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- Postal address:
CIV
PO Box 3032
Newport, RI 02840
- Electronic mail:
General Information:
info@newportciv.org
Sponsored by:
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2008 Great Decisions Series:
Since 1954, the Great Decisions
Series has been informing Americans about foreign policy issues, and today
boasts more than 400,000 participants from coast to coast. Since its inception,
Great Decisions has benefited from the wisdom of outstanding scholars and
activists in international affairs. Today, in particular, America faces
challenges that demand solutions - not obfuscation - and the national discourse
needs facts, not rhetoric.
If you missed
any of this year’s discussions, or want to delve further into any of the topics,
you can find a wealth of information by going to the Foreign Policy Association
Web-site: http://www.fpa.org/ and
selecting the Great Decisions tab.
The 2008 Great Decisions Series
will be presented on consecutive Wednesdays starting February 6 and continuing
through March 26, 2008. All programs will be held at the Newport Public Library,
300 Spring Street, Newport beginning at 7 p.m. There will be a kick-off
reception for the series on Wednesday, January 30, 2008. Location and time
details will be promulgated shortly.
The Great Decisions
Discussion Program is sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), a
non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public
to learn more about the world. The Great Decisions Series is designed to encourage debate and discussion of the
important global issues of our time.
The local Great Decisions Series is
sponsored by the Newport Council for International Visitors.
|
Date |
Topic |
Speaker |
|
Wednesday,
February 6, 2008 7 p.m. |
Iraq
end-game
A
recurring question found in most
public opinion polls and on the
2008 presidential campaign
trail: 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?
|
Mr. Qussay Al-Attabi |
|
Wednesday,
February 13, 2008 7 p.m. |
Russia
During his two terms
as president, Vladimir Putin has attempted
to remake Russia into a major, independent
world power. Some of his recent policies
have provoked concern in the U.S. and
Europe. With a 2008 Russian presidential
election expected, what course will Russia
take?
|
Dr. Lyle J.
Goldstein & Mr.
Gabriel Collins |
|
Wednesday,
February 20, 2008 7 p.m. |
Latin
America: free trade, economic development & political
transition. Is a new era on the horizon?
Note: The above topic
has been substituted for remarks by
Professor Robertson. The corresponding Great
Decision topic is "Latin America: shift to
the left?"
|
Prof. Christopher
Robertson |
|
Wednesday,
February 27, 2008 7 p.m. |
U.S.
defense & security policy
The U.S.
military is adopting new
policies and methods for
defending the U.S. and its
interests abroad. What should
U.S. priorities be? How should
its forces be structured and
deployed to meet new security
challenges?
|
Mr. H. Marshall Hoyler |
|
Wednesday,
March 5, 2008 7 p.m.
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U.S.-China trade policy
Recent product safety
scares have thrown the spotlight on the
enormous role China plays in supplying
products to the U.S. 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?
|
Dr. Lyle J.
Goldstein & Mr.
Gabriel Collins |
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Wednesday,
March 12, 2008 7 p.m.
|
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. Has the
integration of new members been successful?
What does the debate on Turkey's membership
say about the future of EU integration and
its changing demographics?
|
Cdr (SG) Carl Gillis, Belgian Navy
Capt Stefano Quatrini, Italian Navy
Cdr Neil Thompson, British Navy |
|
Wednesday,
March 19, 2008 7 p.m.
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Private
philanthropy
Billionaire Warren Buffet's June
2007 pledge to the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation
prompted headlines about the
size of the gift and the impact
it could have on global
education and health
initiatives. Can private donors
be more effective than
governments in tackling world
problems?
|
Caroline Considine |
|
Wednesday,
March 26, 2008 7 p.m.
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Talking
to our enemies
How the U.S. deals
with international challenges often depends
on how it engages with allies, as well as
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?
|
Mr. John Enright,
President Enright & Associates, Inc. |
2007 National Opinion Ballot
Report: Report
Highlights
2006 National Opinion Ballot
Report:
Report
2005 National Opinion Ballot
Report:
Report
To
learn more about the Foreign Policy Association, or about the Great
Decisions Series, visit their WEB Site at:
http://www.fpa.org/
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