GREAT DECISIONS DISCUSSION – 2008
The Great Decisions program was created by the Foreign Policy
Association (FPA) in 1954 to educate Americans about international
issues. Each year, the FPA chooses topics of current interest
and produces a non-partisan briefing book written by experts in
these areas. Participants read the articles before each session
and then discuss the issue (each week’s reading will be
10 pages). The Great Decisions video series will also be shown
in class to enhance each week’s discussion. After engaging
in discussion, participants may vote on how the United States
should conduct its foreign policy; FPA shares the results with
government policy makers every years. Members of the Encore
Center for Lifelong Enrichment in Raleigh, North Carolina
are taking part in this program this fall. Here are the topics
they will be discussing:
Iraq End-Game: What will be the end-game for
the U.S. in Iraq? How will U.S. decisions about continued engagement
affect Iraq itself, and the Middle East?
European Union at 50 – Having reached the
50th anniversary of the great experiment in European integration,
it is time to take stock of the united Europe. What does the debate
on Turkey’s membership say about the future of EU integration
and its changing demographics?
Talking to our Enemies – How should the
U.S. deal with countries like Cuba, North Korea and Iran? What
approach should the U.S. take with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah?
Russia – Some of Vladimir Putin’s
recent policies have provoked concern in the U.S. and Europe.
With the 2008 Russian presidential election, what course will
Russia take?
U.S. Defense & Security Policy – The
U.S. military is adopting new policies and methods for defending
the U.S. and its interests abroad. How should its forces be structured
and deployed to meet new security challenges?
Latin America: Shift to the Left? – Can
the U.S. offer an alternative to the influence of left-leaning
leaders like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez?
U.S.-China Trade Policy – Could the large
and growing trade imbalance with China have an adverse effect
on the U.S. economy? What role does the undervalued Chinese currency
play?
Private Philanthropy – Can private donors be more
effective than governments in tackling world problems?