Peter Jones: "The Collapse of Netanyahu's Double-Game"
2024-03-11 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | 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”

[Great Decisions] America at a Global Crossroads
2025-06-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Facilitated by Richard Levitt

The U.S., polarized and divided, faces a world of challenges, dangers, and uncertainties. Conflict and disorder have become the defining features of world politics.

[Great Decisions] AI and American National Security
2025-06-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Facilitated by Jean-Claude Fouere (AIEducation4All@gmail.com)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful emerging technology that is already affecting many facets of our society from producing content (texts, images, videos, audio, music) to generate “deep-fakes” of such content. The unchecked progress in generative AI facilitates serious misuse through misinformation and discrimination.

The presentation will present some of the potential risks from AI to national security and discuss the opportunities and limits of global AI “rules of the road”. It will also review the current approach to AI and related security in the USA, and the global perspective on AI.

[Great Decisions] India: Between China, the West, and the Global South
2025-09-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
CANCELLED — TO BE RESCHEDULED
Facilitated by Shantha Thangiah from the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley

As the Republic of India celebrates its 75th anniversary as of January 2025, the world’s most populous nation and largest democracy continues to defy simple categorization.

[Great Decisions] Competition, Cold War, or Conflict? Navigating U.S.-China Relations in Tense Times
2025-09-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Facilitated by Martin Charwat for the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley.

There is one thing that people can agree on across the aisle in Washington, DC: The United States is in a strategic competition with a rising China that poses a range of economic, political, and military security challenges.

Panel Discussion: Climate Action and Collaboration - An International Perspective
2025-10-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
UPDATED LOCATION!: Woodstock Town Hall, 76 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Date: October 24, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Panelists: Nina Chen & Xixi Chen
Explore how global and regional tensions affect energy security, energy access and the transition to net zero. The panelists will also examine new opportunities, financial and risk management strategies, and pathways toward a more sustainable future.
Yue (Nina) Chen is a Senior Climate Finance Officer in the Office of the New York City Comptroller. She is also a Senior Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her research focuses on climate and nature-related financial risks with a focus on emerging economies. She advocates prudent policy and practices.
Xixi Chen is a Senior Resources Manager at the World Resources Institute. She is an energy system enthusiast; certified energy manager and energy professional in the nexus of technology, policy, and market; she is committed to strong research and data and making impacts through advocating for environmentally and financially sound practices.

[Great Decisions] International Climate Cooperation in an Era of Geopolitical Turmoil
2025-11-17 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Location: Boardman Road Library, Poughkeepsie
Facilitated by Karen Nichols for World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley.

Over the past 30 years, climate change has become one of the central global challenges of the modern era, one that has important consequences for the livability of the planet.

Panel Discussion: Soft Power in a Post-Liberal World: The Future of Values and Ethics in International Relations
2025-11-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Date: November 18, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Panelists: Kevin Maloney & James Ketterer
In an era of shifting global narratives, the U.S. is rethinking its approach to diplomacy. What happens when foreign aid is slashed, soft power institutions are defunded, and values-driven engagement gives way to transactional diplomacy?
Kevin Maloney and James Ketterer, co-chairs of a Carnegie Council initiative on ethics in international affairs, will discuss the evolving role of ethics and values in shaping the global order.

SWAC - Student World Affairs Conference
2025-11-21 | NY
Student World Affairs Conference 2025
MARIST COLLEGE FLYER
Marist University Student Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Start Time: 9 am; Keynote speaker scheduled to start at 3:30 pm
Undergraduate students from across the Hudson Valley will present papers on wide-ranging topics in world affairs.
Keynote Speaker:
Omar G. Encarnación, Charles Flint Kellogg Professor of Politics at Bard College
He will discuss LGBTQ Rights in Latin America, drawing from his books Framing Equality: The Politics of Gay Marriage Wars and Out in the Periphery: Latin America’s Gay Rights Revolution, in conversation with Marist faculty.
Sponsored by:
The Global Studies Program at Marist, the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley, and the World Film Program at Marist.
For further information, please contact Michael O’Sullivan at Michael.osullivan@marist.edu

Annual WAC-MHV Members Dinner
2025-12-03 18:30 - 21:00 | Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12604, United States
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Location: The lovely Vassar College Alumnae House. This year’s evening will be a real treat especially for music lovers. James Ketterer will be sharing a fascinating presentation on Jazz & Diplomacy that you won’t want to miss.
As always, this special event is just for our members, so please make sure your 2025 membership is up to date. You may register or renew your membership conveniently through our website at https://wacmhv.org/membership/.

Assessing the Trump Administration's New National Security Strategy
2026-01-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Panelists: Malia Du Mont and Michael Hauser
Date: January 13, 2026
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm
Location: Woodstock Library, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock
What does it mean when a U.S. National Security Strategy breaks sharply with tradition? This talk will
provide a primer on what an NSS is, how it is crafted, and why it matters and demonstrate into why the
current strategy stands out. Departing from decades of precedent, the new NSS shifts strategic attention
toward the Western Hemisphere, deemphasizes Europe, and places economics at the center of national
security through concepts like economic statecraft and the integration of defense and diplomacy into
U.S. economic policy. The discussion will explore how and why these changes matter, with particular
attention to their implications for U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific. Attendees are encouraged to read
the new NSS in advance to enrich the conversation.
About the Speakers
Malia Du Mont — Former Director of Strategy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, currently
serving as Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategy and Policy at Bard College
Michael Hauser — Former Executive, Political-Military Bureau and Foreign Area Officer, U.S.
Department of State and US Army Infantry Lieutenant Colonel and Military Attaché.
Moderated by Ambassador Donna Welton.
Presented by the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley in partnership with Woodstock Library

Great Decisions: Global Cooperation in an Era of Competition: Can Multilateralism Survive?
2026-03-06 16:30 - 18:00 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
March 6, 2026, 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Ambassador Donna Welton will address the question of global cooperation. Can multilateralism survive amid shifting global power and rising nationalism? What will the future hold for global cooperation across trade, health, and finance? This pressing topic derives from the Foreign Policy Association’s “Great Decisions” program.

Academic WorldQuest 2026
2026-03-07 09:00 - 13:30 | Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center, 4079 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY, 12538, United States
March 7, 2026
Time: 9:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Henry A. Wallace Center, FDR Library, Albany Post Road (Rt 9), Hyde Park, NY
Join us to watch this challenging international affairs quiz-bowl. This is our 20th year of holding the competition! High school students (grade 9-12) in Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties will compete in teams of four to answer question in 10 topic areas. Students prepare for months leading up to this event, and the winning team will represent our region at the national competition in Washington, D.C. in April.
If you have a question or would like to register, please contact Karen Nichols (karen.nichols722@gmail.com) by February 1st to request a spot for your team(s)

Music and Diplomacy Panel Discussion and Musical Performance
2026-03-29 15:00 - 17:00 | Old Dutch Church, Kingston, NY, 272 Wall Street, Kingston, 12401
March 29, 2026, 3-5 pm
Old Dutch Church, Kingston, NY
Bard College, together with the City of Kingston Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley, will host “Music and Diplomacy” – a panel discussion and musical performance. This event is part of Kingston’s USA250 series of celebrations. It aims to explore how music has served as an important element of intercultural exchange and American soft power throughout the country’s history.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Malia Du Mont, vice president for strategy and policy and chief of staff at Bard College. It will feature Jim Ketterer, jazz musician and former diplomat who served in the State Department and on the National Security Council. The panel will also feature Phil Tappan, deputy commander of the West Point Band, and Jindong Cai, director of Bard’s US-China Music Institute.
The panel discussion will be followed by a musical performance by musicians from the local community, Bard College and Jim Ketterer.

Great Decisions: Rethinking Nuclear Energy
2026-03-30 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Monday, March 30, 6:30 pm, Boardman Road Library, Poughkeepsie
Edward A. Friedman of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley will discuss next generation nuclear energy and unique opportunities for this technology to mitigate global warming. Dr. Friedman will draw upon his recently published book for a lay audience, “Nuclear Energy: Boom, Bust, and Emerging Renaissance,” which recounts early optimism for nuclear energy followed by a clear account of the consequential nuclear accidents. He then explains the newly emerging designs and how they promise to curb previously unmanageable carbon emissions. He will place these developments into an international context where China and Russia exploit their nuclear dominance.
Edward A. Friedman holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physics from MIT and Columbia University as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Mathematics from Sofia University in Bulgaria. He served as Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Stevens Institute of Technology (1973-1986) and Director of a USAID Program to develop an indigenous college of engineering in Kabul, Afghanistan (1970-73). He received the Albert Einstein Education Medal from the State of New Jersey and the National Education Medal from the King of Afghanistan. He served as a member of the American University of Bulgaria’s Board of Trustees (2017-2025).

Great Decisions: The Gray Zone Dilemma - Irregular Warfare in the South China Sea
2026-04-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Boardman Library, 141 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
Monday, April 27, 6:30 pm, Boardman Road Library, Poughkeepsie
Facilitator Michael Hauser for the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley. Since World War II, the term Irregular Warfare (IW) has become an increasingly common aspect in the study of warfare and statecraft. Comprising concepts such as guerrilla warfare, counterterrorism, unconventional warfare, and counterinsurgency, IW today is seemingly ubiquitous as major powers utilize IW strategy to exploit the “gray zone” between peace and war. This presentation will summarize the scope of IW and focus on the South China Sea as a case study for modern IW. There is no assigned reading for this presentation, however, the Great Decisions materials are available for checkout from the library should you wish to read up on the topic before the talk. No Registration Required.

Great Decisions: The Gray Zone Dilemma – Irregular Warfare in the South China Sea
2026-05-19 - 2026-05-20 | Woodstock Public Library District, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock, NY, 12498, United States
Rescheduled – Date/Time TBD (May 19 or 20). Please check back closer to the date.
Woodstock Library, 10 Dixon Ave., Woodstock, NY
Facilitator Michael Hauser for the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley. Since World War II, the term Irregular Warfare (IW) has become an increasingly common aspect in the study of warfare and statecraft. Comprising concepts such as guerrilla warfare, counterterrorism, unconventional warfare, and counterinsurgency, IW today is seemingly ubiquitous as major powers utilize IW strategy to exploit the “gray zone” between peace and war. This presentation will summarize the scope of IW and focus on the South China Sea as a case study for modern IW. There is no assigned reading for this presentation, however, the Great Decisions materials are available for checkout from the library should you wish to read up on the topic before the talk. No Registration Required.
