Great Decisions: Myanmar and ASEAN
2022-05-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
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?

Author Talk: Reaching for the Heights: The Inside Story of a Secret Attempt to Reach a Syrian-Israeli Peace
2022-05-17 18:30 - 19:30 | Kingston Library, 61 Crown St, Kingston, NY, 12401, United States
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 a Secret Attempt to Reach a Syrian-Israeli Peace, an eye-opening insider’s account of secret negotiations to broker a Syria-Israel peace deal―negotiations that came tantalizingly close to success.

Frederic C. Hof was the chief architect and mediator of the 2009–11 US initiative to broker peace between Israel and Syria. This mission was the culmination of Hof’s nearly three decades of public service, which began as a US Army officer in Vietnam and continued at the State Department. After a period in the private sector, he returned to the State Department, where, in 2012, he was awarded the rank of ambassador by President Obama. In 2018, after five years at the Atlantic Council, Hof was named the inaugural Diplomat-in-Residence at Bard College, where he resides with his wife, Brenda. Hof is the recipient of the Purple Heart and numerous other awards from the Department of Defense and the State Department.

Great Decisions: Changing Demographics
2022-09-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
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.

Great Decisions: The Quad Alliance
2022-10-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
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?

Great Decisions: Industrial Policy
2022-11-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
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 exposed weaknesses in the international economy. What policies can the United States implement to deal with trade and the economy?

Academic WorldQuest 2023
2023-03-04 09:30 - 13:00 | Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
The World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley hosts a regional trivia competition for high school students that is based on international affairs. WACMHV volunteers develop the questions, recruit and coordinate with the local high school teams, staff and run the regional competition, WACMHV supports the winning team, which represents our area at the national competition in Washington, D.C. Volunteers are always welcome to indicate their interest and spectators may choose to watch the competition and see how well they know international affairs. The event will be held at DCC in Drumlin Hall from 9:30 to 1 pm

Dr. Peter Jones, University of Ottawa "Track Two Diplomacy"
2023-03-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Bard College, 30 Campus Rd, Annandale-On-Hudson, NY, 12504, United States
Peter Jones holds a Ph.D. in War Studies from Kings’ College, London, and an MA in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. Before joining the University of Ottawa, he served as a senior analyst for the Security and Intelligence Secretariat of the Privy Council of Canada. Previously, he held various positions related to international affairs and security at the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Privy Council Office, and the Department of Defense. An expert on security in the Middle East and track-two diplomacy, he led the Middle East Security and Arms Control Project at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in Sweden in the 1990s. He is presently leading several Track Two initiatives in South Asia and the Middle East and is also widely published in Iran.
This event will be co-hosted with the Alexander Hamilton Society.

"A Tale of Two Churches" - Rwanda: Timothy P. Longman
2023-03-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Marist College, 3399 North Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Lecture: “A Tale of Two Churches: The Catholic Church and Violence in Rwanda and the Congo.” by Timothy P. Longman, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of International Relations and Political Science, and Director of the Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs (CURA) at Boston University
This event will be co-hosted with The St. Marcellin Champagnat Endowed Lecture

Great Decisions: China and the US
2023-04-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Jean-Claude Fouere
For the past ten years, the United States and China have been locked in a competition for who has the greatest global influence. One major point of contention is the status of Taiwanese sovereignty, which has become even more relevant recently with the possibility that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may prompt China to take similar action regarding Taiwan. How will the United States engage China which is increasingly seeking to expand its sphere of influence?

Great Decisions: Economic Warfare
2023-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Rick Levitt

Waging economic warfare consists of a variety of measures from implementing sanctions to fomenting labor strikes. Such tools are utilized by states to hinder their enemies, and in the case of the United States have been used as far back as the early 19th century. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, economic warfare has been the main means for the West to challenge Russia. How effective will these sanctions be at convincing Russia to cease its war?

Great Decisions: Politics in Latin America
2023-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Martin Charwat
Electoral results in Latin America over the past four years have led many observers of the regional/political scene to discern a left-wing surge in the hemisphere, reminiscent of the so-called “Pink Tide” that swept the area some 20 years ago. But how much do these politicians have in common? What implication does their ascendency have for the region?

Great Decisions: Iran at the Crossroads
2023-10-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Matt Murray
By the fall of 2022, Iran was in a state of turmoil due to widespread protests against the government-enforced wearing of the hijab, a failing economy, an ineffective new president, and the looming succession of the country’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Abroad, renewal of the Iran nuclear deal seemed doubtful and tensions remain high between Iran, Israel, and Arab states. Many Iranians have lost hope of a better future, and the country seems at a crossroads. How should the United States deal with it?

Great Decisions: Energy Geopolitics
2023-11-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Karen Nichols.
Access to oil and gas has long influenced the politics of individual nations and their relations with others. But as more countries move toward sustainable energy, and supply chain shortages affect the availability of oil and gas, how will this change how the United States interacts with the outside world?

Great Decisions: Climate Migration
2023-12-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Dr. Charlotte Hulme, Assistant Professor of International Affairs and Deputy-Director of the Grand Strategy Program at West Point Military Academy.
As climate change accelerates and drought and rising sea levels become more common, millions of people in affected regions must uproot themselves and seek safety elsewhere. Who are these affected individuals, and how might the United States aid them, and be affected by the migration?

Student World Affairs Conference 2024
2024-03-01 09:15 - 17:30 | Marist College, 3399 North Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Join us on Friday, March 1, 2024, for the annual Student World Affairs Conference, to be held from 9:15 to 5:30 at Marist College. The Keynote Address at 3:30 will be followed by a reception.
Keynote: “Strongmen and How to Defeat Them” – Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, to be introduced by Dean Jacqueline Reich (Marist), is a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. She writes about fascism, authoritarianism, propaganda, and democracy protection. She is the recipient of Guggenheim and other fellowships, an advisor to Protect Democracy, and an MSNBC opinion columnist. She appears frequently on MSNBC and other networks. She publishes Lucid, a Substack newsletter on threats to democracy in the U.S. and abroad.

Academic WorldQuest 2024
2024-03-02 | Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center, 4079 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY, 12538, United States
WAC-MHV will hold the annual Academic WorldQuest competition at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY on March 2, 2024. Regional high schools compete in this 10-round international affairs quiz bowl. The winner will represent the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley at the national conference in Washington DC.

Peter Jones: "The Collapse of Netanyahu's Double-Game"
2024-03-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Mill House Brewing Company, 289 Mill St, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Members are invited to join Peter Jones at the Mill House Brewery on Monday, March 11, 2024. The event will be held in a private room from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Au d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. The event is open to WACMHV Members and their family and friends. We ask that you consider a voluntary contribution of $40 to help cover the cost of the event.

The speaker is a Track-Two diplomacy expert with extensive experience in the Middle East region. Dr Jones holds a Ph.D. in War Studies from Kings’ College, London, and an MA in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. Before joining the University of Ottawa, he served as a senior analyst for the Security and Intelligence Secretariat of the Privy Council of Canada.

Previously, Peter Jones held various positions related to international affairs and security at the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Privy Council Office, and the Department of Defense. An expert on security in the Middle East and track-two diplomacy, he led the Middle East Security and Arms Control Project at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in Sweden in the 1990s. He is presently leading several Track Two initiatives in South Asia and the Middle East and is also widely published in Iran.

Great Decisions: Science Across Borders
2024-04-08 18:30 - 19:30 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Jean-Claude Fouere
Scientific advances benefit from collaboration between researchers, but what happens when material, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is controversial and important to a nation’s national security? Is there a middle ground between sharing information and denying access? How can we regulate cooperation? The facilitator will specifically address The International Nuclear Fusion Program, COVID Vaccine development and large-scale fabrication, climate change remediation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) development.

Great Decisions: NATO's Future
2024-06-10 18:30 - 19:30 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Rick Levitt
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. NATO may have been constructed as a military alliance, but it functioned most effectively as an expression of political unity (that’s how Stalin saw it, anyway). Has it outgrown that role? Has its expansion affected its essential nature? What about the changing domestic environment in its leading member? Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia?

Webinar: Juneteeth & Global Emancipation Movements
2024-06-13 15:00 - 16:00 | NY
The World Affairs Council of Orange County, CA will hold a Zoom webinar on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 3-4 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) titled, “Juneteenth & Global Emancipation Movements: The Caged Bird Sings of Freedom” featuring Human Rights Professor, Rev. Ray Jordan.

Webpage: https://worldaffairscouncil.givecloud.co/product/Juneteenth/juneteenth-global-emancipation-the-caged-bird-sings-of-freedom

On June 19, 1865 — months after the Civil War ended and more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people — Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free 250,000 people still held in bondage. The arrival of Major General Gordon Granger and his troops signaled that the Federal Government would not relent until the last enslaved people in America were free. On Juneteenth, we commemorate that day and honor the tireless work of abolitionists who made it their mission to deliver the promise of America for all Americans.

Did you know that there are an estimated 46 million people currently enslaved in the world? Juneteenth isn’t just about a segment of our population in the U.S. It’s about emancipation movements around the world. Join us for a virtual discussion on the significance of the federal holiday, Juneteenth, and the fight for global emancipation.

Great Decisions: Gaza: Which Way Forward?
2024-09-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitated by Frederic C. Hof
This program will be a talk that intersects with the Great Decisions topic on the Middle East, but it will focus on the situation in Gaza. The talk will consider what the United States might do to move the parties involved in conflict forward, beyond violence to co-existence and peace. Fred Hof is on the Board of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley, which co-sponsors the Great Decisions program. He currently serves as Bard College’s Diplomat in Residence and has had a distinguished career with the US Army, Department of State, and the international consulting firm AALC, specializing in the Mideast region. He served as ambassador and special adviser for transition in Syria under President Obama and as special coordinator for regional affairs in the US Department of State’s Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, where he conducted a back-channel peace mediation between Israel and Syria.

Great Decisions: Understanding Indonesia
2024-09-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Kingston Library, 61 Crown St, Kingston, NY, 12401, United States
Facilitated by Malia DuMont, World Affairs Council of the MidHudson Valley Board Member

Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? What are current issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can the country play in Asia?

No registration is required. Check out these resources in advance: https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/index.cfm?act=topic_detail&topic_id=123

On November 5th, US Voters Decide What the World Looks Like in 2025 and Beyond: The Intersection of Domestic Elections and Foreign Affairs
2024-10-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
This event is free to the public. Visitors are advised to park in Lot D. – 90 Cottage Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
The 2024 Presidential election will profoundly impact America’s role in global affairs, especially in Ukraine, the Middle East, and China. Three leading foreign policy experts will delve into the significance of foreign affairs in Kamala Harris’ and Donald J. Trump’s campaigns. They will explore what these election results could mean for U.S. leadership on the world stage in 2025 and beyond.
This panel is co-sponsored by Richard Reitano, Endowed Chair, and The World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley. The panel is facilitated by Dr. Karin Riedl, DCC associate professor of government.
For more information, contact the DCC Foundation at (845) 431-8407 or dccf@sunydutchess.edu.
PANELISTS: Dr. Joseph J. Collins, NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY; Malia Du Mont, BARD COLLEGE and James Ketterer, BARD COLLEGE.
PANEL MODERATOR: Richard Levitt, NYU CENTER OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS

Great Decisions: US-China Trade Relations
2024-11-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitator: Martin Charwat
China’s economic rise and its current policies of increasing the role of the state in the economy have led some U.S. policymakers to seek to deny China access to U.S. technology and investment. This is seen as a necessary corrective to decades of predatory Chinese economic policies. Is this a wise strategy, and how effective can it be?

Great Decisions: Pandemic Preparedness
2024-12-02 18:30 - 19:30 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Facilitator: Karin Riedl
Looking back at the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international policies. Although this pandemic seems to have waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics? Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus emerge on how to manage global health challenges?

Foreign Policy Implications of the Election
2024-12-06 19:00 - 20:15 | D&H Canal Historical Society, 1315 NY-213, High Falls, NY, 12440, United States
Ambassador Fred Hof and Malia Du Mont and Prof. of History Karin Riedl on Foreign Policy Implications of the Election.

This is a D&H Canal Museum event featuring three speakers who are board members of WAC-MHV:

Malia Du Mont was the Director of Policy in the Obama Defense Department. She is the winner of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. She has lived in China and speaks Mandarin. She now serves as Chief of Staff to President Leon Botstein at Bard College and is a member of the Canal Society’s Advisory Board.

Ambassador Frederic C. Hof is Bard College’s Diplomat-in-Residence and author of Reaching for the Heights: The Inside Story of a Secret Attempt to Reach a Syrian-Israel Peace. Ambassador Hof was the Israel-Syria peace mediator at the State Department during President Obama’s first term. He is a regular guest on WAMC’s Roundtable and a member of the Canal Society’s Advisory Board.

Dr. Karin Riedl is an Associate Professor of Government at Dutchess Community College. Since 2023, she has been President of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley. Previously, Dr. Riedl worked for the Office of the Permanent Observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to the United Nations, where she was able to apply her academic research on parliaments and human rights in the sub-Saharan African region.

[Great Decisions] American Policy in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead
2025-03-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Facilitated by Ambassador Fred Hof

Even in the weeks before his second inauguration Donald Trump was having a big influence on America’s Middle East policy. Where do things stand now, 60 days into the second Trump presidency? Where might be headed? Come armed with questions for what should be a stimulating discussion.

[Great Decisions] American Policy in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead
2025-03-31 18:30 - 19:30 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States

Artificial Intelligence Presentation and Discussion
2025-04-07 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Facilitated by Jean-Claude Fouere (AIEducation4All@gmail.com)

Artificial Intelligence – An Introduction

AI represents a remarkable leap forward in human innovation, allowing machines to mimic human intelligence and perform tasks that were once the sole domain of our brains. AI is increasingly becoming part of our daily lives, from voice assistants to chatbots to creating artwork and producing videos. It is also transforming how businesses and industries operate. We benefit from it while also being at its mercy.

This presentation will present a short history of AI development and review the most common current AI applications, with a special focus on how AI affects us individually and impacts our society. We will consider moral and ethical issues associated with AI, including the reshaping of many jobs, the spread of fake information, the loss of privacy, and the need for wise regulation of AI.

[Great Decisions] Future of NATO and European Security
2025-04-14 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Facilitated by Richard Levitt

Europe is frightened and frightened for the first time really since the 1980s, when nuclear sabers were rattling as the Soviet Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) both deployed contending intermediate-range missiles along the dividing line of the military alliances. With Russia’s continued barbarity in Ukraine, there is no escaping that Vladimir Putin intends not to be “European”
