Facilitator: Dr. Matthew Murray, World Affairs Council Is using military force a viable foreign policy option for 2021 and beyond? The Persian Gulf remains tense as the rivalry between the regional powers of Saudi Arabia and Iran continues. Tensions escalated in early 2020 as the United States began to intervene in the Gulf, launching an […]

Facilitator: Malia Du Mont, Bard College; World Affairs Council The COVID-19 crisis has put a massive strain on a growing positive economic and political relationship between China and the continent of Africa. As Chinese President Xi Jinping's centerpiece "Belt and Road Initiative" continues to expand Chinese power, the response to the spread of COVID-19, as […]

Facilitator: Karen Nichols, World Affairs Council The shutdown of global supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore an issue with the high level of global economic interdependence: what happens when one country is the main source for an item, say face masks or vaccines, and then can no longer supply the […]

Facilitator: Michael O'Sullivan, Marist College With the “Brexit transition period” coming to an end this year, the United Kingdom will formally leave the European Union at the start of 2021. With negotiations between the two entities continuing to stall, what does the future of Europe and the UK look like? Will the UK survive a […]

Facilitator:  Jean-Claude Fouere The ideological divide in the United States on the subject of climate change has impeded progress in curbing greenhouse emissions. However extreme weather events at both ends of the thermometer have focused attention on the consequences of inaction. What role will the United States play in future negotiations on climate?

Facilitator: Juris Pupcenoks Russia and the United States have many areas of conflict and some possible areas of mutual interest. Arms control, Russian interference in U.S. elections support of cyberattacks, the status of Ukraine, and the fate of opposition politicians in Russia, all continue to be concerning. How will the new administration in Washington approach […]

Marc Polymeropoulos - Wednesday, 4/20, 7 pm, James and Betty Hall Theatre, Dutchess Community College With over 26 years of experience in the intelligence community, Marc Polymeropoulos has developed a unique leadership style. His talk addresses this topic and the Biden administration's key intelligence challenges, including the war in Ukraine, a return to hard target […]

Facilitator: Martin Charwat The situation in Myanmar, including the coup by the military in February 2021 and the ongoing human rights crises, coupled with civil resistance by those opposed to the regime, has led to chaos in the Southeast Asian country. How are neighboring countries reacting, and what role will ASEAN play?

Join us at the Kingston Library in the Community Room on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 at 6:30 pm for an author's talk. This talk is offered by the Library, the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley, and Bard College. Ambassador Fred C. Hof discusses his new book Reaching for the Heights: The Inside Story of […]

Facilitator: Karen Nichols The world experienced remarkable demographic changes in the 20th century that continue today and have resulted in far-reaching social, economic, political, and environmental consequences all over the globe. These consequences are creating mounting challenges to development efforts, security, climate, and the environment, as well as the sustainability of human populations.

Facilitator: Malia DuMont As part of the U.S. pivot to Asia, the United States has been in dialogue with Japan, Australia, and India to contain China. Recently, the Quad countries held joint naval exercises in the South Pacific. How effective will the actions of this alliance be?

Facilitator: Matthew Murray The current discussion of industrial policy in the United States is not simply about whether or not to support specific companies or industries, but about trust or mistrust of the government and its ability to manage the economy and deal with a rising China. The upheaval in supply chains during the pandemic […]