically and socially divided world. The Freedoms Foundation’s David Harmer says, “When we recognize what we share in common and work through our differences with civility, we can preserve and advance freedoms for all.” At the Bill and Barbara Benac Human Dignity and Fairness for All Lecture, Harmer will focus on the twin ideals of freedom and individual responsibility and the effect our political past, social structure, and economic entity have on them and on citizenship today.
About the Speaker:
David Harmer: David Harmer is currently the CEO of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and previously served as counsel to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. A fellow of the Heritage Foundation who has been published by the Cato Institute and is considered an expert in constitutional law, Harmer has litigated in defense of personal and economic freedoms recognized by the First and Fifth Amendments. He has spent the heart of his career at the Los Angeles firm of O’Melveny & Meyers.
About the Moderator:
Katherine Carté Engel is an Associate Professor of History at Southern Methodist University, specializing in early American and Atlantic history. She is an award-winning author, and her articles have appeared in a variety of academic journals and collections. Carté has been a Charles A. Syskamp Fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies, and affiliate fellow of the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University, a Franklin Fellow of the American Philosophical Society, and a Barra Postdoctoral Fellow at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies. She received her Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin.
The annual Bill and Barbara Benac Human Dignity and Fairness for All Lecture is intended to promote human dignity, equality, and civil discourse. Sponsored By Bill & Barbara Benac
Thank you to our Promotional Partner Freedoms Foundation at Valley forge - Dallas area Chapter . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Do massive floods worldwide and soaring heatwaves foreshadow changes in the global climate status quo? Last February, the freeze in Texas caused massive power outages, damage to infrastructure, and 172 people lost their lives. What does a system more resilient to catastrophic risk look like? Is our response coming too late? Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment Alice Hill will talk with us about confronting the dangers ahead in our November 1 webinar.
About the speaker:
Alice Hill is the David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations. She previously served as a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and as senior counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2009. Hill led developments of policy regarding national security and climate change as special assistant to the President and senior director of resilience policy at the National Security Council during the Obama Administration. In 2015, Hill was honored with the Meta-Leader of the Year award from Harvard’s University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative. Her 30-year career includes experience as a federal prosecutor, judge, and White House insider.
About the Moderator:
Brendon Steele is Future 500’s resident expert on all things energy, oil and gas, and climate policy. He grew up with one foot in the San Francisco Bay Area and the other in an oil family, where he was able to find common ground in uncommon places. Steele holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Davis and a masters in Climate and Society from Columbia University. While at Columbia, Steele worked with the Urban Climate Change Research Network at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies to facilitate knowledge sharing on climate change and cities. He spent six years working in the environmental chemistry field, where he was a liaison between federal regulators and his team of chemists and data analysts. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
The Civil War may have ended on April 9, 1865, but over 150 years later, the fight for a stable democracy continues with polarizing civil tension in the United States. The fight to preserve the Union is more tightly knit with the fight for democracy than any of can imagine. What are the implications of our forgotten history and what impact does it have on our future? Join us and Suri at the Gail Koppman History lecture for a book signing and discussion on our country’s history. We’ll discuss his argument that there was never a united country post the Civil War and what emerged was a country striving to rebuild and unite, but ultimately unable to.
About the Speaker
Jeremi Suri is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin in the Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where he holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs. Suri teaches award-winning graduate and undergraduate courses on strategy and decision-making, leadership, globalization, international relations, and modern history. His accolades include being named America’s “Top Young Innovators” and the Pro Bene Meritis Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts, in 2007 and 2018, respectively. Outside of University work, Suri writes for various major publications – including the New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Dallas Morning News, among others – and has authored and edited 11 books on modern-day politics and foreign policy.
About the Moderator
Jim Falk, president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Additionally, Jim co-hosts The McCuistion Program, a public affairs program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco.
About the Gail Koppman History Lecture
Gail Koppman was a passionate educator, voracious reader and lifelong learner. Born in Philadelphia, Gail graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. She began teaching in the Terrell and Richardson school districts and later taught economics at Richland Junior College. After raising her children, Gail taught social studies for more than 20 years at Good Shepherd Episcopal School.
In addition to teaching her students study skills and instilling a work ethic that would benefit them throughout their lives, Gail hoped to spark a lifelong curiosity about history, current events, and the world. Her dedication to education was recognized over the years in the countless letters and emails that she received and treasured from former students and their parents.
Gail valued the educational contributions of the Council to the DFW community. Not only did she enjoy attending programs, she also appreciated bringing her students to various events and introducing them to different views and ideas. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
No recent administration has been so intensely scrutinized as that of President Donald Trump. “Insiders,” media, and Congressional hearings attempt to interpret what happened behind the scenes at the Trump White House. Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, and Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and founder/editor at Politico, offer their front-row perspective in "The Divider: Trump in the White House 2017-2021" based on sources including President Trump himself. Join us for this timely conversation with these historians as the former President considers a 2024 reprise of his political campaign.
Peter Baker is an award-winning journalist who has covered Washington for more than 30 years. He is the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times. Susan Glasser is a staff writer at The New Yorker and has served as a top editor for several Washington publications as well as editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy. This is the third book the married couple has co-authored. Their 2005 book, “Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin’s Russia and the End of Revolution,” chronicled the four years they spent as Washington Post bureau chiefs in Moscow.
Moderator: Jeffrey A. Engel is founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University and Professor in the Clements Department of History. Engel has authored or edited twelve books on American foreign policy. A frequent media contributor on international and political affairs on venues including MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, National Public Radio, and the BBC, his scholarly and popular articles have appeared in such journals as Diplomatic History; Diplomacy & Statecraft; American Interest; USAToday; The Los Angeles Times; International Journal; The Dallas Morning News; The Houston Chronicle; Air & Space Magazine; and The Washington Post. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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The monarchy is a national symbol of the UK and a traditional unifying point, as we have just witnessed. As the United Kingdom said goodbye to its longest-reigning monarch, questions arose about how many of the 56 commonwealth nations would retain King Charles III as their sovereign. What is the impact of the Queen’s passing on the world? Does it change global order? Will the monarchy remain relevant, be slimmed down, or shift to a republican system?
The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth will present a webinar featuring Lord Mark Sedwill, a British diplomat, member of the House of Lords, and former civil servant who served as Cabinet Secretary to Prime Ministers Theresa May and Boris Johnson and Head of the Civil Service (2018-2020), and as National Security Adviser (2017-2020). He was previously the UK’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, and Permanent Secretary at the Home Office. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Hacking is no longer a far-off, fictional plot from science fiction. We all participate in the digital world. The threats to individuals and their identities are real and inevitable; no person or corporation is exempt from identity theft or data breach. Last year, Microsoft was infiltrated by at least 10 different hacker groups as a result of software flaws and unsuspecting users. Cyber-tech leaders Shawn Wiora and Mike Echols will show Global Forum members how to manage cyber risks and be empowered to safely navigate the tech world.
About the Speakers:
Mike Echoles headshotMike Echols is the CEO of IACI, a Kennedy Space Center nonprofit, and CEO of Max Cybersecurity LLC. Echols spent 10 years at the Department of Homeland Security in critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity leadership and served as the point person for President Obama’s Executive Order Promoting Private Sector Cybersecurity Information Sharing, Chair of the Communications Sector and Network Security Information Exchange, and designated federal official for the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Echols is a graduate of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative – Harvard Kennedy School of Public Health, and the Federal Executive Institute.
Shawn Wiora headshotShawn Wiora is the co-founder and CEO of Maxxsure, a leading cyber risk quantification and blockchain company in DFW. Known as a cyber industry expert, Wiora has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, CIO.com, and CNNMoney and is a frequent keynote and conference speaker for SOX, PCI, NIST, and HIPAA. Additionally, he took the first healthcare company in the U.S. to the cloud, a company which received the designation of the most cyber-resilient healthcare company in the U.S. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Over the past century, Americans have seen several iterations of the Republican Party, from the post-WWII Eisenhower days to Reaganomics to the rise of Trump’s MAGA movement. Amid so much change, how does one define the modern-day Republican Party, and what does it mean to be a conservative in 2022?
Political scholar Matthew Continetti seeks to answer these questions and more in his book, The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism. In The Right, Continetti takes readers through the history of the party and how the ideology that drives it has evolved over the decades, in the face of changing social, political, and economic circumstances. From a “network of intellectuals” to a 21st century political organization, Continetti explains the intricacies behind what many see as the party’s “desire for mainstream acceptance and the pull of extremism.”
Matthew Continetti is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies American political thought and history, emphasizing on the Republican Party and conservative movements throughout the 20th century. Continetti has written two books, The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star and The K Street Gang: The Rise and Fall of the Republican Machine. He is also the founding editor of The Washington Free Beacon, as well as a contributing editor at National Review. He holds a B.A. in history from Columbia University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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When facing technical difficulties with your computer, the easiest solution is often just to reboot it. But can you hit control, alt, delete on a political party? In his book, American Reboot: An Idealist’s Guide to Getting Big Things Done, former Republican congressman and CIA officer William Hurd argues you definitely can. Dubbed “the future of the GOP” by Politico and Texas Monthly, Hurd reveals his secrets to success in turning red a large district that has traditionally voted blue. He provides a clear-eyed path forward for America, grounded by what Hurd calls "pragmatic idealism"—a concept forged from enduring American values to achieve what is actually achievable.
From his critical analysis of the GOP’s foggy vision for the future to discussing the impact of rapid technological advancements, Hurd will tackle five seismic problems facing the U.S. as outlined in his book. Join us as Hurd shares his unique experience as a Black republican in the House, with a vibrant career in intelligence, articulating what domestic policy can look like by appealing to the middle and empowering people.
William Hurd served as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 23rd congressional district from 2015-2021. He is currently a managing director at Allen & Company and most recently served as a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Additionally, he is growing the U.S. transatlantic partnership with Europe as a trustee of the German Marshall Fund and an OpenAI board member. Hurd worked for the CIA from 2000 to 2009, completing a tour of duty as an operations officer in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. He has a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in international relations from Texas A&M University.
Moderated by Lee Cullum, journalist at Public Media of North Texas (KERA/PBS) and Senior Fellow at the John Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at SMU. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Honeybees seem to attract the spotlight but our pollinators in general are in a bind. We aren't helpless though. Everyone has the capacity to be a huge help to our bee populations, both native and introduced, but first we must discuss what’s threatening them and why we need to act. Join us in this special Earth Day conversation with Dr. Sammy Ramsey, founder and director of the Ramsey Research Foundation.
Alongside his research focused on predatory and parasitic insect behavior, Dr. Sammy dedicates much of his time to making his work and other entomological efforts more accessible to the community at large. He has generated a significant online following through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube in the process of making STEM more inclusive, equitable, and diverse.
About Dr. Sammy Dr. Sammy, founder and director of the Ramsey Research Foundation, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Entomology from Cornell University in 2011, and focused his research on Predatory & Parasitic Insect Behavior. He cultivated an interest and expertise in the close relationships between insects and other creatures (symbioses), and dedicated his doctoral research to understanding a parasite killing honey bees globally (Varroa destructor). In Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp's Honey Bee lab at the University of Maryland, College Park; he completed his formal education. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Only three months into the new year, the world has already faced a multitude of new challenges. From humanitarian crises to threats to global democracy to the resurgence of Covid-19 and crippled supply chains, there are many obstacles to clear in the months ahead. Furthermore, with the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine and increasing access to lethal autonomous weapons, the stakes are greater than ever. As we enter a novel era of interstate conflict and potential new world order, it becomes crucial to evaluate how the United States might take on these challenges.
As part of the Council’s 2022 International Perspectives series, Richard Fontaine will walk us through what the future holds for U.S. foreign policy in an era of revolutionary global change. Drawing from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and a lifetime career on the frontlines of foreign policy, Fontaine is uniquely equipped to forecast how the United States’ will navigate this time of great conflict and uncertainty.
Richard Fontaine is the chief executive officer of CNAS, executive director of the Trilateral Commission, on the Defense Policy Board, and a Sine Institute Fellow at American University. He has previous experience as president and senior fellow at CNAS and as foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. At the State Department, Fontaine worked for the Deputy Secretary and in the department’s South Asia bureau. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tulane University and an M.A. in international Affairs from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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The Abraham Accords represent the first public normalization of relations between an Arab nation and Israel since 1994. The future looms on the precipice of change as this joint statement between the State of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States signals an opening between Israel and the Middle East. This is evidenced by the American Jewish Committee’s recent announcement of opening a branch in Dubai. As a principal architect of the Accords, Robert Greenway will delve into their growth and evolution to the state of Israel-U.A.E. relations today.
As part of the Council’s 2022 International Perspectives series, Greenway will advocate for the expansion of The Abraham Accords and the vitality of U.S. leadership in the matter. Drawing on his experience of developing strategies for the Middle East and with over 30 years in public service on the National Security Council (NSC), Greenway will attempt to map how the Accords could continue to alter the path to peace between Israel and the rest of the region.
Robert Greenway is the President and Executive Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute and an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute. He was previously Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director of the NSC’s Middle Eastern and North African Affairs Directorate. Before being assigned to the NSC, he served at the Defense Intelligence Agency and U.S. Army Special Forces. Greenway has a B.A. from the Virginia Military Institute and an M.A. from Webster University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Reporter Kelly Weill has spent most of her journalism career covering misinformation and conspiracy theories. As a recent college graduate in 2016, Weill entered the media world at a time of immense change, when terms like “fake news” and “disinformation” became part of the mainstream American vocabulary. Coinciding with this time was the rise in “Flat Earthers,” a group of people who support the idea that “we all live on a flat plane, under a solid dome, ringed by an impossible wall of ice.” In Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything, Weill sets out to explain where the fringe theory of Flat Earth came from, how it relates to other conspiracy theories, and what it is about society that leads people to believe things that most consider inherently untrue.
Kelly Weill is a reporter at The Daily Beast, where she covers extremism, disinformation, and the internet. She is a frequent media contributor on the topics of her work and has been featured on Nightline, CNN, and Al Jazeera, among other outlets, to discuss conspiracy theories, such as the Flat Earth theory and similar ideas outside of mainstream acceptance. She holds a dual degree in journalism and English from New York University.
Moderated by Anna Merlan Merlan is a New Mexico-born, Los Angeles-based journalist and author, specializing in subcultures, alternative communities, conspiracy theories, crime, belief, death, sexual violence and women’s lives. She is currently a reporter at Motherboard, a division of VICE. Her work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, BBC Travel, Topic, and on the op-ed page of the New York Times. She is the author of the book Republic of Lies. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia could not feel "safe, develop, and exist" because of what he claimed was a constant threat from modern Ukraine. Immediately after, a full-scale military invasion on Ukraine was launched, resulting in number of casualties, both military and civilian. With President Joe Biden’s recent decisions to increase sanctions on Russia and keep all Russian airlines out of U.S. airspace as tensions escalate, it is pertinent to analyze and evaluate the role the United States will play in this crisis.
While current events are still current, the Council is dedicated to offering a RealTime Report, hosting speakers with firsthand knowledge of the issues at bay and the ability to best interpret the situation as it unfolds. For this Russo-Ukrainian crisis, we’ve invited the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, the 22nd permanent representative of the United States to NATO, in conversation with moderator and Russia and Near East expert Anna Borshchevskaya. Ambassador Hutchison has worked tirelessly with members of the 72-year-old alliance to protect our freedoms at home and abroad. She will share her informed insights on the world’s response to the unfolding war in Ukraine while Borshchevskaya will offer perspective on Putin’s intentions and Russia’s foreign policy.
Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison served her term as U.S. permanent representative to NATO in Brussels, Belgium from 2017-2021. During her three-and-a-half years as permanent representative, she focused on the importance of U.S. leadership in the organization and strengthening the transatlantic bond that provides the security umbrella for Europe and North America. She represented Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1993-2013 and was Texas state treasurer from 1991-1993. Ambassador Hutchison is also the author of three books, including the bestseller American Heroines. She earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
Anna BorshchevskayaModerated by Anna Borshchevskaya Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow in The Washington Institute’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on the Great Power Competition and the Middle East, focused on Russia’s policy toward the Middle East. She is also a contributor to Oxford Analytica and a fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy. Borshchevskaya has experience as a former analyst for a U.S. military contractor in Afghanistan and has served as communications director at the American Islamic Congress. Alongside her other publications, Borshchevskaya is the author of the 2021 book, Putin’s War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America’s Absence. She holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo, an M.A. from John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a Ph.D. from George Mason University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Not all heroes wear capes, but the best of them take brave stands for people most in need. With a life devoted to issues that affect people in the margins, that bravery is woven in the very fabric of who Shalonda Spencer is. She has spent her career affecting legislation regarding women’s rights, foreign affairs, immigration, healthcare, and education – notably issues pertaining to people of color. Her voice has been heard in some of the nation’s most important spaces, from serving as a legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives to working on presidential campaigns with bold platforms. She is a proven, decorated expert in women’s rights advocacy, serving in various advising roles for multiple organizations that elevate the causes of women. Today, Shalonda Spencer serves as the executive director of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS), a global organization that advances the voices of women of color in International Relations. Aligned with her own life mission, WCAPS places an emphasis on mentorship and allows for women of color – who are most affected by major global issues – to have strong voices in international policy discussions.
In this conversation, taking place during Black History Month and leading into Women’s History Month, Spencer will explore the benefits of diverse voices, why women of color are an asset to U.S. international relations and diplomacy, and how nongovernmental organizations can create pathways for people of color.
Shalonda Spencer is a proud Mississippi native and graduate of Jackson State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in public policy and administration. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Dan Hunt is no stranger to the professional sports industry. His father, Lamar Hunt, was key to the establishment of professional sports in the U.S. He founded professional leagues and owned many teams – notably the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) and FC Dallas (MLS). Dan inherited his father’s passion, working with him to make Toyota Stadium a reality and Frisco, TX a premier destination for both professional and youth soccer. In 2018, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened in connection with Toyota Stadium, honoring the history of soccer but unmistakably focused on the future.
If Hunt has his way, part of that future will include hosting 2026 World Cup tournament games in that stadium here in DFW. He’s part of a bid committee made up of elected officials, business leaders, and sports franchise executives lobbying FIFA for North Texas to host as many as six matches of the 2026 World Cup – including the final. Seventeen other cities are also contending for the ten or eleven North American locations to be chosen. Cementing hope that DFW might be a top contender, tournament delegates recently toured the city of Fort Worth, AT&T Stadium, Fair Park, and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco.
Why would this be so significant? The World Cup is the world’s most celebrated tournament; the final match would put North Texas on the world’s stage and mean hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.
Be a part of this conversation with Hunt, discussing the bid, why he believes North Texas is the best location, and what all to expect should DFW be selected.
Moderated by Gina Miller. Miller is an award-winning journalist who is currently the Vice President of Media and Communications for FC Dallas, North Texas SC, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Toyota Stadium. She oversees the organizations’ broadcast, social and digital media operations as well as public relations efforts.
The Dallas native has served as a sportscaster in Dallas, Los Angeles, Knoxville and Guam. Gina has been nominated for multiple Lone Star Emmy awards and won a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for a feature story she did on the Southlake Carroll football team. She also worked three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and started her sports media career as an intern for the Houston Rockets where she won an NBA championship ring. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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There are countless examples of spies in modern popular culture. There are not, however, many examples of the reality behind modern espionage, a world that’s changing faster than most people realize. Rapid advances in technology, combined with ever-changing geopolitical dynamics, have created an intelligence world that Dr. Amy Zegart argues looks quite different from what is portrayed in spy novels, television shows, and movies. In Spies, Lies, and Algorithms, Dr. Zegart takes readers through the long history of American espionage, from George Washington’s Revolutionary War spies to the present day, providing context for the reality faced by American intelligence professionals today, and laying out what the modern landscape looks like today and where it may be heading. Considered “one of the ten most influential experts in intelligence reform” by the National Journal, Dr. Zegart has served in presidential administrations, co-authored a book with Condoleezza Rice, and published award-winning research on intelligence failures leading up to the September 11 attacks.
Dr. Amy Zegart is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, where she is also the Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow at the university’s Hoover Institution. She is a professor of political science and chair of Stanford’s Artificial Intelligence and International Security Steering Committee. She is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and the author of five books on intelligence topics. Dr. Zegart holds an A.B. in East Asian studies from Harvard University, as well as an M.A. and a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University.
Moderated by Jess Koloini, Senior Program Manager, F-16 Programs, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Jess Koloini is the Senior Program Manager for F-16 Block 72 Programs at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (LM Aero). In this role, she leads all activity related to platform development and delivery, working closely with multiple U.S. Government stakeholders across Program Management and Policy organizations. Prior to this role, Jess was the F-16 Program Manager for the Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Sultanate of Oman, supporting all Sustainment and Production activities for each country. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Making important decisions under pressure can be tough for even the most confident individuals. Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year CIA veteran, has some solutions to offer. In his new book, Clarity in Crisis, Polymeropoulos shares his approach to leadership, an intentional process he honed over his long career, during which the consequences of his decisions held enormous weight.
As an expert in counterterrorism, covert action, and human intelligence, Polymeropoulos stands as one of the most highly decorated field officers in intelligence history. Through Clarity in Crisis, he hopes to share strategies with the civilian world that can help to avoid the damage caused by bad decisions made under pressure and to inspire the confidence needed to “lead when others want to flee.”
Marc Polymeropoulos is a nonresident fellow in forward defense at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. Polymeropoulos retired from the CIA in 2019 after a 26-year career that brought him across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe (during a trip to Russia in 2017, he experienced Havana Syndrome, symptoms of which he's still managing today). He is a recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Intelligence Commendation Medal, and the Intelligence Medal of Merit. Polymeropoulos is a weekly contributor to the Washington Examiner, where he writes about intelligence issues. He holds a B.A. and an M.P.A. in political science and government from Cornell University.
Moderated by David McCloskey David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and former consultant at McKinsey & Company. While at the CIA, he wrote regularly for the President’s Daily Brief, delivered classified testimony to Congressional oversight committees, and briefed senior White House officials, Ambassadors, military officials, and Arab royalty. He worked in CIA field stations across the Middle East throughout the Arab Spring and conducted a rotation in the Counterterrorism Center focused on the jihad in Syria and Iraq. During his time at McKinsey, David advised national security, aerospace, and transportation clients on a range of strategic and operational issues.
David holds an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, where he specialized in energy policy and the Middle East. He lives in Texas with his wife and three children. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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The Economist’s “The World Ahead” series is published every year as an outlook of what is likely to occur in the upcoming year. Tom Standage, the series’ editor, will share an overview of the publication’s content, delving into informed predictions of the year to come, analysis of world affairs from experts and public figures, and important topics to think about as 2021 draws to an end. In 2022, what state will Western democracy be in? How will the Earth fare in the face of unprecedented climate change? Will it become more common for regular civilians to leave the Earth via space travel? Standage will cover these questions and more.
Tom StandageAbout Tom Standage Tom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist, where he is editor of the publication’s annual “The World Ahead” series. Standage has been with The Economist since 1998 and is currently in charge of digital strategy and product development. He has written six history books, and his work has been featured in The New York Times and The Guardian, among other publications. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in engineering and computer science from Oxford University.
Moderated by President Emeritus Jim Falk. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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About Jessica L. Bedoya Global financial services firm Deloitte projects that the collective economies of Latin America will grow by 3.8 percent in 2022. Some countries, like Colombia, are expected to grow by as much as 5.8 percent. What’s going on down south? On January 11, regional expert Jessica Bedoya will share her insight into Latin America’s recent economic growth, drawing on nearly two decades of experience guiding American policy in the region. Bedoya was instrumental in executing the América Crece initiative, working with the private sector to grow private investment in Latin American and the Caribbean. Her efforts have led to investment growth of up to $1 billion in agriculture, infrastructure, and technology, key industries for the region.
Jessica L. Bedoya is chief of staff and chief strategy officer in the Office of the Presidency at the Inter-American Development Bank, where she focuses on institutional strategy and investment policy. Her extensive leadership experience in international affairs includes 15 years in the U.S. government, where she held foreign policy roles within the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the National Security Council, and the U.S. intelligence community. She holds a B.A. in international politics and international economics from the George Washington University and an M.A. in world politics from the Catholic University of America.
Moderated by Arielle Tobin - Partner, Jones Day
In the first half of the twentieth century, the United States and Japan navigated a tumultuous relationship. When devastating attacks from both sides during World War II led both countries to a desire to avoid any future conflict, a strong alliance formed. Today, that alliance has grown into a closely intertwined friendship, as the American and Japanese economies work together for mutual benefit. Increasingly, North Texas is playing an important role in this critical alliance. More than 170 Japanese companies, including major companies like Toyota and Fujitsu, have made their homes in North Texas and provided job opportunities and services to the region.
In this program, we’ll dive into how DFW came to be a desired destination for Japanese businesses, explore the attraction and the mutual benefits to our population and the greater U.S. economy.
Panelist: Yasuhiro Uozumi is the executive director of Keidanren USA in Washington DC. He has been with the organization for more than 20 years. Uozumi is a certified public accountant and is known for his expertise in accounting, taxation, industrial policies, transportation, and emerging markets. His previous experience includes roles as secretary to the Keidanren chairman and as a researcher in accounting for the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Tokyo and an M.B.A. from the University of Oxford.
Panelist: Masahiro (Mark) Ikeno is president and CEO of NEC Corporation America, a biometrics, communications technology, and IT solutions firm. In his current role, Ikeno manages business strategy, operations, and company leadership. Ikeno’s more than 30-year career has included management roles in international solutions sales for multiple organizations across several continents. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theoretical physics from Kyoto University.
Panelist: Yoichiro Suzuki is the senior vice president of Corporate Collaboration for NTT DATA Services. With 20 years of experience, including previous employment with the parent company, NTT DATA Corporation, he serves as a liaison to leadership in Japan and to other Japanese-based operations as well as a member of the board of directors at NTT DATA International L.L.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.
Moderator: Shanti Shoji has served as Director of Programs for Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA since 2020 and has spent her entire career in U.S.-Japan relations. After working in Japan for six years in international exchange, she moved to Washington, DC where she worked at the Embassy of Japan and co-founded a U.S.-Japan virtual exchange organization for youth. Shoji has a M.A. in international communications from American University’s School of International Service and her B.A. in Japanese language and international studies from the University of Oregon.
. . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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As one of the largest cities in the South, Atlanta has recently been the focus of news coverage on everything from election controversies to significant social justice reforms. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has found herself at the center of many of these headlines. Through the lens of her One Atlanta initiative, Mayor Bottoms sees the future of Atlanta as a “an affordable, resilient, and equitable city of commerce and compassion.” Her efforts have led to major reforms in financial transparency, diversity and inclusion, criminal justice, and policing, both locally and nationwide. In conversation with former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Mayor Bottoms will discuss the importance of cities, like Dallas and Atlanta, in terms of the role they play on the world stage.
Keisha Lance Bottoms is the 60th mayor of Atlanta. She currently serves as chair of the Community Development and Housing Committee and on the Census Task Force for the United States Conference of Mayors. Honored as 2020 Georgian of the Year by Georgia Trend magazine, Mayor Bottoms is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Jack and Jill of America, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Mayor Bottoms is the first Atlanta mayor to have served as a judge, city councilmember, and mayor. She holds an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University and a J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Attorney Adam Schiff was in his 18th year as a California congressman in the summer of 2019 when President Donald Trump made a telephone call to the newly elected president of Ukraine. That phone call resulted in an abuse of power allegation against the President and Adam Schiff became the man charged with proving it. He served as a lead investigator for the December 18, 2019 House impeachment of President Trump and as manager of the unsuccessful 2020 Senate impeachment trial. Schiff writes about his experience in a new book that Kirkus Reviews describes as “a full-throated denunciation of Donald Trump and his congressional enablers.”
Midnight in Washington Congressman Adam Schiff represents California's 28th Congressional District. Schiff currently serves as the Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the nation's intelligence agencies. Schiff is on a leave of absence from the House Appropriations Committee, where he remains an ex-officio member. After Schiff graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law, he moved to Los Angeles to serve as a law clerk for Judge William Matthew Byrne, Jr. Schiff then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles as a federal prosecutor, where he served for almost six years.
Moderated by WACDFW President & CEO, Liz Brailsford. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Dr. Sandro Galea was born in Malta, spent his formative years in Canada, and entered adulthood in the United States. Multinational at his core, Dr. Galea learned early on that global health would be his life’s passion. While volunteering as a physician with Doctors Without Borders in Somalia, Dr. Galea realized that the only way to eliminate suffering at the individual and community levels was to look at health from a macro perspective. The experience led Dr. Galea to leave behind “the immediate gratification of medicine to labor in the vineyard of public health.”
Named an “epidemiology innovator” by Time magazine and one of the “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds” by Thomson Reuters, Dr. Galea stands at the forefront of global public health. His latest book, The Contagion Next Time, discusses ways that the United States can address underlying health issues to lay a solid foundation for American public health — an endeavor that may unlock the United States’ next phase as a “truly vibrant and equitable nation,” something we can all benefit from with or without another global pandemic.
Dr. Sandro Galea is a physician, epidemiologist, and Robert A. Knox Professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health, where he is also the youngest person to ever hold the position of dean. He has written prolifically on topic related to social and psychiatric epidemiology. His academic career has included roles at Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and the New York Academy of Medicine. Dr. Galea holds an M.D. from the University of Toronto and graduate degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommends that global CO2 emissions should decrease by 50%–80% by 2050. This goal is particularly challenging for hydrocarbon-based economies that depend on fossil fuel exports and for the oil and gas industry –but there are solutions- such as the use of renewable energy, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), among others. It is, however, especially vital that technological solutions be customized based on each country’s unique emission profile. This talk will look into different energy transitions, the role of hydrogen, policies and technologies from a systems perspective. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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In the coming months, Germany will have a new chancellor for the first time in 16 years. Following the country’s recent elections, Angela Merkel, one of the world’s longest serving democratically elected leaders, will step down. As she leaves behind a legacy of decisive action and an unrelenting moral compass, Merkel’s retirement comes at a time when there is a great deal of uncertainty in the world, which stands in stark contrast to the guiding pillar of stability she has been for her countrymen over the past two decades.
In The Chancellor, biographer Kati Marton takes an in-depth look into Merkel’s success as a leader, uncovering the secrets of her political and diplomatic success, as well as the unique personal background that helped shape her into the strong, yet humble, leader she is known for being today.
Kati Marton is an author and award-winning former correspondent for NPR and ABC News. She became a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist following her book, Enemies of the People: My Family’s Journey to America. Marton has also written books on other topics of international affairs, such as True Believer: Stalin’s American Spy, The Great Escape: Nine Jews Who Fled Hitler and Changed the World; The Polk Conspiracy, and A Death in Jerusalem. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. from George Washington University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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This event is now a virtual program.
About the Book Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been the world’s dominant superpower. But in the decades that have followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Michael O’Hanlon argues that American leadership has done little to solidify a strategic approach to the country’s comprehensive national security policy.
While China has clearly laid out its aggressively expansionist ambitions, and Russia steadily regains its lost power by capitalizing on newfound influence, has the United States developed its own vision of the future? In The Art of War in an Age of Peace, O’Hanlon argues that we haven’t – but that we easily can. Drawing on decades of experience in defense and security, O’Hanlon proposes a blueprint for American national security that considers realistic viability, the current political atmosphere, and moral duty, envisioning a future in which the United States is not at risk of losing sight of its place in the world.
Michael E. O’Hanlon is the Sydney Stein, Jr. Chair and director of research in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. He has been named one of the “most influential people” in national security and defense by Washingtonian. His vast experience includes roles with the CIA, a Congressional budget office, the Peace Corps, and the Institute for Defense Analyses, among other organizations. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Princeton University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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About the Book In Three Dangerous Men, defense expert Seth Jones argues that the US is woefully unprepared for the future of global competition. While America has focused on building fighter jets, missiles, and conventional warfighting capabilities, its three principal rivals—Russia, Iran, and China—have increasingly adopted irregular warfare: cyber attacks, the use of proxy forces, propaganda, espionage, and disinformation to undermine American power.
About Seth Jones Seth G. Jones is senior vice president, Harold Brown Chair, director of the International Security Program, and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He leads a bipartisan team of over 50 resident staff and an extensive network of non-resident affiliates dedicated to providing independent strategic insights and policy solutions that shape national security. He also teaches at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.
Moderated by Steve Coll
Dean Steve Coll is a staff writer at The New Yorker, the author of eight books of nonfiction, and a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Coll is the author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, From the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 published in 2004, for which he received an Overseas Press Club Award and a Pulitzer Prize. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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In this year’s annual Gail Koppman American History endowed lecture, David Rubenstein takes an introspective look at what it means to be American in his latest book, The American Experiment. Diversity is a foundational element of the United States of America, reflected in culture, religion, political views, and ideas. The bringing together of fifty individual states and of people from all ethnicities forms the basis of what it means to be American, a nationality built on the belief in freedom as a right, regardless of background. Through conversations with some of the most influential thought-leaders of our time, Rubenstein explores the idea of “America as a grand experiment in democracy,” gleaning insight from the likes of Madeleine Albright, Ken Burns, and John Meacham, attempting to define “what America is” and “what it can be.”
David Rubenstein is chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations as well as co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group private equity firm. He is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Lead and The American Story. He also hosts The David Rubenstein Show on Bloomberg TV and PBS. Before forming The Carlyle Group, Rubenstein was a practicing lawyer in Washington, D.C. His experience also includes serving as chief counsel to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as board membership of several philanthropic organizations. He is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Chicago Law School.
Ambassador P. Michael McKinley Ambassador McKinley (Ret.) joined The Cohen Group as a Senior Counselor after a decorated 37-year career at the Department of State. Ambassador McKinley most recently served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State until October 2019, covering a wide range of global policy issues. This month he penned the sagacious "We All Lost Afghanistan" — a must-read piece published in Foreign Affairs.
As a four-time ambassador, he led some of the largest and most sensitive U.S. embassies in the world as the U.S. Ambassador to Peru (2007-2010), Colombia (2010-2013), Afghanistan (2014-2016), and Brazil (2017-2018). Ambassador McKinley has also had extensive experience with regional conflicts and peace negotiations across three decades on three continents including Afghanistan, where he played a central role in shaping key policy decisions.
Ambassador Anne W. Patterson is moderating this event. Like Ambassador Mckinley, Ambassador Patterson has led critical U.S. embassies around the world. In addition to being appointed as Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern and North African Affairs at the Department of State (2013-2017), she served as Ambassador to Egypt (2011-2013), Pakistan (2007-2010), Colombia (2000-2003), and El Salvador (1997-2000). Ambassador Patterson recently retired with the rank of Career Ambassador after more than four decades in the Foreign Service. Currently, she is a senior fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale and a member of the Commission on National Defense Strategy. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Emily Haber has been Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States since June 2018. Prior to her transfer to Washington, DC, she served in various leadership functions at the Foreign Office in Berlin. In 2009, she was appointed political director and, in 2011, state secretary, the first woman to hold either post. Thereafter, she was deployed to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, serving as state secretary in charge of homeland security and migration policy from 2014 until 2018.
Emily Haber has many years of experience with Russia and the former Soviet Union, including Head of the Political Department. At the Foreign Office in Berlin, she served as Head of the OSCE Division and as Deputy Director-General for the Western Balkans, among other positions.
Moderated by Lee Cullum, journalist at Public Media of North Texas (KERA/PBS) and Senior Fellow at the John Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at SMU. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Fisher and Garten will discuss Garten’s new book, THREE DAYS AT CAMP DAVID, which describes how and why the Nixon administration broke the link between the dollar and gold, setting shock waves throughout the world economy and upending America’s most important political and military alliances. They will explain why this decision was perhaps the biggest one ever made in the international monetary system since the Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944, how it led to floating exchange rates, to more financial engineering, more intense globalization, and even to the emerging world of crypto and digital currencies. And they will examine the challenges to the dollar today, from China, from new forms of currency, from new kinds of protectionism, and from dysfunctional elements of our political system and institutions.
Jeffrey Garten is the former dean of the Yale School of Management, undersecretary of commerce for international trade, and managing director of the Blackstone Group. He now teaches courses at Yale on the global economy, international crisis management, and US foreign economic policy. He is the author of several books on global political and economic subjects including FROM SILK TO SILICON: The Story of Globalization Through Ten Extraordinary Lives.
Richard Fisher was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 2005 to 2015. He began his career in private banking before becoming assistant to the secretary of the treasury during the Carter administration. He served as deputy U.S. trade representative in the Clinton administration. Ambassador Fisher’s experience also includes working for Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s strategic advisory firm and founding his own firm, Fisher Capital Management. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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This breaking-news program provides context on the current state of affairs in Haiti in the wake of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021, as well as insight on the broader U.S.-Haitian relationship, and the history of Haitian leadership.
Paula Caldwell St-Onge (B.Sc.Queen's University, MBA (Leadership and Sustainability) University of Cumbria, recipient of the Head of the Public Service Award for Excellence in Policy and the Queen’s Gold Jubilee medal, began her career in the Public Service in 1989. She worked in several government departments where she gained expertise in communications, environmental sustainability and political risk. She has been a Director General of Canada’s Environmental Federal national programs on Enforcement, Environmental assessments and Emergency and Preparedness as well as Director General of the Pan African bureau at Global affairs Canada.
She has lived and served abroad for 28 years having been brought up in Latin America and the Caribbean and served as Senior Trade Commissioner, Minister Counsellor of Trade, Consul General and Ambassador in Brazil, Mexico, Texas (and 5 surrounding States), and Haiti respectively. She speaks five languages fluently and is married to Daniel St-Onge and the couple has one daughter. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Awakening, a global look at the worldwide impact of the #MeToo movement, shines a light on the far-reaching effects of the rise in women’s activism that sprang from a hashtag. Weaving together the personal stories of women from seven vastly different countries, and focusing on the international cultural reckoning the movement sparked, Awakening looks at #MeToo on the world stage through political analysis and anecdotal evidence, providing an in-depth look into how the campaign has reached across borders since its beginning in 2017.
Rachel Vogelstein is the director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations, where she is also the Douglas Dillon senior fellow. During the Obama administration, Vogelstein served as top counselor on women’s issues to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and was a member of the White House Council on Women and Girls. She currently sits on the boards of Planned Parenthood Global and the National Women’s History Museum. She is a contributing writer on global women’s issues at the Washington Post and Foreign Affairs. Vogelstein holds degrees from Columbia University and Georgetown Law School.
Meighan Stone is the senior fellow for Women and Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. She previously served as president of the Malala Fund from 2014-2017 and was an entrepreneurship fellow at Harvard’s Shorenstein Center. Stone’s work in women’s advocacy, international development, and media projects has led her to partner with the ONE Campaign, the UN, the World Economic Forum, FIFA World Cup, and the G7 Summit. She has written about global women’s issues for TIME and Foreign Affairs, among others. Stone holds a B.A. from George Mason University and a master’s degree from Columbia University.
Moderated by Michelle A. Thomas, Assistant Vice President, Chief Compliance Office, AT&T. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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China’s restriction on the free flow of information is no secret in the western world. Many are aware of the “Great Firewall,” as well as the intense surveillance of visitors and Chinese citizens. But what is life really like under such invasive conditions?
In The Perfect Police State, Asia-based reporter Geoffrey Cain shares intel from inside China’s surveillance network in the country’s westernmost province of Xinjiang. Informed by first-hand testimony and Cain’s own investigations into China’s “effective and enduring technological dystopia,” Cain argues that China has indeed created a perfect police state.
Geoffrey Cain is an award-winning foreign correspondent and author. He was formerly a correspondent at The Economist and is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Time, The New Republic, CNN, MSNBC, BBC, and Bloomberg. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a security fellow at the Truman National Security Project. Cain is a Fulbright scholar who earned a master’s degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, as well as a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University.
Moderated by Lee Bratcher Lee Bratcher is the Executive Director for the Institute of Global Engagement at Dallas Baptist University as well as a faculty member teaching international relations and blockchain courses. Lee received a blockchain instructors’ certification from IBM and researches blockchain solutions in land administration. He is a Captain in the US Army reserves working as an instructor for ROTC cadets at DBU and UT Dallas. Lee was awarded a master’s in International Relations from St. Mary’s University and is in his sixth year as a Ph.D. candidate at UT Dallas. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Yemen is a nation on the brink of collapse. Devastated by more than 5 years of civil war, the humanitarian situation in Yemen is dire. Economic volatility and conflict have stretched Yemenis’ ability to cope to the breaking point, leaving millions deeply vulnerable and famine a real threat. In the first half of 2021, about 16 million people face acute levels of food insecurity, with a return of famine-like conditions for the first time in two years. Over 24 million people rely on humanitarian assistance to get by. According to the 2021 Global Report on Food Crises—an analysis of global food insecurity by 16 partners including the United Nations World Food Programme—conflict remains the leading driver of hunger globally, with about 99 million severely hungry people living across 23 conflict-affected countries. If adequately funded this year, the United Nations World Food Programme aims to provide emergency food assistance to about 13 million people as well as malnutrition treatment and prevention to 3.3 million children and mothers. Join our panelists for an inside view into Yemen’s hunger crisis and how the U.N. World Food Programme is feeding and assisting Yemenis and working to build resilience. About the speakers
Oscar-Winning Film Maker Skye Fitzgerald Skye Fitzgerald: Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Documentary Branch). Oscar/Emmy/IDA-Nominated Director Skye Fitzgerald is directing The Humanitarian Trilogy: HUNGER WARD (2020) documents the impact of the war and famine in Yemen on children, families, and health care workers. LIFEBOAT (2018) highlights search and rescue operations off the coast of Libya and was nominated for an Academy Award® and national Emmy® award. 50 FEET FROM SYRIA (2015) focuses on doctors working on the Syrian border and was voted onto the Oscar® shortlist.
Annabel Symington – WFP Yemen, Communications Officer Annabel Symington is a Communications & Media Officer for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Yemen, where she acts as spokesperson for the operation, the agency’s largest in the world, and heads up the communications team. She joined WFP in January 2019, flying straight to Yemen to support the operation on site. Previously, Annabel was a foreign correspondent working for leading media organizations including The Times (UK), The Wall Street Journal, BBC, and The Economist, reporting from Pakistan, India, China, Brazil, and across West Africa. She worked for Agence France-Presse for five years, first as a News Editor from Hong Kong and then moving to Kathmandu as Nepal Bureau Chief. Annabel is a British citizen and her home is London, though she is usually on the road.
Chase Sova - World Food Program USA, Senior Director, Public Policy and Tought Leadership Chase Sova has professional experience in the areas of climate change and agricultural development with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, International Center for Tropical Agriculture and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. Focused on agriculture policy, Chase has worked in 15 developing countries across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. He holds a Ph.D. in political ecology on climate change and agriculture from Oxford University.
Moderated by President Emeritus Jim Falk . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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When Jean Becker closed up President Bush’s Houston office in 2019 after his death, she told the Houston Chronicle, “What a pleasure. What a journey.” In The Man I Knew, the former chief of staff to President George H. W. Bush shares an intimate look into the post-presidency of one of America’s most influential one-term presidents. Becker served as Bush 41’s chief of staff for nearly 25 years, handling monumental tasks like the opening of the George Bush Presidential Library in 1997 and overseeing the former president’s state funeral in 2018.
From the perspective of one of the president’s closest confidantes, who was at his side when he died, The Man I Knew offers a behind-the-scenes look into how President Bush continued to lead a life of service after losing the 1992 election – going on to see his own son become president after him and serving as a mentor to Presidents Clinton and Obama.
Jean Becker was chief of staff for President George H. W. Bush from 1994 until his death in 2018. In 1999, Becker took a leave of absence to focus on editing and research for the memoir, All the Best, George Bush. Becker also served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush (1989-1992), with whom she worked on Barbara Bush, A Memoir. Becker is a former journalist and a member of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. She holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and journalism from the University of Missouri.
Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian. In 2015, Meacham published his biography of President George H. W. Bush, Destiny and Power, which became a New York Times bestseller. A former executive editor at Random House, Meacham is a contributing writer to the New York Times Book Review and a contributing editor for TIME. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as the Society of American Historians, and holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from The University of the South.
Chris Buckley is an author and political satirist who served as chief speechwriter to President George H. W. Bush during his vice presidency. Buckley’s experience in Washington inspired his novels, The White House Mess and Thank You for Smoking. He has served as editor of Esquire and Forbes and has written for the New York Times and The New Yorker, among others. He is a graduate of Yale University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Jason L. Riley’s biography of Sowell, Maverick, tells the story of the successful and provocative career of one of America’s foremost intellectuals and the experiences that shaped his insights and ideas. In Riley’s recently released companion documentary Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World, Larry Elder said of Sowell, “He is America’s greatest contemporary living philosopher.”
Jason Riley is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank focused on domestic policy and urban affairs. He is the author of several books, as well as a columnist and editorial board member for the Wall Street Journal, which he joined in 1994. Riley is a commentator on Fox News and frequently appears on ABC, NBC, CNN, PBS, and NPR. He holds a B.A. in English from The State University of New York at Buffalo.
Moderated by Talmage Boston Talmage is a partner in Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP's Dallas office who specializes in commercial litigation. He’s a past board member of the WAC of D/FW and recipient of the Mallon Circle Award. In addition to lawyering, he’s the author of four critically acclaimed history books, and is regarded as one of the country’s leading onstage interviewers. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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In the early 1960s, President Kennedy said the United States was in an "hour of maximum danger," as the Soviet Union was winning the space race. Then, on February 20, 1962, Friendship 7 began its orbit of Earth. With astronaut John Glenn on board, Friendship 7 got America back into the space race at one of the tensest moments of the Cold War. Jeff Shesol draws on historical archives, interviews, and Glenn’s personal notes to tell the story of the mission that changed the dynamics of the space race and restored American confidence during the Cold War.
Jeff Shesol’s two previous books, Supreme Power: Franklin Roosevelt vs. The Supreme Court and Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy, and the Feud That Defined a Decade, have won numerous awards. He also spent three years in the White House as one of President Clinton’s speechwriters. Shesol is a founding partner of West Wing Writers and formerly taught presidential history at Princeton University. He is a Rhodes Scholar who holds a master’s degree in history from Oxford University and a B.A. from Brown University.
Peter Baker is the New York Times’ chief White House correspondent. Baker spent 20 years at the Washington Post, including four years as Moscow bureau chief in collaboration with his wife, journalist Susan Glasser. He has authored six award-winning books. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Throughout her nine terms in Congress, Jane Harman served on all major security committees, including as a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee in the years following the September 11 attacks. As a recognized expert on national security and public policy – with the resume to back it up – Harman has won numerous awards for her distinguished service.
Now, in Insanity Defense, Harman recounts her decades on the national security front, arguing that no less than four presidential administrations have failed to address the most pressing threats to the nation. In a push to shift away from Cold War strategies, Harman lay outs her solutions for meeting the challenges of our times, in which rapidly advancing technology and multi-faceted global power structures may eventually redefine American dominance.
Jane Harman served nine terms as a U.S. Representative in Congress. She resigned in 2011 to become the first female president and CEO at the Woodrow Wilson Center, where she spent the past decade. Harman currently serves as a member of the Aspen Strategy Group and sits on the advisory board of the Munich Security Conference, as well as the board of Iridium Communication Inc. She is a member of the Presidential Debates Commission and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Harman holds a B.A. from Smith College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Moderated by Lee Cullum, journalist at Public Media of North Texas (KERA/PBS) and Senior Fellow at the John Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at SMU. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Number one bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat,Daniel James Brown has collaborated with a nonprofit that preserves the oral histories of formerly-interned Japanese Americans to produce Facing the Mountain, a heartbreaking and eye-opening account of four Japanese American families whose sons volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, deploying to the frontlines of Europe while their families were imprisoned at home. A tale of Americans “striving, resisting,” “laying down their lives, and enduring,” Facing the Mountain shines a light on the bravery and patriotism of a few young men during one of the darkest moments in American history.
Daniel James Brown is a narrative nonfiction author who has published three previous books that strive to bring historical events to life. He taught writing at San José State University. As a California native, he received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. from University of California, Los Angeles.
Moderated by Tom Ikeda, executive director of Denshō. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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About the author: https://www.workman.com/authors/daniel-levin-1
Daniel Levin was at his office when he got a call from an acquaintance with an urgent, cryptic request to meet in Paris. A young man had gone missing in Syria. No government, embassy, or intelligence agency would help. Could he? Would he? So begins a suspenseful, shocking, and at times brutal true story of one man’s search to find a missing person in Syria over twenty tense days. Levin, a lawyer turned armed-conflict negotiator, uses his extensive contacts to chase leads throughout the Middle East, meeting with powerful sheikhs, drug lords, and sex traffickers in his pursuit of the truth. He also discovers remarkable people who retain their essential goodness and spirit in the face of adversity.
In Proof of Life, Levin dives deep into a shadowy world where few have access—an underground industry of war where everything is for sale, including arms, drugs, and even people. He offers a fascinating study of how people use leverage to get what they want from one another and where no one does a favor without wanting something in return, whether it’s immediately or years down the road.
Proof of Life is a fast-paced thriller wrapped in a memoir, a must-read for anyone interested in power dynamics, international affairs, the Middle East, or our growing number of forever wars.
Moderated by Michael Judge Judge, a writer, freelance journalist, and contributing editor at The Dallas Morning News, is a former deputy editorial features editor at The Wall Street Journal and former deputy editorial page editor at The Asian Wall Street Journal. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, his career spans more than two decades on three continents. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Japan Times, NPR, The Columbia Journalism Review, Politico, and Smithsonian magazine, among other publications. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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When Americans think of a global menace, one of two countries often comes to mind: China or Russia. These global powerhouses are two of the United States’ greatest adversaries on the world stage. But what are the risks they actually pose? In Spymaster’s Prism, 32-year CIA veteran Jack Devine details how Russia’s intelligence apparatus has continuously worked against American national security from the Cold War to the present. He uses the history of U.S. intelligence achievements and failures to help Americans understand what this adversary may be planning in the future. In a similar vein, geostrategic expert John Ward’s China’s Vision of Victory outlines the ways in which “the Chinese Communist Party is guiding a country of 1.4 billion people towards” the “great rejuvenation” of China and the downfall of American dominance. Combining their joint knowledge, Devine and Ward lay out the threats America currently faces, as well as what can be done to neutralize those threats. Jack Devine is a 32-year veteran of the CIA and the founding partner and president of The Arkin Group, an international consulting firm. At the CIA, Devine served as acting director and associate director, chief of Latin America, head of the Counter-Narcotics Center, and head of the Afghan Task Force. He was awarded the CIA’s Meritorious Officer Award and the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Devine is a published author and op-ed writer. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Jonathan Ward is the founder of the Atlas Organization, a consultancy firm focused on Chinese and Indian national strategy. Before Atlas, Ward was a geostrategic consultant for Oxford Analytica and for the U.S. Department of Defense. He is currently a research associate at Oxford’s Changing Character of War Programme and a visiting academic at the university’s China Centre. Ward holds a Ph.D. from Oxford University in China-India relations, as well as an M.St. in Global and Imperial History, also from Oxford.
Mike Capps is the Director of Strategic Development, Intelligence, Information & Services at Raytheon. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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As one of the country’s leading authorities on American foreign policy and what goes on behind the scenes, James M. Lindsay has a wealth of knowledge about where the U.S. stands on the global stage, how it’s affected by shifting power dynamics, and how all these elements come together to shape our understanding of current issues.
Lindsay is the co-author of The Empty Throne: America’s Abdication of Global Leadership and America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy, for which he has won multiple awards. On his blog, The Water’s Edge, Lindsay writes about the ways in which politics influence U.S. foreign policy decisions and how those decisions affect global power structures and domestic politics – topics that are frequently discussed on Lindsay’s podcasts, The President’s Inbox and The World Next Week. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Lindsay is a recipient of the Pew Faculty Fellowship in International Affairs, as well as the CFR International Affairs Fellowship.
James M. Lindsay is senior vice president, director of studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg chair at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has held leadership positions across many prestigious organizations, including the Brookings Institution, the National Security Council, the United States Institute of Peace, and the Center for International Affairs. He holds an A.B. in economics and political science from the University of Michigan, as well as an M.A., M.Phil., and a Ph.D. from Yale University.
Moderator Ryan Sanders started his career in journalism at the Corsicana Daily Sun before moving to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram where he covered education and city government. Later, working in public relations, he wrote speeches for CEOs, politicians, and the owner of the Dallas Stars hockey team. He has written scripts for television and radio ads, contributed to a book of local history for the Dallas mayor’s office, and placed op-eds and feature articles in multiple news outlets. His writing has won awards in community journalism, public relations, and fiction. He currently serves as editorial writer at The Dallas Morning News. Ryan is an ordained minister. He lives in Irving, Texas with his wife, two teenaged children, and a Beagle named after Scout Finch. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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When a new president is elected, administration officials change but the White House staff often does not. Many of these “White House lifers” maintain their roles for decades – like Dale Haney, the chief groundskeeper since 1972. In The Secret Life of the White House, Susannah Jacob paints a vivid picture of the daily life of the residence staff behind the scenes – illuminated with interviews from dozens of former and current longtime professionals. Jacob argues these individuals are symbols of the independence of the White House, conserving the legacies of past presidents and “continuing to do their jobs and serve whoever moves in.”
Susannah Jacob is a writer and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama. As a Ph.D. student in Yale University’s Department of History, Jacob's interests focus on twentieth century America, labor, and political history. Her work has been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and the New York Times. She holds a B.A. in history from the University of Texas at Austin.
Jeremi Suri is the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is a professor of history and public affairs. He has authored nine books about contemporary politics and foreign policy. Suri is also a contributor for the New York Times, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, and Foreign Affairs. He holds an A.B. from Stanford University, an M.A. from Ohio University, and a Ph.D. from Yale University, all in history. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Fifty-three years after the phrase “Space! The final frontier…” entered U.S. pop culture via the television series “Star Trek,” the United States Space Force became the newest branch of the American Armed Forces. Operating within the Department of the Air Force, the USSF began developing military doctrine for space power and military space systems to protect the U.S. and its allies in space in December 2019. In an exclusive, members-only event, Lt. Gen. William J. Liquori will pull back the curtains for an inside view of how the need for a military presence in space came to be – followed by a look ahead to what’s in store for this exciting new endeavor.
Lt. Gen. William J. Liquori is the deputy chief of space operations, strategy, plans, programs, requirements, and analysis for the U.S. Space Force. Lt. Gen. Liquori’s service includes commanding a space operations squadron and the 50th Space Wing, as well as positions within the USAF Space Command, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the White House. He holds an M.A. in computer resources and information management from Webster University, as well as a B.A. in computer science from Boston University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that companies and labor unions enjoy the same right to political speech as individuals, many restrictions on money in American politics were lifted. Super PACs now rule our political landscape and can pour hundreds of millions of dollars into campaigns, as long as their efforts remain independent of candidates. The influx of large sums of money into politics can damage trust in government, suppress turnout, and put corporate interests before the interests of constituents. To what extent is this a uniquely American issue? How much influence is for sale and what can be done about it?
Meridian Young Professionals are invited to join our virtual conversation with Ann Drumm of American Promise on the impact money has in our local and federal system and whether a new constitutional amendment is appropriate to combat this phenomenon.
About Ann Drumm and American Promise: Ann Drumm is regional organizer for American Promise, a national nonpartisan organization advocating for a constitutional amendment to address big money in politics. https://americanpromise.net/blog/2019/05/29/citizen-leader-spotlight-ann-drumm/
“American Promise exists to empower, inspire, and organize Americans to win the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. This lasting reform will re-balance our politics and government by putting the rights of individual citizens before the privileges of concentrated money, corporations, unions, political parties, and superPACs.” https://americanpromise.net/who-we-are/about-american-promise/ . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Fiona Hill, one of the nation’s foremost experts on Russia, is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. She previously served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs on the National Security Council from 2017 through 2019. In November 2019, Hill testified before the House Intelligence Committee during the committee’s impeachment hearing.
Dr. Hill has researched and published extensively on Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, specifically on issues related to regional conflicts and energy. She is the author of “The Siberian Curse: How Communist Planners Left Russia Out in the Cold” and “Energy Empire: Oil, Gas and Russia’s Revival.” Hill also co-authored “Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin” with Clifford Gaddy.
Dr. Fiona Hill holds a master’s degree in Soviet studies and a doctorate in history from Harvard University. She also holds a master’s degree in Russian and modern history from St. Andrews University and has studied at the Maurice Thorez Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Moderated by Liz Brailsford. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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John Boehner was a small business owner when he first decided to run for elected office after witnessing what he considered the negative effects of “high taxes and red tape” on American entrepreneurs. After two decades in office, Boehner became Speaker of the House in 2011 and immediately found himself in opposition to President Obama’s vision for America. In On the House, Boehner reflects on his time in Congress, recounting the lessons of success and failure he has learned from leaders – from Gerald Ford to Joe Biden – he has encountered.
John Boehner is the former Speaker of the House of Representatives (2011-2015). From 1991 until his resignation in October 2015, Boehner represented the Eighth Congressional District of Ohio as a Republican. In Congress, Boehner’s stated goals were a “smaller, less costly, and more accountable federal government.” Since 2016, he has been a senior strategic advisor at Squire Patton Boggs LLP.
Moderated by Liz Brailsford, WACDFW President & CEO. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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It’s no secret that China is in the midst of dynamic change. Through an incisive look at President Xi Jinping’s political and economic reforms, Elizabeth Economy analyzes that transformation as it’s occurring today.
One of the nation’s foremost experts on Chinese domestic and foreign policy, Economy writes with authority in her latest book, “The Third Revolution,” about the widespread implications of China’s actions on the rest of the world. In an attempt to regain its past glory, Economy argues that China has embarked on a mission to reimagine global norms to better fit the vast nation’s “ambitious geostrategic objectives.”
Elizabeth Economy was called by Politico Magazine one of the “10 Names That Matter on China Policy” in 2018. She is a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Her work is widely published and she is the author of several books on China. Economy holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, an M.A. from Stanford University, and a B.A. from Swarthmore College.
Moderator Stephen Gardner is the Herman Brown professor of economics and director of the McBride Center for International Business at Baylor University who has been named “Outstanding Tenured Professor” and “Outstanding Professor for University Service.” He has authored three books. Gardner holds a B.A. in economics and Russian studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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A decade after the Arab Spring began in 2011, where does the Middle East stand today? At the time, the uprisings stunned the world and appeared to ignite a flame of freedom across the Arab world. But what came of the movements?
From an ongoing civil war in Syria to the burgeoning democracy of Tunisia and reemerging protests in the region, the lasting effects of the Arab Spring span a wide range. In the western world, a debate continues as to whether the Arab Spring was a failure, a success, or if perhaps we are still in its midst. Scholar Steven Cook will delve into these questions and more, illuminating the reasons why this debate is important and what it means for U.S. policy.
Steven Cook is the Enri Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he is also director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars. His work focuses on Arab and Turkish politics in addition to U.S.-Middle East policy, subjects about which he has written multiple books. Cook is also a columnist at Foreign Policy. He holds a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, as well as an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Moderated by Joanne Held Cummings Joanne Held Cummings is an adjunct professor at Baylor University, educating upper-level undergraduates about Middle East dynamics. Ms. Cummings was deputy chief of mission in the Federated States of Micronesia, pol/econ section chief, refugee coordinator, economic section chief, political officer, and consular officer. In the Department of State and in the private sector, she has worked in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jerusalem, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, and Micronesia as well as nine years in the private sector working regionally from Morocco through Pakistan. She was was recently the foreign policy advisor to the counter-ISIS coalition based in Baghdad. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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When so many of our home goods and clothing items are made in China, it may be a good idea to step back and understand how those goods actually get to us.
In 2012, an Oregon mother, Julie Keith, came face to face with the reality of cheap American consumerism when an SOS letter from China fell out of a box of $5 Halloween decorations. The writer’s name was Sun Yi, an engineer imprisoned in a Chinese labor camp, where he was forced to carve foam headstones and stitch clothing for more than 15 hours a day as part of his “reeducation” by the Chinese government.
In Made in China, Amelia Pang follows Sun Yi’s story, as well as those of others like him, tracking down China’s “falsified supply chains,” that start with gulag-like labor camps and end in American homes.
Amelia Pang is an award-winning investigative journalist of Uyghur descent. She is an editor at EdTech Magazine. Her book, Made in China, to be released in February 2021, was shortlisted for the 2019 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award by the Columbia Journalism School and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Pang holds a BA in Literary Studies from the New School. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Our virtual conversation with former Secretary of Defense General Jim Mattis will be moderated by Council President Emeritus Jim Falk. General Mattis served as the 26th secretary of defense from January 2017 through December 2018 after retiring from his 43-year career as an infantry marine in 2013. Through his decades of experience, General Mattis has developed an acute understanding of American foreign policy and the United States’ role on the global stage and is a fierce advocate for education. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Paul Haenle will discuss the factors driving the downturn in the U.S.-China relations in recent years and the outlook for the relationship under the Biden administration. He will share his perspective on how Washington and Beijing can chart a more constructive path forward for the relationship, analyzing areas of confrontation, competition, problem-solving, and cooperation.
About Haenle: Taken from https://carnegietsinghua.org/experts/490 Paul Haenle holds the Maurice R. Greenberg Director’s Chair at the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center based at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. In addition to running the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center, Haenle is also an adjunct professor at Tsinghua, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses to Chinese and international students on international relations and global governance. Haenle also sits on the board of directors of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.
Prior to joining Carnegie, he served from June 2007 to June 2009 as the director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia Affairs on the National Security Council staffs of former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. From June 2007 to January 2009, Haenle also played a key role as the White House representative to the U.S. negotiating team at the six-party-talks nuclear negotiations. From May 2004 to June 2007, he served as the executive assistant to the U.S. national security adviser.
Trained as a China foreign area officer in the U.S. Army, Haenle has been assigned twice to the U.S. embassy in Beijing, served as a U.S. Army company commander during a two-year tour to the Republic of Korea, and worked in the Pentagon as an adviser on China, Taiwan, and Mongolia Affairs on the staff of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Early assignments in the U.S. Army included postings in Germany, Desert Storm, Korea, and Kuwait. He retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel in October 2009. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Former military officers and award-winning authors Admiral James Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman have written a geopolitical thriller about an imagined naval clash between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea in 2034. Based upon “actual decisions already made,” the novel imagines how “a single technological leap forward” enables China to blind and bind our military. Jim Mattis’ review of the novel said, “…Jim Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman’s chilling novel presents a realistic series of miscalculations leading to the worst consequences. A sobering, cautionary tale for our time.”
Jay Young is moderating this conversation. Contributors' Circle members will be able to spend an extra 15 minutes of Q&A time with Admiral Stavridis.
James Stavridis is a four-star admiral whose 30 years in the U.S. Navy included postings as Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and Commander of U.S. Southern Command, where he led all U.S. military operations in Latin America. Admiral Stavridis is the author of nine books on the military and leadership. This is his first novel. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Tufts University, where he served as the dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy for five years.
Elliot Ackerman is an award-winning author and former marine who served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. He is former White House fellow and has written fiction and non-fiction books. His writing often appears in Esquire, The New Yorker and the New York Times, where he is a contributing opinion writer.
Jay T. Young began his career in the U.S. Government as a military analyst, serving on task forces for major military operations and authoring assessments on key issues in Latin America and the Persian Gulf. His long business career includes senior leadership positions in the management consulting, information technology services, and diversified manufacturing industries. He is currently the principal of Obsydian Consulting, LLC. Jay also served for 25 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve retiring as a Captain in 2018. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Ayman Safadi has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs & Expatriates for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since 2017 and has also served Deputy Prime Minister since October 2020. As you can see in his Twitter posts, he meets on a daily basis with foreign ministers and heads of state of countries in all regions of the world. In previous public appointments, he served as adviser to King Abdullah, Minister of State, spokesperson for the Jordanian government, and spokesperson for the United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq.
Safadi began his professional career in journalism and communications. He has served as CEO of Abu Dhabi Media Company, Director General of Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, editor-in-chief and columnist for the Al-Ghad daily newspaper, and editor-in-chief of The Jordan Times.
Mr. Safadi holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature from Yarmouk University and a Masters of International Journalism from Baylor University. Taken from https://www.baylor.edu/business/globalbusinessforum/index.php?id=976054 . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Diplomacy’s equivalent of the military’s special forces is the “expeditionary diplomat,” a resourceful professional with specialized training from the Department of Defense and CIA who can take on the toughest diplomatic assignments in high threat, unstable or failed states.
Join diplomatic correspondent Paul Richter, author of the “The Ambassadors,” for a virtual conversation with three of America’s preeminent diplomats – Ryan Crocker, Robert Ford and Anne Patterson – whom he profiled in his book along with Christopher Stevens, who was killed in Libya in 2012.
Paul Richter covered the State Department and foreign policy as a Washington-based correspondent for the Los Angeles Times before leaving the publication in 2015. Throughout his three-decades-long career, Richter reported from 60 countries. He is a graduate of Clark University in Massachusetts.
Ambassador Ryan Crocker was a career Foreign Service Officer, who served as Ambassador to Afghanistan (2011-2012), Iraq (2007-2009), Pakistan (2004-2007), Syria (1998-2001), Kuwait (1994-1997), and Lebanon (1990-1993). He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009) and currently serves as diplomat in residence at Princeton University. He holds a B.A. in English and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Whitman College.
Ambassador Robert S. Ford served as U.S. Ambassador to Syria (2011-2014) and Algeria (2006-2008) before retiring from the Foreign Service in 2014. He is a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Secretary’s Service Award (2014) and the John F. Kennedy Library’s Profile in Courage Award (2012), which he received for his work defending human rights in Syria. He is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.
Ambassador Anne Patterson spent more than four decades in the Foreign Service, serving as Ambassador to Egypt (2011-2013), Pakistan (2007-2010), Colombia (2000-2003), and El Salvador (1997-2000). She was appointed to the National Defense Strategy Commission by Congress in 2017, where she contributed to an independent review of U.S. national security needs. From 2017 to 2018, Patterson served as a senior fellow at the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Elizabeth Kolbert asks: “After doing so much damage, can we change nature, this time to save it?” In 2015, Kolbert won a Pulitzer Prize for her book chronicling humanity’s destructive behavior towards nature. She now turns her focus to the ways in which that very same human development may now be used to protect and save the planet. Meeting with scientists, engineers, and researchers, Kolbert shines a light on the environmental innovations in development worldwide and some of the world’s most unique ecosystems.
Moderated by Lee Cullum, host, CEO.
Elizabeth Kolbert is a staff writer at The New Yorker. Her three-part series on global warming, “The Climate of Man,” won the 2006 National Magazine Award for Public Interest. She has won numerous awards for her work on environmental topics. Before joining The New Yorker in 1999, Kolbert was a political reporter at the New York Times.
Lee Cullum is the host of CEO, a public television and radio program featuring a series of interviews with North Texas business leaders. She is also a commentator for Morning Edition on KERA and a contributor to the Dallas Morning News. Her long journalism career includes National Public Radio and the Dallas Times Herald. Cullum is a senior fellow at the Tower Center at Southern Methodist University. She is a member of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth’s Mallon Circle. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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How do we weigh the benefits of artificial intelligence with its potential harm? In Turning Point, Darrell West outlines a policy blueprint to maximize the benefits and minimize the downsides of AI.
As AI becomes increasingly an unavoidable part of our lives, West breaks down the uses of AI, how it actually works, and how “the transformative technology of our time” causes economic disruptions. Near-term policy decisions may be the deciding factor in where this revolutionary technology leads to utopia or dystopia.
Darrell West is the vice president and director of governance studies at Brookings Institution. He is the Co-Editor-In-Chief of TechTank and the director of the John Hazen White Manufacturing Initiative. His article “E-Government and the Transformation of Service Delivery and Citizen Attitudes” was named one of the 75 most influential articles since 1940 by the Public Administration Review in 2014. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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At what cost should the U.S. continue leading the world? The Biden Administration has indicated in its first month that it is taking a different stance regarding alliances, particularly with Europe. How will this affect transatlantic relationships?
Karen Donfried, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, has spent the entirety of her career trying to answer questions just like these. Since first joining the German Marshall Fund in 2001, Donfried has held numerous positions within the organization, as well as in the U.S. government and the World Economic Forum. Her work in this arena was recognized with the honor of the Cross of the Order of Merit from the German government, which she received in 2011, in addition to many other awards.
Karen Donfried took the helm of the German Marshall Fund in 2014 after working as a special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs and on the National Security Council. Donfried spent time as a national intelligence officer for Europe on the National Intelligence Council and served for ten years as a European specialist at the Congressional Research Service. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in laws and diplomacy from Tufts University, a magister from the University of Munich, and a B.A. in government and German from Wesleyan University.
Joanna Ridgway will moderate this event. Ridgway is southwest region managing director at Santander Bank. Her international experience includes corporate and commercial banking, strategy development, asset management, corporate debt underwriting, project management and marketing. A two-time TEDx speaker, Ridgway serves on the Council’s board of directors and was a German Marshall Fund 2012 Marshall Memorial Fellow. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Eleanor Roosevelt died nearly sixty years ago, but she remains a monumental figure in modern American history – a woman who devoted her life to the betterment of others as a diplomat, activist, humanitarian, and the longest-serving First Lady.
David Michaelis’ newest book Eleanor offers readers the first-ever single-volume biography of all six decades of Eleanor Roosevelt’s extraordinary life. From orphaned child to wife of the country’s longest-serving president and everything that followed, Michaelis covers all of the important moments of Eleanor’s life while digging deeper to reveal the person she was outside of her remarkable accomplishments. Called “a sympathetic view of a complicated woman who changed and grew with every challenge” by the Wall Street Journal, Eleanor paints a picture of an American ideal.
David Michaelis has authored six books, including national bestsellers “N.C. Wyeth” (1999 Ambassador Book Award for Biography winner) and “Schulz and Peanuts.” His work has also been featured in Condé Nast Traveler and the Best American Essays anthology. Michaelis is an alumnus of Princeton University.
Moderator Talmage Boston is a Dallas attorney and author of four books of history. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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When Syrian president Bashar al-Assad deployed chemical weapons against his own people in 2012, he crossed the “red line” drawn by President Obama. To avoid committing to another never-ending war, the U.S. president accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to facilitate the removal of Assad’s chemical weapons. But it soon became clear that Russia’s end goal was to preserve Assad’s rule, leaving the U.S. with dwindling influence over the outcome of the civil war in Syria – all the while ISIS gained more territory as the group took advantage of the gaping power vacuum created by the region’s instability.
In Red Line, Joby Warrick draws on his original reporting to tell “a character-driven narrative” about how avoiding one catastrophe can unintentionally lead to another.
Joby Warrick is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and national security reporter for the Washington Post. In addition to Red Line, Warrick has authored two books – “Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS” and “The Triple Agent”, which recounts the 2009 suicide attack by an al-Qaeda informant that killed seven U.S. intelligence operatives. Warrick holds a BA in journalism from Temple University.
Moderated by Jim Falk, who served as president and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth for twenty years and is co-host of “The McCuistion Program,” public television’s long-running weekly discussion forum syndicated by the Foundation for Responsible Television. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Nobel Prize-winning economist, best-selling author and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman says that there are economic misunderstandings about subjects such as health care, housing bubbles and tax reform that seem immortal, and he calls this “zombie economics.” He attempts to slay a few of these zombies in his newest book, breaking down the most pressing policy issues into engaging and easily understandable pieces.
For his appearance at the 2021 Baylor Global Business Forum, Krugman will be in conversation with Austan Goolsby, another economist well known for his ability to explain economics clearly.
Paul Krugman’s op-ed column has appeared in the New York Times since 1999 and he has authored and edited more than 27 books. One of the founders of the “new trade theory,” Krugman won the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work. He is a distinguished professor at the Luxembourg Income Study Center at the City University of New York and professor emeritus at Princeton University. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from MIT.
Austan D. Goolsbee is the Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Goolsbee serves on the Economic Advisory Panel to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and previously chaired the Council on Economic Advisors in the Obama administration. He was named one of the six “Gurus of the Future” by the Financial Times. Like Krugman, Goolsbee holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from MIT. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Ira Rosen, who has been a producer at 60 Minutes for nearly 25 years, reveals how episodes come together for one of American television’s longest-running programs. Full of personal anecdotes about some of the show’s biggest stars, including Chris Wallace, Diane Sawyer, and Barbara Walters, his book “Ticking Clock” exposes interview secrets, power dynamics between colleagues, and the journalistic process behind “unearthing shocking revelations.” This tell-all account of “the show that invented TV investigative journalism” is a “60 Minutes story on 60 Minutes itself.”
Ira Rosen has been a producer at 60 Minutes for nearly 25 years, during which time he has worked on many of the most important stories the show has covered. Rosen has won 24 National Emmy Awards, four du Pont Awards, two RFK Awards, and two Peabody Awards. He is co-author of “The Warning: Accident and Three Mile Island.”
Moderator Tony Pederson holds the rank of professor and is the Belo Distinguished Chair in Journalism at Southern Methodist University. In that position he chairs the Division of Journalism in the Meadows School of the Arts. Before assuming the Belo chair in June of 2003 he was senior vice president and executive editor of the Houston Chronicle. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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The National Interest said of Robert Zoellick: “He was instrumental in shaping the course of American foreign policy, and his impact is still felt today.” Having served as president of the World Bank, U.S. Trade Representative, and Deputy Secretary of State, Robert Zoellick has deep experience in global trade, technology and U.S. relations with Mexico. Zoellick will offer both a historical framework and understanding of the strategic and existential challenges facing America’s U.S. foreign policy when he appears at the 2021 Baylor Global Business Forum, a joint virtual presentation by the Council and Baylor University.
Zoellick’s recently published book argues that there are five traditions that can be used to better understand post-Cold War presidencies: the importance of North America; the importance of trading, transnational, and technological relations; changing attitudes toward alliances; the importance of public support; and the belief that American policy should serve a larger purpose.
Moderator: Robert W. Jordan, U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (2001-2003)
Robert Zoellick is the non-executive chairman of global investment management firm AllianceBernstein and a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. Zoellick was president of the World Bank and also served as U.S. Trade Representative, Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury, Deputy Secretary of State, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff. [He has served on the boards of international commercial enterprises and educational institutions.] He holds a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College, a master’s degree from Harvard University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Robert W. Jordan is Diplomat in Residence and adjunct professor of political science in the John G. Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at Southern Methodist University. His service in Saudi Arabia began in the wake of the September 11 attacks. He was a partner in the international law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. and headed the firm’s Middle East practice based in Dubai until his retirement in 2014. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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A new biography published about George Washington is unlike any other. Described as “form-shattering and myth-crushing,” “keen and savage,” as well as “spirited and engaging,” historian Alexis Coe’s “You Never Forget Your First” chronicles the life of our first president from a 21st century and “decidedly feminist” perspective. Coe says, “I set out to write a book that was true, and different, and that added any kind of diversity in approach, perspective, and, of course, author. I set out to take a giant leap away from hagiography and great man history—and really mean it.”
This conversation will be moderated by Professor Jeffrey Engel.
Alexis Coe has frequently appeared on CNN and the History Channel, and in the New York Times and many other publications. She is a host of Audible’s “Presidents Are People Too!” and “No Man’s Land.” Coe holds an MA in history from Sarah Lawrence College and graduated from the honors college at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She was a research curator at the New York Public Library and her first book, “Alice + Freda Forever,” is set to become a motion picture.
Jeffrey A. Engel is the founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University and professor in the Clements Department of History. He graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University. Engel also studied at St. Catherine's College, Oxford University, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. in American history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught American history, international relations, and grand strategy at the University of Wisconsin, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Haverford College. At Texas A&M's Bush School of Government & Public Service, he was a professor and director of programming for the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Sebastian Mallaby’s decades of experience covering economics make him one of the top financial reporters in the world. He worked as a reporter at The Economist for 13 years before joining the Washington Post in 1999 and was a contributing editor at the Financial Times. Mallaby’s work has also appeared in The Atlantic. At the Post, Mallaby’s topics of interest include “central banks, financial markets, the implications of the rise of newly emerging powers, and the intersection of economics and international relations.”
Sebastian Mallaby is the Paul A. Volcker senior fellow for international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributing columnist for the Washington Post. He is the author of several books, including “More Money Than God: Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite” and “The Man Who Knew: The Life & Times of Alan Greenspan,” for which he won the 2016 Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award. Mallaby is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. He graduated from Oxford University in 1986 with a degree in modern history.
Moderator Blaine McCormick is an award-winning management professor at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University, where he serves as chair of the Department of Management. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Has China reached the limits of its global expansion? Will it struggle to overcome new risks and endure global backlash as countries around the world come to terms with the repercussions of close relations with China – primarily strategic vulnerabilities to their independence and competitiveness? Informed by his meetings with activists, business managers, diplomats, and thinkers from across Africa, Latin America, East Asia, and Europe, Luke Patey argues that China’s overreach could be its downfall. After decades of a “predatory economic agenda, headstrong diplomacy, and military expansion,” Patey says many countries have grown weary of China’s ambitions of global domination. Luke Patey is a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies and Lead Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies whose writing has appeared in major publications. Patey holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Queen’s University in Canada, as well as a master’s degree and PhD. from the Copenhagen Business School. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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In Washington’s farewell address of 1796, the president advised his successors to “steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." For the first century of American history, presidents heeded Washington’s advice. But events including the Spanish-American War and the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor required new engagements.
World War II and the Cold War fundamentally changed American strategy, as the U.S. began to “run the world rather than run away from it.” Charles Kupchan asks, where is the middle ground between doing too much and doing too little?
Moderated by Jim Hollifield.
A National Security Council veteran under Presidents Obama and Clinton, Charles Kupchan is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University. He previously worked in policy planning at the U.S. Department of State and has taught at Princeton University. Kupchan earned a B.A. from Harvard, and his master’s and doctorate from Oxford University.
James F. Hollifield is the Ora Nixon Arnold Fellow in International Political Economy, Professor in the Department of Political Science, and Director of the Tower Center at SMU. He has served as an advisor to various governments in North and South America, Europe, East Asia and the Middle East and Africa, and currently chairs working groups at the World Bank and the International Development Bank. His published books, scientific articles and reports address democracy, trade, and the political economy of international migration and development. About the Mel Kusin Lecture on National Security
Twenty years ago, Mel Kusin initiated the World Affairs Council’s International Perspective Series to raise the interest level of North Texas citizens in U.S. foreign policy. Drawing on the best minds from universities and think tanks, Mel worked closely with World Affairs Council members and the American Jewish Committee to pose questions spanning from “Options for a Nuclear Iran: Engage, Contain, or Strike?" to “Power without borders - What is the influence of non-state actors?”.
In remembrance of our dear friend, in 2019 the Council established an annual Mel Kusin National Security Lecture. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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The Economist’s Adrian Wooldridge and John Mickelthwait argue that authoritarian East Asian governments have outperformed Western governments in their response to the stress test of the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result, “In terms of geopolitics, the crisis has left the West weaker and Asia stronger.” As the public’s trust in government’s abilities has declined over the last fifty years, they point to excessive regulation stifling innovation and a lawyer-driven political culture versus science and engineering. “Leviathan overreached, promising more than it could deliver.”
Adrian Wooldridge is The Economist’s political editor and writes the “Bagehot” column on British life and politics. From 2000 to 2010 he was based in Washington, DC as bureau chief and “Lexington columnist” and served as West Coast correspondent, management correspondent and Britain correspondent. Wooldridge is the author of nine previous books, including “Capitalism in America” co-written with Alan Greenspan and six co-written with John Micklethwait. Wooldridge earned a doctorate in history from Oxford University, where he was a Fellow of All Souls College. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Abby Rapoport is publisher and co-founder of the award-winning Stranger’s Guide, a unique travel publication for the globally connected age that encompasses print guides and newsletters along with curated products and partnerships.
In an effort to combat stereotypes and encourage global awareness, more than half of the writers featured in Stranger’s Guide come from the location being covered. Writers are often world-renowned names - such as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka - and often appear in the Best American Travel Writing anthologies.
Stranger’s Guide uses “arresting photography, luminous essays, and fascinating facts and figures” to cover a diverse array of content, from lifestyle pieces to critical assessments of the major issues affecting a place. Its unique style landed it a nomination for the National Magazine Award in General Excellence.
Before founding Stranger’s Guide, Abby Rapoport was publisher of the Texas Observer and previously worked as a political reporter for the Texas Tribune, the Texas Observer, and The American Prospect, where she covered Texas politics. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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In Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate, former senate-insider Adam Jentleson takes a critical look at the history of the filibuster and how it has been used on the Senate floor.
Jentleson argues that the emergence of the filibuster has moved the Senate away from the founding fathers’ original vision for the legislative body by allowing individuals to “gridlock the federal government.”
By offering a glimpse into the backrooms of Capitol Hill, Jentleson argues that the greatest challenges of our era – “partisan polarization, dark money, and media-manufactured outrage” – are nowhere more prevalent than in the Senate. Moderated by Matthew Wilson
Adam Jentleson is the former deputy chief of staff to Senator Harry Reid (D – Nevada, 1987-2017). He is currently the public affairs director at Democracy Forward, a legal services and public policy research organization in Washington, D.C. Jentleson is also a columnist for GQ and a political commentator on MSNBC.
Matthew Wilson, Director of the Center for Faith and Learning and Associate Professor of political science at Southern Methodist University and senior fellow of SMU’s John Tower Center and of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies. Wilson’s research focuses on public opinion, elections, representation, and the role of race and religion in domestic and foreign politics. He is the author of three books. Wilson is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Louisiana State University in political science and history and holds a Ph.D. in political science from Duke University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Rebecca Lissner and Mira Rapp-Hooper believe that a “grand strategy of openness” is the best way to meet geopolitical challenges including growing political polarization and rapid technological transformation. The U.S.’ ability to “work with mixed regimes whose interests align with America’s on distinct issues, like freedom of navigation or high-standards free trade, and occasionally cooperate with illiberal rivals like Russia and China in discrete areas” is their vision for this “open-system” approach to moving our future foreign policy. Lissner joins us for a Global Forum conversation about their new book entitled “An Open World.”
Rebecca Lissner is an assistant professor in the Strategic and Operational Research Department at the U.S. Naval War College. Previously, she was a research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House; a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; and a Brady-Johnson Fellow at Yale University’s International Security Studies. She has served as a special advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. Lissner’s research has appeared in such publications as Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy magazines. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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Ambassador Sugiyama presented his credentials as Ambassador to the United States in March 2018. His diplomatic career with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spans more than 40 years. He most recently served as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs. Previous positions include Deputy Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau as well as the International Cooperation Bureau; Director-General for Global Issues, including Ambassador for Climate Change; and Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau.
Ambassador Sugiyama has also held leadership positions within the Foreign Policy Bureau and Treaties Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His overseas assignments have included multiple positions at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.; Political Minister at the Embassy of Japan in Korea, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Egypt. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1977.
Ambassador Sugiyama studied at Waseda University in Japan and at Oxford University in the UK. He has taught international law for many years on the law faculty of Waseda University, as well as at many other schools in Japan and overseas. He has written numerous law articles, edited books on international law, and served as a member of the editing committee of the international law journal issued by the International Law Association of Japan.
Ambassador Sugiyama was Christened at University College, Oxford. He and his family are Episcopalians. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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How do foreign correspondents navigate the complexities of reporting on governments that may not necessarily want them around? The New York Times’ former Pakistan bureau chief Declan Walsh may have the answer, having been expelled from the country in 2013 when Pakistani authorities gave him, without explanation, 72 hours to leave Islamabad.
In “The Nine Lives of Pakistan,” Walsh reflects on his nine years of experience in one of the modern era’s most tumultuous countries positioned in the nexus of global power struggles and conflict. Walsh paints an “electrifying portrait” of Pakistan through stories of the lives of nine individuals in this “intimate and complex” weaving together of a national patchwork.
Declan Walsh is the Cairo bureau chief for the New York Times, currently covering Egypt and the Middle East. He was born and raised in Ireland, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He has worked out of Dublin, London, Nairobi, and Islamabad, Cairo and other African and Middle Eastern cities.
. . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
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In an attempt to understand where the United States currently stands in relation to the intentions of the founding fathers, Thomas Ricks examines the ancient philosophies that inspired and influenced their vision for the nation. Understanding the differences between the classical educations of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, as well as how each man’s life experiences influenced their interpretations of the ancients, offers insights into the foundation of our American government. Described by General James Mattis as a way to “restore your faith in our country,” Ricks’ latest work offers a critical examination of the ideals on which our country stands.
Thomas Ricks is a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. As a military reporter for both the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, Ricks has covered U. S. military conflicts from Somalia to Yugoslavia to Afghanistan and Iraq. He has written several books and is a contributing editor for Foreign Policy magazine as well as the author of the magazine’s blog “The Best Defense.” Ricks is an advisor on national security at New American Foundation.
In conversation with Jeremi Suri Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor in the university's Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Dr. Suri is the author and editor of nine books on contemporary politics and foreign policy.
. . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Arts & Letters Live Virtual Event- Laila Lalami by World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
During the long homebound months of 2020 in America and around the world, many of us have spent more time with our dogs and pet adoptions have risen. At New Skete, the upstate New York Eastern Orthodox Christian monastery, the monks believe “love for creation deepens through the relationships we form with our pets.” Soon after the monastery was founded in 1966, the monks were given a German Shepherd, Kir. A unique ministry ensued. “In an entirely natural way [these German Shepherds] have taught us many important lessons about life and about ourselves,” the monks say. In addition to breeding these dogs, the monks of New Skete are renowned for their methods of training and socialization to enhance and deepen our relationship with these family members.
On the eve of Election Day, don’t miss participating in Jim Falk’s conversation with Brother Christopher Savage and Marc Goldberg, co-authors of “The Art of Training Your Dog.” At the World Affairs Council we have a diverse staff, but the one thing that brings us together on any election day is that we all love dogs. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Amid our struggle with the existential crisis of a pandemic, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria turns his attention to the post-COVID 19 world. He predicts that the political, social, technological and economic consequences “will take years to unfold.” In our Council program Zakaria is joined by Andrew Ross Sorkin for a conversation about the economic after effects and what Zakaria calls “an emerging bipolar world order.”
Fareed Zakaria hosts Fareed Zakaria GPS for CNN and is a columnist for the Washington Post, a contributing editor for The Atlantic, and the author of three highly-regarded bestselling books. Fareed Zakaria GPS earned the prestigious Peabody Award in 2011 and an Emmy® Award nomination in 2013. Prior to his tenure at CNN, Zakaria was editor of Newsweek International and managing editor of Foreign Affairs.
Andrew Ross Sorkin is a financial columnist for the New York Times, co-anchor of CNBC’s Squawk Box and founder and editor at large of the Times’ news site DealBook. The HBO adaptation of Sorkin’s best-selling book “Too Big to Fail,” which chronicled the events of the 2008 financial crisis, was nominated for 11 Emmy Awards. He is also co-creator of Showtime’s drama series Billions. He has is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
. . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
When Emmanuel Macron became president of France in 2017, his party had existed less than a year. Macron has faced unique challenges as president in an era of disillusionment with the French state and the E.U. He has struggled to contain insurrection within his own country while simultaneously attempting to balance the growing frustration of Europeans with what Macron considers a need for a more united and self-sufficient Europe.
Standing at the international crossroads of a growing rivalry between the U.S. and China, increasing aggression from Russia and the aftermath of Brexit, Macron has been called “the last true champion of the European ideal.”
In this exclusive program for Global Forum members, William Drozdiak shares his personal conversations with the French president about his vision for Europe and the world at large.
William Drozdiak is a Senior Advisor on Europe at McLarty Associates, an international strategic consultancy firm, and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. For more than 20 years, Drozdiak was a senior editor and foreign correspondent at the Washington Post. Drozdiak holds a master’s degree in economics from the College of Europe in Bruges and two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Oregon in political science and economics. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a warning to President Donald Trump prior to his inauguration in 2017: “You take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.” Since 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency has been the “eyes and ears” of presidents. The stakes of the relationship between the elite spy agency and the U.S.’ elected leaders are high, says “The Spymasters” author Chris Whipple: “The stakes range from starting wars to averting Armageddon.” In her conversation with Whipple, Lone Star Analysis’ director of competitive intelligence Laurie Young will explore this in-depth history of the CIA told through the Agency’s directors and how their interactions with our U.S. presidents have shaped history.
Chris Whipple is a writer, documentary filmmaker and speaker who has written for many publications including Newsweek, Vanity Fair and Politico. His previous book, “The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency,” was a New York Times bestseller in 2017. Former Secretary of State James Baker III called Whipple “an accomplished historian, hard-nosed journalist, and master storyteller.”
In conversation with Laurie Young
Trust - America's Best Chance With Pete Buttigieg by World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
CNN’s chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward weighs in on her experience navigating devastation and destruction in the world’s most dangerous places, while finding a way to remain empathetic and in touch with the better side of humanity. With postings in Russia, China, Afghanistan and across the Middle East, Ward has spent her career telling the world’s most difficult and heartbreaking stories. In her book, “On All Fronts,” Ward will share insights with Elizabeth Souder of the Dallas Morning News from her unique perspective as a conflict reporter in the “age of extremism” – a time that has pushed humanity to redefine warfare as increasingly complicated geopolitics adapt to the modern world.
Clarissa Ward is Chief International Correspondent at CNN. She is a world-renowned and award-winning conflict reporter whose 15-year career includes work for Fox, CBS and ABC. Ward is a graduate of Yale University and the recipient of an honorary doctor of letter from Middlebury College in Vermont. She speaks seven languages and currently lives in London.
At the Dallas Morning News, Elizabeth Souder edits opinion commentary for the daily Viewpoints page and the Sunday Points section. She started with the Morning News in 2005 as the energy reporter and joined the editorial board in 2015. Souder worked for Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal in New York covering airlines and in Frankfurt covering German bonds and banks. She holds Plan II liberal arts and journalism degrees from the University of Texas.
In 2018, American fracking overtook Russia and Saudi Arabia to make the U.S. the world’s largest oil producer. But in the April throes of COVID-19, U.S. crude fell to a negative value for the first time in history. The foundations of energy, international politics and economics have shifted, but master storyteller and global energy expert Dr. Daniel Yergin has drawn a new map of what he calls a world “being shaken by the collision of energy, climate change, and the clashing power of nations in a time of global crisis.” Reg Manhas will talk with the man Fortune called “one of the planet’s foremost thinkers about energy and its implications.”
Daniel Yergin is the founder of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates and Vice Chairman of IHS. Dr. Yergin won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for his bestselling definitive history of oil, “The Prize,” and “The New Map” is his fourth book. He was awarded the United States Energy Award for “lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding.” He serves on the U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board and chaired the U.S. Department of Energy’s Task Force on Strategic Energy Research and Development. Dr. Yergin is a director of the Council on Foreign Relations and a trustee of the Brookings Institution. Dr. Yergin holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, where he was a Marshall Scholar.
In conversation with Reg Manhas Reg Manhas is Principal at Purcell Global Strategies. He built and led the external affairs and sustainability functions at Talisman Energy and Kosmos Energy, and has two decades of experience managing complex above ground risks in over 25 countries on 5 continents. Reg has degrees in chemical engineering and law from the University of British Columbia.
Time Magazine called H. R. McMaster, the 26th U.S. National Security Advisor, "the Army's pre-eminent warrior-thinker." Now McMaster brings his long record of battleground engagement and foreign policy scholarship to an examination of America's place in the world and asks us if we are ready to reject party politics and educate ourselves about "the most significant challenges to national and international security."
Sarah Huckabee Sanders served as the White House press secretary from 2017-2019; she was the third woman and first mother to ever hold the position. The daughter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Sanders has worked in leadership roles for U.S senators, governors, and presidential campaigns. Sarah has been recognized in TIME Magazine’s “40 under 40” as one of the best political operatives of her generation. She is a Fox News contributor, advises major companies, and serves on the Fulbright board as an appointee of President Trump. Sarah lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband Bryan, their children Scarlett, Huck, and George, and their golden retriever Traveler.
In the 70 years following the introduction of the Marshall Plan, the world saw unparalleled prosperity – but Blair Sheppard argues this steady prosperity has now “unraveled.” Rising economic inequality, disruption caused by technology, polarization overcoming consensus, and a loss of trust in institutions are driving significant global challenges. Blair believes the current trajectories of prosperity, technology, institutional legitimacy and leadership have created an existential crisis, “But if we tackle them now, thoughtfully, imaginatively, creatively, and energetically, in ten years we could be looking at a dawn instead of darkness.”
Blair H. Sheppard is the global leader for strategy and leadership at PwC, a network of professional services firms committed to building trust in society and solving important problems. He is also professor emeritus and dean emeritus of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. During his time at Duke, he was the founding CEO and chairman of Duke Corporate Education and was the principal force behind opening Duke’s campus in China. Five of the coauthors are directors in global strategy and leadership at PwC and one is a leading business journalist. - Bio provided by Berrett-Koehler Publishers
It takes several acts of Congress to set the federal budget. Presidential appointments are subject to congressional approval. The Supreme Court can overrule executive orders. Yet the President, acting alone, can push the nuclear button.
Operating within a system designed around checks and balances, the President of the United States possesses unchecked authority to order a nuclear strike – without any oversight. President Clinton’s Secretary of Defense William Perry and nuclear expert Tom Collina argue that “Presidents, like all of us, make mistakes. They are only human. So, why do we give so much power to one fallible human?” In “The Button,” the authors recommend what is needed to update U.S. nuclear policy.
William Perry, a self-styled “Prophet of Doom,” served as Secretary of Defense (’94-‘97) under President Clinton. He is the founder of the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies and currently serves as the Director of the Preventative Defense Project at Stanford University. Perry has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He served in the U.S. Army of Occupation in Japan after World War II, where he witnessed the aftermath of the atomic bombs firsthand. He holds a B.S. and an M.S. in mathematics from Stanford, as well as a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.
Tom Collina is a nuclear policy expert. He is the Director of Policy at Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation. He was previously the Director of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Institute for Science and International Security. He holds a degree in International Relations from Cornell University.
Jorge Castañeda was foreign minister of Mexico from 2000 to 2003. He has held teaching positions at Mexico's National Autonomous University, the University of California, Berkeley and New York University. He is a New York Times contributing opinion writer and a columnist for the Mexican daily El Financiero and the Spanish daily El País. Dr. Castañeda has authored more than seven books, including his newly published book, “America Through Foreign Eyes.”
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Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers.
Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate
Alliances with other countries have been an integral part of U.S. foreign policy since the beginning of our country. Mira Rapp-Hooper says, “When alliances are working, we don’t see them at all,” which may have caused the alliance system to become “a victim of its own quiet success.” Today the system faces challenges not only from disrupter countries such as China and Russia, but also from Americans who question their value and cost. Join Jim Falk in conversation with Rapp-Cooper about her new book, “Shields of the Republic: The Triumph and Peril of America’s Alliances.”
Mira Rapp-Hooper is a senior fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a senior fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center. She was the Asia policy coordinator for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. Her policy writings have appeared in The National Interest, Foreign Affairs and Washington Quarterly. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University.
True Crimes And Misdemeanors With Jeffrey Toobin by World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., an Obama Administration healthcare advisor and one of the architects of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, gives the United States’ health system failing grades as he compares it to the healthcare systems of Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Taiwan and China. Join Jim Falk's conversation with Dr. Emmanuel.
Fans of Daniel Silva have been eagerly awaiting the release of his twentieth Gabriel Allon thriller. “The Order” is a spellbinding novel of friendship and faith in a perilous and uncertain world. And it is still more proof that Daniel Silva is his generation’s finest writer of suspense and international intrigue.
Dr. Cynthia A. Watson, Dean of Faculty & Academic Programs at the National War College, discusses the changing dynamics of geopolitical power as Hong Kong returns to Chinese sovereignty.
Barton Gellman was one of three people who received the explosive archives of highly classified National Security Agency files revealing the extent of the agency’s global surveillance apparatus from Edward Snowden. This Washington Post veteran investigative reporter’s book “Dark Mirror” is not only the story of government overreach into private lives, but also a fascinating look into the life of Snowden and the byzantine world of investigative journalism. In spying and investigative journalism, no one can be fully trusted – including Snowden.
Barton Gellman, a staff writer at The Atlantic, spent 21 years at the Washington Post, where he held positions as legal, diplomatic, military and Middle East correspondent. He wrote the best-selling “Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency.” Gellman has won three Pulitzer Prizes: the 2014 Prize for Public Service for coverage of the National Security Agency and Edward Snowden, the 2008 Prize for National Reporting for a series on Vice President Dick Cheney, and the 2002 Prize for National Reporting for his Post team’s coverage of the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath. Other professional honors include two George Polk Awards, two Overseas Press Club awards, two Emmy awards for a PBS Frontline documentary and Harvard’s Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. Gellman graduated with highest honors from Princeton University and earned a master’s degree in politics at University College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar.
Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University
Dr. Robert M. Gates brings his decades of observation and participation guarding the security of the nation to a fresh examination of the exercise and limitations of American power. Gates recently wrote in Foreign Affairs that “Most Americans want their country to stand for something beyond just military strength and economic success. They want it to be seen admiringly by others as the world’s strongest advocate for liberty.” He believes that a restructured and strengthened State Department would enable the U.S. to accept the burden of global leadership, in a manner that reduces risk for the nation. Kirkus Reviews said of Gates’ new book, “It’s refreshing to see a secretary of defense call for the use of the military as a choice of last resort.”
Robert M. Gates served as secretary of defense under presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He was an officer in the U.S. Air Force and worked for the CIA before being appointed director of the agency. A member of the National Security Council staff in four administrations, he served eight presidents of both political parties. He was president of Texas A&M University from 2002 to 2006, served as national president of the Boy Scouts of America and is currently chancellor of the College of William & Mary. In 2018, he became chairman of Eisenhower Fellowships. He is the author of “Duty,” “A Passion for Leadership,” and his newest book is “Exercise of Power: American Failures, Successes, and a New Path Forward in the Post-Cold War World.”
Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University
Tom Peters has been a passionate advocate of “putting people first” for decades, and it’s never been more important than in this age of pandemic. Peters says, “Leaders understand the power of relationships,” but now we must struggle to effectively engage within the limits of social distancing and virtual conference rooms. Peters believes that the only way that leaders can navigate through crises is “to deal with people compassionately.” Our Global Forum will hear the ideas of one of the bestselling business authors of all time in a not-to-be-missed program.
Tom Peters’ 17 books have sold more than ten million copies, beginning with “In Search of Excellence.” He is a civil engineering graduate of Cornell and he earned an MBA and a Ph.D. in business at Stanford. Peters was a partner at McKinsey & Co. before founding The Tom Peters Company in 1981. He is a sought-after expert on management and leadership.
Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University
In New York Times bestselling author Scott Turow's latest novel, The Last Trial, two formidable men collide: a celebrated criminal defense lawyer at the end of his career and his lifelong friend, a renowned doctor accused of murder. Full of the deep insights into the spaces where the fragility of human nature and the justice system collide, The Last Trial is a masterful legal thriller that unfolds in page-turning suspense — and questions how we measure a life.
Scott Turow is the author of ten bestselling works of fiction, including Identical, Innocent, Presumed Innocent, and The Burden of Proof, and two nonfiction books, including One L, about his experience as a law student. His books have been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into movies and television projects. He has frequently contributed essays and op-ed pieces to publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.
Five U.S. presidents have depended on Ambassador Dennis Ross to shape U.S. policy and relationships in the Middle East, and for twelve years he played a leading role in the many attempts to bring a settlement to the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Ross is the author of several influential books about the region and his experiences, including “The Missing Peace” and “Doomed to Succeed.” In his latest book, he takes a look back at Israel’s founding founders Ben-Gurion, Begin, Rabin and Sharon, suggesting that today’s political leaders might draw on the lessons of the past to steer Israel safely forward. Among the questions and topics to be discussed will be stability of the emergency government forged between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz and what it means for each leader’s political future; whether the two-state solution – to which Ross devoted much of his career – is a distant memory; and how are Israel’s growing economic and political ties with Gulf countries reshaping the politics of the region?
Ambassador Dennis Ross’ is the William Davidson Distinguished Fellow Counselor at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. His last diplomatic assignment was as President Obama’s Special Assistant and National Security Council Senior Director for the Central Region. Ross is a scholar and a diplomat with decades of experience in Soviet and Middle East policy. He is a 1970 graduate of UCLA.
Jonathan Karl was a cub reporter when he first met Donald Trump in 1994. “I knew that I could call him from that point on whenever I wanted to and he would be accessible and willing to play along and loved to be in the mix,” Karl says. He has reported from the White House under four presidents and logged more airtime than any other network reporter during President Trump’s first two years. “Front Row at the Trump Show” is Karl’s story about his often-contentious relationship with the 45th president and the view from one of history’s front row seats.
Jonathan Karl is ABC News’ chief Washington correspondent and co-anchor of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” He is also the President of the White House Correspondents' Association. In his 15 years in Washington, Karl has won prestigious awards for his coverage of U.S. politics, foreign policy and the military for ABC and CNN. He spent his early career at the New Republic and the New York Post. Karl graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College.
Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University.
The oil war between Russia and Saudi Arabia has plunged energy markets into a freefall, threatening U.S. energy independence as many domestic producers are faced with bankruptcy. Is this another calculated challenge against the U.S. by Vladimir Putin? The guile and aggression of the Russian president has “resurrected Russia’s status as a force to be reckoned with,” says foreign policy expert Angela Stent, author of “Putin’s World: Russia Against the West and With the Rest.” Stent examines how Russian history formed this mercurial leader in what Kirkus Reviews calls “a compelling historico-psychological work.”
Angela Stent is a former national intelligence officer and current director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies and professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University. She is a Brookings Institution senior fellow and is an editorial board member of the Journal of Cold War Studies and the World Policy Journal. In addition to service on the National Intelligence Council and at the U.S. Department of State, Stent was a member of the senior advisory council for NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe. She received her bachelor’s degree from Cambridge University, her MS from the London School of Economics, and her master’s degree and doctorate from Harvard University.
When he began writing “The End of October,” a medical thriller about a deadly virus that sweeps across the world after coming to life in a refugee camp in India, The New Yorker’s Lawrence Wright says, “I thought it might happen one day but I didn’t think it would happen today… As I read the papers and watch the news, I have that same unsettled sensation of revisiting scenes that I have already written.” The events depicted in “The End of October” were meant to serve as a cautionary tale. But real life doesn't always wait for warnings.
Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University.
Gene Sperling, economic advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama, discusses how COVID-19 shows that his theory of 'Economic Dignity' - judging an economy by its ability to maximize the happiness and fulfillment of all workers - is needed now.
What will happen after the COVID-19 nightmare ends? What has it revealed about the risks and rewards of global dependency? If globalization is replaced by regionalism and nationalism, how will the U.S.’s relationship with Asia change? What will supply chains look like? Will automation accelerate as a corporate defense against the effects of pandemics on the labor force? Leading global strategy advisor Parag Khanna, bestselling author of “The Future is Asian,” has a conversation with Jim Falk about the “Asian century” in a post-pandemic world.
Parag Khanna is founder and managing partner of the global strategic advisory firm FutureMap. His career spans service at the World Economic Forum, Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, New America Foundation and the National University of Singapore. Khanna is the bestselling author of six books including “The Future is Asian: Commerce, Conflict & Culture in the 21st Century” and “Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization.” He earned his BS in international affairs and MA in security studies from Georgetown University and his Ph.D. in international relations from the London School of Economics. Khanna was named one of Esquire’s “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” and has been honored as a “Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.”
KERA’s “McCuistion” show co-hosts Dennis McCuistion and Jim Falk interview Ken Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center and former Chairman and CEO of NGP Energy Capital Management, to discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on energy and the economy.
Global I.Q. is sponsored by Dallas Baptist University.
Milan Vaishnav, senior fellow and director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discusses the effect of COVID-19 on the indian economy and political system.
Dionne Searcey, author of “In Pursuit of Disobedient Women,” was the West Africa bureau chief for The New York Times from 2015 to 2019, winning the Michael Kelly Award for courage in international reporting and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award for international reporting for her coverage of Boko Haram. She reported on the American economy for The Times and was an investigative reporter and national legal correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
George Friedman, bestselling author and founder of the respected Geopolitical Futures, a political risk advisory firm, has a unique ability to draw on historical trends to forecast the future. Friedman speaks about his new book, “The Storm Before the Calm: America’s Discord, the Coming Crisis of the 2020s, and the Triumph Beyond.”
Purchase the book from Interabang » https://www.interabangbooks.com/book/9780385540490
Join Jim Falk for a virtual conversation with London-based journalist Sebastian Mallaby to hear how Great Britain is faring as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps through that island nation. We want to know this expert’s assessment of the performance of the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks and what are their remaining options. We will be taking questions from our members participating in this bicontinental Zoomcast program.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Sebastian Mallaby is the Paul A. Volcker senior fellow for international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. Mallaby is a contributing columnist for the Washington Post and the author of “The Man Who Knew: The Life & Times of Alan Greenspan.” He covered foreign policy and international finance from London for The Economist and served as their Washington bureau chief for two years.
“Survival is a mindset, not a skill set,” says retired FBI agent Greg Shaffer who discusses tips for surviving a crisis situation, whether at home in the states or abroad.
From sorority sister to tough-skinned terrorist hunter, our upcoming guest Tracy Walder recalls the hardship of being a woman in a male-dominated field in her memoir, The Unexpected Spy.
Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University.
Special thanks to Richland College for letting us use their space to record this episode.
We will consult Kyle Kondik of the nonpartisan election newsletter Sabato’s Crystal Ball for expert analysis and forecasts after the nation’s first two 2020 primaries. Kyle Kondik is the communications director for the University of Virginia Center for Politics and managing editor of its newsletter, Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
To check out Sabato's Crystal Ball, visit centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/
Anthony Kronman, Sterling Professor and former Dean at Yale Law School, speaks about his latest book, "The Assault on American Excellence." This thought-provoking conversation covers recent changes across American universities and their impact on students and our democracy as a whole. Sponsored by Dallas Baptist University.
Wall Street Journal investigative reporter John Carreyrou delves into the scandal surrounding Theranos and its founder Elizabeth Holmes. It’s a story of the fall from grace of a charismatic young woman who fooled the medical community, regulators, famous investors and a star-studded board of directors.
Consul General Cai Wei, who serves the People’s Republic of China as its Consul General in Houston, discusses the coronavirus and his hope for an united, international force to help combat the viruses spread.
Douglas A. Silliman, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (2016-2019), discusses what he believes is an international diplomatic opportunity in Iraq and Iran if the current cycle of escalation and retaliation can be stopped. Silliman provides expert examination of the risks, rewards and consequences of current U.S. strategy in this newest episode of Global I.Q. with Jim Falk.
Global I.Q. with Jim Falk is sponsored by Dallas Baptist University.
Season 5: Global I.Q. returns this week with another amazing season. Action author Brad Taylor discusses his best selling Pike Logan Series, and gives his insight on current events in South America, the Middle East, and more! . . Hunter Killer: amazon.com/Hunter-Killer-Pike-Logan-Novel/dp/0062886029
Amaryllis Fox, a former clandestine officer recruited by the CIA for an algorithm she developed to predict terrorist activity, shares her experiences while deep undercover.
Global I.Q. will return on January 29, 2020.
Samantha Power, the 28th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2013 to 2017), discusses her experiences promoting international diplomacy while serving with President Barack Obama.
Recorded live on November 18, 2019, in Dallas, Texas.
Historian Hampton Sides delves into the epic autumn 1950 battle at “Frozen Chosin,” where thousands perished when Chinese troops trapped UN and U.S. troops near the Chinese border in North Korea.
Brigadier General Robert Spalding discusses the growing power of China in “Stealth War.”
Richard Stengel, managing editor of Time Magazine (2006-2013) and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs(2013-2016), discusses the finer point of the global battle against disinformation.
The legacy of the Cold War still has a lasting effect on diplomacy today. Philip Zelikow, co-author of “To Build a Better World” with Condoleezza Rice, discusses pivotal events that ultimately led to global peace.
Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Josh Campbell talks to Jim Falk about his role in the investigation that led to the Mueller report.
Could the next World War be started over a bunch of uninhabited islands? The Brookings Institution’s Michael O'Hanlon discusses the growing geopolitical impact of trigger points in “The Senkaku Paradox.”
The intelligence community is deeply invested in shades of truth and untruth, the known and the unknown. It has inspired generations of writers and moviemakers and we can’t seem to get enough details about this ancient art.
Lea Carpenter is the author of “Red, White and Blue” and “Eleven Days.” She is a contributing editor at Esquire and wrote the screenplay for Mile 22, a film about the CIA’s Special Activities Division.
Jim Mattis, a retired United States Marine Corps general and 26th United States Secretary of Defense, shares leadership lessons he learned on the battlefield.
American journalist and biographer Susan Page discusses Barbara Bush’s never-before-seen private diaries. What role did she play in advising her husband and son during their presidencies? Which other First Lady did Barbara butt heads with?
Senator Ted Cruz discusses American foreign policy and lends listeners as little of his in-depth knowledge of the Constitution.
After 30 years of chasing Soviet KGB secrets and jumping out of moving cars for the CIA, Jim Olson now shares his adventures with the world through his books. Olson was Directorate of Operations during his time at the CIA and mostly served overseas in clandestine operations. Currently a professor of practice at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, he is also the author of “Fair Play: the Moral Dilemma of Spying.”
In his new book “To Catch a Spy,” Olson offers the American people a warning that our response to foreign espionage needs to be stronger and a guide for how our country can protect its national security and trade secrets.
Former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez talks about the exciting tactics used by American agents in Moscow during the height of the Cold War.
President of Global Ties U.S. and author of "Your Country, Our War: The Press And Diplomacy in Afghanistan," Katherine Brown discusses the power of the U.S. News Media to engage in informal diplomacy through their reporting.
Farah Pandith, a world-leading expert and pioneer in countering violent extremism, draws on her visits to eighty countries, interviews with experts in a number of fields, and her experience in the Bush and Obama administrations as the world’s leading expert on countering violent extremism to explain her theory on how to inoculate communities against extremist ideologies.
President of the Middle East Institute, Paul Salem, discusses political change, transition, and conflict as well as the regional and international relations of the Middle East, with a special focus on recent changes in the U.S.- Iran relationship.
Allan Stam, the Dean of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, discusses his research on historical leaders and the trends they follow.
CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett discusses fundamental changes in journalism as the result of recent administration changes, and what he believes the future has in the store for the ever-evolving profession.
UT Austin's Jeremi Suri discusses the long-term ramifications of U.S. withdrawal from international treaties and agreements.
American Enterprise Institute president Arthur Brooks delves into how gratitude can bridge the increasing gap in American society caused by contempt.
Author and historian Evan Thomas delves into the interesting and often surprising life of the first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor.
The New York Times’ Peter Baker gives an insider's perspective of what it's like to work in the White House Press Corps, as well as his personal experiences reporting on the impeachment trials of President Bill Clinton.
Biographer and historian Andrew Roberts delves into the life and times of one of the most recognizable personalities of WWII, Winston Churchill.
Thomas Pickering - an esteemed diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Russia, India, El Salvador, Israel, Nigeria, and Jordan - shares his views on consistent diplomatic engagement and the best way to approach Iran in the wake of the dissolution of the nuclear arms agreement.
How does America fit within the larger historical narrative of the rise and fall of world powers? Dr. Charles Edel, a senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, draws on Greek history to caution Americans against forgetting the violence and tragedy of our past and expands upon the need to overcome our nation’s collective amnesia of tragic events in order to sustain a lasting peace.
Stratfor's Fred Burton uncovers the details behind the abduction and murder of CIA Station Chief William Buckley at the hands of Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon in the 1980s, and how his abduction has shaped the Middle East to this day.
Madeleine Albright shares her insight on the current state of American politics, its place in the greater historical context, and what we can learn from it.
CFR’s James Lindsay, the author of The Empty Throne: America’s Abdication of Global Leadership, reviews President Trump’s strategy towards international diplomacy.
Music: Siesta by Jahzzar
Christopher Sabatini, the editor of LatinGoesGlobal.com and Columbia University professor, discusses the tumultuous political environment in Venezuela that has created the greatest humanitarian crises in the Western Hemisphere.
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This week, Laura Dawson and Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan give insight into the current state of the U.S. relations with Canada and Mexico.
CFR's Thomas Bollyky delves into alarming and interesting trends in global health today, as well as their implications on the world as a whole.
This week, Daniel Krauthammer joins Jim Falk to discuss "The Point of It All," the final work of his late father, Charles Krauthammer.
Ambassador Michael McFaul joins Global I.Q. Minute to discuss the current U.S.-Russia Relations and his own personal experiences as the United States Ambassador to Russia.
General Stanley McChrystal joins Jim Falk to discuss historical leaders and the lessons we can learn from them.
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We celebrate our 100th episode of Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk with a look back at some of our favorite moments, guests, interviews and some behind-the-scenes fun.
Ambassador Ryan Crocker recounts his time as ambassador to the Russian Federation and the rise of Vladimir Putin on the latest episode of Council President & CEO Jim Falk’s weekly podcast. You’ll discover conversations with some of the world's foremost thinkers, writers, and diplomats in this interview series.
Global I.Q. Minute explores global oil markets with Bethany McClean, author of “Saudi America: The Truth About Fracking and How It’s Changing the World."
Featured on the latest episode of the Council's weekly podcast, SMU's Jeffrey Engel discusses the historical side of impeachment and answers the question: for what eventuality did the founding fathers intend the clause to be used?
The Irish Ambassador to the U.S., Daniel Mulhall, delves into the issues of major economic, social, and demographic changes that Ireland has recently experienced, as well as the impacts these changes will likely have on Irish domestic and foreign policy in the future.
Robert Jordan, the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2001 to 2003, delves into the current state of affairs for the Saudi Arabia and its region.
How does the most influential leader in the free world make the gut-wrenching decision to launch the nation into armed conflict? Acclaimed presidential historian and bestselling author Michael Beschloss joins Jim Falk to explore the political, physical, and emotional price paid by those who have donned a wartime mantle in his new book, "Presidents of War."
Sean Spicer, the twenty-eighth White House Press Secretary and White House Communications Director under President Donald Trump in 2017, pulls back the curtain and tells us what it’s really like to be the principal spokesmen for the White House.
One of the legacies of the British partition of India in 1947 is the contested princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. His Excellency Sardar Masood Kahn, President of Azad Jammu Kashmir, goes in depth on the issues facing the Kashmiri people.
When The New York Times Magazine writer Suzy Hansen joined a two-year fellowship in Istanbul, she sought to immerse herself in Turkey’s politics and culture. Ultimately, the experience exposed her to the biases and prejudice she held against other, non-American, nations. Join us as the Pulitzer Prize finalist delves into issues of American exceptionalism and attempts to answer the question: what is America’s place in the world?
Twenty years after the Starr Report and the Clinton impeachment, former independent counsel Ken Starr shares his definitive account of one of the most divisive periods in American history.
"Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation" is in stores now!
John Kerry, 68th U.S. Secretary of State, reflects on his service during the Vietnam War and offers his thoughts on the current state of partisanship in Congress.
Be sure to pick up a copy of his memoir today, Every Day is Extra!
Peace activist Mohammed Al Samawi joins us to recount his daring escape from Al Qaeda in Yemen with the help of a small group of strangers on Facebook. Through the personal story of this "Global Ambassador for Peace," learn about the history of Yemen, the complexity of interfaith issues, and the ongoing refugee crisis in the Middle East.
The three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of two books, David Sanger, offers insider analysis on foreign policy, national security, and cyber warfare .
Colin Allred, the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Texas's 32nd congressional district, joins Jim Falk on a special episode of Global I.Q. Minute.
General Michael V. Hayden, the Former Director of the CIA and former director of the NSA, delves into “American National Security in an Age of Lies” in a special episode of Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk.
Get a glimpse into the Obama Era White House with Ben Rhodes, Former Deputy National Security Advisor and one of President Obama’s closest advisors. Rhodes provides his insight on the forces that shaped the last decade and his views on the legacy of the Obama administration.
The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans, feat. Admiral Jim Stavridis by World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
James Clapper delves into the pressing cybersecurity and privacy issues facing our nation and citizens and his views on the successes and failures of the intelligence community.
His ground-breaking tome—In Search of Excellence—ushered in a business revolution and was the best-selling business book for more than 20 years. Nearly 40 years and 17 beloved management books later, Tom Peters is still challenging leaders of all stripes to “put your people first.” With technology driving business and societal change, Peters reveals how organizations can thrive in the age of algorithms while elevating the heart and soul of every worthwhile endeavor—our humanity.
CFR's Benn Steil delves into the strategies and political triumphs of the Marshall Plan, as well as its implication on the state of current world affairs.
His Excellency Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Ambassador of Pakistan to the U.S., joins Jim Falk to highlight the improvements made in recent years within various aspects of Pakistani society, the nation’s rapid economic improvement, its relationships within the global community and efforts towards achieving peace in the region.
How is the growing clash between American nationalism and globalism affecting U.S. foreign relations? James Lindsay, senior vice president and director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a leading authority on American foreign policy, looks at the issues complicating immediate and long-term relationships with our allies and enemies alike.
While a precarious cease-fire is now in effect as both sides pursue diplomatic talks, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials are calling on Washington to curtail U.S. military and reconstruction aid to Iraq in order to spur negotiations. Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG Representative to the United States and former journalist with the Financial Times, reveals what’s at stake for her people in this timely and provocative episode of Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk.
Adam Segal, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and director of its Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program, considers how the rise of digital technology—particularly the proliferation of the Internet and social media—are not only transforming the way we get news, but re-wiring our political system, national security, diplomatic relations, and much more.
Casimir Yost tallies the wins and losses of the man who prides himself on “The Art of the Deal.” Yost, a senior fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, provides insightful analysis of the emerging risks and opportunities facing 45 during this Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk.
Scott Snyder, the Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, offers expert insights into the often tense relationship between the United States and North Korea, the implications for South Korean autonomy and China's role in reunification.
His Excellency Armando Varricchio, Ambassador of Italy to the United States, joins Jim Falk to discuss the recent Italian general election, the future of the U.S.-Italy trade relationship and much more.
Boasting a robust economy, technical excellence, and growing military prowess, India is poised to exert significant influence on everything from global trade and climate change to clean energy and worker mobility. It’s been a long road, and one marked by daunting challenges—extreme poverty, sparse infrastructure and widespread discrimination among India’s diverse population.
Alyssa Ayres, senior fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, reveals just what’s at stake for the nation as she discusses her new book—Our Time Has Come: How India is Making Its Place in the World.
Ambassador Madjid Bouguerra discusses the challenges Algeria has faced politically, economically and socially, as well as its triumphs, in this special Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk.
As the clock ticks down to the United Kingdom’s Brexit, Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook considers the EU’s future and the delicate balance of 21st-century statecraft, including EU-US relations as well as negotiation practice, international conflict mitigation and the impact of technology and communication on diplomatic and non-governmental actors.
Boot joins Global I.Q. Minute to discuss his newest book, The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam. Boot delves into the life of the legendary CIA operative—a man whose singular adventures illuminate the “wrong turns” made by the U.S. during the 20-year conflict.
Look for new episodes featuring some of the world's foremost thinkers, writers and diplomats every Monday and Thursday. Sponsored by Greenberg Traurig LLP.
Graham Allison, a respected national security analyst and defense policy guru, joins Jim Falk to discuss his new book, Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap? Allison sheds light on the dramatic shift in global politics that may be one of the flashpoints that could lure both China and the U.S. into an inevitable trajectory toward a dangerous conflict.
Rick Hodes is an American doctor who works in Ethiopia helping those with spinal deformities, as well as cancer and heart disease, and spinal conditions. He joins us to discuss what led him to Ethiopia, his work there now, and stories from his time working there.
David Ignatius offers insight into foreign affairs and the real-world events that inspired his new novel, The Quantum Spy.
Look for new episodes of our podcast featuring some of the world's foremost thinkers, writers and diplomats in conversation with Jim Falk every Tuesday and Friday. Sponsored by Greenberg Traurig LLP.
Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United States, joins Jim Falk to discuss the nation's bright future! The Ambassador stopped to talk with Jim Falk, the Honorary Consul of Morocco for the state of Texas, on her first trip to Texas.
Chief of MI6 (1999-2004) Sir Richard Dearlove discusses his long career as a covert operative working in the British Secret Intelligence Service.
Robert Daly, Director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the U.S. at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, analyzed the 2017 U.S.- China Relationship. From topics of nuclear proliferation in Asia to the future goals of the Chinese government, Daly touches on the most important topics to know to understand modern-day China.
This is Part 2. Part 1:https://soundcloud.com/dfwworld/robert-daly-pt1
Robert Daly, Director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the U.S. at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, analyzes the 2017 U.S.- China Relationship. From topics of nuclear proliferation in Asia to the future goals of the Chinese government, Daly touches on the most important topics in understanding modern China.
How can we separate the truth from propaganda? And how can our democracy survive in the lightning-fast pace of the digital age? Veteran journalist Bob Schieffer offers answers in this provocative new interview with Jim Falk. Look for new episodes featuring some of the world's foremost thinkers, writers and diplomats every Tuesday and Friday. Sponsored by Greenberg Traurig LLP.
Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down and Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam, talks about Vietnam, Korea and the impact that the American press had on modern warfare.
Milan Vaishnav, Senior Fellow, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is the author of "When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics." Vaishnav dives into the interesting links between criminality, wealth and power found in Indian politics in this can't miss Global I.Q. Minute podcast.
Francine Klagsbrun, columnist for the Jewish Week and author of Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel, joins Jim Falk to discuss the interesting and at times surprising life of Golda Meir, Israel's fourth prime minister.
What does the future of war look like? Retired Major General in U.S. Air Force, Dr. Robert Latiff, delves into topics like how how robots will effect future battles and the possibility of bio-enhancement in future soldiers in this new Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk.
Jeremi Suri returns to Global I.Q. Minute to discuss his new book, The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office. Suri argues that "the vastness of the [Presidency] makes it almost impossible to fulfill the expectations placed upon it."
Jim's guest this week is Leslie Schweitzer, president and chair of Friends of the American University of Afghanistan. She delves into education issues facing the country and how the college has sought to overcome them.
If you wish to support the Friends of the American University in Afghanistan, visit http://friendsofauaf.org/donate/
Jim's guest this week is Columbia University professor Dr. Christopher Sabatini, who is also the editor of LatinGoesGlobal.com. He drills down into the tumultuous political environment in Venezuela and what it means for the continent.
This week's guest is a Harvard Kennedy School of Government international affairs professor and former Deputy National Security Advisor who is an expert on geopolitic and energy. Learn about the effect of America's energy abundance "windfall" on our nation's power around the world.
Joshua Partlow, Mexico Bureau Chief for the Washington Post, returns to discuss his observations on the current strain in the United States relationship with Mexico.
In this Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, the journalist/author Joshua Partlow delves into the political intrigue surrounding Karzai's administration in Afghanistan.
Council guest, David Priess, former daily intelligence briefer for the CIA and author of “The President’s Book of Secrets,” provides insight into the state of Intelligence in the current administration. Priess gives new insight into the President’s daily briefing, and how President Trump’s daily briefings differ from his predecessors.
Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk is sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
In this fascinating Greenberg Traurig Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, Manal al-Sharif, the charismatic human rights leader and author of Daring To Drive, discusses not only “driving while female” but also the Islamic “male guardian” system that controls female lives in Saudi Arabia. She says the oppression mirrors the cultural attitudes that launched the American Civil Rights Movement. And, she sees changes coming in the Kingdom.
Dr. Steven A. Cook, author of False Dawn, explains the complicated and evolving multinational relationships in the Middle East in this Global I.Q. Minute with the Council's Jim Falk. For example, how significant is Qatar's difficulty with Saudi Arabia? Cook says, Qatar's "prime directive in foreign policy has been to remain independent of Saudi Arabia." Can democracy "take root" in the Arab and Muslim worlds? Cook has an answer. And, on another challenging topic involving U.S. diplomacy, he says, "It's clear that Turkey's trajectory is authoritarian and unstable." Then there's Syria... Cook has an analysis.
From the Cold War to Twitter? Journalist/author Garrett M. Graff laughs when he describes his latest book as "light reading." In this Global I.Q. Interview with Jim Falk, Graff explains the U.S. Government's Secret Plan To Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die. He also addresses his current newsmaker connection: Robert Mueller, head of the team investigating "Russian meddling." There is even a trendy ‘covfefe’ moment!
"Lack of democracy, lack of liberties and corruption" launched the "Arab Spring" in Tunisia where it is known as the "Dignity Revolution." The nation's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Fayçal Gouia, discusses these points and the "young people's" lack of hope, affiliation with ISIS and "evil behavior" in his Global I.Q. with Jim Falk.
For years as the South Asia correspondent for The Economist, Adam Roberts lived in India and got to know the nation while "tasting the spice and feeling the dust and the heat." Now reporting from Europe, Roberts tells us in this Global I.Q. With Jim Falk that India is facing many issues along with economic success. Population and pollution rise to the forefront, but with urbanization there are gender issues and even a "flashpoint" over cows.
In this Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, the journalist/author Graeme Wood sees the "big contradictory religion" of Islam as having the potential to be "a faith of either war or peace." He says there was a time when "it might have been possible" to keep ISIS from having "the space that they had to develop." He also addresses the question, "Is ISIS on the run?" And what is the U.S. role?
What about Venezuela? The Council's International Perspectives Series speaker Dr. Harold Trinkunas focused on the economically unsteady nation in his Global I.Q. Minute With Jim Falk. And, he explained the reasons "Washington doesn't pay that much attention to Latin America."
Helene Cooper of The New York Times begins her Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk in an unusual way, a quick "personal history" note about North Carolina vs. Duke. Then, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter moves into family history and Liberia's historical women's movement, an inspirational story of political change coming not just to the nation but also to the African continent. It is a story of newfound safety for the women of the nation.
Mexico's Ambassador to the United States Gerónimo Gutiérrez, in his Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, touches on what he sees as a hopeful future for an improved NAFTA. Regarding campaign issues, i.e., the "wall," the Ambassador says that does not form "part of the bilateral agenda."
In this Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, Executive Editor of The Economist Daniel Franklin explores technology's disruption of the workplace and offers a caveat to one profession that "will never be out of work" but will face changes.
"Texas has hugely benefited from being open to the world," David Miliband, the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, declares in his Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk, He also outlines challenges refugees face – from an uncertain landing (they went to nearly 3 dozen nations last year) to lives put on hold by President Trump's executive orders. Amidst all that, there's a growing crisis in Yemen. Also, for refugees, he says, "Education is a lifeline, not a luxury."
Our Council guest, the writer and Middle East analyst Geneive Abdo examines the "complicated" cultural/religious change and the Shi'a/Sunni divide. What created momentum for violence in the Islamic world. Is this battle political or existential? How does Iran fit into this conflict? Is there a U.S. role? This Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk gets the answers.
In this Global IQ Minute with veteran military advisor Stephen Biddle, the topic is the future of American support in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. effect on region's conflicts and the contested Afghan/Pakistan border which Biddle describes as "famously porous" and an area where the sides have a "tendency to negotiate by 155 millimeter artillery."
This Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk focuses on a novelist, his inspiration and his goals. Istanbul-based writer Elliot Ackerman, a U.S. Marine with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, has lived a life that has led him to what he calls an "improbable friendship, " an opportunity for understanding that helps him "trace the emotional topography" of "complex geopolitical events."
Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk is sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, LLP
In this Global IQ Minute, Council President Jim Falk explores the "global disarray" outlined by Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass who, in this wide-ranging interview, cites such things as "loss of the discipline of the Cold War," global conflicts, U.S. "acts of commission and omission" and "both real viruses and computer viruses."
This portion of Dr. Robert Gates’ Global IQ session with Jim Falk includes his declaration that dropping out of the Trans Pacific Partnership has “yielded home-field advantage” to the Chinese, that “this guy” who leads North Korea is a “gigantic challenge” and that U.S. budgeting faces “complete chaos.”
Dr. Robert Gates joined the World Affairs Council to celebrate education and sat for a Global IQ Minute Interview with Council President Jim Falk. Our two-part Global IQ opens with a brief praise of education by Dr. Gates, whose career includes service as Secretary of Defense and CIA Director. He then delves into such topics as Rex Tillerson’s challenges as Secretary of State, the American relationship with Russia and his advice for President Trump.
Beyond personality conflicts with President Donald Trump, Vicente Fox, Mexico's president 2000-2006, sees serious political and trade issues affecting the relationship between Mexico and the United States, i.e., the wall, NAFTA changes and "migration." In this Council Conference Call Series on U.S.-Mexico Relations, President Fox also answers insightful questions from callers who touch on not just U.S.-Mexico issues, but the global result of trade disruption in North America.
Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk is sponsored by Greenberg Trauig LLP. Visit them at www.GTLaw.com for more information.
U.S. Ambassador James Jones (1993-1997), in our Conference Call Series on U.S.-Mexico Relations, says that while government levels are operating "maturely," the challenge is at the people level as President Trump has "managed to do something no other politician has been able to do: That is unite all the Mexican people against us." Hear the Ambassador’s "experienced" solution for some of these issues, his thoughts on NAFTA changes and his suggestion that Canada may be next to hear from President Trump.
Global I.Q. Minute with Jim Falk is sponsored by Greenberg Trauig LLP. Visit them at www.GTLaw.com for more information.
Council President and CEO Jim Falk spoke with Sebastian Mallaby to discuss the future of the UK and the EU, along with how Fed Chair, Janet Yellen can learn from and avoid the same mistakes that Alan Greenspan made in his time as Federal Reserve Chairman.
In this fascinating Global IQ Minute, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is revealed as a Cicero-quoting historian and legal scholar who appreciates the American democracy. He is concerned about the "random nature of the death penalty," the careful balance of liberty and security and an America where citizens fail to understand "12th-grade civics." He also answers a question he was asked by the president of the Supreme Court of Ghana: "Why do people do what you say? ... You're only 9 people."
Council President and CEO sits down with Ambassador Thomas Pickering to discuss his views on President-Elect Trump's choice for UN Ambassador, Israel and Palestine's future and his role in the Bengazi hearings and legislative oversight.
Council President and CEO Jim Falk spoke with best-selling author, Kati Marton to discuss her newest book, "True Believer: Stalin's Last American Spy", about the life of Noel Fielding, one of Stalin's most faithful American spies.
Council President and CEO Jim Falk spoke with French Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Gérard Araud, about his work in solidifying the Iran Nuclear Deal, how France and the EU are dealing with the influx of refugees and the similarities between the French and US elections.
General David Petraeus (US Army, Retired) by World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
Andras Vamos-Goldman, Justice Rapid Response by World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
Released August 23, 2016. Council President and CEO Jim Falk sat down with Jeffrey Toobin, CNN Legal Analyst and author of American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst, to discuss the legacy of the Patty Hearst case, along with its connection to modern-day terrorism. Jeffrey Toobin also weighs in on the hotly contested Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland.
Released July 22, 2016. Council President and CEO Jim Falk discusses the 2016 Republican National Convention with Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball and the author of The Bellwether: Why Ohio Picks the President. Kondik also serves as the Director of Communications for the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Released May 31, 2016. Joshua Cooper Ramo, best-selling author of The Seventh Sense: Power, Fortune and Survival in the Age of Networks, discusses how our personal and global networks affect international policy, trade and security.
Released May 27, 2016. His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, tackles a range of topics, from Canada's global role to the Canada-U.S. partnership.
Released May 12, 2016. German Ambassador Peter Wittig discusses the German strategy for dealing with the Syrian refugee crisis, the rise in European nationalism and the potential ramifications of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.
Released April 5, 2016. Council President and CEO Jim Falk had a chance to sit down Ambassador Cameron Munter, the former Ambassador to Pakistan from 2010-2012. They discuss the United States raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, as well as US-Pakistani relations moving forward.
Released Feb. 29, 2016. Council President and CEO Jim Falk had a chance to sit down with our February 29 speaker, Tom Wainwright, who is The Economist’s Britain Editor and the author of "Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel." The book explores the business side rather than criminal angles in the worlds of drug cartels.
Released Feb. 11, 2016. Jim Falk sits down with Sen. Jim Webb to discuss his foreign policy and his reasoning behind stepping back from an independent run.
Recorded on July 10, 2015. Jim Falk talks to Mexico’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the honorable Jose Antonio Meade, about the unique partnership between Mexico and Texas and the opportunities for growth between the neighbors.
Recorded on July 7, 2015. Jim Falk talks to the “Desert Diplomat,” otherwise known as Amb. Robert Jordan, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2001 to 2003. Amb. Jordan discusses his book, unsurprisingly titled “Desert Diplomat,” and what happened to the U.S.-Saudi relationship following 9/11.
Recorded on June 25, 2015. Adrian Wooldridge, Managing Editor of The Economist, chats with Jim Falk about his recent book, “The Great Disruption: How business is coping with turbulent times” and the state of the world economy.
Recorded on May 28, 2015. After an early breakfast with the Council, former Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson talks to Jim Falk about his plans to tackle ISIS and solve foreign policy crises worldwide.
Recorded on May 27, 2015. 2014 National Book Award winner Evan Osnos joins Global I.Q. Minute to talk about his revealing book on everyday life in China, titled “Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China.”
Recorded on May 5, 2015. Former Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry sits down for a short talk with Jim Falk to discuss his foreign policy positions on Israel and what a Perry cabinet would look like.
Recorded on March 18, 2015. Former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta sits down with Jim Falk for a memorable Global I.Q. Minute. The pair discuss Panetta’s memoirs, “Worthy Fights,” with a focus on how different forms of intelligence are changing the world.
Recorded on March 17, 2015. Jim Falk interviews George Friedman, Chairman and Founder of Stratfor Global Intelligence, to get insight into Friedman’s book, “Flash Points: The Emerging Crisis in Europe.”
Recorded on Feb. 26, 2015. Jim Falk talks to David Axelrod, podcast guru and one of the political masterminds behind President Obama’s election and presidency. Axelrod discusses his memoir, “Believer: My Forty Years in Politics.”