About the Program

• Times/Dates: There will be 8 consecutive Tuesday morning sessions, each starting at 10:30 am. The first is Tuesday, Feb 6, 2024 and the last is March 26th, 2024
• Location: ZOOM and in-person at Williamsburg Regional Library
• Cost: $65 individual; $90 household; one briefing book included
• See Foreign Policy Association for more information about the topics.

Registration

Registration for the series  is still open.
To come to individual events only ($10 per lecture) or if you have questions,  email our Great Decisions registrar, Abra Smith, at greatdecisionswilliamsburg@gmail.com

Feb. 6: Understanding Indonesia

A Zoom Session - Watch At Library or From Home

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? ~ Charles Sullivan, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book
Speaker: Robert Hefner is a professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Pardee School of Global Affairs at Boston University. His research in recent years has had two thematic and area foci: the politics and ethics of pluralist co-existence in the Muslim-majority world, including especially Indonesia and Malaysia; and second, social recognition and citizenship among Catholics, Muslims, and secular-liberals in France and the United States. Hefner has published 21 edited or single-authored books, as well as seven major policy reports for the U.S. government and private foundations. Seven of his books have been translated into Indonesian and Malay; one has been published in Chinese.

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Feb. 13: NATO’s Future

In-Person Lecture - Also Available on Zoom
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. Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia? ? ~ Sarwar Kashmeri, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book

Speaker: Lawrence Wilkerson is formerly the Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Government and Public Policy, the College of William & Mary.  After an outstanding 31 year career in the US Army which included serving on the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College, as Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College and as Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Col. Wilkerson retired in 1997 and began working with General Powell. This led to his role as Powell’s Chief of Staff during the latter’s tenure as Secretary of State. He has been a frequent speaker for our Great Decisions program.

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Feb. 20: Science Across Borders

A Zoom Session - Watch At Library or From Home

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?  ~ Mila Rosenthal, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book

Speaker: David Bray is both a Distinguished Fellow and co-chair of the Alfred Lee Loomis Innovation Council at the non-partisan Henry L. Stimson Center. He is also a non-resident Distinguished Fellow with the Business Executives for National Security, and a CEO and transformation leader for different “under the radar” tech and data ventures seeking to get started in novel situations. Dr. Bray previously was the Executive Director for a bipartisan National Commission on R&D, provided non-partisan leadership as a federal agency Senior Executive, worked with the U.S. Navy and Marines on improving organizational adaptability, and aided U.S. Special Operation Command’s J5 Directorate on the challenges of countering disinformation online. He has received both the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal. He accepted a leadership role in December 2019 to direct the successful bipartisan Commission on the Geopolitical Impacts of New Technologies and Data that included Senator Mark Warner, Senator Rob Portman, Rep. Suzan DelBene, and Rep. Michael McCaul.

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Feb. 27: Mideast Realignment

In-Person Lecture - Also Available on Zoom

The United States and Middle East are at a crossroads. Despite a reduced presence in the Middle East, the U.S. still has significant national interests there and the area is a key arena for global power politics. Can the U.S. continue to defend its interests in the Middle East and globally with a lower level of military and political involvement, or should it recommit to a leading role in the region? ~ Marc Lynch, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book

Speaker: Ellen Laipson is the director of the Master's in International Security degree program and the Center for Security Policy Studies in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. She joined Mason after a distinguished 25-year career in government and as president and CEO of the Stimson Center (2002-15). Laipson serves on a number of academic and other nongovernmental boards related to international security and diplomacy and is a columnist for worldpoliticsreview.com. Her last post in government was as vice chair of the National Intelligence Council (1997-2002).  A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, she serves on the Advisory Councils of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

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Mar. 5: Pandemic Preparation

In-Person Lecture - Also Available on Zoom

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? ~ Carolyn Reynolds, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book

Speaker: Julius Odhiambo is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at W&M where he teaches the Introduction to Global Health and Methods of Health Development.  He earned his Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa.  His  research focuses on the application of spatial and spatial-temporal methods to better understand the geographical patterns of maternal and child health outcomes, assess their relationship with potential risk factors, identify clusters and measure inequalities both at small-area resolution as well as at country scales.

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Mar. 12: Climate Technology and Competition

In-Person Lecture - Also Available on Zoom

Will the United States and China, with other powerful countries following suit, approach current and future climate initiatives with an increased commitment to trade protectionism and nationalism, by various measures including trade restrictions? Or could a growing spirit of international accord confront the “common enemy” of climate change? ~ Bud Ward, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book

Speaker: Larry Williams enjoyed a 33-year career as a military intelligence officer and Department of Defense civilian employee focusing on crisis management.  He had assignments in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Greenland. He is a life-long student of nature, weather, and climate with a BS degree in Forestry from North Carolina State University.

Mar. 19: High Seas Treaty

In-Person Lecture - Also Available on Zoom

Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate? ~ FPA editors, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book

Speaker: Andrew Kirkpatrick is Associate Professor at Christopher Newport University. He was the director of CNU's interdisciplinary Environmental Studies program from 2013-2022.  He teaches courses such as Environmental Politics, International Organizations, European Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations while his research focuses on international environmental cooperation, compliance with international agreements, politics of resource use, international organizations, and political parties.  He holds a PhD in political science from Emory University.

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Mar. 26: U.S. - China Trade Rivalry

A Zoom Session - Watch at Library or From Home

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? ~ Jonathan Chanis, excerpt from Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book

Speaker: Frank Samolis is a Partner at the firm, Squires, Patton, Boggs where he serves as co-chair of International Trade Practice. He advises clients on international trade matters, including trade law, trade policy and legislation, and international trade negotiations. He also handles matters before the Office of the US Trade Representative and other US agencies as well as representing foreign sovereigns or foreign multinationals from Asia and other regions, in addition to US companies seeking expanded market access in major export markets.